Freddy Mercury has the Most Beautiful Voice, and Edith Piaf is Good Too

We've all at some point been that neophyte listener who, upon discovering an artist previously unheard by our delicate ears, declares rapturously that this "new" artist is mind-blowing in some way and the ultimate in some other aspect.  We feel stupidly special at having discovered the sound and to be just genius enough to recognize it as the penultimate artistic rendition that it is.  I recall announcing to at least one person, who immediately lost faith in me as a person of aesthetic, that Jethro Tull had one of the most beautiful voices in all of rockdom.  That's right, not only did I not specify the singer Anderson, I also made this earth-shattering declaration after having heard three of their songs.  It had changed me and thus I must change the world by recognizing it. How dear was I?  Of course, depending on the artist, someone must have already made such statements oh, say 50 years prior and will say it again in another 20 years if not tomorrow. 

As annoying as it is to hear some whiney lisping voice breaking through the pus of full-mouth acne to extoll the acoustic virtues of some artist long-dead, we should cut the youth, and ourselves, some slack.  I grew up with classic rock blaring in the garage while I helped my dad make stuff, and oldies warbling away while my grandma made us microwaveable bacon.  I had a leg up on the ol' old music library.  I still meet people my age who have never heard of Judy Garland or Singin' in the Rain, let alone the Cars.  There is something very wrong with that, and we really ought to celebrate Gene Kelley on Presidents' Day, but we often learn about older and older things as we get older too.  I was unfamiliar with the Blues and did not know about names like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and Leadbelly until I was an undergrad, for example.  I still haven't heard every song in the massive Beatles catalogue even though I own several albums because, if my dad didn't have a couple records, and if the songs weren't favorites of ARROW 102.5FM, then I wasn't exposed. 

We find out about older artists as we age, and the next generation continues to discover music we, then what our parents, then what our grandparents knew, which means that the older you are, the older the guy is who thinks you're an ass. 

Only Steal Wallets and Glances

I have concluded that the least romantic general-access location(s) in the city are subway stations.  Extensive research (wink wink, nudge nudge, ahem, cough, NOT) suggests this could be due to the soft lighting, intimate space, warming fragrance, gentle breeze, and much sought after privacy of these subterrainian structures, where you can literally be whisked off of your feet in but a moment.