My school made us watch it in either 4th or 5th grade. My husband had never heard of it and was HORRIFIED. I mentioned it offhandedly in a meeting recently and the gen x'ers and above were all laughing about how bonkers it was/how we were traumatized and our younger colleagues could absolutely not believe this was on network tv. Tbh it was somehow less traumatic to me than Roots?
We read 'the devils arithmetic' around the same timeframe (intentionally chosen to be LESS harrowing than Night which was only for junior high snd up) and they're both inexorably linked in my head.
I'm not Gen-X, but was a young enough Boomer to be an alt-rock fanatic in the 1980's (and worked in radio and music video 1980-84, so programming these songs was my LIFE). That said: I was a little kid during the Cuban Missile Crisis - the threat of nuclear annihilation was a thing both our generations lived with. I won't go into the threat of fighting an unjust overseas war (as a girl, I was not subject to the draft and it ended by the time I was 18, but many of my friends lost older brothers during that time). I would argue that the 1960's was just as significant a music decade - but I also think we tend to most love the music we heard during our formative years, no matter which decade they occurred in.
Thank you for sharing that, and wonderful points! I can only speak from my own experience, but the protest music of the 60s/70s absolutely lead the way.
I vividly remember reading Alas Babylon in ninth grade and as one of the learning activities, dividing into groups and planning our bomb shelter strategy. What supplies did we need, who was the captain, etc. knowing full well that if ‘it‘ ever happened we were probably in the blast zone of a nearby Air Force base. 😳
I seem to remember that the drill was to go to the hallway and sit with our backs against the wall, knees up, tuck our writing hand in, duck our heads, and cover the back of your head with the non dominant arm.
The Day After- just reading those words causes a reaction to this day. The movie of realistic nightmares made even more horrific because it was set where I live. I knew the places it mentioned. It happened here.
You are right on the music. Every lyric you shared I could continue. While I loved Cyndi Lauper and all the bubblegum pop music, the other spoke to me in such a different way.
Bravo! Feeling this post in a big way. I went back to my '80s music hard during the pandemic shut down times. This time makes all the sense as well. Don't forget O.M.D.'s Enola Gay for your playlist.
I’m 5 mos from turning 50 and the day after still haunts me.
Adding to your thesis — I saw a post on IG the reminded people that Gen xers watched the shuttle explode in real time, after months of hyping it up to see a teacher in space, and then we just went on with our day.
It’s bonkers to think about it but that’s exactly how I remember it all unfolding. We just went …. To
Music class . TV cart was rolled back into the closet and I don’t think my 5th grade teacher made mention of what we watched. Tralala
Too young to have seen that (82 baby) but the first bombing of the twin towers was in 93 and my NYC school was evacuated and then we just...went back the next day with nothing else said about it?
Great essay. Are you writing a book? You should. something we elders shared with u Xers; fear of nuclear annihilation. New wave and punk rock was my supplemental bomb shelter drug of choice. ❤️ PS that photo omg, could that be more adorable?
Though it is technically of the 70s, Elvis Costello’s “(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” is an 80s song to me, and fits right in here.
Isn’t it humbling to realize we don’t know really another until they fill in the blanks? It’s so easy to project, assume, wish, or describe another in our image-not in theirs. Thanks for giving me a look at a piece of Gen X that I missed; I was probably too busy trying to find my own voice to hear yours.
Yep. All of this tracks. I remember waking up one night from horrendous nightmares about nuclear holocaust. My mom, in an effort to comfort me, said I could stay up and read until I calmed down. She pulled a paperback from the pile of novels by my bed and handed it to me, causing me to burst into a fresh fit of tears. The book she'd grabbed at random: a SciFi novel about - you guessed it - nuclear holocaust. Oops. I ended up watching an old Elvis movie on a tiny, black-and-white, TV/radio/cassette player. The King saved the day that night. ;)
first of all, teen Liz is such a perfect mix of Sage and Thalia. Wow.
I just got home from a big road trip and we listened to so so much music from the 80s. Stuff I hadn't listened to in years, and it took me right back to that time. I worked in politics in the late 80s/early 90s, so sure that I could change the world from the inside. It was devastating when I couldn't. I'm a quintessential GenX optimist who became disillusioned. Capitol Hill in my 20s, then Peace Corps. Even though I couldn't fix it all, I still am hopeful.
Great post. Loved remembering all this music!The Day After scarred me for life. Even now I feel sick thinking back on it!!
My school made us watch it in either 4th or 5th grade. My husband had never heard of it and was HORRIFIED. I mentioned it offhandedly in a meeting recently and the gen x'ers and above were all laughing about how bonkers it was/how we were traumatized and our younger colleagues could absolutely not believe this was on network tv. Tbh it was somehow less traumatic to me than Roots?
And Holocaust. All three of those are deeply embedded in whatever we call the "fear" part of the brain.
That and ‘Sybil’
We read 'the devils arithmetic' around the same timeframe (intentionally chosen to be LESS harrowing than Night which was only for junior high snd up) and they're both inexorably linked in my head.
I'm not Gen-X, but was a young enough Boomer to be an alt-rock fanatic in the 1980's (and worked in radio and music video 1980-84, so programming these songs was my LIFE). That said: I was a little kid during the Cuban Missile Crisis - the threat of nuclear annihilation was a thing both our generations lived with. I won't go into the threat of fighting an unjust overseas war (as a girl, I was not subject to the draft and it ended by the time I was 18, but many of my friends lost older brothers during that time). I would argue that the 1960's was just as significant a music decade - but I also think we tend to most love the music we heard during our formative years, no matter which decade they occurred in.
