I am an only child so the majority of the music that I’ve been exposed to while growing up is the music that my parents enjoy. I can vividly remember sitting in the car with my dad on Friday mornings before he went to work and I was dropped off at school because Friday mornings were when the radio station we listened to played ‘70s music. Another childhood memory that comes to mind is in the summer when I would take road trips with my mom. In the summer between the 4th and 5th grade, I went to Space Camp in Huntsville Alabama, which is about a seven-hour drive from where I live. The whole way there we would listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd. It’s actually ironic because in my favorite song of theirs, “Gimme Three Steps,” the narrator is “cutting a rug at a place called The Jug.” Now, that’s just fate if you ask me. My parents instilled in me a love for Queen, Aerosmith, The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Elton John, and many other classic icons. There has been a feud in my household for as long as I can remember because my dad loves the Eagles, but my mom refers to them as “Devil-worshipping cat killers” (she prefers The Doors). I actually really love the Eagles, but don’t tell my mom that I said that.

It came to my attention over the last couple of years that not everyone my age is as familiar with these older artists as I am. The most notable memory I have was the beginning of my freshman year at Colgate when I was taking a short trip to Syracuse with some of my friends. “Bohemian Rhapsody” came on the radio and I preceded to turn the radio up as loud as it would go and sang along with all of the different voices and everything. I realized about halfway through the song that no one else in the car was singing and they were all just staring at me with horror. They’d never heard the song before! I was absolutely floored that these people could have grown up without hearing “Bohemian Rhapsody.” I play on the varsity softball team here at Colgate and when we have home games we get to choose a song to play when they announce our name to go up to bat. I obviously chose “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult (because everyone needs more cowbell). Every time it plays all of my teammates just shake their heads and say “Such a Pami song.”

Loving music from more than 20 years ago can be a struggle at times. I get sad when I realize that I will never hear new music from my favorite bands. Many of my favorite artists are no longer alive (RIP Jim Morrison, John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and many others). If they are still alive they are either broken up or no longer touring. My parents always brag about the MULTIPLE times they have seen Paul McCartney in concert and I die a little inside every time they do. However, loving music from a different generation can actually be great at times. All of those “terrible” songs that get played at the Jug, those are my jam. I rock out hard to Piano Man. When I’m feeling sad, I just listen to Van Morrison calling me his “Brown Eyed Girl” and I feel instantly happier. There is nothing quite like driving with the windows down on a nice day and listening to “Ventura Highway.”

So, if you are sick of hearing the same songs on the radio every day or you're just looking to spice up your playlist, I have some suggestions for you. If you are looking for something mellow to help you destress from all the work you have, I suggest that you listen to "Mrs.Robinson" by Simon and Garfunkel. Did your crush ignore you in Frank? Carly Simon has the answer to your problem with "You're So Vain." It's Friday night and they're playing the same songs at the pregame that they've played the last five Fridays in a row. Put on Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" for arguably some of the best guitar riffs in all of music. If you can't stop thinking about that guy or girl that you saw at the Jug the other night, you can listen to "I Saw Her Standing There" and commiserate with Paul McCartney about your love at first sight. I know JB and One Direction are great and all, but sometimes the throwbacks (way, way back) fit the mood or moment perfectly. Oldies are still around for a reason, so give them a try! Who knows, you might even find your new jam.