The Generational Jukebox: An Amusing Take on Musical Differences
Let’s be honest! Every generation thinks their music is far superior than the others. Whether it’s the Baby Boomers’ vinyl collection sitting in boxes and stacked in a storage unit, or Gen Zer’s TikTok hits, we all have our preferences. Let’s take a look at the musical habits of Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Zoomers and how they might amusingly see each other!
BABY BOOMERS (1946-1964) – True Rock ‘n’ Roll Royalty
Boomers are the original musical Bougie crowd. They grew up watching Elvis shake and roll his hips like a hound dog in heat, while their parents watched in shock as Ed Sullivan introduced the “long-haired freaky” Beatles, who by the way, also “Twisted and Shouted.” Their moms asked Dad why in the world they would name themselves after a bug?
Boomers will still stroll into that hidden, off the once beaten path, vinyl record store flipping through albums for the perfect record to drop on the turntable (which they no longer even own.) They actually think “streaming” is about a fishing trip with a bunch of other boomers, telling the dumbest of dad jokes and totally inappropriate jokes that even 12 year-old boys wouldn’t repeat.
From a passionate rendition of Jimmy Hendrix’s “Hey Joe” to the classic air guitar session of “Stairway to Heaven,” Boomers bring it all home in style!
GENERATION X (1965-1980)
The Parentless Generation! Gen Xers grew up as latchkey kids and in the ‘80s and ‘90s, rocked out to Nirvana and Pearl Jam (while secretly cranking up the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC) all while being totally ignored by their parents. (Thanks, Boomers!)
They love complaining about how “music used to be better” while watching old Britney Spears videos (Whoops! They Did It Again!) When they hear someone mention “Ariana Grande,” they picture a new seasonal Starbucks latte. “I’ll have that new Airy Annie Grande special with two pumps, please!” This generation worked extremely hard on the art of smirking. It was often used in conjunction with the classic eye roll.
Millennials (1981-1996)
These digital dreamers are the multi-talented generation, exhibited by being able to listen to a podcast while scrolling through their Instagram feeds. They also went to school when Facebook was meant to connect college students. (They seemingly disappeared around 2010 when mom and dad joined FB to keep an eye on them.)
You may have noticed that they created the best breakup playlists. Sadly, Boomer and Gen-X parents had to deal with all that drama. Millennials hear “Boomer” and think it’s just another college drinking game that likely involves ping pong balls and Johnny Walker Black.
Every concert was an opportunity for a selfie with a score of other friends. Even though they were only twenty at the time, they had to find a filter to make them look like they should appear on the cover of Vogue.
Generation Z (1997-2012)
These folks have taken music to new heights with a mashup of everything from K-pop to hyperpop. They don’t just listen to music—they curate entire vibes using Autotune.
Zoomers were pioneers of the original 7 second “Vines” and eventually TikToks that go viral, while the rest of us still try to figure out how to even use the app. When a Zoomer hears the term “classic rock,” they likely imagine a band made up entirely of grandparents (or even great grandparents) jamming out in a retirement community. They think they’re really cool -until they spot their own granddad.
Whether it’s a TikTok viral dance or impromptu living room moves, these young folks know how to party. They are quite willing to show the entire world on insta, but heaven forbid a Gen Xer or worse – a Boomer tries to join in!
What does it all mean?
In the end, music is what bridges the generations — despite our often, ridiculous differences. Whether you’re a Baby Boomer still reminiscing about Woodstock, a Gen Xer grumbling about how hard they had it, a Millennial curating playlists for every possible mood, or a Zoomer dancing to the latest viral, pop culture hit, we can all agree that music adds wonderful color to an often dark and crazy world. So, keep spinning the wax, hitting the notes, and sharing a good laugh along the way. Ok, well you Gen Z’ers can at least try breaking a smile!
Bob Lawrence serves as a Market Manager for Seven Mountains Media, overseeing the company’s Parkersburg, WV/Marietta, OH cluster. He has held virtually every position in the business over his 40+ year career, from being on-air in Philadelphia, San Diego, and San Francisco as well as programming legendary stations including KHTR St. Louis, KITS Hot Hits and KIOI (K101) San Francisco.
Bob also honed his research skills over ten years as Senior VP of Operations at Broadcast Architecture, eventually launching his own research company and serving as President/CEO of Pinnacle Media Worldwide for 15 years. Bob spent five years as VP of Programming for Saga Communications before joining New South Radio in Jackson, Mississippi as GM/Market Manager. Prior to joining Seven Mountains Media, Bob served as General Manager for the Radio Advertising Bureau, overseeing its “National Radio Talent System”.
