We were born in the 70s, at the pinnacle of decadence, when everything was in decline.
Then we saw America born-again in the Reagan '80s. We (the lucky ones) were too young to know that renaissance was built on lies, staged by cynics with a handsome frontman saying all the right things.
In the early 90s, at the start of the first Iraq war, it looked like we might get our own movement together. We didn't. I guess we just didn't have the heart for it. We were too clever, and knew too much, although most of it was secondhand. We let our parents blame the media for that.
Things were looking up in the Clinton era, and a lot of us got on the prosperity bandwagon, hoping all our country's foibles would just work themselves out, one dotcom success story and trade agreement at a time. Some of us stayed by the sidelines, but to listen to us, there wasn't much difference anymore, between the sell-outs and the rest of us, in contrast with the Boomers.
Oh, what went wrong with us?
We were such a beautiful baby. Look at those Gerber commercials.
And who will set us straight?
In 2008?
Stay tuned.
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Pop Culture Brats: The Songs of our Lives
"Good Times" by Chic, 1979
Boys will be boys, better let them have their toys."The End of the Innocence" by Don Henley, 1989
Girls will be girls, cute pony tails and curls.
Must put an end to this stress and strife.
I think I want to live the sporting life.
Armchair warriors often fail"Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana, 1991
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales.
With the lights out, it's less dangerous."The Impression That I Get" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, 1997
Here we are now, entertain us.
I've never had to knock on wood"Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer, 2006
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good.
It's not that we don't care.
We just know the fight ain't fair.
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