This is our decision, to live fast and die young...

This is the first track on MGMT's album, Oracular Spectacular. I find the lyrics very interesting (catchy tune, too).

Time To Pretend

I'm feeling rough, I'm feeling raw, I'm in the prime of my life.
Let's make some music, make some money, find some models for wives.
I'll move to Paris, shoot some heroin, and f*** with the stars.
You man the island and the cocaine and the elegant cars.

This is our decision, to live fast and die young.
We've got the vision, now let's have some fun.
Yeah, it's overwhelming, but what else can we do.
Get jobs in offices, and wake up for the morning commute.

Forget about our mothers and our friends
We're fated to pretend
To pretend
We're fated to pretend
To pretend

I'll miss the playgrounds and the animals and digging up worms
I'll miss the comfort of my mother and the weight of the world
I'll miss my sister, miss my father, miss my dog and my home
Yeah, I'll miss the boredom and the freedom and the time spent alone.

There's really nothing, nothing we can do
Love must be forgotten, life can always start up anew.
The models will have children, we'll get a divorce
We'll find some more models, everything must run it's course.

We'll choke on our vomit and that will be the end
We were fated to pretend
To pretend
We're fated to pretend
To pretend

As you can probably tell, it's about youth, refusing to grow up, realising it's happening anyway, and knowing that in the end, they will live a life that they pretend to want.

And if you watch the (trippy and impressive) video clip, you'll see how much these guys like drugs.
But it got me thinking.

Every generation gets conservative as it gets older. The rebels become the establishment, and their kids become the rebels. We've seen an interesting development in the last few years with the Baby Boomer "neo-cons" taking pre-eminence in world politics. Left-leaning when they were younger, the "neo-conservatives" have taken on conservative ideals, tempered by their experiences with the Left.

It got me wondering what our generation will be like when we're in power. Unlike the 1960s and 70s there is no "peace, love and understanding" vibe in the zeitgeist.Today's generation:
- has a desire for experiences.
- is comfortable with uncertainty.
- has a generally optimistic view of people and the world.
- knows nothing other than instantaneous, worldwide communication.
- has not grown up under the shadow of nuclear destruction.

Now, I've got no idea how that will play out in the next 25-35 years. But I think it makes for an intriguing mix. We are the first generation to grow up without the threat of worldwide war in 100 years!! Who knows what we could achieve?

I have an idea for a post percolating too, about the older generations trying to keep the younger generation down with a new threat, but that's for another day. Enjoy the sunshine!