Talking about the 'Age' of musicians

I had interesting and positive feedback for my song "I don't want to get old' It made me think maybe this is a topic for a new thread!
Is it true to say their are more 'mature' musicians than young ones at wikiloops ? There are a great many who appear ageless.
I want to ask if older music makers get better (after all that practice and experience) ?
Famous older performers are still going strong - Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Dionne Warwick, Dolly Parton, Rod Stewart and many more. Some bands, like Queen or The Beach boys, are still touring even though they don't have all the original members.

Most singers (and maybe other musicians) tend to adapt their style to make it more achievable with less range or less flexibility.

They say "Age is just a number" and "You're as young as you feel" but is the paying public forgiving about wrinkles, flab and beer bellies, grey (or no) hair, weak vocals or lack of athleticism ? I think so, you don't become judgmental about a band you (or your parents/Grandparents) have loved forever.

Can you teach an old dog new tricks ? - or are you just happy that he still has those great licks ?

I welcome more of your insight, opinion or advice in this old thread here :)<3

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My €0.02 Shamika

Q: Is it true to say their are more 'mature' musicians than young ones at wikiloops ?
A: I've no idea. I'm one of the younger guys that pops in from time to time here!! (I'm 60) :D

Q: I want to ask if older music makers get better (after all that practice and experience) ?
A: Yes - if they still love what they do and play from the heart.

Q: Is the paying public forgiving about wrinkles, flab and beer bellies, grey (or no) hair, weak vocals or lack of athleticism ?
A: Probably not but who cares?

Q: Can you teach an old dog new tricks ?
A: Depends only on whether or not the old dog wants to learn a new trick.

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Q: Is it true to say their are more 'mature' musicians than young ones at wikiloops ?
A: One does not talk about age, except when it comes to racehorses, luxury super cars in the underground garage, and rare vintage guitars.

Q: I want to ask if older music makers get better (after all that practice and experience) ?
A: there are no older music makers here, just handsome boys and girls.

Q: Is the paying public forgiving about wrinkles, flab and beer bellies, grey (or no) hair, weak vocals or lack of athleticism ?
A: What a question. Next question

Q: Can you teach an old dog new tricks ?
A: Absolutely, but I'd need to find an old dog first who admits he's old

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Ha-ha, some great responses from the 'boys' there. A little in denial maybe but quite a laissez-faire attitude to life .... and amusing too <3 :D

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Q: Is it true to say there are more 'mature' musicians than young ones at wikiloops ?
A: No idea, I listen to their music and do not check whereabouts, age or anything,

Q: I want to ask if older music makers get better (after all that practice and experience) ?
A: Practice helps, but getting better is in the mind. With music, there is no end goal.

Q: Is the paying public forgiving about wrinkles, flab and beer bellies, grey (or no) hair, weak vocals or lack of athleticism ?
A: If they come for the music, it does not matter

Q: Can you teach an old dog new tricks ?
A: Depends on the dog. I know puppies who are not willing to learn.

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like a great thrift store, you'll find some unique and well-aged items here, maybe a few antiques :) but something for everyone



You are too kind, thank you my dear :D



good question, maybe the view of what's 'better' changes with age?



depends on that old dog, some dogs still got some major bite around here :) a few yappers and heel bitters, some clean-cut and some mangy, and some aren't current on their vaccinations :D

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I'm enjoying your thoughtful posts but I didn't mean this to be a Q&A test :)
Feel free to say what you think about either :-
Playing music into your dotage,
Calling it a day (or being asked to stop) or
Recreating yourself with a different image or new look... or whatever !

In the meantime, here's some other old music dogs
[img]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRtKlpfjo-7dIxqSmRYtqlSmt7jGVzyjuY3VUC3KzwtOQ&s[/img]
[img]https://img.freepik.com/premium-photo/dog-playing-bass-guitar-is-wearing-leather-jacket-is-playing-bass-guitar_873925-21189.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.makeagif.com/media/10-10-2015/AtGT0U.gif[/img]

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The problem with age as I see it is that you have more in your past than your future!
This is fine as long as you have lived a good life, learned from mistakes and found out who you are and what you want from life.

The down side of aging
is when you can't shake off past mistakes and happenings, wrong choices and decisions. Downers tend to say "If only" "What if" "Why" etc. But we all know you can't change the past, just your attitude towards it.
As you age, your reactions can be slower, awareness may be cloudier, you may become less trusting, more nervous or anxious in certain situations. Musicians may have issues with hearing, seeing, dexterity and memory. (We've had threads about this before I'm sure) Sorry if this is a little depressing but I think it helps to share sometimes.

The bright side of ageing
is that you have so much more experience to draw upon in your music and lyric writing and your communications with others.
Do you find yourself writing about being sad, lonely, confused, concerned, the state of the human race etc ?
Maybe you are philosophical about life and want to share your ideas in a helpful way?

