The Good Life
Do you remember the first album you bought? Of course you do.
My students and I covered this poem recently. A simple poem with a simple message that sometimes less is more. When the author of this poem was young and broke, payday became an event. It was a chance to live the good life for the next day or two, before returning to a life of bread and coffee. I couldn’t help but connect this message with the way my students consume music. I relate to “The Good Life” by remembering working at a grocery store, bagging groceries for around $4.00 an hour. Paydays meant a trip to the record store for an exciting new release or to fill the holes in your favorite artist’s catalog. This was a routine that was something to look forward to. If the author of the poem reaches a level where going out to dinner is no longer something to look forward to, then deciding where to eat becomes somewhat like a chore; it loses its magic. My students will never have to earn money in order to listen to their favorite artists. Of course many students love music and do look forward to new releases, but acquiring that music has lost its magic and deciding what to stream can be a chore. If there is one thing everyone needs, it is something to look forward to, something to be excited for. Modern conveniences are robbing us (and more importantly younger generations) of these opportunities. Sometimes, less is more.
So what was the first album that I bought with my own money?? That is a story for a different day, but I will post a picture of the album cover below. I also remember the first CD I bought, but my question to my students is a simple one. Do you remember the first song you streamed?
