Beat logo

My teenage years playlist

Why is it so important to me?

By Lawrence Edward HincheePublished 3 years ago 5 min read
1

All of us who are adults had to pass through what our parents dreaded called the teen years. When we became parents we all dreaded to see those years as well. Every generation has their own history, and music is no different. My parents had music from the 1950's, as a young boy I was able to enjoy music from there decades, the 50's,60's and 70's not that the 80's was bad but I was no longer a teenager. I don't know what happened to music after the 1980's because it became more vulgar, sexualized, and violent.

Everyone in the world is unique some of us have the same favorite songs, but we may like the song for different reasons. I have a play list that includes various types of genres of music. I loved music from country to pop but I absolutely hate rap and hip hop. I want to share my teenage play list for you and explain why each song is special for me. These songs aren't in any particular order so don't think the number sequence is in order of favoritism, instead I am listing them as they come to mind.

The song previewed by Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge over troubled water came out before my teen years, but was still played on the airwaves long after it was released. The reason why this song means a lot to me is simple. This song came out when I was ten, and as a gay boy in the 60's and 70's, I was bullied because I was effeminate. But after being bullied for what seemed like the one hundredth time in school, I was laying on my boyfriends bed crying. This song was just released and his parents bough the record for him. He put this song on, came over to his bed and held me in his arms, gently kissing away my tears all the while singing this song to me.

https://youtu.be/KUwjNBjqR-c Harry Chapin, The Cats and the cradle. During the 1970's I was a child whose parents had divorced. My dad wasn't around not for lack of trying but because of vengeance on my mothers behalf. Every time I heard this song it was a constant reminder of what I didn't have in my life that my friends did have. A boy needs his father and that is something I rarely got to have.

https://youtu.be/6cdFuMgMkBM Paper Lace, Billy don't be a hero. I absolutely loved this song. I knew I was going to be in the military when I was older. I figured if I had to die then why not as a hero.

https://youtu.be/tW_Wzs87Tpg Johnny Rivers, Slow Dancing swaying to the music. This song holds such dear memories for me. I had gone to my high school dance alone. I left because I was bored and took some balloons home with me. I went to my boyfriends house and we played this song. I took him in my arms after tying the balloons on his wrist. We slow danced through out the night before going to bed.

https://youtu.be/szV2VF-LmeU Charley Pride, All I have to offer you is me. This is the greatest gift you can give to anyone which is yourself. I loved listening to this mans voice and hearing him sing. We lost a great talent in 2020 and the first African American country singer.

https://youtu.be/5zoTLwrm9QE Red Sovine, Teddy Bear. This is one of the greatest tear jerking songs I've ever heard. I still tear up whenever I hear this song.

https://youtu.be/Limkwef_WMU David Geddes, Blind main the bleachers/Last Game of the season. This is another tear jerking song from my teen years. I would cry alone because men weren't supposed to cry. But being gay was a crime also.

https://youtu.be/1R2F9f2Cl6Y George Jones, He stopped loving her today. There is a reason why they called him the possum. This is one of my favorite songs by George. I was country when country wasn't cool.

https://youtu.be/i0TqZ_-vNZc Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, After the fire is gone. This is one of my favorite cheating songs of all time as only these two could tell it.

https://youtu.be/5mcqEkjURnM The Statler Brothers, I'll go to my grave loving you. This to me is one of the greatest love songs of all times. The fact that the Statlers are from my home state also makes it even better.

https://youtu.be/uErKI0zWgjg Johnny Cash, One piece at a time. Talk about grand theft auto. Man Johnny really out did himself. This one was a great classic that still stands today.

https://youtu.be/GONmFCkCGCc Bob Seger, Turn the page. I love Bob and he had a fantastic career. He was also one of the most underrated singers of my generation. This song tells about the ups and downs of being a performer on the road.

https://youtu.be/PhdPeij4L-0 Kiss, Beth. I don't like many of their songs, but this ballad always managed to lighten my mood. It is still a great song in my opinion.

https://youtu.be/9vST6hVRj2A Gordon Lightfoot, The wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald. Talk about a story teller this man is a great story teller and the fact that he wrote this song based on a true event, then donated all proceeds from this song to the family of the crew members is a testament in itself.

https://youtu.be/aA2IRoPFIn0 Queen, Somebody to Love. This song is a great song. I provided the live version as they are absolutely fantastic live. This song is everyone's desire to find someone to love. The fact that Freddy was gay was wonderful news for me. I had a crush on him.

https://youtu.be/C11MzbEcHlw Meatloaf, Paradise by the dashboard light. This can be anyone and yes this was a warning to many teens in a funny way. I laughed when I first hear this song.

https://youtu.be/3GVugJj7BUs Lief Garret, I was made for dancing. Why do I like this song, well look at the singer. He was a major heart throb back in the day. I had a huge crush on him and my sister couldn't understand why her pin up posters kept disappearing.

https://youtu.be/F9Nm_0pC4FM The Carpenters, Superstar. What can I say her voice is angelic. In my opinion the best female singer of all time. Like so many superstars, she passed away too soon. RIP angel

https://youtu.be/rGs1soJT9gE Dolly Parton, I will always love you. Everyone thinks that this is Whitney's song, when it isn't. Dolly wrote this song as a tribute to Porter as she was branching out on her own,

This is just a partial list of my teen favorite play list. I hope you enjoy it as I did in bringing it to you. I can keep going with the Beatle, Bee Gees, ABBA etc but then it would an extremely long submission to this challenge.

playlist
1

About the Creator

Lawrence Edward Hinchee

I am a new author. I wrote my memoir Silent Cries and it is available on Amazon.com. I am new to writing and most of my writing has been for academia. I possess an MBA from Regis University in Denver, CO. I reside in Roanoke, VA.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.