Music as nostalgia

We've all heard it. 'Oh this album takes me back to my youth' etc, but is that really such a good thing?

Do you want to put on an album and each time be reminded of certain parts of your life, or would you rather it gave you something different every time?

Is nostalgia a good thing or not?

i think its a good thing, or at least the good should outnumer the bad when it comes to these things

I'm not sure.

To me, it suggests that it has nothing else worthwhile to offer you.

i dunno. i enjoy listening to pat benatar and rick springfield for this very reason.

can't think of many records that take me back to anywhere but the music if you see what i mean.

Steve Campbell wrote: can't think of many records that take me back to anywhere but the music if you see what i mean.

Yeah, I get it.

I was playing a Scott Walker album today, and an uncle talked about how he remembered listening to it at my age. Wasn't too sure on how to take that.

Stuff like Aqua etc would put me on a nostalgia trail, but that's because it means nothing to me, but there are memories attached to it. What about music that has substance to it (like, er, Substance 1987)?

Yes. Bananarama reminds me of a Cruel Summer :D

it sometimes is good to listen for nostalgiac reasons ,yeah

Well JAILBREAK by THIN LIZZY reminds me.......... :D

Rocket Mick wrote: Well JAILBREAK by THIN LIZZY reminds me.......... :D

Of breaking into Morrisons?

Recently, I was listening to 'Kiss Me'. I was 13 when that song came out, and listening to it brought back so may memories. But I noticed that I spent the night thinking about the past. Surely that's not healthy, as you could be doing something more productive in that timespace?

Pot Head Pixies by GONG

Blimey, every New Order takes me back somewhere. I'm a sucker for nostalgia though.

Good job I've enjoyed my life so far....:)

Definitely Barney Army wrote: Blimey, every New Order takes me back somewhere. I'm a sucker for nostalgia though.

Good job I've enjoyed my life so far....:)

Especially ..... MY LIFE AIN'T NO HOLIDAY I BEEN TO THE POINT OF NO RETURN.......

Definitely Barney Army wrote: Blimey, every New Order takes me back somewhere.

Is this a good thing or bad thing in your opinion?

I love music A++++++++

but I've never had such a connection with music to cry or get sad, or even happy over a song. I don't know I think I am a robot.

Similarly, it doesn't "take me back" anywhere. It reminds me of things (like what's up by 4 non blondes reminds me of the time my sister and I lipsynched to the song to make our own music videos), but to feel what I was feeling then? no..

Christopher Owens wrote:

Definitely Barney Army wrote: Blimey, every New Order takes me back somewhere.

Is this a good thing or bad thing in your opinion?

it's down to the indiviual..

Al Jarvis wrote:

Christopher Owens wrote: We've all heard it. 'Oh this album takes me back to my youth' etc, but is that really such a good thing?

You're way too young to appreciate nostalgia, Christopher! It'll sink in with time. In fact, you're doing most of this the wrong way round, surely? Listening to MY generation's muzak (Order, Joke, etc) instead of your own!

What's our generation's music, besides crap?

It's a good thing Chris. My college sometimes has middle school dance nights where I couldn't believe the kind of songs I have liked before becoming a JD/NO fan.

it's more nostalgiac when a song comes on, out of the blue ,on the radio or in a club.when you didnt expect it it hits more than purposely sitting down to go on a "nostalgia trip"

Johnny "Two Sheds" Jackson wrote: it's more nostalgiac when a song comes on, out of the blue ,on the radio or in a club.when you didnt expect it it hits more than purposely sitting down to go on a "nostalgia trip"

spot on.

I wouldnt ever deliberately go on a nostagia trip. I dont think I could. It's like deliberately finding something funny. it doesnt work like that.

Definitely Barney Army wrote:

Christopher Owens wrote:

Definitely Barney Army wrote: Blimey, every New Order takes me back somewhere.

