It’s hard for anyone who’s lived to a certain age to believe it’s really come to “this,” whatever it is that’s reminding them of that age. It seems particularly whiningly difficult for baby boomers, especially those who love pop music, like I do. So, when an article in today’s New York Times celebrated the collective 50th anniversary of The Beach Boys, The Chieftains, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, and The Rolling Stones, at first I just skipped it. But the magnetic pull of my passions insisted it be read.
Jubilees and Living Histories
The New York Times By BEN RATLIFF Published: February 3, 2012
Your automatic response might be the fact-checking ones: “Fifty years? Is that correct? How many original members remain?” The second might be emotional: “They’re only in it for the money,” or “Good for them; they don’t want to stop.” The third — and this is where the response gets interesting — may be: “That’s quite a list. Wonder what they have in common?”
