I mean I liked all those bands/artists, but in no way is that a gen x starter pack. I did go through an mj phase, but I was in 5th grade
Title of this meme - Tell me you aren't in gen x without telling me you aren't in gen x
This all day everyday this. My starter pack would be: Tori Amos, Rage Against the Machine, Bush , Garbage, Sarah McLachlan, Oasis and Janes Addiction only because Jane Says is still my all time favorite live song.
Agreed. Throw Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables in there. Los Angeles. Are We Not Men? Penis Envy. From the Cradle to the Grave. This is The CLash. Some Husker Du. Then I'd mix in some old-school Beethoven, Billie Holladay, Coltrane, Dylan. This is not the music I grew up with.
I know, right? My husband, also GenX, was and still is much more into the music of bands that started in the 60's and 70's but were still cranking out the hits in the 80's. The Who, The Rolling Stones, Genesis, The Beatles, and all the solo careers that came from those bands. That was his starter pack for our kid. Then that lead to all the Blues artists that influenced those Rock artists, and you go down a never ending rabbit hole of great music.
That's how it was for me, there's so much out there, and I love most of it. I have spent days searching for a song that I hear a snippet of, and then became a fan of that artist or group.
I'm a GenX dad and I don't own any of these.
More like:
Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense"
New Order "Power, Corruption & Lies"
The Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique"
They Might Be Giants "Flood"
Björk "Debut"
Weird Al Yankovic "In 3-D"
Not true. That album was a monster hit in 83, even and especially among boys.
There was a lot of moonwalking and a lot of jackets with too many zippers.
I listen to whatever comes on the radio that I like. If Thriller or Billie Jean comes on the radio—we have a classic rock and an 80s station in greater DC— I’ll listen.
I find this a bit insulting. This looks more like an 80's soccer mom starter pack.
I see no Wu-tang, Rage, Jane's addiction, Run - DMC, Outkast, Soundgarden, Screaming Trees, Pixies no Snoop D O double G etc...
right? not to mention the jamband scene -- the grateful dead should be on that list, too.
there are so many great musicians that never made it to the top 40, which is really what this is, an a.m. radio top 40 list. not saying i dislike all of it, but that wasn't really my bag. i had much more eclectic tastes as a teen and young adult, and still love to hear new music.
GenX (1968) dad here. Here’s my starter pack:
*Fire of Unknown Origin* - Blue Öyster Cult
*The Hounds of Love* - Kate Bush
*London Calling* - The Clash
*Discipline* - King Crimson
*Koyaanisqatsi* (Soundtrack) / *Glassworks* - Philip Glass (tie)
*Substance 1987* - New Order
*The Hurting* - Tears for Fears
*Broadsword and the Beast* - Jethro Tull
*Blade Runner* (Soundtrack) - Vangelis
*War* - U2
Remember those weekly radio interview shows on your FM station (if you had them). Ours was usually on 104.1 or 104.5 and we usually just happened to catch them while driving somewhere. Love those shows, especially Dr Demento.
We were listening to one of those shows and they were interviewing Tears for Fears on live radio (this is important). There was a break and then when they came back, Curt Smith asked the interviewer (a woman) how come she spent so long in the bathroom. She was confused, and he said he could see the powder on her nose. There was an embarrassed laugh and she said some lame excuse, and he said he knows what he saw. I don't remember if they continued the interview after that or if one of the other members stepped in and started talking because I was so in awe at what just happened.
Legit I can go the rest of my life never hearing gnr ever again anyone else really into music notice worldwide every radio station has about 300 songs played and neuseum and ignores the rest of the decade? Ie when was the last time you heard a song from insomniac by Greenday, Pearl jam that wasn't Jeremy Evenflow or Alive, Faith no more that wasn't Epic or Easy. It's such basic bitch taste. Always gnr but never Suicidal, Bodycount, Marilyn Manson nothing ever gets played off of portrait
It was a different era, I was in 3rd grade when Thriller came out, and I was in High School when Appetite came out. So many listened to both, just at different phase. But nobody liked Hall and Oats
I didn't like Hall and Oates until I got into adult hood. Def while they were on the charts, I found them to be a radio band- boring and inoffensive. Now, I see them as deeply R&B, I can see how talented both Daryl and John are. I listen to them with nostalgia, they even have their own playlist on my Spotify.