Is this a good thing or bad thing in your opinion?

it's down to the indiviual..

exactly. music has a good influence on me in general, but some song can make me happy, other can make me nostalgic or even sad :) its up to the individual as Barney said.

my name isnt Barney

Al Jarvis wrote:

Surely that's the wrong way round? I'm more nostalgic about Age of Consent cos it's a past glory and it's more appreciated by fans who've been into the band that bit longer. True Faith is two a penny these days. Nigh on perfect pop and it doesn't take too much to scratch below the surface of New Order to discover it (let's face facts, everyone from my UK (hate what word!) generation would remember that video and the song) whereas Age of Consent's memories for me are mostly way, way in the past.

not really, I'm more nostalgic about PC&L than Movement coz I got PC&L pretty much as it came out, and thats what it always reminds me of. Movement was just before my time so doesnt quite have that effect. But again, thats just me.

nostalgia isn't waht it used to be.

sorry somebody had use that line.

i just love putting on a decent 80s or 90s compilation and be taken back in time. republic does it to me too. for some reason no other new order songs do the same. they really have stood the test of time.

Shug wrote:

AGE OF CONSENT is the hardcore's choice! And if anyone wants to disagree, they're all fcukin wrong ;)

i'm gonna get you after school fer sayin' that, shorty. unless you hand over your lunch money. :evil:

I think I may well be a fuckin alien based on some of the comments on this thread.

I dunno, I mean NO and the Orb are my two favourite bands, but neither takes me to any place but No and The Orb (with Orbital more or less tying). The Orb conjure the odd good memory of daft things done while listening in states of abject fuckeditude...but nothing that draws me back to time and place, or makes me wistful over what has been and gone. perhaps it's because I have a funny attitude to life in general that causes me not to pick any particular points to be lamented over.

There are sounds that do create a SORT of nostalgia....the sound of the TARDIS dematerializing, always reminded me of when TV wasn't ALL tits and guns and yanks....I must confess, after hearing rumours that it had been ruined for the new show, upon hearing it blast out of the first episode of Chris Eccleston's run, nearly in it;s entirety, and totally original....I burst into floods of tears, no shit...in front of my brother too (how fucking embarrasing), I dunno whether it was nostalgia so much as the warm glow of knowing kids had a Dr again....anyway I digress on my way to my second point.....

That being that music reduces me to tears all the time..almost never lyrics, just the power of the music....Hooky's bass can do odd things to me....and I was crying like mad in the apollo when Barney played TPK over BM. I think CM may well be a robot :D (or I am just a great soft nancy)

AgentWood wrote:

Shug wrote:

AGE OF CONSENT is the hardcore's choice! And if anyone wants to disagree, they're all fcukin wrong ;)

i'm gonna get you after school fer sayin' that, shorty. unless you hand over your lunch money. :evil:

And you being a teacher.

For me personally, I find getting into an 'old' band far more exciting than getting into a 'new' band. When I was getting into JD/NO, for example, I wouldn't have to wait ages for the next album etc. I would just go down on a Friday and pick up an album, and do the same next week, while reading about the history of them.

The whole Oasis vs Blur thing I can get nostalgic about because it was the first musical 'movement' I remember (too young for Madchester or grunge, and raves were this scary thing were people took drugs and died, according to the news at the time) but when I listen to the tracks, I don't get nostalgic, just love the songs.

Baffling.

Christopher Owens wrote:

AgentWood wrote:

Shug wrote:

AGE OF CONSENT is the hardcore's choice! And if anyone wants to disagree, they're all fcukin wrong ;)

i'm gonna get you after school fer sayin' that, shorty. unless you hand over your lunch money. :evil:

And you being a teacher.

and?

Wouldn't wanna get into trouble in your class.

Christopher Owens wrote: Wouldn't wanna get into trouble in your class.

you'd be lucky to be in my class. i'm one of the more patient ones, mr. owens.

not to mention all the fun: last year in my world history class i showed a bollywood film set during the time of the raj about an indian village that played a game of cricket against the british to see how much land tax the village would have to pay. after the final at the end of the year we had about 1/2 hour left before the bell, so we set up a makeshift cricket pitch in the classroom and went for it. the two girls who had recently moved from jamaica filled in the rules. we almost broke a few things on my desk, but it turned out to be a fun afternoon and showed the kids there was life outside american sports.

Sounds like Dead Poets Society there.

Christopher Owens wrote: Sounds like Dead Poets Society there.

standing on the desk would get you a referral to the dean, though. must mention that.

That's the best aspect about music -- it can be nostalgic and also timeless, if it's a really good song.

