The Music Of Generation X Essay Research

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The Music of Generation X

Since the beginning of time the human beings have adored the soothing

sounds of music. Music has affected the way people have behaved and dressed

throughout different periods of time. Different groups have been formed based

upon their preference in music. Take for an example in the music of my

generation, Generation X, there are several different groups oriented by music.

In Generation X punks, gangs, alternative people, ravers, hippies, and pop

rockers have all been labeled into groups by their preference of music. Music

has also affected people mentally, causing problems in society like suicide,

depression, hate/racism, violence, and drug addiction. I am about to examine

five different song lyrics of my generation to demonstrate the different tones

and concerns they convey onto society and my generation.

The first song I would like to analyze is “Jane Says” by Jane’s

Addiction. The main theme in “Jane Says” is escaping drug use and addiction.

This song is basically set in a low class area. Jane is a girl who has had a

heroine addiction. Her personal boundaries have been invaded and she wants out

of the habit, “I’m gonna kick tomorrow?”. She goes through depression and

withdrawal, “She gets mad/And she starts to cry.” Then the songs continues by

talking about loneliness. Drug addiction is often the background for much of

the music in today’s society. People tend to idolize famous people and when

they see or hear of their idols using drugs or drinking they follow the actions

of the famous people. Another song in which I am going to discuss is written by

The Smashing Pumpkins. “Tonight, tonight” is a song about growing up. The song

stresses the importance of time and how precious it is, “time is never time at

all/you can never ever leave without leaving a piece of youth/ and our lives are

forever changed/ we will never be the same.” This song brings an opening light

to society and makes them feel good and at the same time depressed. The music

in our generation is real deep in it’s tone, the feelings music can generate is

amazing. Say you are listening to a happy song your mood will genuinely be

happy, then say you heard a slow deep meaningful song your attitude will change

somewhat. However there is different music for different moods. “Tonight,

tonight,” brings in the mood of peacefulness. This song as well as “Jane Says”

attracts the people in society who are considered to be alternative in their

behavior and lifestyle.

Next, I am going to examine a song by a band that reels in the social

group of the hippies. Phish is a band that has followers, just like the

recently fallen Grateful Dead had. Phish is mainly a band that sings happy

thoughts and tells stories through their music, like folk music with a twist.

“Fee” is a story about life, love, jealousy, and adventure. This song discusses

a life of a weasel named Fee, a gospel singer named Milly Grace and Floyd the

chimpanzee. Fee falls in love with Milly and Floyd is jealous, so Floyd knocks

Fee out and gets Milly who then kills Floyd and rescues Fee. In the terms of

socialization the behavior of Fee and Milly induces that of true love. In the

song Fee is also taking chances and he needs to sit back and analyze his life:

Oh, Fee, you’re trying to live a life

That’s completely free.

You’re racing with the wind

You’re flirting with death

So have a cup of coffee

And catch your breath.

This relates to society by showing that the life we lead is fast paced and we

never stop and take time to “catch your breath.” We don’t take time to think.

“What I Got” by Sublime is a song that was just recently released and

hit the charts at number one. This song describes the life I would say of an

average stereotypical Generation X life. The song shows how our generation is

like a roller coaster. The lives we lead our unpredictable. Socialism comes

into effect in this song by the way the song tells us to lead our lives. First

it says that everyone still has fun in times of trouble, “the moneys all gone,

but I got a dalmation and I can still get high, I can play the guitar like mofo

riot.” The song then leads into companionship to not caring about values/norms

that society has set like, drugs, alcohol, and money problems.

The last song was just released last Wednesday. “Hope in a Hopeless

World,” by Widespread Panic is a song that geniunely conveys the problems in

today’s society. The title itself explains the behaviors of depression and loss

of reality. The song looks at the downfalls in our society and how things went

wrong. The line, “What ever happened to the Golden Rule?” says enough to

explain my thoughts. The Golden Rule in my opinion is a major norm in our

society, and with that out of the way everything is really unfriendly and

depressing. “Looking for hope in a hopeless world” explains that people are

trying to come out and have a life, but there are so many drawbacks that they

are often stuck. The song also says that you have to keep trying:

You’ve got to listen to the voice inside

Peace and love don’t compromise

Time is passing by

Can’t be standing still.

Music in Generation X has had more affect on society than any other

generation has had. More social groups have been formed and many more feelings

have been expressed through our music. Society is overall effected by music and

always will be.

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