Why Do Grownups Like Nostalgia?

Nostalgia - a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past. Oxford Languages English Dictionary n.d. Google's English dictionary official website, viewed 17 July 2022, nostalgia meaning - Google Search

'Mummy, why do grownups like nostalgia?' I smile at the thought that there is little for my child beyond now. 'We like to savour happy moments... I guess.'

I had a moment of nostalgia a few weeks ago. I met with my friend from uni to go to a concert of a mega star we admired back then. 

Mega star - a performer and a creator in one. *My own definition*

When we were at uni, Alicia Keys released her first album "Songs in A Minor," and our shared flat was frequently filled with the sounds of "Fallin," "A Woman's Worth," "Girlfriend" etc. 

Needless to say, we had high expectations for this concert. We hoped to be teleported back to our youth with the power of music. It was a slow burner. Very slow. To our disappointment, our mega star held off the big hits, and instead broke into an alternative DJ-ing set... By the time the big hits arrived, the enjoyable feeling of nostalgia has faded considerably...

What is it about nostalgia then? It is apparent the pandemic enhanced our longing for the past because for a while we weren't able to create new experiences. No one can take away what has already happened, therefore our happy past moments forever remain happy. Don't tell me you are getting nostalgic about lockdowns... 

Nostalgia affects all senses. It could be triggered by a taste of a lemon sherbet, a scratchy sound of a vinyl or a smell of a favourite cake freshly baked by mum. There is no getting away from that cosy feeling. Nostalgia spreads across all areas of our lives. Currently, everything has been perpetuated back to a life as it was decades ago. Including the rising inflation and cost of living, and strikes popping up left, right and centre... Bleh... Pushing the depressive thoughts aside... 

Let's take fashion, all the trends we have seen before are back e.g. flares, mini skirts, ripped jeans, tie-dye, neon colours... I could go on. 

What about music? The list of new musicians benefiting from tried and tested mega hits, particularly the 90s hits, is ever growing. To mention "Last Last" by Burna Boy featuring Toni Braxton's "He Wasn't Man Enough" or "Night Away" by A1 x J1 based on "Lambada" by Kaoma. "Push The Feeling On" by Nightcrawlers remade into "Friday" by Riton and Nightcrawlers was trending all over the world last year. 

Moving on to drama series, "Stranger Things" is currently one of the biggest shows on the planet and it has catapulted "Running Up That Hill" back into the charts. Even Kate Bush is amazed. People cannot get enough of the 80s vibe. In addition, we are witnessing a resurgence of period dramas and films, albeit with a modern spin. "Bridgerton" has turned into a world-wide obsession and "Persuasion" is the #1 most watched film on Netflix this week, despite critics hating everything about it. 

And, as if this wasn't enough, I'm enjoying a "Friends"-athon... surely, it's not just the humour that has me hooked. 






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