Fav music for thirty-something yr olds?

[bylinebree]

Hey, I'm kinda old so help me out here :hi:

If you are about 29-32 yrs old, especially Brit (London) or American, what do you listen to? What was cool when you were a teen or younger adult as well?

My protag is half-English, half-American and fairly upbeat though he's a lawyer (no offense!). He likes some kind of rock probably...or I might use what you all share with me!

Gratzi.

[Ms Hollands]

Did he grow up in the UK or the US? British rock is more indie-based compared with the straight-up rock from the US.

My 30-something friends from the UK like typically British bands (like The Happy Mondays, Depeche Mode, The Cure or Radiohead (so far none of these bands are very upbeat). Maybe Blur, Chemical Bros, Ash, Reef...

But why go with a real band? Will it not date your writing?

[alleycat]

You can Google to find what was the top songs and top albums for different years. For your protag that would be from about 1990 to 2000.

[mab]

My boyfriend is almost 29 and English. I have to say a lot of his music is stuff he liked when he was a teenager. He likes fairly mainstream US/UK rock, a bit of rap and some dance music.

A quick glance at his CD rack and I see reef, oasis, guns and roses, stone temple pilots, deftones, beck, stereophonics, rage against the machine, alice in chains, beastie boys, bush, foo fighters, nirvana (grunge was pretty big here too...) chili peppers,greenday, korn, U2, counting crows, soundgarden, pearl jam, zutons, coldplay. There are also a few dance compilations to remind him of his student clubbing days.

He's more mainstream than a lot of rock fans here, who prefer more indie stuff.

[Smiling Ted]

Go to a dating site, like OkCupid.
They will have a profile section that includes "favorite bands/music."
Then search for someone age/sex appropriate for your MC.
Voila...all the samples you need.

[Kathleen42]

Well, I'm a 30 year old Canadian who listens to Virgin radio (so I'm guessing that's close enough).

When I was a teen: Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Sarah Maclaughlan (sp?), the Party of Five and Clueless soundtracks, Oasis, Garbage, Counting Crows (oh Lord, did I ever love the Counting Crows), REM

Now I listen to a bit of everything: Scissor Sisters, Stereophonics, Tom Jones Reloaded

[underthecity]

I'm 38 and was a child of the 80s. If your protag is 32, then he'll be a child of the 90s. So, kind of what Kathleen42 above says. However, remember that not everyone liked Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. The choices in music preference will say something about the character. For instance Pearl Jam--hard grunge rock--versus Counting Crows--a softer sounding rock with more emphasis on vocals. Which would the MC like better? Or does he like the "chick rock" boom of the 90s that included Sara MacLaughlan and Joan Osborne?

[scarletpeaches]

I'm 32 and Scottish, so yes, a Brit.

I listen to 30STM, Linkin Park, Goo Goo Dolls, Train, Sarah McLachlan, OneRepublic, 50 Cent, NeYo, Rihanna, Madonna, you name it.

There's no one band, singer or genre that applies across the board.

But 30STM PWN!

That is all.

[kuwisdelu]

If I were a British thirty-year-old, I would listen to Porcupine Tree.

Of course, I still do anyway, but that's despite my not being British or thirty. In my experience thirty-year-old Brits, Poles, and Swedes are a large part of their irrationally small fanbase.



Oh, and for a fairly upbeat thirty-ish lawyer, I also recommend "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by the Proclaimers. I'm never gonna get tired of that song. Never, ever, ever!

[scarletpeaches]

You are joking, kuwisdelu!

In one of the clubs I used to frequent, they use that as the floor-clearer when the ugly lights come up! :roll:

[bylinebree]

Did he grow up in the UK or the US?

He's split his time between both, school in the UK with grandparents as his guardians; summers in the US with other relatives. When the story opens, he's a grad student at small ivy-league university in the northeast.

But why go with a real band? Will it not date your writing?I figured making something up would be as lame. But you could be right; I could just refer to a genre of music, and not an actual band.

Thanks for the brainstorming and sites to look up stuff, all!
Appropriately, you rock :)

[bylinebree]

If I were a British thirty-year-old, I would listen to Porcupine Tree.

Of course, I still do anyway, but that's despite my not being British or thirty.

Too funny, kuwi ! :)

[sassandgroove]

I disagree with Underthecity. I am 32 and I like the music from the 80's much more than the music from the 90's.

I liked DEF LEPPARD back in the day (still do), and U2, INXS, all the hair bands.

They Might Be Giants and Toad the Wet Sprocket, for some variety. :D

[Cyia]

US -- Nirvana (high school years), Linkin Park and Nickleback (after high school to present)

[Kathleen42]

Toad the Wet Sprocket. :D

Lord how I loved "Little Heaven" and "Crazy Life".

[hoppytoad79]

I'm female and I'll be 30 next month and I love 80s music much more than 90s music. Never listened to grunge, never wanted to. I loved (and still do) Roxette and Ace of Base. Madonna (mostly 80s stuff), Bangles, New Kids on the Block, C+C Music Factory, Wilson Phillips, Paula Abdul, Enya, oldies of the late 50s and early 60s.

[sirensix]

I think a lot of 30-somethings prefer 80s music to 90s music because we were much happier in the 80s. :)

[jennifer75]

Aint that the truth, Siren? ;)

I'm 33 - OOOOOOOOOH DID I SAY THAT OUTLOUD?

80's music definitely grabs me a little more than 90's...I don't know why but Siren is right, I do remember happier times when that music was on the radio as opposed to REM's Everybody Hurts all through the 90's.

As for particular artists...

Junior High was a mess, so many different artists that were slowly fading out of the picture on the pop scene. But High School was all about Alternative Rock for me. As mentioned below, Nirvana was huge, RHCP's, the Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam...

I got a taste of the Indie rock a little later, when I was a senior in HS. Pulp was good.

A huge chunk of my adoloscence was spent with the heavier "Metal" rock music also.

Today? I listen to - way other end of the field - R&B, Soul, Classic Rock, and of course "I kisssssssed a girl and Iiiiiiiiiiiiiii liked it..."

I call it maturing.

[kuwisdelu]

I should also mention "Let's Go to the Mall" by Robin Sparkles.

Also "Sandcastles in the Sand."

But you might have to be Canadian to really know those.