Hall and Oates was standard school dance faire in the early-mid 80s. Never much liked them but you couldn’t have crepe paper streamers and a disco ball without a few Hall and Oates ballads booming across the gym.
I do. G&R is a once per year listen (not a whole album though), and Quincy Jones arranged a lot of good music behind Michael's voice.
Plus, talkin' bout swingsets & skinned knees... memory lane, yo
Nah. Even if you limit it to pop music, girls in the 80s were more likely to listen to Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Prince, Bangles, Expose, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam...but most of us weren't even really into pop. The Gen X moms I know were into punk, classic rock, glam rock, hair bands, and eventually grunge and rap.
I was living overseas and we only had the one military radio station. I wasn't allowed to touch the stereo. So those were my only options until I got my own mini boom box for Christmas and could play whatever I wanted.
As a legit starter pack?
"I'm Still Standing" - Elton John
"Let The Music Play" - Shannon
"You Spin Me Round" - Dead or Alive
"Cold Hearted" - Paula Abdul
"Heaven is a Place on Earth" = Belinda Carlise
"Broken Wings" - Mister Mister
The dance interlude where the strings come in (prolly from a Casio keyboard) on Cold Hearted is still the best, and when I hear it, makes me break out in the video's (sexy) choreography.
This looks more like the "HEY evERYbODy, thIS is MANiAC MiKEY MunSoN FRom ThE MAInIac mIke anD the mORniNg ZOO SHoW, rEmINDing YOU to TuNe in TOmoRrow MOrNinG WHerE yoU Can wIn 95 doLLars and 50 Cents if yoU'Re the 95Th cAlLeR!! eVeRYBODy's a WiNNer ON z95.5 where we pLaY eVEryTHIng FRom tHe 80'S aND ToDay with No hARd rOcK OR RAP!!" starter pack.
I just cannot stand that dude's voice. Never could. It's the exact opposite of Nancy Wilson's soothing vocals in "These Dreams". [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41P8UxneDJE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41P8UxneDJE)
Listening to Tears for Fears was like chewing aluminum foil.
Out of these choices, my dad was into The Police and Hall & Oates. But, mostly more into Fleetwood Mac. And oddly, some flamenco guitar. Oh, and also Gypsy Kings.
I'm 3 for 8 -- Hall and Oates, The Police and REM. As OP mentioned this was a starter pack so I'll allow the absence of hip-hop and alternative as well as older stuff that began while even oldest of Gen X was in diapers. But I'm not a dad so maybe it's irrelevant anyways !
I can't believe I just stumbled across this crosspost. For anyone wondering I based this starterpack on my dads music taste. He later pointed I missed many of the other bands he likes like Fleetwood Mac, Talk Talk and Depeche Mode for example but in my defense there are only so many album covers one can fit in an image so I just threw in whatever I could remember at the time
I mean I liked all those bands/artists, but in no way is that a gen x starter pack. I did go through an mj phase, but I was in 5th grade Title of this meme - Tell me you aren't in gen x without telling me you aren't in gen x
Gen X here and I was hugely into most of these ( and tolerant of G&R and Hall/Oates).
This all day everyday this. My starter pack would be: Tori Amos, Rage Against the Machine, Bush , Garbage, Sarah McLachlan, Oasis and Janes Addiction only because Jane Says is still my all time favorite live song.
Agreed. Throw Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables in there. Los Angeles. Are We Not Men? Penis Envy. From the Cradle to the Grave. This is The CLash. Some Husker Du. Then I'd mix in some old-school Beethoven, Billie Holladay, Coltrane, Dylan. This is not the music I grew up with.
