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My Gen X Playlist: 1979 – The Smashing Pumpkins

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So I was going down a few rabbit holes online and I discovered an app called Kalshi.

The Kalshi app is a federally regulated financial exchange where users trade “event contracts” on the outcome of real world events.  It functions like a prediction market, allowing users to buy “Yes” or “No” contracts based on whether they believe a specific event will occur. The platform offers markets across diverse categories such as politics, sports, weather, economics, and culture, enabling users to profit from accurate predictions

I’ve made a few bets. Some political, a few on the economy. It’s interesting to be able to bet on non-sporting events. Who would have thought.

I bet on the weather in Los Angeles the other day. I thought that would be an easy one. I bet the day’s high would be over 77 degrees. The weather app on my phone predicted a high of 79. Easy money right? Apparently, the deciding factor is the National Weather Service. Even though the app on my phone indicated I won, according to the NWS, I lost. I’m not betting the farm, don’t worry. I bet a buck to win 8. This has become a fun distraction. Let’s see how I do for the month.

79 made me think about the Smashing Pumpkins’ 1979. When I think about the band, I tend to think about Siamese Dream. It’s such a good album. I used to listen to it front to back. I did buy the two disc set Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, but I don’t remember listening to it all that much. I did like 1979, though. I remember burning that song on my homemade compilation discs. For some reason the album never drew me in. But in hindsight, I didn’t give it much of a chance and maybe I should break it out and give it a listen. It will probably feel like a new album to me. Any recommendations? Too bad I can’t place a bet to see if I’ll like it or not. That might make it a little more interesting.

Shakedown 1979, cool kids never have the time

I never knew what this meant. It didn’t matter. It’s just a cool opening line.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Shakedown 1979, cool kids never have the time
On a live wire right up off the street
You and I should meet
June bug skipping like a stone
With the headlights pointed at the dawn
We were sure we'd never see an end to it all

And I don't even care to shake these zipper blues
And we don't know just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below

Double cross the vacant and the bored
They're not sure just what we have in the store
Morphine city slippin' dues, down to see that

We don't even care, as restless as we are
We feel the pull in the land of a thousand guilts
And poured cement, lamented and assured
To the lights and towns below
Faster than the speed of sound
Faster than we thought we'd go, beneath the sound of hope

Justine never knew the rules
Hung down with the freaks and the ghouls
No apologies ever need be made
I know you better than you fake it, to see

And I don't even care to shake these zipper blues
And we don't know just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below

The street heats the urgency of sound
As you can see there's no one around

17 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: 1979 – The Smashing Pumpkins”

    1. There were a few political propositions that I bet on that made me do a little more research before putting down my massive one dollar bet. Bet on the fed rate cut? Why not. I’ll keep going until my meager bankroll is depleted.

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  2. I think a song like “1979“ makes members of our generation get nostalgic, even if we are a little young to be too reminiscent of that year. I was born in 74 myself.

    That app sounds crazy! I usually don’t get too into gambling because when I “gamble“ I never win. So I suppose I can’t even call it gambling, since statistically speaking, there is no possibility of me actually winning.

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    1. lol. It’s better that you don’t enjoy gambling. The house usually wins.

      This is an interesting distraction for now. I bet on the fed rate cut, a couple of earnings calls, and a few political propositions. I have to make sure my bets are small and I don’t get carried away. For now, I just bet a buck or two. If I use up the meager amount of funds I dropped in there, then I’m done.

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  5. Ooo…I was just thinking it would be fun to try betting on something like the Emmy awards since we’re such TV nuts. I wonder if that app is legal in MA. Will check!

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    1. I did see you can bet on the awards shows. It’s interesting on the different things you can bet on. I do it to make things a little more interesting. I only bet a buck or two. Nothing serious. It’s made me research issues a bit more. So that ms a good thing. Let me know if you give it a try!

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  6. You can truly bet on anything. Vegas has won! JK- I knew this existed, but I’m not a gambler-you’re right, I believe the house will eventually always win. So if you win a big one, take the profits and retire!!

    1979 is one of those great songs that just sums up the feeling of being young to me. Strangely, I listened to Mellon Collie a lot, not Siamese Dream-with the exception of 1979 it’s a very aptly named album. I still like some of the tunes on it-Stumbleine, Tonight, Tonight, Thirty-Three, We Only Come Out at Night—but they’re all pretty melancholy, and the album itself is too long to have all the songs be sad.

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    1. Thanks for the heads up on the album. I knew there are a number of songs that I liked. I just have to give it a listen. The two disc set seemed to be a lot of music to listen to at the time.

      On a side note, I did find James Iha’s CD in a used CD bin once and added it to my collection. Not bad. His solo career didn’t take off. Give him props for trying.

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