Fridays are fun around here at TKZ. We talk about writing, marketing tips and tricks—but wait! Yes, we can cover those writing topics and more on Fridays, but let’s have a bit of fun.
Today we’re going to indulge in some nostalgia.
What was your favorite music when you were a teenager? Tell us the genre and the artist(s) you couldn’t get enough of. Did your parents approve, or did you have to be an undercover listener? Has your choice of tunes changed now that you’re a *grown-up*?
I’ll start: My parents introduced me to Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, The Ames Brothers and the like. My friends introduced me to Creedence, the Monkees, and the Eagles—for covert listening, of course.
I liked all of it then . . . but now? I’d listen to that second group of artists every day and twice on Sundays.
Okay, your turn–what’s your fave music from back in the day? And how about your characters–are they music lovers? What tunes do they gravitate to?
And thanks for playing Name That Tune!
Great question, Deb. When I do a character I like to know what happened to them when they were 16, a pivotal year, and what music they listened to.
For me, Beatles, of course. Dylan, Carole King, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor. Also, a name largely forgotten—Jim Croce, who died much too young.
Jim Croce, absolutely! “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, baddest man in the whole damn town.”
We musta listened to the same radio stations, JIm. Long live Wolfman Jack.
Yep!
🙂
Loved Jim Croce! And all those others you listed too
Hi Sharon–thanks for stopping by today.
Croce was the best, yes. I think my favorite of his work was Time in a Bottle . . . like a million other fans, too.
A great talent–30 is too young to die.
Have a good day!
Hi, Jim!
That list brought back memories for me for sure. Another group of artists my siblings and I listened to when the parental units were not around. 🙂
And thanks for mentioning Croce…what a talent.
My bro and I rode the bus to high school, before we acquired our own wheels. There was one bus driver on our route who played all the cool music on the radio. All the kids on other routes were jealous.
Have a good weekend!
Funny how a couple TKZ posts recently bring up the subject of rebellion. I’d mentioned my rebellion against “classic” literature due to being forced to read it, and now you remind me of another family member’s rebellion with today’s post.
My parents were country music listeners and in this case, I followed suit and have always loved good classic country (i.e. Merle Haggard, Don Williams, etc.). Although in the mid-90’s I began to lose interest in country radio because country was no longer sounding like country. But still love listening to the classics.
But here’s where the rebellion came in – my parents were country, and it was my older sister who rebelled against country & is a strict rock and roller. You probably couldn’t pay her to listen to country.
What little rock and roll I know from the 70’s early 80’s came from her blasting her stereo when she came home from work. LOL!
But good question about what kind of music my protagonist likes. Hadn’t thought about it and I have no idea what music was popular around 1917. Will have to do some checking (another research rabbit hole. LOL!)
Happy Friday!
Mornin’ Brenda!
Back in the ’60s music was a tool of rebellion, I think. I knew kids who would listen to “that” music just in order to aggravate the grown-ups. I don’t know if it’s the same now. Probably not, because the parents now who have kiddos in mid-to-high school age range might like the same tunes their kids do. I don’t know–I’m kind of outta that loop now.
Let us know what you discover about 1917 music, okay?
Thanks for dropping in!
I go back to folk music. The Limeliters, Kingston Trio were my go-tos. Then, PP&M, Dylan, the Beatles. Neil Diamond from my mom. My car has the Beatles Channels as a preset.
My characters listen to whatever I tell them to, if it’s needed for a scene.
Hi Terry… My characters listen to whatever I tell them to…
That’s the spirit!
The Beatles. I still remember the expression on Mom and Dad’s faces when Ed Sullivan hosted them on his show the first time. I think they thought they were aliens or something. What is this world coming to? is playing back in my head right now. 🙂
Beatles Channel–who knew? I guess that’s what the world came to!
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day.
Slight segue here – I use ringtones (different genres, different eras) on my protagonist’s phone that are popular songs. For instance – Walking On Sunshine is the ringtone for his girlfriend…Who Let The Dogs Out is the ringtone for his boss…The theme from Shaft is the ringtone for his private eye friend. When the reader hears (reads) the ringtone, they don’t need to be told who is calling.
For the 20 years or so I have worked in education, my ringtone has been, “Another Brick in the Wall pt. 2.” At one meeting the administrators were being given new phones. First thing I did was set the ringtone. Then set the same ringtone for several school principals. 🙂
Good morning, Henry!
