Oh, yes. That's right. If you're already feeling a prickle of apprehension, I don't blame you. Most people cringe at the artists they loved in the past, but I have an especially dark and eclectic history. I doubt you will ever see me the same way again. Nevertheless, let's dive.
As the last rays of light sputter out and die in the murky gloom, all is silent. Then, faintly, we begin to hear the opening strains of songs, singing voices, verging on cacophony, cascading one after another, each chord rear-ending the next. They grow louder the deeper we swim. Is that...Disney era Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez? Victoria Justice? The guy who wrote Bananaphone, Cody Simpson, Aly and AJ, and--the artist I've repressed most of all--Justin Bieber?
As the last rays of light sputter out and die in the murky gloom, all is silent. Then, faintly, we begin to hear the opening strains of songs, singing voices, verging on cacophony, cascading one after another, each chord rear-ending the next. They grow louder the deeper we swim. Is that...Disney era Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez? Victoria Justice? The guy who wrote Bananaphone, Cody Simpson, Aly and AJ, and--the artist I've repressed most of all--Justin Bieber?
You have to understand that my younger self was, up until middle school, musically stunted. I was mostly exposed to two genres: classical and country music. I binged on Lawrence Welk. As a result, any bouncy, cheerful, modern-sounding melody had me instantly hooked. I never considered whether my choices would come to haunt me in my sophisticated high school years. I was young and naive, blissful in my simplicity, blind to refinement, and besides, I listen to classier stuff now, I swear...
But pause. I hope you see what's happening here. I just wrote four paragraphs bashing myself, insulting successful artists, and justifying my preferences to you, all because I used to like music that most people, to seem cool, edgy, aloof, would call commercial junk. Why? Why is it that anytime I express even a smidgen of love for popular, radio butchered material, I must dilute my opinion--"I know this song is overplayed and overrated and superficial, but for some reason, it's stuck in my head"? Why is it that I shame myself and others, that you shame yourself and others, that we shame each other, just for liking some song, some TV show, some hobby?
Let's be honest. We can all feign indifference when it comes to some music, but when a popular song plays at Howdy Hop, I see y'all singing along. You can't hide it, and what's the point of doing so? Unless you like ax-murdering and your favorite song extols the virtues of doing so, your interests have little bearing on your worth as a human being. You are not better than anyone else for appreciating a different set of sound waves. True, some songs may contain more depth, more complexity, more profundity than others. I'm not saying all music is on the same level. However, we shouldn't be snubbing each other over opinions we can't help but make. We shouldn't be hawking our own favorites, peddling them as superior nuggets of genius, pushing ourselves into each others' faces.
Let's not be entirely selfish here, either. After all, this whole issue doesn't just concern us. What about the artists that put time and effort into the albums we're so quick to trash? Teams of people work together to produce music for your enjoyment. They want to engage you, to entertain you, to make you think. If their work doesn't suit you, move on. Slathering hate on their livelihoods is like punching your grandma after she gives you a birthday gift you don't like.
Of course, I'm no exception to the music slandering. Most of us aren't. Certain songs unfailingly trigger eye rolls and grumpy sighs. However, I'm making an effort to curb my scorn. Whatever my opinion may be, I can't allow myself to make unfair assumptions about the people who like songs I don't. I can't allow myself to keep my old preferences in the dark. Maybe someday, my hidden oceans may come to see the light of day. Until then, every once in a while, I'll dive into the person I was, into the music I once loved. Feel free to do the same.
(No post about music should end without actual music, and I have trouble picking favorites, so I've skimmed the surface of my current song library for you. Every x is a link:
For the wintery, Christmas-is-a-way-of-life types: [x] [x] [x]
For all you hardcore, angry people: [x] [x] [x]
For ukulele lovers: [x] [x] [x]
For the chill citizens of the world: [x] [x] [x]
For some head bobbing fun: [x] [x] [x]
For fresh covers on old songs: [x] [x] [x]
One final gem: [x] )
But pause. I hope you see what's happening here. I just wrote four paragraphs bashing myself, insulting successful artists, and justifying my preferences to you, all because I used to like music that most people, to seem cool, edgy, aloof, would call commercial junk. Why? Why is it that anytime I express even a smidgen of love for popular, radio butchered material, I must dilute my opinion--"I know this song is overplayed and overrated and superficial, but for some reason, it's stuck in my head"? Why is it that I shame myself and others, that you shame yourself and others, that we shame each other, just for liking some song, some TV show, some hobby?
Let's be honest. We can all feign indifference when it comes to some music, but when a popular song plays at Howdy Hop, I see y'all singing along. You can't hide it, and what's the point of doing so? Unless you like ax-murdering and your favorite song extols the virtues of doing so, your interests have little bearing on your worth as a human being. You are not better than anyone else for appreciating a different set of sound waves. True, some songs may contain more depth, more complexity, more profundity than others. I'm not saying all music is on the same level. However, we shouldn't be snubbing each other over opinions we can't help but make. We shouldn't be hawking our own favorites, peddling them as superior nuggets of genius, pushing ourselves into each others' faces.
Let's not be entirely selfish here, either. After all, this whole issue doesn't just concern us. What about the artists that put time and effort into the albums we're so quick to trash? Teams of people work together to produce music for your enjoyment. They want to engage you, to entertain you, to make you think. If their work doesn't suit you, move on. Slathering hate on their livelihoods is like punching your grandma after she gives you a birthday gift you don't like.
Of course, I'm no exception to the music slandering. Most of us aren't. Certain songs unfailingly trigger eye rolls and grumpy sighs. However, I'm making an effort to curb my scorn. Whatever my opinion may be, I can't allow myself to make unfair assumptions about the people who like songs I don't. I can't allow myself to keep my old preferences in the dark. Maybe someday, my hidden oceans may come to see the light of day. Until then, every once in a while, I'll dive into the person I was, into the music I once loved. Feel free to do the same.
(No post about music should end without actual music, and I have trouble picking favorites, so I've skimmed the surface of my current song library for you. Every x is a link:
For the wintery, Christmas-is-a-way-of-life types: [x] [x] [x]
For all you hardcore, angry people: [x] [x] [x]
For ukulele lovers: [x] [x] [x]
For the chill citizens of the world: [x] [x] [x]
For some head bobbing fun: [x] [x] [x]
For fresh covers on old songs: [x] [x] [x]
One final gem: [x] )
