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Timeless

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Aging rock stars. There are a lot of them these days, singing sensations who have been performing successfully on stage since the 1960's, and maybe even before that. Paul McCartney. Mick Jagger. Rod Stewart. These are big name performers who have been around, entertaining thousands, if not millions even, with vim and vigor. As we come to the end of the first decade of the 21st century, the question has been asked whether or not these senior citizens should still be rocking out on stage. Aren't they too old to be jumping around the stage, screeching at the top of their lungs?

For me, the answer is simple. Their concerts are still selling out. Their fans are still willing to stand in line to buy tickets and fill up a venue. Therefore, why shouldn't they be doing the thing they love? If these hit-making musicians still want to travel the world and sing, and if their fans are still willing to dole out big bucks to see them, then why should anyone rain on that parade?

Here's the key. If a fan goes to a concert and wants to see the exact same energy and delivery as they did when The Beatles played in San Francisco, for example, they'll probably be disappointed. Paul McCartney isn't twenty years old anymore. He's lived a whole life since those days, with ups and downs just like the rest of us. He's grown; he's learned. All of that has become a part of McCartney today. He can't be the same 'yeah, yeah, yeah' man as he was back then.

However, if a fan wants to go and see how a great performer has aged with time, not just in years but as an artist, then that concert could be every bit as exciting and wonderful as a music concert from the seventies. New twists on old songs, and new songs written for today, make these concerts just as fun and exciting as those old ones. McCartney can 'yeah, yeah, yeah' in a different way that still makes us swoon.

Most of these aged singers have changed their deliveries as they've gotten older. A lot of them have been forced to. They can't all hit those same notes that were once so easy for them. Thus, a new arrangement can make an old song a new friend.

Rod Stewart found a whole other genre to explore in ballads and standards from the past decades. His concerts are bound to be fresh and different to his longtime fans. In fact, he's earned a slew of new fans because of his take on these classic songs.

Ultimately, it's up to the fans to say whether or not these rock stars should keep performing, but at the same time, it's up to the rock star to find their place in the current era. If they can stay relevant in their own ways, staying true to themselves while also pleasing their aging audience and potentially attracting new fans, then they should retire, but otherwise, they can perform as long as they want. They'll know they're too old when the seats stop selling and when their name sinks to the bottom of the ticket.

Learn more about this author, Marcia Studley.
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