How Times Have Changed
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
October 14, 2011 7:37pm CST
When I was growing up both reading and music were very important to me. The earliest memory I have of the music side of things was listening to a little transistor radio (that I loved) under the bedclothes when I shouldn't! I would only turn it off when Mum and Dad went to bed at around 11pm. Up until that point I listened to Radio Luxembourg (is that still going?) as they had an Independent Chart rather than the tosh dished up on Radio One, a station I loathed and still do today..apart from the Friday Rock Show, hosted by Tommy Vance, who is no more.
Now, that memory is from around 1982. I know this because I had a "thing" about a band called UB40. I'm sure they had hits roundabout that time..and I'm not on about their later stuff as the earliest singles were the best, although I can't remember them at the moment lol.
The reason I say "how times have changed" is that a radio underneath the bedclothes isn't what kids do now (steady..) so what do they have under there instead? An iPhone? Is it played the same way as I did with my radio?
I'd love to know!
Now, that memory is from around 1982. I know this because I had a "thing" about a band called UB40. I'm sure they had hits roundabout that time..and I'm not on about their later stuff as the earliest singles were the best, although I can't remember them at the moment lol.
The reason I say "how times have changed" is that a radio underneath the bedclothes isn't what kids do now (steady..) so what do they have under there instead? An iPhone? Is it played the same way as I did with my radio?
I'd love to know!6 people like this
25 responses
@derek_a (10873)
•
15 Oct 11
Wow, Radio Luxembourg - that brings back memories, especially the part about listening under the bedclothes! My memories are a bit earlier than yours though Janey, because I am going back to the early 60s. Transistors were only just starting then and I had one for my 14th birthday. It was the size of a pack of cards, which was amazing in those days, but it was hard to tune into Luxembourg and you'd get lots of swishing noises with the music fading in and out! Then came Radio Caroline, which was the samey sort of thing, but a pirate radio station. To listen to the top 20 was amazing in those days, as they were rarely on the radio - not that my parents would have listened to them if they had have been! With only 2 channels on the TV, my dad would come in from work and opt for some boring documentary about the bad state of the world - yes, even then they were saying how bad things were getting and are still saying it! So me and my sister rarely got to listen to top of the pops and would have to wait for 4 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon for the radio top 20 when we would know what 45s we could buy with what was left of our spending money. They were exciting times though, the 60s all the same! Things were changing! 
_Derek
_Derek1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Oct 11
Mum has told me many times that we were on the verge of World War 3 in the 1960s. She reckoned it was a scary decade and can't understand the "Love and Peace" bit as there wasn't much of it about lol.
That bit certainly hasn't changed has it!
That bit certainly hasn't changed has it!1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16789)
• China
15 Oct 11
What an interesting theme of conversation!My music appreciation my be traced up to middle school and I can associate it with crystal receiver.even though the crystal receiver isn 't to be named on the same day with present Audio equipment,but how I enjoyed it then.In addition, I like the music of that times very much.You don't get me wrong,I am n't that type of person that cherishes the outmoded and preserves the outworn.I think from the bottom of my heart that kind of music is the sound of nature.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Oct 11
The sound of nature is indeed rather nice!
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16789)
• China
16 Oct 11
I must sill say any music bears the distinct imprint of the times.But then,there is no accounting for tastes,we can't force ours on others.
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
15 Oct 11
Don’t you wish they would invent a time machine so that we could travel back to the past, I know I would be there listening to radio late at night, trying to keep it quiet enough so that my parents didn’t know I was awake instead of sleeping.
In away it makes me sad because I remember as a young teenager going out playing in the streets, cycling around and going adventuring in the woods. Yet now I look out the front of the house and all you see are groups of teenagers, often hoodies, walking along with their mobile phones.
I suppose life changes, things evolve but it makes me wonder where things will be in another decade or two and how sad it is that young people today can’t experience the fun I had when I was there age …. Yep and now I feel very old.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Oct 11
Nooo, just nostalgic my friend..nothing wrong with that.
I'm the same. Round here the kids do play out occassionally but they're so aggressive and down Mum's street they scream and don't actually play. I blame the schools for that..but that's for another time lol.
My nephew is an interesting character (he's 21) as he actually likes CHATTING to people. It breaks my heart that he has no job (he had to go to the naughty school even though he didn't really do much to warrant it) so his education was limited. He's also got LOADS of friends and I often wonder what he'd make of the 80s. I think he'd like it..mainly 'cos YTS Schemes were available then. If they weren't I wouldn't have got a placement in 1982. Now there is nothing, not even apprenticeships and we're exporting on a ridiculous scale because it's making more money than making things for ourselves.
