The Inner Monologue

Every generation loves to pat itself on the back for its impeccable taste in music. Boomers swear by The Beatles, Gen Xers insist grunge was the last real music, Millennials will die on the hill that early 2000s pop-punk was a cultural reset, and Gen Z? Well, they’re too busy making TikTok edits of Olivia Rodrigo to care.

But here’s the cold, hard truth: your favorite era’s music isn’t actually superior. It just feels that way because your brain is hardwired to worship the soundtrack of your youth. And statistically, every generation produces roughly the same amount of great music—along with a lot of forgettable filler.

The Nostalgia Delusion: Why You’re Biased

1. Your Brain is Stuck in High School

Science has a name for this phenomenon: the “reminiscence bump.” Between the ages of 12 and 30, your brain forms deep emotional connections to music, tying it to first loves, rebellions, and existential crises. That’s why hearing Smells Like Teen Spirit or Mr. Brightside still gives you chills—while the latest chart-topper just sounds like noise.

And guess what? Most people stop actively seeking new music by age 30. So yeah, you’re not “out of touch”—you’re just neurologically predisposed to think music peaked when you did.

2. Every Generation Has Its Own “Golden Age” Myth

• Boomers: “Music died after the ’70s!” (Ignores disco.)
• Gen X: “The ’90s were the last real decade of music!” (Forgets Creed.)
• Millennials: “Early 2000s pop-punk was PEAK artistry!” (Conveniently skips over Chocolate Rain.)
• Gen Z: “You just don’t get hyperpop!” (Refuses to elaborate.)

Newsflash: every era has its masterpieces—and its embarrassments. The Beatles wrote Hey Jude… and also Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. Prince made Purple Rain… and also Batdance. Taylor Swift has All Too Well… and also ME!

The Math Doesn’t Lie: Greatness is a Rare Commodity

Let’s look at the numbers. Even the most legendary artists only have a small fraction of their work that’s truly timeless.

Turns out, even the GOATs only hit greatness 5-15% of the time. The rest? Filler, experiments, or songs that aged like milk.

Why the Cycle Never Ends

1. Technology changes, but human nature doesn’t.

• Your parents thought vinyl was pure, CDs were soulless, and streaming is “killing music.”
• Meanwhile, kids today think you’re the problem for not appreciating SoundCloud rap.

1. Cultural identity is tied to music.

• Defending your era’s music is just a way of defending yourself.

1. Survivorship bias.

• You remember Bohemian Rhapsody, not the 50 other forgettable Queen deep cuts.

The Bottom Line

Your music isn’t better. It’s just yours. And in 20 years, Gen Alpha will swear that their AI-generated hyper-folk-core was the pinnacle of human creativity.

So next time someone says “music was better in my day,” just smile and nod. Because deep down, they’re not arguing about art—they’re just mourning their youth.

(And no, Dad, Led Zeppelin didn’t invent music. They just stole from blues musicians and turned it up to 11.)

Sources:

• Why Every Generation Thinks Their Music Was the Best
• The Reminiscence Bump: Why You Love Your Teen Music
• The Myth of the “Golden Age” of Music