#talkingboutmygeneration

Last night, a friend of mine and I went out for a drink. We’ve both been worn down by the week, overworked, and well, depressed about the elections. We were in a shitty mood, and alcohol and companionship seemed like a great cure to our mutual “ennui”. We spoke of the election, yes, and of being overworked, and of our problems at work/school, but after a while (after downing the first beer and a half) we spoke of happy things. 

The bar we were at started playing “Fallin’” by Alicia Keys. Well, we both stopped, dead in our tracks, and started belting out “I keep on fallin in and out of love with you”. Eyes closed, fists clenched, hips grinding against our chairs. Yes, we must’ve looked ridiculous, but, that’s what’s great about real friendship; You mutually stop giving a fuck together. 

When the song ended, we both had big grins spread out on our faces, and as the laughter died out, we started analyzing the lyrics, and you know what we realized? Where the fuck has the passion gone? People used to sing about the pain unrequited love would bring them, they used to bare their souls, and put their hearts on the line. Now, we praise musicians that sing “I’ll only fuck you when it’s half past five, the only time I’ll ever call you mine”. Nothing. Nothing of value came of you singing that. Yes, it’s catchy, and it’s a good depiction of today’s society, but damn. 

Maybe that’s the problem. Actually, no, that’s DEFINITELY the problem. 

Human beings are ASHAMED of their feelings these days. Men are taught to be unattached players and women are taught not to be too needy or too clingy. Yes, I’m all for sexual empowerment and exploration, but damn humanity, hath you no soul? Because, really, what differentiates us from animals? Passion, emotion, art, expression. 

I’m not saying we don’t express at all anymore, but at least in my generation’s romantic stigma, we don’t. We try not to show our feelings, we don’t write poems anymore, we don’t ADMIT our emotions. We cower away from them, as if they show weakness, or that they’re “creepy”. 

Neem dan kwartje!

Of halve!

Haha, het zijn gewoon mensen

Die last hebben van hun

Te jonge hart

Ze zijn niks

Gewend

De jeugd in mijn tijd

We waren groene hulken

Spacerobots hadden

Geen spijt

Daarvoor

Waren ze nog groter

Het is maar net

Hoe je er mee omgaat

Lussers

Deze jeugd eet in de tent

Alleen maar

McDonalds

Waar geen bacillen in zitten

En waar niemand iemand kent

Ze gaan zo gillen

Als er iets is

Of over de datum is

Eet je het niet meer

Hoe kan dit

Nou toch

Allemaal

Maar weer

Zomaar gewoonweg?

Denk je nou echt

Dat degene die dit

Ontwikkeld heeft

Een dooie op zijn kerkstok

Wil hebben?

De knecht

Is niet voor niks

Voor mensen geschikt

Die niks

Gewend zijn

Daarom de breeklijn

Denk eerst

This evening, as I crept across the Valley on a congested and construction-marred Magnolia, the radio gods surprised me with Two Princes.  I cranked my '04 Sentra's blown out speakers to 20, put the window down, and let those Spin Doctors blare, soaking in the sublime sounds of the 90's and imagining what it was like to be a Gen-Xer.

As the song ended, the DJ commandeered the microphone.  "Oh Em Gee, you guys," she shrilled.  "The Foo Fighters have a new sweater on their website and it.  Is.  AWESOME!!  Drop what you're doing and order it RIGHT.  NOW."

The sweater in question: