Today, we have almost officially arrived at that milestone. Musical programming for older adults has naturally progressed from the foundational eras of Elvis Presley and The Beatles into the late 1960s and early 1970s rock canon. That shift got me thinking about Billy Joel’s iconic 1980 track, “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” not just as a piece of classic radio history, but as a compelling metaphor for how we can navigate the aging process with vitality, agency, and a distinct high quality of life.
When Billy Joel released the track, it faced a wave of critical skepticism. Detractors labeled him more of a pop star relying on a calculated, formulaic approach than a true musical craftsman, completely overlooking his astonishing repertoire and versatility across genres. Think of masterworks like “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” or “New York State of Mind”—tracks that undeniably showcase profound composition and lyrical depth. Yes, “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” followed the tried-and-true formula of early rock classics: three chords and a sharp, memorable hook. Yet, rather than engaging in a war of words, Joel let the music speak for itself. The song soared to the number one spot on the charts for two weeks, and his subsequent sold-out residencies at Madison Square Garden told the rest of the story. The critics continued to gripe, but Joel simply stopped needing their approval to keep doing what he loved.
Make No Excuses
That refusal to seek external validation for personal life choices is a lesson my wife and I have embraced in our own lives, particularly when it comes to how we spend our time. This year, we have been traveling extensively—the kind of schedule where we are home for two weeks and then away for two more. Naturally, people often wonder how we manage it and why we choose to live at such a pace. Invariably, however, there is a subtle tinge of jealousy, judgment, or underlying entitlement woven into their phrasing. If you read between the lines, the unspoken question is often: "Aren’t you leaving anything for the kids?"
Our response is straightforward and honest. Our children are doing well, established in their own lives, and will still receive a healthy and substantial inheritance when the time comes. But beyond financial planning, we worked hard for decades for the very ability to travel now. We planned for it, we saved for it, and we orchestrated our finances efficiently and economically. More importantly, we are doing it right now, while we still possess the physical health and vigor to enjoy it.
Returning to the musical metaphor, the question must be asked: who actually decides when swaying, dancing, jitterbugging, and exploring the world through travel reaches an arbitrary age cutoff? Where do these rigid societal assumptions come from in the first place?
Youth Is for the Young?
Historically, the quintessential rock stars of my generation championed a philosophy of rebellious youth. The Who famously sang, “Hope I die before I get old,” capturing the raw, defiant spirit of an era. Yet, ironically, those very same rock icons are still touring and performing today well into their senior years.
Consider Bob Dylan’s poetic anthem “Forever Young,” which features the poignant lines:
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift […]
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung […]
Read closely, those lyrics sound far less about maintaining chronological youth and far more about the active posture of acting young, staying engaged, and embracing life. Dylan continues to relentlessly reinvent his artistry well into his 80s. Alongside contemporaries like Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, and Johnny Cash, these legendary figures prove definitively that musical and personal evolution does not simply halt when youth fades.
Yet, contemporary society continues to cling to a rigid set of unwritten rules regarding how older adults are expected to behave, dress, and occupy their time.
Change Your Look. Change Your Sound. Or Be True to Yourself
That core tension—between bowing to external pressures and remaining true to oneself—is the ultimate essence of Joel’s song. As the New Wave musical movement crashed onto the scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s, record executives heavily pressured Joel to alter his sound to match the emerging trends. Instead, he stayed entirely true to himself and his musical roots.
This raises a fundamental question about the later chapters of life: How do you genuinely want to age? Do you want life’s conventional scripts to dictate your choices, passively accepting whatever limitations society assigns to your demographic? Or do you prefer an active approach to aging where you establish your own rules and chart your own course?
Cultural critic Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks, articulated this distinction succinctly when she noted that the fear of dying is purely human, while the fear of aging is entirely cultural. Society actively promotes a fear of aging largely because a massive commercial apparatus relies on selling anti-aging products to combat a manufactured stigma.
Fortunately, public attitudes are shifting. Prominent figures like actress Jamie Lee Curtis have actively rejected conventional beauty standards, opting to embrace natural gray hair and go makeup-free in the public eye. On a personal level, I look to my own mother as a beacon of defiance against societal expectations; she maintained a vibrant relationship with a boyfriend well into her 80s and continued dancing until she was nearly 90 years old.
To foster this same active mindset in my daily life, I helped form a social group consisting mostly of retired and semi-retired men. We gather monthly for lunch, movies, bowling, or a competitive game of pickleball. It is an effortless way to keep our bodies moving and our social connections strong. Similarly, a friend of mine who is currently planning his retirement has decided this is the exact right moment in his life to finally learn how to play the guitar.
Change Your Script
Throughout life, it is easy to unconsciously accept cultural scripts regarding music, travel, and physical activity that suggest we should quietly step back. Recognizing where we have passively accepted those limitations allows us to consciously choose otherwise.
For my own part, following a couple of years away from the stage, I am stepping back into the spotlight at age 69. I am actively looking to perform once again at local brewpubs and senior communities. While I will certainly be brushing up on the timeless standards that my audiences know and love, you can rest assured that a few Bruce Springsteen tracks and maybe even a Taylor Swift song or two will find their way into the setlist.
To further illustrate that veteran artists continue to shape contemporary culture and create resonant work today, one need only look at Billy Joel’s recent release, “Turn the Lights Back On.” The lyrics offer a fitting reflection on timing, renewal, and showing up:
I’m late, but I’m here right now…
Did I wait too long to turn the lights back on?
Clearly, Billy, you did not wait a moment too long at all.
As we reflect on these themes, it is worth considering our own paths. In what ways have you noticed subtle or overt ageism influencing your personal life decisions, and how have you chosen to respond? How do you spend your days, and what activities do you continue to enjoy that society might still lazily label as being "for the youth"?
