You measure a good song the same way you measure…
““You measure a good song the same way you measure architecture, fashion, or any other artistic endeavor. Time. You know when you see a picture of yourself from the eighties with a horrible hairdo and some stone-washed jeans and you think, “How embarrassing—what the fuck was I thinking? Why didn’t somebody stop me?” It’s the same thing Mick Jagger and David Bowie should be thinking every time they hear their cover of “Dancing in the Streets.” The point is, at the time it seemed like a good idea, just like kitchens with burnt-orange Formica and avocado appliances, den walls covered with fake brick paneling, and segregation—all horrible decisions that we now universally recognize as wrong. But somehow when it comes to music, we can’t just admit we made a mistake with “Emotional Rescue.” There’s always some dick who defends the past. “Hey, man, I lost my virginity to ‘Careless Whisper.’ ” I’m sure there was somebody who got laid for the first time on 9/11 but they don’t get a boner when they see the footage of the planes going into the tower.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Artistic works are judged by how well they age; past trends often become cringe, yet we defend them out of nostalgia.
In simple terms: We judge old art by current standards, yet cling to it.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and learn from past cultural missteps.
Themes
nostalgia
culture
critique
Mood
critical
humorous
Type
cultural
observational
When to use this quote
- fashion trends
- music videos
- interior design
- personal memories
Key Concepts
subjectivity
temporal perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- What past trend do you still defend?
- How does time change your view of art?
A Different Perspective
Nostalgia can cloud objective assessment.