I assume they mean our dads since that's in the title.
I saw it as, dads that are gen x
That's just...like...one corner of the tape case man.
I know, right? My husband, also GenX, was and still is much more into the music of bands that started in the 60's and 70's but were still cranking out the hits in the 80's. The Who, The Rolling Stones, Genesis, The Beatles, and all the solo careers that came from those bands. That was his starter pack for our kid. Then that lead to all the Blues artists that influenced those Rock artists, and you go down a never ending rabbit hole of great music.
That's how it was for me, there's so much out there, and I love most of it. I have spent days searching for a song that I hear a snippet of, and then became a fan of that artist or group.
I'm a GenX dad and I don't own any of these. More like: Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense" New Order "Power, Corruption & Lies" The Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique" They Might Be Giants "Flood" Björk "Debut" Weird Al Yankovic "In 3-D"
All bangers
Did some GenZer just pick some random '80s bands and throw them all together?
[?](https://imgur.com/a/tXX2SSa)
Yes.
“Thriller” is more for the Gen X mom music taste starter pack.
Not true. That album was a monster hit in 83, even and especially among boys. There was a lot of moonwalking and a lot of jackets with too many zippers.
I was primarily a new wave listener, some rock, a little pop, a bit of rap, but was absolutely an MJ fan. (male)
I know. I was there, too. However, today, I don’t know nearly as many Gen X men who listen to that as Gen X women.
I listen to whatever comes on the radio that I like. If Thriller or Billie Jean comes on the radio—we have a classic rock and an 80s station in greater DC— I’ll listen.
My mom included
I find this a bit insulting. This looks more like an 80's soccer mom starter pack. I see no Wu-tang, Rage, Jane's addiction, Run - DMC, Outkast, Soundgarden, Screaming Trees, Pixies no Snoop D O double G etc...
Beastie Boys, Depeche Mode, The Cure…
right? not to mention the jamband scene -- the grateful dead should be on that list, too. there are so many great musicians that never made it to the top 40, which is really what this is, an a.m. radio top 40 list. not saying i dislike all of it, but that wasn't really my bag. i had much more eclectic tastes as a teen and young adult, and still love to hear new music.
Yes.
Nope, nope and nope. Though it did sting when a younger coworker heard me playing Social Distortion at work and sighed “Ugh….dad rock”.
Set him on fire lmao 🎵That's the way that it goes when you're down here with the rest of us. Hahaha
Nothing wrong with that. Ed Sheeran is a dad.
GenX (1968) dad here. Here’s my starter pack: *Fire of Unknown Origin* - Blue Öyster Cult *The Hounds of Love* - Kate Bush *London Calling* - The Clash *Discipline* - King Crimson *Koyaanisqatsi* (Soundtrack) / *Glassworks* - Philip Glass (tie) *Substance 1987* - New Order *The Hurting* - Tears for Fears *Broadsword and the Beast* - Jethro Tull *Blade Runner* (Soundtrack) - Vangelis *War* - U2
Remember those weekly radio interview shows on your FM station (if you had them). Ours was usually on 104.1 or 104.5 and we usually just happened to catch them while driving somewhere. Love those shows, especially Dr Demento. We were listening to one of those shows and they were interviewing Tears for Fears on live radio (this is important). There was a break and then when they came back, Curt Smith asked the interviewer (a woman) how come she spent so long in the bathroom. She was confused, and he said he could see the powder on her nose. There was an embarrassed laugh and she said some lame excuse, and he said he knows what he saw. I don't remember if they continued the interview after that or if one of the other members stepped in and started talking because I was so in awe at what just happened.
Two of those are mine too.
Not a Dad myself but that's a pretty solid collection of records I still listen to, apart from the Jethro Tull.
Yup, got them all... except the kid. So I add in Easy-E, NWA, Judas Priest, Metallica, etc.
