Late September, 1991, I was driving an old Honda Accord on I-10 in Tallahassee, Florida when the most amazing song came over the college radio station at FSU. Smells Like Teen Spirit was the most uplifting thing I had heard in years. It was my confirmation that the 80s were over and a new world was at hand--thank God.
Music had an unbelievable run from 1967 to 1977, starting with The Monterey Pop Festival and ending with the death of Elvis and the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash. Not to say there was no good music before or after that time, but nothing is equal to that ten year span. Think about it.
In any case, by 1978 the creative energy fermented by the Baby Boom had run its course. By 1980 we were in a new world, culturally, economically, and musically. For me, having cut my teeth on the aforementioned decade of music and counterculture, it seemed like a wasteland. Added to that were the ups and downs, growing pains, joys and confusions of navigating life. I had some good times and bad times, made some personal mistakes, but also made some of the best decisions and life choices ever during that time. So, I'm not really complaining. However, by 1990 my family and I needed a change--I think the whole world did.
In September 1991 I had just left service in the Army and relocated to Tallahassee. The economy was in a recession. My wife was pregnant with our second child, and I was starting all over in the civilian work-world. Leaving Virginia and the military felt like losing 100lbs off my shoulders. I didn't have a job, housing, or anything near security waiting for me in Florida, but then again I didn't have it anywhere else either. We were quite literally starting all over. The 70s and 80s were nothing more than memories. The 90s were nothing less than dreams. We had no idea what we were in for and no sense of assurance anywhere. We had nothing to go back to, and no future to anticipate. We were literally living in the moment and it had a sparse soundtrack.
Then I heard that song. And I knew. Old things had passed away, all things were new.
Music had an unbelievable run from 1967 to 1977, starting with The Monterey Pop Festival and ending with the death of Elvis and the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash. Not to say there was no good music before or after that time, but nothing is equal to that ten year span. Think about it.
In any case, by 1978 the creative energy fermented by the Baby Boom had run its course. By 1980 we were in a new world, culturally, economically, and musically. For me, having cut my teeth on the aforementioned decade of music and counterculture, it seemed like a wasteland. Added to that were the ups and downs, growing pains, joys and confusions of navigating life. I had some good times and bad times, made some personal mistakes, but also made some of the best decisions and life choices ever during that time. So, I'm not really complaining. However, by 1990 my family and I needed a change--I think the whole world did.
In September 1991 I had just left service in the Army and relocated to Tallahassee. The economy was in a recession. My wife was pregnant with our second child, and I was starting all over in the civilian work-world. Leaving Virginia and the military felt like losing 100lbs off my shoulders. I didn't have a job, housing, or anything near security waiting for me in Florida, but then again I didn't have it anywhere else either. We were quite literally starting all over. The 70s and 80s were nothing more than memories. The 90s were nothing less than dreams. We had no idea what we were in for and no sense of assurance anywhere. We had nothing to go back to, and no future to anticipate. We were literally living in the moment and it had a sparse soundtrack.
Then I heard that song. And I knew. Old things had passed away, all things were new.
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