There’s a scientific reason that one generation turnos off the music of another: it doesn’t resonate with them. Literally. Neuroscientists like Daniel Levitin have found physical and chemical evidence that shows, very clearly, that music literally lights up certain parts of the brain, especially the amygdala, the area of the brain that is associated with emotions.

The music that we hear in our adolescence is directly and firmly linked to our amygadalas. In other words, certain songs will bring up a physical AND EMOTIONAL response whenever we hear them, regardless of the circumstances.

Other music won’t do that. No matter what we “think” of it. If the emotional ties aren’t literally there, we won’t be able to generate them. That’s been proven by Oliver Sacks, another neuroscientist, who has held a life-long preference for Bach over Beethoven. His preference was demonstrated through the use of MIRI technology.

When Bach and Beethoven compositions were mashed up together, to the point that the conscious Sacks could not identify which composer he was listening to, his brain couldn’t distinguish them either. The fMRI of his brain while he was listening to the Bach/Beethoven mashup reflected his confusion. Clearly.

So, when someone of an elder generation hears something that sends the younger generation into oblivion, it’s not necessarily going to do it for the older person. That’s not to say that appreciation cannot be learned.

However, as much as the person likes the new music, the direct heart link will not be there, unless there are elements of the new music that resemble the music that set’s that person’s heart on fire.

If you use the website, Pandora, you can establish Internet “radio stations” that play the kind of music that you like. For example, I like a group called Great Big Sea. They are out of Newfoundland, Canada, and sing and play Irish folk music about fishing and lumbering.

However, they play with a contemporary sound.They use lots of major chords, lots of major melodies, with a strong rhythm section. Pandora, the website, will search for other musicians whose sound is similar, and add those artists to “your” radio station.

However, there are certain Irish rock groups who I don’t care for - for a variety of reasons. They have the harmonies, but not the purity of sound, for example. Despite their similarities, their sound is not pleasing to me.

On the other hand, there are new groups, like Carbon Leaf, who are very similar to Great Big Sea, and whose work I like very much. I find it extremely interesting to see my personality played out in this electronic, and scientific way.