Girl's Gen X Card Revoked For Not Knowing Rush

Photo credit: Music Banter.

Okay, not quite revoked...but close. Last night we saw the 80s cover band Tainted Love at the Belly Up in Solana Beach.

About 3/4 of the way into their set, the band began playing a song that sounded vaguely familiar, but damned if I knew who it was. So I turned to ask John, who knows everything there is to know about music, what song it is. (Seriously...you can play one bar of music and my husband will know the song, band, and pretty much everything else about it.) He tells me it's a Rush song.

So I turn to Facebook and Twitter and post:

"The 80s cover band at Belly Up is doing a song by a band called Rush. I have no idea who that is; husband loves it. What a difference 3 years makes."

My point was that when it comes to musical genres, a few as a couple of years can make a difference around whether you know a band. (Kind of like how a few blocks in South Philly is the difference between being at the Linc or on 7th Street South avoiding crack vials and drive-bys.) John was born in 1972, I graced this world in the summer of 1975, came out screaming and haven't kept quiet since.

Judging from the instant backlash, you would've thought I announced I'd never heard of Oprah. (Which, were that the case, T would've fired me from my columnist status at TeaWithLemon.) One Tweeter said:

Here's how the Facebook conversation played out:

My response:

Hahahahaha! This is awesome to wake up to such a spirited debate. So allow me to clarify. I'm "aware" who Rush is, as in if someone said, "Have you heard of Rush?" I'd say yes, because I've heard of them, recognize their logo, etc. My dad raised me on classic rock and oldies.

After seeing your heated, spiteful, condescending, and dramatic responses ;) I googled Rush and found a site that listed the Top 9 Rush songs of all time. After listening to all 9, I'll admit I recognized Tom Sawyer, Spirit of Radio, and Limelight.

But that's different from "knowing" them. If you played a song, I'll be honest, I wouldn't go, "Oh, that's Rush!" In fact, if I was pressed I would've guessed the songs were by Led Zeppelin or ELP. So yes, I've heard of Rush.

And ps - John is a musical expert, Doug, so you're right, he does know the deal. ;) You can play any snippet and ask him who it is and he knows them/the song/the year.

Apparently, from the conversation, you can see I was about thisclose to having my Gen X card revoked for not "knowing" Rush -- over a band who's not even close to being Gen X! I'm well rounded...I know the Who, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Moody Blues, et al (thanks, Dad! Listening to WMMR and Oldies 98 paid off).

Here's to hoping I don't have a similar "You're dead to me" conversation with my kids when they inevitably cock their head like a confused puppy dog and ask, "Who the heck are Dave Matthews Band?"

Perish the thought. I might have to disown them.