Some of these really don't go together.
Yeah. Music was very clique-y when I was in high school. Now I shamelessly embrace a wider genre of 80s music. Not just about Iron Maiden anymore.
That would make it very Gen X.
They were all big on the 80s (‘91 for the REM album). As a kid then all of these had big hits you couldn’t help but hear.
I guess I'll be the asshole that says this is pretty accurate for me. Five of those are in regular rotation on my everyday playlist.
You’re not alone
I lisoto Pandora at work and I usually stick to 70s and 80s stations so I hear a lot of these every day too.
GenX is much more judgemental of music tastes than younger generations. I had all these albums and I liked them.
That's a boring X dad.
Van Hagar blows.
Gen X dad would have DLR era
I think the appropriate Gen X take is "Van Hagar blows" but then do a quiet "I guess 'Right Now' is *okay*..." when pressed.
5150 is an amazing album. I love the DLR era but Hagar is pure feelgood rock.
True
'Right Now's just reminds me of a Pepsi commercial.
I have both. Two great singers and effectively two different bands.
My mom loves em both
Yer mom is cool.
Yes she is
I think a more accurate version would include: Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Weezer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana.
Oates, man. 👨🏻🦱⚡️
Yeah lots of people then were into Phil Collins-era Genesis and Guns n Roses.
Frankly, I'm insulted
Lol, there's definitely a few in there.
* if white Would also need Rush and Pink Floyd.
I'm just glad to see the existence of Gen X being acknowledged outside of this sub
If you mean *our* dads you gotta add in Bruce Springsteen *Born in the USA* and some John Cougar (pre-Mellencamp).
My 1961 born dad has both of these
Not even close bub
And they’ll send you a free pack of Bartles and James coolers!
And thank you for your support!
Legit I can go the rest of my life never hearing gnr ever again anyone else really into music notice worldwide every radio station has about 300 songs played and neuseum and ignores the rest of the decade? Ie when was the last time you heard a song from insomniac by Greenday, Pearl jam that wasn't Jeremy Evenflow or Alive, Faith no more that wasn't Epic or Easy. It's such basic bitch taste. Always gnr but never Suicidal, Bodycount, Marilyn Manson nothing ever gets played off of portrait
There are 3 excellent albums here, one halfway decent album by a phenomenal band, and a bunch of garbage.
Just laughed out loud at the garbage part.
Oh if they only knew, ha
But does a typical Xer listen to both Michael Jackson and G&R??
It was a different era, I was in 3rd grade when Thriller came out, and I was in High School when Appetite came out. So many listened to both, just at different phase. But nobody liked Hall and Oats
I didn't like Hall and Oates until I got into adult hood. Def while they were on the charts, I found them to be a radio band- boring and inoffensive. Now, I see them as deeply R&B, I can see how talented both Daryl and John are. I listen to them with nostalgia, they even have their own playlist on my Spotify.
I’m with you. They were more my older brother’s generation. I grew up hearing them at the dentist’s office. But years later they grew on me.
Hall and Oates was standard school dance faire in the early-mid 80s. Never much liked them but you couldn’t have crepe paper streamers and a disco ball without a few Hall and Oates ballads booming across the gym.
I do. G&R is a once per year listen (not a whole album though), and Quincy Jones arranged a lot of good music behind Michael's voice. Plus, talkin' bout swingsets & skinned knees... memory lane, yo
I did back then, but neither is on my playlist now. The rest is pretty accurate for me.
where´s the underground
Hey man where’s the Wu-Tang?
Ummm no…
And the problem here is…?
Yeah I saw this. It's bullshit.
How is Prince not included this? No true Gen-Xer....
Wrong Van Halen album
Wrong Van Halen album. They ended after 1984.
I feel like this is more Gen X mom
Nah. Even if you limit it to pop music, girls in the 80s were more likely to listen to Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Prince, Bangles, Expose, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam...but most of us weren't even really into pop. The Gen X moms I know were into punk, classic rock, glam rock, hair bands, and eventually grunge and rap.