Ringtones–what a great idea for your stories. And you reminded me of a funny story I heard in my 9-to-5 days.
A nurse I worked with has two daughters. At that time they were both in their late teens. She had one ringtone for one and a different one for the other. One day when I was at her work station, her cell phone rang. It was the theme music from Jaws. After she finished the call, she told me that the call had been from her “problem child”. 🙂
I asked her what the ringtone was for her other daughter. She said “the good child’s” ringtone was The Hallelujah Chorus.
I still laugh over that.
Have a great day!
I like ringtones for characters too. My young pilot heroine, Cassie, has “Fly Me to the Moon” as her ringtone.
Hi Kay!
Great ringtone choice for her. I think that song was used in the movie Space Cowboys, too, wasn’t it?
Thanks for dropping by today. Have a great weekend!
My mom played classical music and Frank Sinatra and his peers. My brother was into big band music and movie themes, like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. I listened to 60s rock. While they weren’t my favorites, I most remember the protest songs: Barry McGuire’s Eve of Destruction (which was banned from play on the radio), Hedgehoppers Anonymous’ It’s Good News Week, Peter, Paul, and Mary’s El Salvador and Light One Candle. Someone in my college dorm blasted Edwin Starr’s War every night at 10PM. Funny how today’s news makes me think of those songs.
I don’t usually mention music that my characters listen to, but I always have trailer music tracks that I associate with them and with certain scenes. It helps me find the right emotions.
Good Friday morning, Kathy!
“…but I always have trailer music tracks that I associate with them and with certain scenes. It helps me find the right emotions.”
I like that. As writers we’re emotion-chasers, aren’t we?
Thanks for stopping by!
I was raised on 1960’s folk music. Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter. Paul and Mary. My father called the night he got to carry Pete Seeger’s guitar the best day of his life. My mother kind of thought he wedding day was better, but that fight is over.
Then I discovered The Beatles, The Doors, Cat Stevens, and Steely Dan. My eclectic, multicultural high school days added old school (OK it wasn’t old school then) hip hop and R&B.
My children were raised with Sesame Street and a wonderful lullaby CD called Bedtime with the Beatles. A Certain now college grad had “night night music” on their Spotify when they went off to college.
Hi Alan!
Cat Stevens. I loved him! However, my parents? Not so much.
Your father got to carry Seeger’s guitar?? Wow! Don’t tell your mom, but I’m with him on it being the best day…
Have a great weekend!
The loud hip hop is my, not my children’s car. In November, 2024 oldest child introduced me to Westside Gravy. He grew up in San Diego and then moved “home” to Israel.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3Cz16jmRA8SNqS7JRypf7O?si=cffa52e4269747e3
Put them in the dirt.
Thanks for the link, Alan.
I’d never heard of this artist, rap not being my first choice to listen to. But his message is loud and clear.
Have a good day, my friend!
I feel as if I have a split personality when it comes to music. My dad loved country music so we listened to Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Charlie Pride, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, etc. My mom loved Eddie Arnold. But the first 45 I bought was “I’ve Been through the Desert on a Horse with No Name, followed by America Pie (I can still recite the lyrics). My favorite song my senior year was Born to Run. My freshman year “Night Moves” was on the jukebox at the Catfish Bar and Grill where all my new college friends gathered after class and I drank my first beer. Cheap pitchers for $1.50. My husband is a classic rock junkie. So my programmed stations on the car “entertainment system” are country music, contemporary Christian music, and classic rock, and blues. I like them all.
Hi Kelly–
Music is like a portal to long-hidden memories, isn’t it? I remember being jammed in a VW Bug with about seven other college friends, heading for some body surfing fun on a southern California beach, listening to Croce and Dylan. Those were the days…
Thanks for chiming in this morning!
The horse with no name is heroin, AKA “horse.”
Great question, Deb! Supertramp, especially their albums “Crime of the Century,” “Even in the Quietest Moments,” and “Breakfast in America.” Pink Floyd, especially “Wish You Were Here” and of course, “Dark Side of the Moon.” Alan Parsons Project, “Tales of Mystery and Imagination” and “I, Robot.”
Meg and her best friend Sassy love listening to 80s music (no surprise since the Meg Booker librarian mysteries are set in the mid-80s):
Til Tuesday, Howard Jones, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Cyndi Lauper are some of their favorites.
Good morning, Dale…
’80s music–now that brings back some long-filed folders in my memory banks.
