70 And Rockin'

Everyone's buzzing about the big 12-12-12 fund raiser for the victims of Super Storm Sandy, put on by some of the biggest names in the music industry. From what I've heard, quite a bit of money was raised so by all accounts it was a success. It has be nice the last few years that celebrities have stepped up to lend their names and talents to helping disaster victims here in the United States.

Now my musical tastes are pretty eclectic, but I have never been a fan of heavy metal or rap. As talented as they are, I've never been a fan of The Rolling Stones or The Who. I just am not partial to their music. I am more partial to country, blues/jazz with a little bluegrass thrown in. Reba McIntyre, George Strait, Sugarland, Adele, John Legend and Michael Buble being some of my favorites.

All that being said and in the interest of full disclosure, I only saw some of the concert that played on HBO last night, but some of what I saw concerned me. I saw some of the Bruce Spingsteen and Bon Jovi performances and they were excellent, of course I am a fan of theirs. It was the other 70ish year old men strutting around on stage that kind of gave me the "ick" factor.

Now I know the Rolling Stones are an institution, but just seeing Mick Jagger, who at 69, strutting and prancing around onstage like he did 40 years ago, was just kind of "icky" to me. There is nothing wrong with still performing at that age, but it seems like he could tone it down a little. It's great that he is still in such good shape to be able to do that, but letting a touch of gray show in your hair and not trying to do all the sames moves as when he was younger, in my opinion, would be much more attractive. I really don't want to see a 70 yr. old man, thrusting his pelvis. Even Keith Richards has let his hair go gray and he still seems every bit the rockin' roller he always was, it hasn't hurt him.

Now Roger Daltry, that's a whole different story. Unfortunately, I turned it over just in time to see him performing with the rest of The Who. All I can say is that someone needs to tell him that the open shirt look is not a good look for a 68 yr. old man. It was like coming upon an accident, I couldn't look away, oh I tried, but I just couldn't.  Why do older men think they can still pull that off. A 68 yr. old man can only open his shirt in public if he is out cutting grass on a hot summer day and even then it's kind of iffy.  It still makes my shudder to think about it. And, at the risk of making his fans upset, I think he sounded more like he was shouting, and rather badly, the song rather than singing it.

Lots of performers and previous rebels and rockin' rollers grow older gracefully and still perform and still have their fan following. There is nothing wrong with that. But for god's sake, keep your shirt buttoned up.

But despite all that, thanks to all the performers who helped with this great cause.


Kathy