Our new telly is made in Slovakia. I remember (not all that long ago) Panasonics being made right here in the UK. I bet they're not now. My Dad had one of those Sonys with a teak surround for about 12 years..British Made. My Mum had a silver CRT Sony (it only broke because water got into the wires outside and came into the unit) in the early 2000s and it was made in Ireland. Those are made in Slovakia too now, I think.
All that talent lost. We make nothing anymore and it makes me weep listening to the guys on the Dyson Helpline that, at one time, were employed in the factory actually MAKING the vacuums, rather that just giving advice over the phone.
I'm the same. Round here the kids do play out occassionally but they're so aggressive and down Mum's street they scream and don't actually play. I blame the schools for that..but that's for another time lol.
My nephew is an interesting character (he's 21) as he actually likes CHATTING to people. It breaks my heart that he has no job (he had to go to the naughty school even though he didn't really do much to warrant it) so his education was limited. He's also got LOADS of friends and I often wonder what he'd make of the 80s. I think he'd like it..mainly 'cos YTS Schemes were available then. If they weren't I wouldn't have got a placement in 1982. Now there is nothing, not even apprenticeships and we're exporting on a ridiculous scale because it's making more money than making things for ourselves.
Our new telly is made in Slovakia. I remember (not all that long ago) Panasonics being made right here in the UK. I bet they're not now. My Dad had one of those Sonys with a teak surround for about 12 years..British Made. My Mum had a silver CRT Sony (it only broke because water got into the wires outside and came into the unit) in the early 2000s and it was made in Ireland. Those are made in Slovakia too now, I think.
All that talent lost. We make nothing anymore and it makes me weep listening to the guys on the Dyson Helpline that, at one time, were employed in the factory actually MAKING the vacuums, rather that just giving advice over the phone.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
15 Oct 11
Most kids are falling asleep in front of their PC, laptops, iphones, and or ipads.
Sad to think that many no longer read prior to sleep and with the net being available 24/7 kids are on it routinely.
Sad to think that many no longer read prior to sleep and with the net being available 24/7 kids are on it routinely. 1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Oct 11
Aah yes, reading in bed. I loved that even in the cold (there was no heating in the bedroom then) but a good book made me forget how cold it was as I became so engrossed in it..usually something written by Tolkien.
@jiggerjank (2)
• United States
15 Oct 11
Yeah, It is always sad to see a kid not reading! I remember some of my best times were nose-deep in a book! lol
1 person likes this
@clearwater18 (695)
• Philippines
15 Oct 11
There has really been a lot of changes. Technology sure has advanced greatly. I agree. The songs in the past are still the best. They are very nice to the ears.
1 person likes this
@JLStine91 (47)
•
15 Oct 11
I may be born from 1991 but my heart belongs to 80s! i LOVE ROCK'N ROLL! than modern roll! I PREFER QUEEN! than JUSTIN BIEBER!
@GardenGerty (160952)
• United States
15 Oct 11
Both my husband and my daughter remember reading under the covers. I did not do that. When I was in my teens I had a radio on most nights, and listened to an "underground" station that a guy introduced me to. It was mostly easy listening. I do not know what kids do nowadays, as my grandkids just go to be, but then, they are little.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Oct 11
I used to listen to a chat show by a guy called Alan Beswick as well. He was controversial at the time but now has a dumbed down show on some commercial radio station now..early in the morning so he can't really say what he wants. A bit like James Whale and I listened to him at times too, although he was never as controversial as our Alan!!
1 person likes this
@margerydaw14 (735)
•
18 Oct 11
my earliest memories of under the bedclothes listening to luxembourg in the 60's. i can remember trying to find radio stations on my mum and dads radiogram(dark ages that!) and finding the light programme( later changed to radio 1)or the home service!(now radio 2 or 3) or assorted foreign stations. tv shows for the teenagers were '6.5 special', with lots of rock and roll, 'juke box jury' and later, 'thank your lucky stars', oh those were the days. You are probably too young to remember the Monkees the first time round. How lucky the kids are these days. But I don't envy them with the rate of living now, everything is so expensive for them.
@margerydaw14 (735)
•
18 Oct 11
and of course, just remembered( you have to make allowances for my age ) but the advent of the pirate stations, good old radio caroline!
) but the advent of the pirate stations, good old radio caroline! @CelticSoulSister (1640)
• Southend-On-Sea, England
19 Oct 11
It seems to me that kids are more into their mobile phones than music, although not sure if they shout into them under the bedclothes...they probably do lol. What you say about listening to your transistor radio (Luxembourg) is very similar to what I did, only a couple of decades earlier. UB40 I think are still playing venues, but haven't released anything for quite a while and sadly Tommy Vance is no longer with us. Not sure if Radio Luxembourg is still running. I mostly listen to Radio 2 now or local BBC Radio (in my case, Essex Radio).
