„Adolescence is a new birth.“
Stanley Hall: „Adolescence“ (1904)“
Like the punkrock collection „England’s Dreaming“, Jon Savage compiled „Teenage“ presenting himself as an ingenious and knowledgable chronicler of musical history. He tracked down the precursors of modern youth culture and adolescent enactments in 19th and early 20th century America, Great Britain, France and Germany. The compilation tells the story of youth culture, one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, through songs from 1911 to 1946. The very first chartbreakers – Hot Jazz, Blues, Swing and show tunes – illustrate the possibilities open to young people between mass market and independence.
„I hope and pray for the day when I’ll be sweet sixteen“, sang Judy Garland in the hit film, „Love Finds Andy Hardy“, „then I won’t have to be an in-between“. As a long litany of complaints – „I’m too old for toys and too young for boys“; „I can’t do this, I can’t go there: I’m just a circle in a square“ – „In-Between“ was one of the first songs to describe the adolescent experience from within.
This CD follows the book „Teenage: the Creation of Youth 1875 – 1945“ by Jon Savage and many of the songs herein are mentioned within the text. It stands alone as a listening experience, but also acts as an aural accompaniment.