Ultimate Bee Gees track listing

Torcan writes: "I think the whole period from '76-91 was the best in music history."

For me the best period in music history is '72 to '85. Based on your and my numbers, I'm guessing you're about 4 years younger than me. I've had similar conversations both at BSN and in person with friends, and it seems the majority of people (not everyone of course) think the best music is from the years when they were age 10 to their late teens. And they seem to be strongly opinionated about hating most music that comes after their high school or college years. I know very few people (in fact, I can't think of one) that loves '00s music as much as '60s music. I know people that love '00s music and people that love '60s music but there isn't a high percentage of people that feel equally strong about both.

Being a songwriter, I hear a lot of songwriters complain that '90s and '00s music isn't as good and won't be as lasting as '60s or '70s music. They cite how #1 hits from today (or the '90s) won't be around the way people still know the Beatles', Stevie Wonders', or the Beach Boys' hits. But that kind of thinking bugs me. Yeah, the '90s aren't my favorite decade of music, but for people who are ten or 15 or 20 years younger than me, it may be a whole different thing. Maybe those guys WILL be singing "Informer" by Snow in 2030 ... or "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (despite the fact that I myself don't hear these songs on the radio). I hear so many stories of how in the '60s when the Beatles came along, so many kids' parents said "this music won't last the way Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby music will". And they were wrong!

Edited by EdisonLite

EdisonLite wrote: I hear a lot of songwriters complain that '90s and '00s music isn't as good and won't be as lasting as '60s or '70s music.

When you think about it, just about every decade has some "lasting" music and whole lot of music that is forgotten. I'm sure there are hundreds of top 10 records from the '60s and '70s that haven't stood the test of time. You practically never hear music from the '50s anymore, even from prolific artists like Buddy Holly or Elvis. The only Elvis song that gets any airplay in my market is "Suspicious Minds."

EdisonLite wrote: They cite how #1 hits from today (or the '90s) won't be around the way people still know the Beatles', Stevie Wonders', or the Beach Boys' hits...but for people who are ten or 15 or 20 years younger than me...maybe those guys WILL be singing "Informer" by Snow in 2030 ... or "Here Comes the Hotstepper"

Your point is well-taken; however, it's a little unfair to compare the Beatles with Snow. When I think about "lasting" music of the '90s, I think about artists like Madonna, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Prince, Alanis Morissette, Matchbox 20, etc. I definitely still hear those artists on the radio today. When you talk about '00s music, artists like Coldplay, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Pink, etc., have all put out music that I think will be lasting.

I'm actually surprised that radio hasn't put together an "oldies" station for the younger generations. I think there are a lot of people who would love to hear songs like "Here Comes The Hotstepper," "Killing Me Softly," and "Tha Crossroads" along with the other '90s rock and Hot AC songs that do still get played.