@CelticSoulSister (1640)
• Southend-On-Sea, England
20 Oct 11
Oh, I didn't know about UB40 members declaring themselves bankrupt. Wonder if they spent all their cash on partying :-) I don't watch TV any more...tend to have the radio on all the time, but I do get fed-up with it sometimes.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
19 Oct 11
I very rarely listen to radio now, apart from the local football commentary, which is always entertaining on BBC Radio Cumbria.
Apparently, a few of the UB40 band members have declared themselves as bankrupt recently.
@millertime (1394)
• United States
15 Oct 11
I know what you mean. I remember listening to the radio much more when I was a kid then I do now. Radio was just more a part of everyday life because we didn't have the internet, cable TV, smart phones, ipods, ipads and myriad other devices of advanced technology that we have today. The radio was a source of information and entertainment. Back then there were radio programs other than just straight talk, news or music.
I remember staying up late listening to a program called "Ask the Professor" where callers would ask science questions trying to stump the panel of professors and the show was very interesting. My parents would constantly be yelling upstairs to tell me to shut off the radio and go to sleep.
I always liked that song by John Denver, "Late Night Radio", because it reminded me of the times when I would be tuning in looking for something unique and different to listen to and I would usually find something. Of course when I was really young, (yes I'm really dating myself here...) we only had AM radio. I still remember getting the "new" AM/FM radios and marveling at the new clear sound of FM Stereo.
Ya, the kids have all the gadgets today and music or information is at their fingertips at any given moment but I still remember fondly a simpler life in a simpler time when I would "sneak" my late night radio whenever I could.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Oct 11
My little FM/AM Radio probably had better sound than the gadgets that are out now. Sound seems to be a bit limited..unfortunately!
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
15 Oct 11
I recall doing the same thing, third world style. I listen to a transistor radio inside a mosquito net , sadly we live in a place to far away to get FM band so I have to contend listening to AM band and it's mono sound. And then MTV was introduced, that time colored TV is too expensive, actually we don't even have our own TV so I have to go to our neighbor to watch shows all in black and whites. That was the time the walkman was introduced but it's still so expensive and only those who can afford have it.
, sadly we live in a place to far away to get FM band so I have to contend listening to AM band and it's mono sound. And then MTV was introduced, that time colored TV is too expensive, actually we don't even have our own TV so I have to go to our neighbor to watch shows all in black and whites. That was the time the walkman was introduced but it's still so expensive and only those who can afford have it. 1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
18 Oct 11
Well, for starters, kids listen to music in a whole new way today. They have no need for transistor radios. Today with computers, laptops and iPhones, they can connect to the entire world, something we were not able to do. If I had to say what they might bring under the covers would be either a laptop, iPad or iPhone. Times have changed indeed. But the funny thing is that I wish I was growing up now, because I live all this technology. Even though we have our memories, our children now are making their memories. And I would have it no other way.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Oct 11
I really think prices should come down though. People are going without food in order to pay for the latest gadget, it's not right. I couldn't get over grown men queueing for the latest iPhone and crying when they got their hands on one. What's that about?
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
19 Oct 11
I agree that prices are way out of hand. That goes for food as well as the new electronic gadgets. If you take a look, property and vehicle prices just keep going up and salaries keep going down. That is not normal. It almost seems that the rich want a bunch of slaves instead of workers. Things have to change and fast.
@jiggerjank (2)
• United States
15 Oct 11
I remember sitting on my front Porch, and drinking lemonade, and playing guitar. Now I can barely stop and find time to breathe! Life has its ways of catching up with you.....and ways of letting you go.Times change. I hope you find what you are looking for :P
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Oct 11
Oh I'm not nostalgic or anything...it's just..you're right, life has become so hectic now. Even the reality shows are in your face (not that I watch them anymore) lol.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
15 Oct 11
Oh I really don't think they are hiding their I-pods. Todays parents are not as strict as ours were. I do remember being reading and music being big important aspects of my life. I did have a transister and the reel to reel tape deck. I think I skipped over the 8-tracks. I never owned one. I collected vynals back then. And then on to cassettes. I had so many cassettes...all shelved in alphabetical order. I do have cd's but not so anal about them. I tend to listen to internet radio now a lot. I have Pandora which is pretty cool and the local rock station also cool. I recently discovered spotify which is very very cool and free. What hasn't changed is my love for books. I still read books. I have never done the e-books . I love the music upgrades but when it comes to books, I prefer the old way.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
24 Oct 11
Yes, I do know what you mean. I do still have all my old Albumns but no turntable and I don't see myself getting one anytime soon. Maybe someday. Certain music will bring me right back to those days. We had so much fun! Geez, now you got me wanting to check out 2nd hand shops. You had me pegged on that one for sure. I parted with my cassettes and I really don't care a lot about my cds but I haven't had a turntable in years and I can't bring myself to part with my vinyl!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Oct 11
I had loads of cassettes too (as my turntable was unpredictable and didn't always work properly) but my nephew pulled a lot of them to bits so I don't actually have them now..or anything to play them in. I upgraded to a MiniDisc player but I sold that recently as it was at my Mum's, not connected to anything. I still have a love for vinyl, however and bought a new turntable about 10 years ago, that I love even more than my multi-play CD Player. I've always preferred listening to my vinyl albums and the memories they evoke. For some reason, I don't have that same feeling with CDs..it's very strange.
