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AARPRachelA
Conversationalist ⭐⭐⭐
Dec 15, 2021 7:49 PM UTC

Your Younger Brain and Music

In The Powerful Link Between Music and Memories, cognitive neuroscientist Daniel Levitin shares that our musical tastes form early, including a crucial period from around the age of 11 to 14. During that time, our musical tastes really take form and we hold onto those for the rest of our lives.

 

Music has always been a big part of my life, and it was especially important during my brooding teen years. Pop was a genre I embraced, and it's still one I adore today. One pop album I spent a lot of time with, learning the words and singing to myself in the mirror, was Michelle Branch's Hotel Paper, especially the song "Breathe." I recently relistened to the album and was transported back to my angsty, younger self.

 

What album or song did you love when you were younger?

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78 replies

AARPRachelA
Conversationalist ⭐⭐⭐
Jan 13, 2022 4:02 PM UTC

You all are giving me great music suggestions to check out - there's so much to discover!

JMCJONES4
Contributor ⭐
Jan 13, 2022 3:55 PM UTC

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

Contributor ⭐
Jan 12, 2022 1:13 PM UTC

Having been raised in the church, I find myself singing "How Great Thou Art" while driving to work, and I'm always amazed that I know every single word.  Same for all of those amazing 50's songs that I played over and over on the 45!!

2Papa
Contributor ⭐⭐
Jan 12, 2022 6:29 AM UTC

Bill Haley and the Comets, "Rock Around the Clock"!

robertc526695
Contributor ⭐
Jan 12, 2022 2:15 AM UTC

I discovered my Dad's Beatles albums when I was in 8th grade (this was back in 1980). I have enjoyed listening to other albums and bands over the years but my deepest passion for music will always be The Beatles. They remind me of the heady days of my teenage years. Their songs never grow old. The Beatles are that one band that found a way to be timeless. 

AARPRachelA
Conversationalist ⭐⭐⭐
Jan 13, 2022 4:06 PM UTC

Watch the "Get Back" documentary if you haven't yet!

Contributor ⭐
Jan 27, 2022 7:19 PM UTC

It was riveting and amazing. To see them play together. Keep your eye open for the IMAX movie.

 

Contributor ⭐
Jan 12, 2022 1:16 AM UTC

I memorized all the Christmas carols on a popular Christmas LP when I was 8-12.  A group of us would go caroling ip and down our street every December.  We challenged ourselves to learn all the words to all the verses of many carols.  Every year we added a new song to our list.. 

Contributor ⭐
Jan 11, 2022 10:53 PM UTC

Album wise: The Beatles Rubber Soul, and Fleetwood Mac Rumours." However, I would choose the second movement of Bach's Italian Concerto in F Major, if I had to choose just one piece to listen to for the rest of my life.  It seems to have the remarkable capacity to elicit each type of my emotional responses.  Also, because there are no words, it does not create the unfortunate sense (for me) of endless repetition.

AARPRachelA
Conversationalist ⭐⭐⭐
Jan 13, 2022 4:05 PM UTC

Don't judge, but I finally listened to Rumours for the first time last year! It really is a musical dance as depicted on the album cover.

Contributor ⭐⭐
Jan 17, 2022 4:30 PM UTC

I liked Fleetwood Mac better before their "Fleetwood Mac" album (1975).  They were really great in the late 60's to '74, when they were pretty much unheard of in the US.   When Nicks & Buckingham came along, then they became more commercialized and "bubble-gum".   Those two were good but not as great as before.

Contributor ⭐
Jan 11, 2022 10:52 PM UTC

Ten Years After was a relatively obscure British band.  They blew the doors off the place at Woodstock in 1969 when I was 11 years-old with "Goin Home", and the world got introduced to Alvin Lee, known as the "Fastest Guitarist in the West."  My favorite rock band of all time, and I still listen to them to this day.  Another favorite TYA song:  "50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain."  Psychedelic rock at its best. 

rockaria
Contributor ⭐⭐
Jan 11, 2022 10:35 PM UTC

First of all, I have to say I've been thoroughly enjoying the mini concerts that AARP has provided.  Thank you for that entertainment.

 

Now.... don't laugh....  In my younger years, I listened to The Partridge Family and The Bay City Rollers on LP.  I now have those gems on CD and listen to them in my 60s.  Good, fun music.

Contributor ⭐
Jan 22, 2022 8:17 PM UTC

Every Friday night my sister and I walked to the minute market, got a slushy/Icee, and a bag of cheese Puffs. We would go back home, go to our room, grab our pillows, sit on the floor in front of the TV, and watch The Partridge Family. Really good, innocent times!

Contributor ⭐⭐
Jan 11, 2022 10:27 PM UTC

I liked Broadway musical soundtracks at that age and I still do. I was so happy the Christmas that I received The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, and Annie albums.

AARPRachelA
Conversationalist ⭐⭐⭐
Jan 13, 2022 4:04 PM UTC

I love Broadway soundtracks as well! The Sound of Music is my dad's favorite movie and the music always brings back lots of good memories 💜