BITTERSWEET, Ky. — When I was a teenager, I grew my hair long and wore bell bottom pants and shirts with puffy sleeves and long collars. And thought I looked great. After all, it was the Seventies, and all my friends looked this way. I was singing in a rock band and had to keep up my image.

While I found that look appealing, my father was less than impressed. He often threatened to cut my hair when I was asleep. And my clothes just were not his style. It was a true generation gap that I did not understand at that time.

In many cases, there are distinct differences between generations, and rightfully so, I suppose. Not only do we have differences in clothes and hair styles, but in music, as well. As a purveyor of musical information, I often find myself wandering back in time because I truly love the music of many genres from a previous generation.

That’s not to say I don’t enjoy newer music or performers; I do. But I sometimes have a difficult time trying to place some of this new country music into a category because so many new songs have a mixture of many different influences.

There is nothing wrong with that, on most days. But in looking at the latest country music chart, I see a whole lot of music I’m not so familiar with or I just don’t understand.

Maybe I’m making too much of it. Music is meant to move you and make you feel something. I suppose all of these songs move someone out there, or they wouldn’t be on the charts. I’m beginning to know how my father felt, only from a musical perspective. Some days all I see are bell bottoms and puffy sleeves instead of jeans and boots.

But I think that is the way the world works. The newer generation must take over at some point and the way they see, hear and perform their music is different than what I saw and heard and performed.

So, in taking another look at the chart, I began to find selections I really liked. I just had to look a little harder and listen a little longer.

In thinking back to my teenage years, I’m glad my father never cut my hair and allowed me to be me. Maybe there is a lesson in there for me to learn the next time I see only “bell bottoms” on the musical charts.

Bluegrass Johnson comes from a long line of country music performers and enjoys a passion for the rhythm and melody. From the hills of Kentucky, he will offer his opinions on a variety of new country music each week. Readers with questions or comments may write to Johnson in care of this publication.