10th February

A few days ago I visited HMV store in Harrogate - rare purchase of a CD. Didn't go in with anything particular in mind but I was determined not to buy Eric Clapton, McCartney, the Stones or anything else that panders to the middle aged person's tastes and needs. After spending 30 or so minutes trying to look cool and trendy by looking at "Arctic Monkeys", "Zutons", "Scissor Sisters", Amy Whinehouse and a load of others I came away with "the Best of Sting and The Police" and "the Esential Bob Dylan" - still pandering to my middle age needs or just good taste? Even as I am writing this I am listening to Sting's "Englishman in New York" and there seems to be a timeless quality about the music. Same with the "Who's" re-emergence over the last few years, not only playing new, great material but even managing to make their old songs sound even better with new versions and add ons.
About three years ago I went to see Paul McCartney's concert in Liverpool. He played non stop for about 4 hours with no support band and was awesome. What is it about the older musicians who cut their teeth in the 60's and are still going strong and in some cases getting better all the time? I guess though, that there are scores of bands and musicians that played in the 60's and 70's that didn't survive because they just didn't have, or didn't want that something extra. Having said that some of the music, lyrics of younger and more recent bands like the Arctic Monkeys, McFly, Lily Allen, Coldplay and so on, is superb and I guess many of them will still be on the scene in 30 years time, having made a lot more money than me!!