What Do Coldplay and Senior Citizens Have in Common?
Kendra August 24th, 2008
So what’s the connection between Coldplay and eighty year olds? Read on to find out…
Seattle is a fairly youthful city full of single hipsters. When I first visited Ballard, even before I moved to Washington state, the joke was that the drivers were so bad as it was a neighborhood of old people who could barely see over their steering wheels. Their cars would inevitably have bumper stickers such as “Honk if you’re Norwegian.” These old folks would populate the Eagles Club on 24th Street or the Leif Erickson Hall by the old QFC. These were people who had grown up in the area and purchased their cottages and craftsman houses for prices that make present day buyers cry. Ten years ago Ballard was far from hip. However, there was something about it that charmed me, I kind of liked the fact that the streets were full of the elderly, to me it was like having a whole neighborhood of grandparents. However, I didn’t always feel so drawn to the elderly.
When I was a little girl my grandmother, though she was old herself, used to take me along during her volunteer visits to nursing homes. I fully admit to being terrified, as I was too young to understand what I was seeing. The old people some of who couldn’t talk well due to missing teeth or breathing problems seemed like monsters to me, as they would reach out to touch me with their gnarled hands. I didn’t understand that they were happy to have visitors, particularly a young child to fuss over.
Over the years I have lived here, I noticed that instead of the older faces I was used to seeing on Ballard streets, the faces have gotten younger and younger. I first clued into the fact that Ballard had become hip when the Tall Grass Bakery opened on 24th Street. When I talked to one of the owners, they mentioned that Capitol Hill was just too overdone and had chosen Ballard. Like mushrooms springing up new bars and restaurants such as Bal Mar, the Matador, Volterra, La Carta de Oaxaca, etc. A younger population was drawn to the nightlife and the condos rapidly being built at the same time the older population was dwindling.
However, Tuesday night these generations cross paths at a special showing of the movie “Young at Heart.” This film festival winner is about a real group of east coast seniors who rock out to Coldplay, the Ramones, James Brown and many groups you wouldn’t expect to even be known by this age group. This amazing group performs this music for others startling everyone by the song choice, passion and emotion of their performances. Don’t be put off by the fact that this movie is being shown at the Greenwood Senior Center as the event if open to all age groups with a suggested donation is $3. I dare you to watch the following You Tube clips and see if it spins your notion of aging on its head.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Event is Tuesday, August 26th and located at: The Greenwood Senior Center is located at 525 N. 85th St. For more information call 206-297-0875.
Young at Heart Sings Talking Heads “Road to Nowhere”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wgrM-R6yfY&feature=related
Young at Heart Sings Coldplay “Fix You”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-3IT4TeSxY&feature=related
Unfortuately this event has been cancelled
