Warning, Parental Advisory, Slackers!

Back in 1985, a group of politically connected women banded together to create the “Parent’s Music Resource Center”. Led by Tipper Gore, wife of future Vice President Al Gore, and Susan Baker, wife of then Treasury Secretary James Baker, the group sought to clamp down on what it perceived to be an increase of disturbing lyrical content in popular music. 
 
The main focus was on lyrics containing references to sex, drugs, violence, and the occult. To drive home their point, the PMRC created a list dubbed “The Filthy 15” - an eclectic list of recording artists spanning multiple genres. Somehow, artists like Prince, Cyndi Lauper, & Madonna, were grouped with bands like Mercyful Fate, Venom, and Judas Priest.

The opposition to PMRC came in the form of some strange bedfellow - three very different musicians in their own right - who believed strongly in freedom of artistic expression. In what has become a legendary Senate hearing, Dee Snider from Twisted Sister, Frank Zappa, and John Denver, all hailing from vastly different backgrounds, made their case against the PMRC. 
 
We also take a look at how some of the musicians on The Filthy 15 feel decades later - has age (and parenthood), moderated their views on censorship or do they still hold to the same ideals of their younger, wilder selves?

Going old school, Slackers!

It’s been a while since I did a single year chart recap. This week I chose 1987 - and it is an interesting time for music, and when sitcoms ruled the Nielsen ratings.

The Billboard Hot 100 for 1987 was a big year for a number of artists that we now think of as legendary. Bon Jovi & Whitesnake both had breakout hits after years of plugging away. George Michael had his first taste of solo success after the demise of WHAM!. And the youngest Jackson, Janet, became an absolute superstar in her own right. But the TOP song for 1987 was a goofy, gimmicky song, that was still amazingly catchy!

Plus, artists like Huey Lewis & the News, Fleetwood Mac, and the usual chart toppers - Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna - all had major hits. And we have to show a little love for Crowded House!

Over on the TV charts, unsurprisingly, the NBC Thursday night sitcom block ruled the top 10 - The Cosby Show, A Different World, Cheers, and Night Court was quite the formidable lineup!
 
Tell me, what do you remember about 1987?

It's baaaack, Slackers!

This is a "Whatever Wednesday". Basically, I couldn't decide on a single topic, so I'm going to cover whatever has popped into my head over the past 24 hours!

Don't worry, all the key elements are still there: Gen X topics (uh, I got a little click-baited), music hits, movies releases, some TV charts, & a famous Gen Xer getting arrested (for some REALLY bad allegations). 

There is even some talk about ancient Sumeria and 1800's mercantile groups - which are totally relevent and topical - no, really. They actually are. 

Love it or hate, reality television is here to say. 

It’s been said that reality tv as we know it started with MTV’s “The Real World”, making this type of program a uniquely Gen X phenomenon. I do agree that we as a generation led the charge for reality tv, but it is probably because we have always been exposed to it - just in a slightly different format. 

From the legendary “Wide World of Sports", to “That’s Incredible!”, to my personal favorite, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” - we have been watching reality based programming since we were kids.

Do you really think there is a “Real World vs. Road Rules” without the “Battle of the Network Stars”?!

And do you remember who hosted the “Real People” spin-off show, “Real Kids”? I’ll give you a hint - he starred in a Christmas movie classic.

The 90's was an interesting decade for music.

Sure there was the grunge explosion, and with it the re-emergence of punk, but there were so many bands that occupied their own unique space in the music scene. On this week’s episode I’ll review my three favorite underrated bands, one of whom wasn’t just underrated, but entirely overlooked. 

From a California band that basically created the emo “pop punk” archetype - to a midwestern act that was parts grunge, parts r&b, parts Stonesy sleaze rock - to a little known hardcore band that straddled the line between the metal core bands of the 90s scene and traditional punk, fused with plenty of big, hooky choruses. 

Plus, I'll give a couple of "honorable mentions" that are little more known, but still underrated. 

I’m back, Slackers!

Ever wonder what this whole AI thing is all about? And this ChatGPT - what does it know about our generation? I ask those questions in the default ChatGPT settings, but I also ask “Marv - the sarcastic chatbot” - and “he” sounds like a Gen X programmed AI model!

I also share the heartbreaking story of the Myjak family - the matriarch of the family is a friend of mine from high school and they could really use come help. Please consider helping if you can: https://gofund.me/f2a2eb67

I read some listener email, offer some Netflix suggestions, and discuss some of the current health issues facing Gen Xers.

In the year 2000. In the year 2000!

On this week’s episode, we explore…the future. Or really the present. But from the past. Or something like that.

Throughout the 60s, 70s, & 80s, TV and movies tried to give us a glimpse into the future. While some things they got right, many things were way off base.

The Jetsons, and later Blade Runner, promised us flying cars! We don’t have flying cars for our daily commute…and that would be a terrible idea anyway.

Gadgets like the Starfleet Communicator was the obvious inspiration for the “flip phone”, and I’m sure every Gen Xer has pretended to open automatic doors using “the Force”. Two examples of past ideas informing future tech.

What is in store for us twenty years from now? Who knows…but hopefully AI doesn’t take over. You know, like Skynet! Or the Matrix!

Extra, extra, read all about it, Slackers!

Does anyone read newspapers anymore? I don’t, but news is still an (important?) thing, and this week I take a look at Gen X in the news.

Just this week there have been articles from Business Insider, the New York Times, Forbes, and the most prestigious of them all, HuffPost.

Some of the business related articles delve into attitudes in the workplace regarding “corporate loyalty”, investment concerns, and general differences in work/life concepts.

The Times article by Sarah Miller is titled, “Hate Gen X? Get in Line (Behind a Gen X-er)”, which is hysterical, but worth the read. Of course, I summarize it here so you don’t have to!

There was plenty of Gen X news surrounding the Super Bowl halftime show - featuring Gen X’s own Usher. The X (Twitter) beef between Gen X and Millennials is hilarious.

And finally, did you know there is a Reddit thread called, “Gen X is the worst generation”? Tremendous!

Time to get those lighters in the air, Slackers!

From the late 80’s into the early 90’s, there was no shortage of amazing live music. The “hair” bands of the time were hitting on all cylinders, with live shows rivaling anything that came before or since.

With the bands from the Sunset Strip already used to the competitive nature of the music industry, opening acts would try to outperform the headliners - and more often than not, the headliners would take that challenge head on. Sometimes the opener, with less staging, less lighting, & less people in the crowd, would absolutely destroy the headliner! However, if you ever saw Mötley Crüe on the Dr. Feelgood tour, you know that no opening act was touching them live!

While my memory is awfully hazy 36 years after my very first concert, this is my best recollection of all the tours that I was able to catch during my early to late teens.

What a glorious time for rock music!

What's in a name, Slackers?

Apparently, when it comes to a certain period of the Gen X timeline, names are little more than passing trends! How else can you explain the sudden rise - then fall - of names like Jason, Eric, Jennifer, and Amy! How about Heather or Christopher?!

I was one of MANY Jasons in my graduating class, with easily as many Jennifers. And names like Heather became part of the lexicon thanks to films like, you guessed it, Heathers!

While all the biblical names remain en vogue, I can rest easy knowing that I have a name that is definitely of a certain time and place in history - me along with the other 462,821 Jasons born between 1970 and 1979.

So, tell me - do you have a Gen X name?