The Angst of Aging in '30/90'
The song '30/90' from the musical 'Tick, Tick... Boom!' encapsulates the anxiety and existential dread associated with turning 30, a milestone often marked by societal pressures and self-reflection. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and a desire to pause time, as the protagonist grapples with the realization that life is moving rapidly, and the youthful days are slipping away. The repeated question 'What can you do?' underscores a feeling of helplessness in the face of aging.
The cultural references to Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and the Emerald City allude to a longing for the innocence and endless possibilities of youth, contrasting with the harsh realities of adult life. The protagonist feels the weight of expectations to have achieved certain milestones by this age, and the song captures the fear of becoming irrelevant or 'passé' in a society that values youth. The ticking clock is a metaphor for the relentless march of time, and the 'riptide' getting stronger suggests that the challenges of life become more daunting as one ages.
The song's emotional resonance lies in its universal theme of aging and the common human desire to hold onto youth. It speaks to the anxiety of unmet expectations and the societal pressure to succeed by a certain age. The protagonist's struggle with turning 30 in the 1990s, a decade characterized by significant cultural and technological changes, adds another layer of complexity to the experience of aging and the fear of being left behind.
