1 month ago
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Students quizzed on retro music have admitted they have never heard of mega stars including Bing Crosby and Dusty Springfield.
The TikTok generation in Newcastle were left baffled when they were asked about big names from the 1950s and 60s.
However, it worked both ways, as some OAPs in the city appeared mystified when questioned about Taylor Swift and Harry Styles. None of the pensioners had heard of rapper Lil Nas X.
Just one out of six youngsters knew the Carpenters and Nat King Cole, while under half were left scratching their heads over I'm a Believer singers The Monkees.
Meanwhile, a mere 50 percent recognised Say a Little Prayer star Aretha Franklin.
Lucas Shipley was left bewildered by Bing Crosby, The Carpenters and the Monkees. However, he had heard of Dusty Springfield.
The 20-year-old physics student said: 'I have no idea who some of these people are.
'I listen to a lot of house and hip hop.
'I go to uni in Bristol and a lot of my friends are the same. This type of music is not something I know well.
'I think TikTok has got younger people listening to older stuff but I feel a lot of songs get overplayed on it so I think it has ruined some of them.'
The Generation Game: Lucas Shipley (left), 20, had not heard of Bing Crosby, The Carpenters or the Monkees but Daniel Jones (right), 78, struggled to identify any of the modern artists put to him. Whilst he had heard of Taylor Swift, he wasn't sure if they were male or female
Grace Herrington (left), 20, was able to name all six older acts because of her mother's influence and Valerie Ewart (right), 72, identified big names including Billie Eilish and Sam Smith, but had never heard of Sabrina Carpenter or Lil Nas X
Lucas' friend, Max Lorraine, 19, had only heard of Bing Crosby and the Monkees. He was left scratching his head over Dusty Springfield, Nat King Cole, The Carpenters and Aretha Franklin.
The biochemistry student said: 'I'm similar to Lucas with what I listen to but I'm not quite as cool as him.
'I'm not massively into music generally so I don't know many of those names.
'My parents mainly listened to a mix of music rather than just this type of older stuff.'
However, Grace Herrington, 20, was able to name all six acts because of her mother's influence.
Grace, an English Literature student, said: 'I listen to this type of music and sometimes I'll have it on before a night out.
'My mum is into this music so I was brought up with it and I do listen to it when my friends are around sometimes.
'I do feel like this era is on its way to sites like TikTok but I don't think it's hit that point yet.'
Her friend Eleanor Greensitt, 21, added: 'I don't listen to stuff from this generation that often.
'I'm more into house and techno music instead of older stuff but I don't mind some of it.'
Harry Duwell, 22, recognised Aretha Franklin but didn't know many others.
The sports management graduate said: 'I listen to anything from indie rock to house music.
'What we listen depends on what we're doing i.e. if we're driving, at the gym or revising for example.
'But I've never listened to music like this. It's not something I've been brought up with.'
Marcus Wilkinson also struggled with the retro artists.
The 22-year-old accountancy and finance graduate said: 'I might listen to 80s dance music like Spandau Ballet but that's as old as it gets.'
However when the roles were reversed, one OAP admitted he'd never heard of Harry Styles or Miley Cyrus.
Likewise, only one out of six of the pensioners quizzed had heard of Canadian star the Weeknd, and nobody knew who the rapper Lil Nas X was.
Taylor Swift and Sam Smith proved more familiar with pensioners including 86-year-old Dorothy Gibson.
The former catering manageress said: 'I would struggle to name any Taylor Swift songs.
'I've definitely not heard of Lil Nas X or Sabrina Carpenter but I do know Harry Styles and I have heard of Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish.
'I can't name any popular songs off the top of my head though.'
She added: 'I'm a 50s and 60s girl and that's the music that I enjoy listening to the most.
'I like country and western songs as well so this younger generation of music doesn't mean much to me. I would only ever be able to recognise one or two songs.
'I have grandchildren and they listen to all sorts of music.
'A lot of younger people like the older generation of music in my experience, whereas I don't think my age group like the young stuff.
'I struggle to understand half of the stuff they are singing.'
Harry Duwell (right), 22, recognised Aretha Franklin but didn't know many others and his friend Marcus Wilkinson (left) also struggled with the retro artists
Max Lorraine (left), 19, had only heard of Bing Crosby and the Monkees. He was left scratching his head over Dusty Springfield, Nat King Cole, The Carpenters and Aretha Franklin and Tony Fovargue (right) identified Harry Styles but only after having to think long and hard
Valerie Ewart, 72, identified big names including Billie Eilish and Sam Smith, but had never heard of Sabrina Carpenter or Lil Nas X.
The retired nurse admitted: 'I know who Taylor Swift is because I would class her as a normal singer but I've never heard of Lil Nas X.
'I don't like the rap you hear nowadays. It's a load of nonsense to me - I think it's gobbledygook.
'I also know Harry Styles because he's from One Direction but I prefer my old CD's.
'I like Rod Stewart, the Scissor Sisters and the Stones. Anything from the 60s and 70s is my genre.
'I do watch the BRITS but modern music is full of people who are giving themselves names like Cardi B.'
Tony Fovargue identified Harry Styles but only after having to think long and hard.
He had also vaguely knew Taylor Swift was a female singer but when asked who Miley Cyrus was, the 77-year-old replied: 'No sorry I've never heard of him or her.'
'I don't know who the Weeknd is either, surely that's got to be another group.
'I know Taylor Swift is a woman singer but that's about it.'
The retired grocery worker added: 'I listen to classical sometimes. My favourite song is My Heart Will Go On - I will take that with me to my coffin.
'I don't mind pop music but it's got to be nice and gentle, some of it is too fast.
'Everybody has got their own taste, and it's each to their own but I like slower older stuff.'
Daniel Jones struggled to identify any of the modern artists put to him.
Whilst he had heard of Taylor Swift, he wasn't sure if they were male or female.
The 78-year-old said: 'I've heard the name Taylor Swift but I don't know what she sings or what she does.
'I've not heard of Sabrina Carpenter either but I wonder if she was in the Carpenters band.
'I play Beethoven when I'm in the kitchen, it's nice and relaxing music.
'I do know about The Animals and The Beatles and things like that but not any of this modern stuff.'
Eleanor Greensitt (left), 21, said she doesn't 'listen to stuff from this generation that often' but Taylor Swift and Sam Smith proved familiar with pensioners including 86-year-old Dorothy Gibson (right)
Retired cleaner Maria Keeny, 60, was the only pensioner who had heard of Carpenter.
'I've heard of Harry Styles and I hear him when I have the telly on in the house,' she said.
'I have heard of Sabrina Carpenter because I have grandchildren but I'm not keen on her.
'Usually I like ABBA and music like that. I love to sit and listen to them.
'I often hear the Green, Green Grass on the telly a night-time but I'm not sure who sings it.'
Marilyn Parvia, 70, said: 'I have not heard of the Weeknd but I have heard of Harry Styles and Taylor Swift.
'I can't say I have heard of Sabrina Carpenter.
'My husband has always got the sixties on for me because I just love the music from that era.'
YOUNGER QUIZZERS
