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"You are the Generation that bought more shoes..."

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"You are the generation that bought more shoes, you get what you deserve." This quote is a song lyric that I heard on the radio (my apologies to the writer and artist that it belongs too because I don't know who either of you are). It's a great line and I can only assume it refers to the apparent lack of interest today's eighteen to twenty somethings appear to have in more serious and deeper issues.

Not that I'm trying to hold myself up as someone who campaigns strongly for the greater good of human kind or that I spend significant amounts of time raising awareness of important issues. I'm certainly not a poster boy for changing the attitudes of people with too many shoes but lyrics like that do make you think.

It's at this point that I really don't know where to go with this article. Should I focus on the material nature of modern society and its obsession with having more stuff? Or should I mention a few important issues, like Human Rights Abuses, the Iraq war and Globalisation to make it sound like I'm a little less interested in myself and how I look in a great pair of jeans?

With so many big issues and hard questions who really knows what to think? Perhaps it's just easier to go shopping? Buy more stuff so that you can be a better person. It's all about status and what brands are popular this week in order to be hip and with it. People are defined by what they wear and what they own right?

Buy more shoes.

[Edit/Update Jun 2021 - Thought it would be worth noting in the main post that I have since discovered the song name and artist: 'You are the generation that bought more shoes you get what you deserve' by U.K. Band 'Johnny Boy'.]

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  1. AnonymousMay 09, 2006 9:17 PM

    It's said that 'Clothes do not maketh the man!' It's 'manners that maketh the man' or to be politically correct by today's standards, 'maketh the person!' Let's not forget the ladies!

    In other words, it's what's inside and how you treat other people that make you the kind of person that you are! Today's young ones have alot to learn!

    I wore alot of 'hand-me-downs' from cousins, which fortunately were still good, and clothes from jumble sales, which showed where they came from in those days, not like the 'good stuff' that's given away today! What does that make me then!

    I actually didn't turn out bad, and can appreciate new clothes more. People today actually make an outing of doing the rounds of the op shops, as there is some good stuff to be had, including designer labels and things bought on the spur of the moment, so hardly worn!

    Cherrio!

    ReplyDelete
  2. TET (David Arandle)May 25, 2006 1:59 PM

    I tend to agree with you but the point I think the quote is making is more to do with young people's obsession with having the latest thing or being in fashion etc. etc. and not really having an awareness of wider issues affecting them, that they do have control over, if they would take an interest.

    ReplyDelete
  3. TET (David Arandle)June 01, 2006 9:17 PM

    I've since found out that the song I'm quoting from is actually called 'You are the generation that bought more shoes you get what you deserve' by U.K. Band 'Johnny Boy'. Now if I could just get hold of the words because I can't make out a single thing they're singing about other than the title...the band's web site is no help whatsoever :(

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 08, 2007 7:23 PM

    I call it the disposable society, people around me seem to get new cats dogs etc and then "trade them in" for kids or smaller more convenient (or cute) ones for no reason other than boredom or something different. I love my animals as much as my kids and could think of nothing worse than letting one of them go for any reason, I think the youger generation need to have a bit more responsibility towards their pets and the RSPCA's would not have as big a problem.

    ReplyDelete
  5. TET (David Arandle)September 09, 2007 9:47 AM

    I certainly don't understand people who treat pets like fashion accessories (it's all the rage to have a cute dog this week but next week kitten's are the 'in' thing). In my day (doesn't that make me sound old) you bought a pet and it was just a given that it was now part of the family. Till death do we part and all that.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousMarch 06, 2008 11:17 AM

    Actually, I think it is in reference to Baby Boomers, which a lot of people forget are the first generation of selfish, self-centered, egotistical, narrow-minded hippy-crits. Naturally, the spawn of such a generation will lead to the world in its current state.

    ReplyDelete
  7. TET (David Arandle)March 06, 2008 2:14 PM

    If I could actually get hold of the lyrics to this song I might argue the case re: Baby Boomers. On the surface though I don't think the song writers experience with Baby Boomers would prompt this song. More likely it would be prompted by their current experience of today's generation... I could be wrong though as I am only speculating.

    ReplyDelete
  8. RogerSeptember 13, 2008 1:00 AM

    Stumbled across a remix of this song on www.RCRDLBL.com a couple of months ago
    (I rehosted it here: http://www.box.net/shared/kg8ra79uvr)
    and I can't stop playing it as I train to run the Boston Marathon.
    I was curious what the actual lyrics were and after finding them thought I would post them here.

    I just can't help believing
    though believing sees me cursed
    For belief ignores the heathen's
    day by day sigh 'even worse'
    But for all we are receiving
    there's an evens key to turn
    You are the generation that bought more shoes and you get what you deserve

    Winter sweeps the streets of evening,
    this frequency my universe
    To reel a deep or meaning feeling　
    in seas where schools of fools be first
    But for all we are receiving
    there's an evens key to turn
    You was the generation that snorts for tunes and you get what you deserve

    Burberry Beamer Beakheads
    leaving Adidas sleek mystique reversed
    Without a dream or scream between 'em.
    Believing time does reimburse

    Suffer all we are receiving
    there's an evens key to turn
    You are the generation that bought more shoes and you get what you deserved

    ReplyDelete
  9. TET (David Arandle)September 13, 2008 11:08 AM

    Thanks for that Roger. I'll have to have a closer listen to the song now...

    Doesn't leave me any less clearer about what the song is on about though. Perhaps baby boomers at first but that second verse sounds more like the generation or two afterwords?

    ReplyDelete

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