Funny how a good song can capture a whole lifetime in four minutes.
Harry Chapin’s “Cats In The Cradle” told of his father-son relationship from child to adulthood, and “7 Years” by Danish group Lukas Graham succinctly hits life’s high spots from age 7 to 60: love and loneliness, success and failure, and the unexpected events that just happen.
This powerful ode crosses musical genres and age generations, as life’s changes over the decades will impact everyone from Gen X & Y to Boomers.
Harry Chapin’s lyrics expressed a tinge of resentment to the father who didn’t have time for him, while “7 Years” is more generalized, with a broader reach.
In a way, it’s a song version of Gail Sheehy’s 1976 groundbreaking book “Passages.”
Lukas Graham is a Danish soul pop band, and is also the name of the lead singer. They debuted in 2013; quickly became the most popular live act in Denmark and that led to a contract with Warner Bros. Records.
“7 Years” made its way up numerous Spotify Top 50 Viral and Country charts.
The group’s second album is expected to release in 2016.