And then other times, you can look at your past music collection and think

I think it has to be random, you can't go "seeking" music from your past. The surprise of hearing a song that you haven't heard in ages (whether or not it's any good) can take you back either to good times or "Good Times" (sorry, lame attempt at a joke)

Anyway, music that takes you back to a time in your life doesn't have to be what you listen to now. I was down at my mom's earlier tonight, had the house to myself and flipping through the Sirius satellite radio on the TV (it's part of the dish set-up they've got), and stumbled across "Linger" by the Cranberries. I remembered how that came out about the time I either started high school or finished middle school (not sure which), and the one or two good times I had back then :p

So that was nice.

AgentWood wrote:

Christopher Owens wrote: Sounds like Dead Poets Society there.

standing on the desk would get you a referral to the dean, though. must mention that.

As long as you pause at the door, gulp down a big lump in your throat, and reply "thank you, boys...thank you", the dean's punishment won't hurt as bad

And the camera will focus on a young Ethan Hawke shot through another boy's legs, opening a whole can of worms :p

I was in a club one night recently, and out of the blue Stay by Shakespeares Sister came on and BAM! it unlocked long lost thoughts and memories from that era (92 -93-94) .Never even bought the record but it has a memory for me of certain events back then.

But then if i sit down and listen to my 12" of Blue Monday i just enjoy it for what it is ,not any memory of when i bought it or when it was first around.

Sounds like Dead Poets Society there

Surely you mean DEAD POSTS SOCIETY ?

But then if i sit down and listen to my 12" of Blue Monday

Do you play it in the Shed ?

Well i've had some pretty rough times in my lifetime, and some bloody brilliant times (many of those too) but, music has played a part at all times and when i hear many songs/ albums, it reminds me how far i've come, through good and bad, people that have come in and out of my life in whatever context, and for whatever length of time.

The soundtrack to my life!

ANALOGUE Mike wrote:

Sounds like Dead Poets Society there

Surely you mean DEAD POSTS SOCIETY ?

POST IT AGAIN,SAM:p

new wave music,buzzcocks stranglers clash,all remimd me of the best years.mid teens.booze,girls and music are all fresh and new to you

ANALOGUE Mike wrote:

But then if i sit down and listen to my 12" of Blue Monday

Do you play it in the Shed ?

i may get my long extension lead out (oo er!) and take my record deck to the shed tommorrow and try that:D

i'll post a picture of it of course:D

The trouble is I've never been very good at the 'nostalgia' thing because I have such a lousy memory. Whenever they have those '100 naff things from the 70's' type TV programs I find I can never remember anything on them.

Plus music doesn't do it because any music that I like I've listened to so damn much continually over the years that its lost any association it ever had with any particular time.

404 error wrote:

Plus music doesn't do it because any music that I like I've listened to so damn much continually over the years that its lost any association it ever had with any particular time.

Good point.

Christopher Owens wrote:

404 error wrote:

Plus music doesn't do it because any music that I like I've listened to so damn much continually over the years that its lost any association it ever had with any particular time.

Good point.

good good point.it does lose it's association in time:\ohwell:

Guns N Roses are a perfect example for me.

The nostalgia of music has saved my marriage. Sounds cheesy, I know, but after you have two kids, have a mortgage, career that takes you all over the place when you least need to, etc. you kind of forget why you loved each other. Music helps me remember her as she is, how it was, and it helps me sift through the tons of crap that helps you loose focus on what really matters.

JHC

68 Pontiac wrote: The nostalgia of music has saved my marriage. Sounds cheesy, I know, but after you have two kids, have a mortgage, career that takes you all over the place when you least need to, etc. you kind of forget why you loved each other. Music helps me remember her as she is, how it was, and it helps me sift through the tons of crap that helps you loose focus on what really matters.

JHC

wise words ,pontiac .and don't ever think that your posts are ignored

Thanks for the kind words "Two Sheds".

JHC

68 Pontiac wrote: The nostalgia of music has saved my marriage. Sounds cheesy, I know, but after you have two kids, have a mortgage, career that takes you all over the place when you least need to, etc. you kind of forget why you loved each other. Music helps me remember her as she is, how it was, and it helps me sift through the tons of crap that helps you loose focus on what really matters.

JHC

I can relate to that. It's as if love has been encapulated in this one song, and it brings back memories.

Good to see you're still holding up, 68.

You could put much of the NO stuff into the nostalgia category, and I certainly wouldn't stop listening to any of their early stuff.