My kiddos–posters on the bedroom walls, music blaring from their portable stereos, and big hair. Now, all three of them listen to what their kids (and some grandkids) listen to.
And the beat goes on…
Have a great weekend!
Hey gang!
Steve Laube’s all about music today, too! Check out this link to see 12 pianists playing the same piano at the same time…great fun!
https://stevelaube.com/fun-fridays-july-11-2025/
I set my novels in the year I was the same age as my protagonist to get the zeitgeist for free (or my version of it, anyway).
One sadly unfinished story of mine works this into the third paragraph:
“It all started during the first week of school. Sophomore year. Wednesday, September 4, 1974. Paul Anka’s “Having My Baby” was at the top of the charts, but other than that I was doing okay.”
Hi Robert…
That’s a great idea–to use the zeitgeist method.
“…but other than that I was doing okay.”
Pretty much sums it up, I think!
Thanks for your comments, and have a great weekend playing with your zeitgeist. 🙂
Music wasn’t a big part of our household. When we did listen is was old hymns. When I was thirteen or fourteen I bought a John Denver album–Rocky Mountain High. I played it constantly. In school I was an art major and a rock station out of Buffalo played during class–that was my first introduction to KISS, Led Z, etc. Loved that music.
Now I listen to about everything. Classical, pop, 60s and 70s rock, country, jazz, blues.
As for my characters, since I write westerns, it was whatever was playing in saloons at the time.
Funny story about ringtones, I was in a client meeting when my mother-in-law called. My clients offered that I could take the call if I needed but I told them who it was and that I’d call her back. They laughed. “Bad To The Bone” is your mother-in-law’s ring tone. Yup.
Hi Douglas!
Rocky Mountain High–I remember listening to that when I lived in LA and would zoom down the freeways to the beach. Or, covertly listen in the soundproof “listening rooms” in the music building. (I was a vocal music major.) It had to be covert because the powers that were wanted to hear classical from those rooms.
Ha! Bad To The Bone . . . I love it!
Have a good one!
Back in the day, I was into Jethro Tull, Yes, early Genesis (before they sold out), Mike Oldfield, Gentle Giant, the Who, and similar. I wouldn’t have allowed myself to be seen listening to anything that had graced the Top-40 list. With friends, I might also listen to some of the British folk: Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, or Pentangle.
As far as the characters go, Franklin listens to blues, more Beth Hart-ish than Lead Belly. Tracy listens to 70s and 80s rock and pop. I mention Kashmir and Muskrat Love. I’m trying to decide whether I need to pull the song references (no lyrics included, just a song and artist name) My editor threw the yellow flag for IP concerns. When I researched, I found advice that went all over.
Hi Bill!
I gotta say, you stumped me with all the music you mentioned…except The Who (which always brings owls to my mind…).
And thanks for mentioning the legal snafus we have to keep in mind, and for joining the nostalgic discussion today.
Now you’ve gone and done it–while I can’t remember the majority of the song, the Chorus of Muskrat Love keeps playing in my head. Gotta go look up the lyrics and remind myself who sang it. I want to say Captain & Tenille but not sure.
The famous version was Captain and Tenille but it was recorded by a couple of other groups in the 70s. I needed a happy, silly, song to try to lighten up a character.
Late to the party, again. So, for whomever joins later than I:
My parents only bought one album that I can recall. It was about 3 or 4 33rpm disks, all classical, Peer Gynt: Anitra’s Dance, etc. My dad kept the radio in his Cadillac tuned to KFAC, the classical station. Some Sundays, he’d drive my sister and me to St. Vincent’s, and we’d listen to Mickey Katz on the way back.
After he passed on, I kept the radio on KFAC to and from USC. For studying, however, the last thing I needed was melodic, gentle music. To stay awake, I often listened to KFWB from dusk till dawn, and sometimes on the way to school or work, later.
After I learned not to listen to love songs, I kept my car radio set at KFAC.
I’m still here, J!
Speaking of albums, my parents had hundreds…mostly not what teens back then listened to, but I acquired a taste for their fave music. Until I moved out & “met” the likes of CCR and Dylan, that is. And now I have their albums, some not all, out in boxes in the garage.
BTW, just looked at your website and I love your tagline!
Have a good weekend…
CCR remains my all-time favorite. I used to dance to their long (11 min.) version of “Grapevine” with someone special. Most of the club would sit down when the opening chords were played, leaving the dance floor to the two of us.
😉