There is an all-singing, all-dancing full-size NAD radio online that does everything apart from make the tea lol. I could listen to internet radio on my computer but I don't think that would be the same than to listen to it on er..a radio. Do you know what I mean?
I think you do.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
16 Oct 11
Times have not changed...just the gadgets we use have! We didn't have radio or tv when I was a kid..Dad said there was better things to do with out time that sit and watch the "one eyed monster". But transistors went out early 80's...just before the walk-man came on the scene! Cassette walk-man! That way you listened to only music, no commercials etc! Now the Ipods and such... I don't even know the names there are so many little gadgets about the same thing. But I do think that people since the 80's are goig to have hearing problems in their life due to the constant ear plug of streaming loud music directly into the ear canal!
It was before my time, but I have cassettes and me and my kids listened to them..they had shows on radio...Jack Armstrong, the All American Boy, Lone Ranger, HOp Along Cassidy and so many others. It is so much fun to hear the words, but use your own imagination to create the setting and "see" where they are. I wish they had that these days... I think lot of kids would go for that instead of TV!!!
BTW..what did we do under the blankets when told to go to sleep? Me and my sister made "poker" kind of cards out of paper and then we played "war"...where you divide the deck and each place a card down and the highest card wins. Winner is one with all the cards. And if each put down the same number...then it WAR! and you slapped down 3 cards upside down and the fourth card face showing and the highest won ALL the cards!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
26 Oct 11
I know what you mean....they can't pay rent, but they got the latest cell phone in their hands! On welfare...with a cell! There is a program out that Obama made...if you are on state or federal assistance...you can get a free cell phone with 250 minutes on it for looking for a job. Like anyone is going to use it for that!!!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Oct 11
Very nice post, thanks. I, too, had a Sony Walkman and in actual fact I was discussing them with Mum on the telephone earlier. The most advanced version was a yellow waterproof one I bought my boyfriend at the time. He was a postman and it helped him with his deliveries, so he wouldn't get bored..that's when he could be bothered going to work, that is. I used it more than he did!
I find it quite amazing that people will queue round the block for hours for the latest iPhone. It's not like buying something (Walkman) for less than £100. They are triple that amount and it's sad that people are more bothered about the latest gadget than feeding their families! They won't go without will they? How shallow people have become.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
17 Oct 11
My kid is not into music much.
During weeknights, I ask him to get to bed at around 9pm. And then I pass by his room every now and then to check on him. Often times I catch him reading under the sheets. He would have his flashlight underneath trying to read a few more pages of whatever book he is currently into.
I don't like it as I don't want it affecting his eyesight.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Oct 11
When I was younger (before I was 12 or something) I would make a point of going to bed early so that I could read more before my parents went to bed. Sometimes I got so engrossed in a book that it was quite a shock when my Dad would bang on the door and say, "Lights out!"
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
16 Oct 11
Times have changed. Some things for the better, some things for the not so better. I remember when there were thirty channels on the television set. Now there are hundreds with fewer things to watch. I remember cassette tapes as well. That goes way back in the day. There are a lot of insanity to say the very least.
There are just things that are way different from my childhood and my childhood was most certainly way different from that of the one of my parents. I find it funny that the generation of today will be talking about the good old days where I Pods were out and how whatever technology is out twenty years from now is causing the decay of society. It is really bound to happen in every generation. Still in the end, things have changed and everything is not what it once was. For good reasons and for not so good reasons.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Oct 11
Our National Grid cannot cope which is why some new pylons are going to be built.
@kareemadivina (1230)
• Philippines
18 Oct 11
Surely times have changed.As far I can remember I had only used a computer when I was in college.Nowadays little children are so good in using computers.When my nephew is about 6 months old,he's already interested in computers,crawling in his belly.Preschool children are talking like they are 40 years old.I wonder what would happen in the future with all these technologies.
@vasumathi (436)
• India
16 Oct 11
Technology plays an important role in day to day to life. when i use a child, we used to have only one channel in television. But in todays life, i used to hundreds of channels. this is also because of the technology behind it. I think still in future, there will be still more amazing developments
