Nostalgia: Why Do We Love or Hate It?

misspoptart · 03-12-2013, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rostasi

it will sometimes set me off on a
memory ride compiling a playlist that's later
deleted after it's been listen to once, maybe twice.
There's no telling whether I'd like those same
tracks today for the first time, because, as nostalgia,
there's too much historicity attached to it.
So, in general, I'm pretty happy with what I hear.

This is both poetic and vivid. I think I do the same thing...make playlists when I get nostalgia in my head, and they only work for that one time before I ask myself, why did I make that, anyway? It's hard to find the same feelings twice.

TrajkLogik · 09-04-2014, 07:53 AM

I did a Google search for "why do we seek nostalgia", and this thread was the third link. I understand it's a slightly old thread, but I wanted to discuss this in a bit more depth.

The reasons are mainly because with the recent deaths of Robin Williams (yes, I know he's not known for being a musician) and Jimi Jamison of Survivor, both of which I attribute to my childhood, has me depressed and listening to Survivor songs and reliving my childhood. I feel that each death of someone I grew up listening too or watching is another step closer to my death and away from my childhood.

My generation is disappearing and I feel depressed knowing that one day it will be gone forever.

The weird thing is that although I like Survivor, they aren't my favorite, yet why did I get so depressed hearing about Jamison's death? Like Journey, their music defined the 80's, and I can't help but remember my childhood when I listen to their music. It reminds me of skating rinks and arcades and other hang-out spots that I would visit and their music is playing in the background.

Sometimes I feel like I'm going through a mid-life crisis when I think about it, although I have no inclinations of buying a motorcycle or leaving my wife for a young woman. It's just this wanting to go back to my childhood.

I tell my kids to enjoy every second of their young years. I tell them I remember wanting to hurry up and be an adult when I was a kid, yet now that I'm an adult, I'm wishing I was a kid again.

I don't know. Maybe my childhood could never be appreciated until I became an adult. Now I see it as a precious moment in my life that I don't ever want to forget.

Has anyone else been in the slumps when someone famous that they attribute their childhood too dies? Does anyone ever have the feeling of nostalgia to the point where you end up wanting to cry because you miss it? Am I having a mid-life crisis?

Dylstew · 09-04-2014, 08:22 AM

Depends, I can usually tell whether it's just the nostalgia making me enjoy something or when it's still genuinely good. Some I think are still good but I'm just not into that type of music anymore, some I think were horrible. Sometimes the nostalgia still makes me enjoy the horrible song, but sometimes it doesn't.

DwnWthVwls · 09-04-2014, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I think a lot of my reason for listening to nostalgic tracks is that it's the closest thing I have time travel. I listen when I'm in a mood to reminisce and it's usually kind of bittersweet experience.

this exactly. It usually makes me depressed that I can never experience those things in the same way.

This track from a childhood video game has the harshest effect on me. Sometimes can have me bummed out for a few hours after the fact:

Spoiler for Ultima Online theme music:

09-04-2014, 08:22 AM	#13 (permalink)
Dylstew Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,366	Depends, I can usually tell whether it's just the nostalgia making me enjoy something or when it's still genuinely good. Some I think are still good but I'm just not into that type of music anymore, some I think were horrible. Sometimes the nostalgia still makes me enjoy the horrible song, but sometimes it doesn't. Last edited by Dylstew; 09-04-2014 at 08:43 AM.

09-04-2014, 07:53 AM	#12 (permalink)
TrajkLogik Groupie Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1	I did a Google search for "why do we seek nostalgia", and this thread was the third link. I understand it's a slightly old thread, but I wanted to discuss this in a bit more depth. The reasons are mainly because with the recent deaths of Robin Williams (yes, I know he's not known for being a musician) and Jimi Jamison of Survivor, both of which I attribute to my childhood, has me depressed and listening to Survivor songs and reliving my childhood. I feel that each death of someone I grew up listening too or watching is another step closer to my death and away from my childhood. My generation is disappearing and I feel depressed knowing that one day it will be gone forever. The weird thing is that although I like Survivor, they aren't my favorite, yet why did I get so depressed hearing about Jamison's death? Like Journey, their music defined the 80's, and I can't help but remember my childhood when I listen to their music. It reminds me of skating rinks and arcades and other hang-out spots that I would visit and their music is playing in the background. Sometimes I feel like I'm going through a mid-life crisis when I think about it, although I have no inclinations of buying a motorcycle or leaving my wife for a young woman. It's just this wanting to go back to my childhood. I tell my kids to enjoy every second of their young years. I tell them I remember wanting to hurry up and be an adult when I was a kid, yet now that I'm an adult, I'm wishing I was a kid again. I don't know. Maybe my childhood could never be appreciated until I became an adult. Now I see it as a precious moment in my life that I don't ever want to forget. Has anyone else been in the slumps when someone famous that they attribute their childhood too dies? Does anyone ever have the feeling of nostalgia to the point where you end up wanting to cry because you miss it? Am I having a mid-life crisis?