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Timeless

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As a Gen Xer who has grown up immersed in the music of many groups from the 60s, particularly the Beatles, I can say with utmost certainty that without the music from Paul McCartney or the Rolling Stones, music as we know it today would not exist. I have long adored Paul McCartney, despite the fact that he is old enough to be my grandfather. The fondness I have for his music started when I was very young, really taking off when I was around 9. It has always impressed me how well he stayed in-touch with latest music techniques and sounds throughout each decade. It is no surprise that he's had tons of Number 1 Hits, made it in the Guiness Book of World Records for his ever-famous "Yesterday", and is now known as "Sir".

Speaking about the Rolling Stones, I don't have as much of an interest in them, but I know that group was necessary to give rise to the Beatles. They were always a bit too rough-and-tumble for my tastes, but there is no doubt they have a way with instruments. Vocals sometimes have been debatable.

The question is, are both entities too old to rock? When has one reached that "limit"? My thinking is that as long as they are doing the oldies, they will always be widely accepted no matter how old they are. Newer songs and styles of music to match the popular names of today is harder to do. I saw Paul in concert back in 2002, and it was a phenomenal experience - when he was playing his well-known songs, that is. He definitely proved he was not too old to rock out a show, but there were some songs that were just not that interesting and made him look a little silly. But then, every once in a while he's got another great new hit that fits in with the contemporary stream. I'm definitely partial to his Fireman album that he did with Youth last year. I've never seen the Rolling Stones perform, but I've seen them on television these days to know what they look like. And honestly, I don't think people like Mick Jagger age very well. Too much drugs, booze, and living a chaotic life have really made them look more like geriatrics in costume than rockers. It is quite a difference from the way Sir Paul is these days.

All-in-all, being in the presence of such famed individuals is bound to be an awe-inspiring experience, even if they're not belting out their ballads. There might not be room enough for them on the stage for all-time, but they will always obtain the public's attention in everything that they do.

Learn more about this author, Natasha L. Kohlhoff Polak.
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