My Gen X Playlist: Monsters and Angels – Voice of the Beehive

When I was in school, they brainwashed me to be hard core about career. It was a non-stop push to climb the corporate ladder. In hindsight, it felt a little cultish and extreme.

When my company was recruiting interns, of course I was happy we had a number from my alma mater over the years. However, over time, they became my least favorite. There was a sense of entitlement, a feeling of wanting everything now, despite the fact they were only interns. It was a little unsettling. In subsequent years, I was happy when there wasn’t any representation from my university. Man, that’s a sad turn of events because my school holds a special pride about alumni support.

The best interns we had came from a few of the local liberal arts colleges. These kids were down to earth, bright, humble and well rounded. When they eventually were hired on, they excelled and were a joy to work with. I was so impressed with them, I secretly hoped my nieces or nephews would attend one of these schools, with the hopes they would be sprinkled with some of that magic dust. My first two nieces were fortunate to attend one of the colleges and are recent graduates. We are all proud of the young ladies they have become.

So why am I not talking about my career plans? I think I’ve focused on it for almost 30 years. That’s enough for now. I’d rather think about something fresh and new. What’s better than chatting about young energetic young people looking to carve out their path? That’s so much more interesting, believe you me.

I remember a rogue professor giving the class some interesting advice.

Your twenties are for trying things out for size. Don’t feel the pressure of your career yet. You haven’t lived enough to really know what you want or what you are even good at. Hopefully when you turn thirty, you’ll have lived a bit and have a better idea what you want to do. That’s when you buckle down. Until then, explore and enjoy.

This came from my entrepreneur professor, so the sentiment tracks with his insight to life. Not bad advice at all. To all young people, don’t stress yourself out. You’ve got the greatest gift right now – time.

I graduated in 1991 and was reviewing KROQ’s top alternative songs of that year. I found a song that I haven’t heard in decades – Voice of the Beehive’s Monsters and Angels. The light, fun melody is a great reminder how youth should be.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

I'm nobody's wife and I'm nobody's baby, 
I like it that way but then again, maybe. 

I'm nobody's valentine & I'm nobody's pearl 
When you get right down to it I always seem to always find just 
Some girl singin' 

There are monsters, there are angels. 
There's a peacefulness and a rage inside us all. 
There's sugar & there is salt 
There's ice and there is fire. 
In every single heart, there are monsters, there are angels. 

I'm nobody's promise and I'm nobody's chore 
And I ain't got nobody that I feel I gotta 
Live for - nobody to live for. 
I'm nobody's work & I'm nobodys' company 
And every time I turn around I always seem to find 
Just me singin' 

There are monsters, there are angels.
There's a peacefulness and a rage inside us all.
There's sugar, and there's salt.
There's ice and there's fire
In every single heart there are monsters there are angels.

I'm nobodys' wife, I'm nobodys' baby, 
I like it that way, but then again, maybe.
Then again maybe.

I'm nobody's valentine and I'm nobody's pearl.
When you get right down to it I always seem to find just
Some girl.

Singin' there are monsters, there are angels.
There's a peacefulness and a rage inside us all.
There's sugar, and there's salt.
There's ice and there's fire.
In every single heart there are monsters there are angels.

Singin' there are monsters, there are angels. 
Singin' there are monsters, there are angels. 
I'm nobody's wife, and I'm nobody's baby.