BTW: The photo of young you is adorable.
Thank you for sharing that, and wonderful points! I can only speak from my own experience, but the protest music of the 60s/70s absolutely lead the way.
I vividly remember reading Alas Babylon in ninth grade and as one of the learning activities, dividing into groups and planning our bomb shelter strategy. What supplies did we need, who was the captain, etc. knowing full well that if ‘it‘ ever happened we were probably in the blast zone of a nearby Air Force base. 😳
Yikes. Did you have to hide under a desk? That was always brilliant idea.
I seem to remember that the drill was to go to the hallway and sit with our backs against the wall, knees up, tuck our writing hand in, duck our heads, and cover the back of your head with the non dominant arm.
Wonderful words as always!
The Day After- just reading those words causes a reaction to this day. The movie of realistic nightmares made even more horrific because it was set where I live. I knew the places it mentioned. It happened here.
You are right on the music. Every lyric you shared I could continue. While I loved Cyndi Lauper and all the bubblegum pop music, the other spoke to me in such a different way.
It all somehow came together. Thanks Heather.
Every time I’m outside shoveling snow, if it’s still snowing, it makes me think of that movie.
[crying emoji]
Loved the post Liz , We can all argue music .Yet we can't argue about fascism and only way to stop it . Hugs to you . Liz. for great article
Well said! and thank you.
Bravo! Feeling this post in a big way. I went back to my '80s music hard during the pandemic shut down times. This time makes all the sense as well. Don't forget O.M.D.'s Enola Gay for your playlist.
Perfect! Plus Morrisey's Every Day is Like Sunday, which is rough because, Morrissey.
I’m 5 mos from turning 50 and the day after still haunts me.
Adding to your thesis — I saw a post on IG the reminded people that Gen xers watched the shuttle explode in real time, after months of hyping it up to see a teacher in space, and then we just went on with our day.
It’s bonkers to think about it but that’s exactly how I remember it all unfolding. We just went …. To
Music class . TV cart was rolled back into the closet and I don’t think my 5th grade teacher made mention of what we watched. Tralala
I just got chills with that reminder. Oof. What a horrible, horrible day that was.
Too young to have seen that (82 baby) but the first bombing of the twin towers was in 93 and my NYC school was evacuated and then we just...went back the next day with nothing else said about it?
80s music is the best m music, are there all be no questions at this time :)
Also for the playlist: dancing with tears in my eyes by Ultravox:
Dancing with tears in my eyes, Weeping for the memory of a life gone by
Dancing with tears in my eyes, Living out a memory of a love that died
It's five and I'm driving home again. It's hard to believe that it's my last time
The man on the wireless cries again: It's over, it's over
100%. I included it in my mention of "We're all gonna die so let's dance" songs ;)
Oh oops I totally missed that…I think my eye was drawn to the “we’re all gonna die let’s fuck” reference 😹
Understandably
Also- thanks for providing a link to something we can all do to fight. Postcarding , phone banking, text banking , door knocking …. It all helps
Great essay. Are you writing a book? You should. something we elders shared with u Xers; fear of nuclear annihilation. New wave and punk rock was my supplemental bomb shelter drug of choice. ❤️ PS that photo omg, could that be more adorable?
PPS soft cell tainted love Danceteria
Ha thanks Owen. Hm a book... maybe more paid subscriptions would help? ;)
Thank you, Liz! I feel seen. 💗
Though it is technically of the 70s, Elvis Costello’s “(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” is an 80s song to me, and fits right in here.
I still love that song! The late 70s songs (Life During Wartime - 79) definitely creep into the early 80s music.
Isn’t it humbling to realize we don’t know really another until they fill in the blanks? It’s so easy to project, assume, wish, or describe another in our image-not in theirs. Thanks for giving me a look at a piece of Gen X that I missed; I was probably too busy trying to find my own voice to hear yours.
❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for this reminder of our own lived experience and of the music that got us through it. 🎯
And that picture of you is everything!! Parachute pants > neon. #GenX4evah
Yep. All of this tracks. I remember waking up one night from horrendous nightmares about nuclear holocaust. My mom, in an effort to comfort me, said I could stay up and read until I calmed down. She pulled a paperback from the pile of novels by my bed and handed it to me, causing me to burst into a fresh fit of tears. The book she'd grabbed at random: a SciFi novel about - you guessed it - nuclear holocaust. Oops. I ended up watching an old Elvis movie on a tiny, black-and-white, TV/radio/cassette player. The King saved the day that night. ;)
TV/radio/cassette player! Well, if that’s not a blast.
first of all, teen Liz is such a perfect mix of Sage and Thalia. Wow.
I just got home from a big road trip and we listened to so so much music from the 80s. Stuff I hadn't listened to in years, and it took me right back to that time. I worked in politics in the late 80s/early 90s, so sure that I could change the world from the inside. It was devastating when I couldn't. I'm a quintessential GenX optimist who became disillusioned. Capitol Hill in my 20s, then Peace Corps. Even though I couldn't fix it all, I still am hopeful.
Just because we can’t fix it all doesn’t mean we don’t keep trying. Thanks for Everything you’ve done and for keeping hope alive.
Yes!