Is Too Much Of Today’s Youth Culture Dark And Depressing?

[thesshhh]

Been watching Normal People and, while it is excellent, it is also dark and depressing. I find that with much of today’s pop music too - Adele, Ed Sheeran, Snow Patrol, etc. Even today’s comedians don’t give me belly laughs like those I grew up watching. No decent sitcoms on telly now. Don’t you think too much of today’s youth culture is too bloomin miserable, or is it just me?!

[royfromaus]

He's just a bloke with a kids guitar.

[andy-hughes]

Roy, that minimising is unfair and inaccurate in my view.

I think ES is one of the most original and talented musicians of his generation.

The fact that I loathe every song I have heard by him does not detract from that view.

[barry1010]

How I miss Terry and June; Some Mothers Do 'Ave'Em and Sorry. What a cheery lot those punks and glue sniffers were. Best times ever were the football hooligans and rucks that erupted in the streets after the match. UB40 bemoaning being 1 in 10 due to high unemployment.
Then we had the happiest of youth, the emergence of the goths. What a ray of sunshine they were.

Seriously, you are not watching the right sitcoms (Better Things, Two Doors Down, Fleabag), listening to the right music or comedians.

I will say exactly what my parents said when I was a teen, and no doubt their parents said 80 years ago. Kids today don't know they're born

[Cloverjo]

I wouldn’t know Ed Sheeran from Olly Murs or Sam Smith. I’m sure they’re all very talented. but it all sounds a bit ‘blah’ to me. Yes I know I’m an old fogey :)

[jno]

well, I would have thought so, Mozz, in fact I thought he was rather fun in that Beatles film; but the OP disagrees.

[douglas9401]

Tell you what I think is dark and depressing, the use of 'twitface' by a full grown adult.

It's not big and it's not clever.

[barry1010]

Depends how they are used, Douglas.

[thesshhh]

I found Fleabag dark and depressing to some extent. Didn’t laugh once.

[Theblip]

must admit I can't recall the last hit I sang along to, or the last time I properly laughed at a comedy or comedian (except Frank Skinner who's hardly young now)

[emmie]

some of it is, 300 gangs in London doesn't bear thinking about. that is darkness and the killings go on..

[bednobs]

i find adele and ed sheeran odd examples to use as an example of dark and depressing.

[Mozz71]

//Seriously, you are not watching the right sitcoms (Better Things, Two Doors Down, Fleabag), listening to the right music or comedians.//

I will admit that I quite enjoyed what I saw of Fleabag. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is clearly an immensely talented comedy writer, but the others I've never heard of.

What I mean is that there is nothing that entertains me like Spaced, Father Ted or Black Books used to, much less makes me laugh as hard as Fawlty Towers, Blackadder or Bottom were able to. I guess this is what getting old is all about.

[iluvmargie]

The OP mentions Ed Sheeran! His music is not dark and depressing, I enjoy his music very much.

[ToraToraTora]

Ask err indoors I give all sitcoms a go and believe me I've watched some tish, but fleabag, I just don't get, watched the first 3 episodes and all I saw was vulgarity in place of comedy. Can't see how PWB has suddenly become the "in" thing. She's even writing the new Bond F\FS! She may redeem herself there though, you never know!

[pixie374]

Fleabag had so much character to it, I loved that- and most of those mozz has mentioned. I think comedy has got better, it used to be so repetitive and predictable (the Two Ronnie's, etc), but maybe sitcoms have had their time now.

[daisypotter]

Tried Fleabag, hated it. Won't watch it again!

[ToraToraTora]

pixie, the 2 ronnies; "repetitive and predictable "? - come on, some of the greatest sketches in history!

[ummmm]

Never liked The Two Ronnie's and such like.

Two Doors Down is good.

[iluvmargie]

I could never understand all the fuss about the Two Ronnies, they never appealed to me at all.

[Mozz71]

The Ronnies' linguistic skills have never been beaten. Their wordplay was very, very clever. Adding Porridge and Open All Hours to Ronnie Barker's CV gives us, in my view, a comedy genius.