Can hit song's lyrics survive till 2025?

Earlier this week, we reported on the growing generation gap between younger and older adults.

A prime pop culture example: Ask someone what the phrase “In the Year 2525” brings to mind.

Many older folks will immediately know it's a 1969 song by Zager and Evans. Forty years ago, the Lincoln duo beat the Beatles on pop charts, something completely unheard of at the time. The song reached No. 1 in July 1969.

Younger people think you're talking about science fiction. They've never heard the song.

So we asked a bunch of area people of various ages what comes to their mind when they hear the phrase “In the Year 2525.” Here's what they had to say:

“This world, the way it's going, will not last that long.” — Omahan Mike Dannevik, 27

“My son will graduate high school.” — Omahan Jennifer Parent, 28

“I think of Conan O'Brien and his ‘In the Year 2000' skits.” — Omahan Danelle Petersen Schlegel- milch, 25

“Zager and Evans … oooh … flashback to childhood. ‘If man is still alive' … argh!” — Christine Vanderpool-Kasel, 49

“Flying cars. Metallic material for clothing. You know, (the movie) ‘Fifth Element' stuff.” — Omahan Ashlee Schuette, 24

“I think of listening to KOIL radio in the 1960s and knowing that song was made by some mysterious band from Lincoln that no one ever saw perform. Another weird thing about that song: It was first released on a local label, then reissued on a major label with a very cool Spanish-influenced trumpet intro. I owned that 45. I loved the song and used to sing along to it. I was also a little scared of the lyrics because I thought all those predictions could come true.” — Omahan Stephen Sheenan, 51

“I think of one of the cheesiest but memorable songs to come out of the '60s. I imagine what life must be like living with atrophied limbs and dulled senses. Then I go for a long bicycle ride to make sure it doesn't happen to me.” — Omahan Scott Redd, 39

“I've been a big fan of the Zager and Evans hit ‘In the Year 2525' for a long, long time, but this year I found the most amazing gem by them called ‘Reginald Ludwig.' It's like the Zombies mixed with a 40-year-earlier version of Radiohead.” — Todd Fink of the Faint

“Now the darn thing is stuck in my head. I grew up with that song. It seemed like it was way too far in the future, but then again I had been watching ‘Lost in Space' for the past few years.” — Omahan Cindy Workman, 51

“I think of the next phrase of the song, ‘If man is still alive,' and then I get depressed thinking about the greenhouse effect.” — Stephen Milhollin, 62, of Carter Lake, Iowa

“Tinkering with the Earth's atmosphere that began in 2009, based upon limited scientific knowledge assumed to be omniscient, will be the cause for the second Ice Age experienced by the world citizens in 2525.” — Anthony Hendrickson, a dean and information systems and technology professor at Creighton University, 51

“… Zager and Evans were still unknown.” — Omahan Jose Garcia, 64

And what should come to mind about Rick Evans and Denny Zager? They're both in the music business. Zager builds custom guitars through his Lincoln-based business, Zager Guitar.

Contact the writer:

444-1075, j.loza@owh.com

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