Jacob Uitti

The military is a complicated thing. Certainly, citizens of this country can thank the armed forces for helping to keep the nation safe. The folks who sign up to serve in the military often display heroic characteristics and many have done heroic things. But life in the military, by definition, can be dangerous and damaging, both physically and mentally.

When you're young, you want the hits. Those songs that enliven you, connect you to pop culture and showcase some of the major players on the music scene who are shaping the future. But after you live a few decades, sometimes you want something more. Something classic. Something that has stood not only the test of a few months or years but of a few centuries. But where to start?

While the 1960s were rich with folk ballads and classic rock numbers, the decade of the 1970s brought on new offerings. From harder rock tunes to the rise of disco to the increased presence of funk and soul, the era was a veritable Garden of Eden when it came to possibilities. But which songs from the time period were best to sing along to? We're glad you asked!

The 1990s had it all when it comes to music. Grunge, rap, rock, pop, boy bands, alternative, electronic. It was a feast and sometimes there were too many options to choose from. Just walking into a Tower Records was enough to make your head spin. But that also gives us a lot to think about when reflecting on the era today.

If you were able to shrink down and get inside the mind of the Liverpool, England-born artist Paul McCartney, it's possible what you'd see was a conveyor belt pumping out song after song. Some would be lavish and lush compositions and others would be tight, intimate acoustic numbers. But songs would be all over the place.

Because blues music is so old and dates back even before vinyl records and other recording means, there remains a significant amount of mystery regarding its early years. Born in the American South and brought up by poor folks, the music's origins often stem from shacks and backwoods juke joints. So, mystery abounds in the music.

You don't get the nickname “Lightnin'” for no reason, especially when you're a blues artist. Born March 15, 1912, in Centerville, Texas, Samuel John “Lightnin'” Hopkins became one of the most significant blues players of the early and mid-20th century.

The 1980s were both a strange and fun time to be a music fan. It is perhaps the oddest decade for popular music since maybe the 2020s. There was rock, glam, the beginnings of rap, new wave, the rise of synths. and the battle between big names like Prince and Michael Jackson. There was a cornucopia of sounds, both strange and wonderful.

Jazz can be a confusing genre if you don't know a ton about it. There are lots of records out there to investigate and the sounds can be challenging. Some music listeners want to know what they're getting, so the idea of improvised music or music theory put on its head can be curious.

The New York City-born band Blondie were a pioneer. The group worked in rock, new wave, disco and even rap music when the latter was just getting its feet under itself.