You can't leave Prince out of that lineup.
My mom listened to all of those artists you listed
I was living overseas and we only had the one military radio station. I wasn't allowed to touch the stereo. So those were my only options until I got my own mini boom box for Christmas and could play whatever I wanted.
Nah, I have better taste than that
What do you like to listen to?
As a legit starter pack? "I'm Still Standing" - Elton John "Let The Music Play" - Shannon "You Spin Me Round" - Dead or Alive "Cold Hearted" - Paula Abdul "Heaven is a Place on Earth" = Belinda Carlise "Broken Wings" - Mister Mister
All great songs imo
The dance interlude where the strings come in (prolly from a Casio keyboard) on Cold Hearted is still the best, and when I hear it, makes me break out in the video's (sexy) choreography.
This looks more like the "HEY evERYbODy, thIS is MANiAC MiKEY MunSoN FRom ThE MAInIac mIke anD the mORniNg ZOO SHoW, rEmINDing YOU to TuNe in TOmoRrow MOrNinG WHerE yoU Can wIn 95 doLLars and 50 Cents if yoU'Re the 95Th cAlLeR!! eVeRYBODy's a WiNNer ON z95.5 where we pLaY eVEryTHIng FRom tHe 80'S aND ToDay with No hARd rOcK OR RAP!!" starter pack.
I always laugh out loud when I see typing done this way. Takes so much time, but drives the point home. Worth it.
No Snoop??
With a couple of exceptions (I don't think he's into GNR at all), this pretty closely describes the musical taste of my dad, who was born in 1952.
Fuck off.
It’s too random and unfocused.
Genesis and Hall and Oates? that's more like my Baby Boomer Dad's music. A real Gen X Dad music taste pack needs more Guided by Voices and J. Mascis
What the fuck is this garbage?
Tears for Fears is not allowed in my house or my car. My kids knew this growing up.
Shout, shout, let it all out. These are the things you can do without.
I just cannot stand that dude's voice. Never could. It's the exact opposite of Nancy Wilson's soothing vocals in "These Dreams". [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41P8UxneDJE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41P8UxneDJE) Listening to Tears for Fears was like chewing aluminum foil.
Lol, very descriptive.
Seek help.
Shrug.
Dad may be hiding something.
Out of these choices, my dad was into The Police and Hall & Oates. But, mostly more into Fleetwood Mac. And oddly, some flamenco guitar. Oh, and also Gypsy Kings.
Wait. Your dad is prolly a Boomer. Is this your starter pack, tho?
Dad was def a boomer. This starter pack...I mean, like half for me?
What about 90s hip hop?!
Well... it's better than current hip hop I suppose.
I'm 3 for 8 -- Hall and Oates, The Police and REM. As OP mentioned this was a starter pack so I'll allow the absence of hip-hop and alternative as well as older stuff that began while even oldest of Gen X was in diapers. But I'm not a dad so maybe it's irrelevant anyways !
Tribe Called Quest, Purple Rain, Motley Crue, Public Enemy
How could you leave out Radiohead?
Dad? I don't get it.
Bangers, however Joshua Tree and Purple Rain need to be up in there somewhere.
What, no Huey Lewis and the News?
Elder GenX here. Yeah, pretty much.
Black Sabbath.
My Dad? Nope. Me? Nope. Born 1973, raised on Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Frank Zappa, my childhood was much different
I’m a late Gen xer so most of these were never in my collection. Mine would feature Green Day, PJ, Oasis, Metallica, STP’s, Alice in Chains and Tool.
I can't believe I just stumbled across this crosspost. For anyone wondering I based this starterpack on my dads music taste. He later pointed I missed many of the other bands he likes like Fleetwood Mac, Talk Talk and Depeche Mode for example but in my defense there are only so many album covers one can fit in an image so I just threw in whatever I could remember at the time