Aging is a fascinating process. In the early years, we can’t wait to be old enough to do all the things that we think are so cool: driving, buying booze, being a grownup. At some point we realize that time is more fluid than we’d like. And then one day we recognize that it’s flowing like whitewater in a racing river. We look for anything, an overarching branch, even a slippery rock, to slow our progress toward… well, the end. Between these phases, is the meandering river of life that passes through Door number 5.
December 5, 20205
Youth is a fog of (mostly) unintentional narcissism. It’s often readily excused by folks with more life experience who recognize that the young offender has only just dipped their toe into the stream of time. That’s not to say one’s elders don’t snicker or roll their eyes in the face of youthful bravado. They will, and do, step in with corrections and clarifications as needed; needed mostly by them to keep from dope-slapping the young whippersnapper on their lawn. For the most part, youth is given adequate leeway to grow toward the light.
I’ve reached the age when I’ve lived through trends multiple times. Sometimes it’s an enthusiastic, “Oh, I remember that!” when I catch an old movie on late night TV. Other times it’s a “Hell no, not this again!” when I see rainbow leg warmers on Etsy. My enthusiasm or disdain is of no consequence to today’s youth who embrace what I have eschewed.
I have learned over the years that with age comes the awkward realization that the weird trends the kids are into today are not too far from the stuff I did at their age. Chanting 6-7 on Tik Tok seems pretty tame in comparison to… No way. I’m not going to tell you. I’m eternally grateful that my youth is not stored in the cloud for posterity.
I will, however, share an example of my youthful naivete: the day I first heard The Bangles’ Hazy Shade of Winter on the radio in 1987. I thought it was a brilliant new song. I was *gasp* wrong. The lyrics were written by Paul Simon and the song performed with Art Garfunkel in 1966. It’s are pure poetry. Their original recording was a departure from their folk roots and leaned hard toward rock. Those who are 20 years my senior are snickering and rolling their eyes right now. Admittedly, I deserve it.
My ignorance of the song’s provenance aside, I was not wrong that The Bangles propelled it fully into the rock genre. It’s mesmerizing opening with soft vocals is jolted to life with a driving beat (Debbi Peterson), wailing electric guitar (Susanna Hoffs), and exquisite harmony from four voices. From that moment forward, it leaves the 1966 recording in the dust. Sorry folk rock friends, The Bangles version wins according to the ears of Gen X.
The Bangles recorded their cover for the film Less Than Zero. Trust me when I tell you that there is no need to go watch it. Nonetheless, the cover was a hit and has been used in film and television many times since. Teenage me would not have guessed that it would still be on my playlist almost 40 years later. But that’s the magic of aging; the ability to move forward, learn new things, and weed out what is meaningful and retain it as the river flows along.
As far as I’m concerned, The Bangles can rest on their laurels for Hazy Shade of Winter. I won’t, however, rule out the possibility that another band, duo, or solo act may reimagine it for another generation. If that does happen, I’ll likely be too busy floating down life’s river toward the slippery rocks to catch its release. Although I’ll be sure to look around, leaves are brown, there’s a patch of snow on the ground.
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