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So many thoughts Shamika!

[youtube]T2cGlSbvSh4?si=jjVwPQN0njUAmvHw[/youtube]

Translation with Google translation (bye bye poetic):

While I slept, while I dreamed
The hands have turned, it's too late
My childhood is so far away, it's already tomorrow
Pass the time, there won't be much longer
While I loved you, while I had you
Love is gone, it's too late
You were so pretty, I'm alone in my bed
Pass the time, there won't be much longer
While I sang of my dear freedom
Others have chained her, it's too late
Some fought, I never knew
Pass the time, there won't be much longer
Yet I still live, yet I make love
I even sing on my guitar
For the child I was, for the child I made
Pass the time, there won't be much longer
While I sang, while I loved you
While I was dreaming there was still time

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Thanks Didier, I am a full time thinker and analizer :)
I don't think it matters how old French performers are, that language is so romantic :)
I can think of a few from Films and the charts, like
Maurice Chevalier 1888 - 1972 (Thank Heavens for little girls)
Charles Aznavour 1924–2018 (She)
Sacha Distel 1933–2004 (Raindrops keep falling on my head)
I always thought Edith Piaf was old but in fact she was only 48 when she died.

Do male singers and performers get away with being older longer than female ones ?

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I think it s a question for Mick Jagger or Dolly Parton...

Shamika, about time that is flowing away, this song is for you ...

[youtube]vIVafGRu6K4?si=eTXfgZ1jJQz-x1Ax[/youtube]

Translation

With time
In time, everything goes away
We forget the face, and we forget the voice
The heart, when it beats more
There's no point looking any further
You have to let it happen, and that’s fine.
With time
In time, everything goes away
The other that we adored, that we looked for in the rain
The other that we guessed at a glance
Between the words, between the lines and under the makeup
Of a disguised oath that goes away for the night
In time everything fades away
With time
In time, everything goes away
Even the nicest memories, you have one of those faces
At the gallery, I rummage in the rays of death
Saturday evening when tenderness goes away on its own
With time
In time, everything goes away
The other one we thought was due to a cold, for nothing
The other who was given wind and jewels
For whom one would have sold his soul for a few pennies
Before which, we dragged ourselves like dogs drag
With time, everything will be fine
With time
In time, everything goes away
We forget the passions and we forget the voices
Who whispered to you the words of poor people
Don't come home too late, especially don't get cold
With time
In time, everything goes away
And we feel bleached like a exhausted horse
And we feel frozen in a bed of chance
And we feel all alone perhaps, but relaxed
And we feel cheated by the wasted years
So really
Over time we no longer love

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Thank you once again Didier. I was truly moved by that song. The poetry of it is very cryptic and almost strange when translated .... but the passion in the voice of the singer almost brings tears.
Le temps sur terre est précieux, le temps perdu ne peut être restitué

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Cette chanson de Ferré me fait pleurer à chaque écoute.

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La langue rend cette chanson plus poignante pour moi.

I Googled Ferre
"Léo Ferré was a French-born Monégasque poet and composer, and a dynamic and controversial live performer" He was 76 and still performing I believe.

Making songs from poetry makes them special and they stand the test of time :)

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I have written so many introspective songs and poems - I think I'm always looking for the meaning (and the point) of this mysterious thing that's happening to us all. One single lifetime is so insignificant in the grand scheme of the Universe and beyond.... and yet it is so important to each of us <3 We look for answers that we know we'll never find or even understand. We have deep moments and shallow ones, our minds are like great unexplored oceans... it's good to dive down sometimes because when we surface we can breath new, fresh air :)

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Long topic I suspect. Age has its plus and down sides.

The down side? On the drums, my energy and accuracy has declined. I’ve got a dicky back and just the general getting older symptoms (I’m 51 so quite young compared to many on here)

The upside? I’ve mellowed about music. I no longer have strong opinions about it and I’ve learned to let people do things their way without judgement.

I’ve learned to keep on learning. Even the lowliest beginner will pull something out of their musical hat which I will draw from.

Most importantly, my playing and attitude has grown up. I haven’t necessarily got technically better (the opposite in fact) but I’ve learned over the years to serve the music and not my ego. This is something we’re probably all guilty of when younger: playing something fancy to impress people when it has no place being there. Experience has taught me the audience never notice, at least in the drums.

I’ve said it before but I shall quote my first drum teacher: “if you do a gig and no one notices you, then you’ve done your job properly.”

I would love to have my youthful vigour back in my playing but I would hate to lose the wisdom I’ve acquired.

Probably not answered anything there - just my 2p.

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On the contrary, I totally get everything you 'pointed' out Mr Pointon. I think there's a place for pleasing yourself first and foremost and if someone likes what you do then you've found a new fan or even a friend, which adds the cherry on top :)

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