This post is written for a certain friend of mine who says that I spend too much time blogging about the Internet and TV and movies, but almost never talk about music. This same friend says that I don’t rant enough. So in the tradition of posts like this one, here is my one post on both music and ranting.
I’m not a big fan of hipsters. I have an immense dislike of people who say they “don’t watch TV.” I would like to line up every person who complains about Facebook updating their interface and slap them all across the face one by one. But the people who I hold the most venom and bile for, those who grind my gears like no other, the individuals who I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY cannot stand, besides racists and similarly biased individuals, are the ones who say this (and you might be one of them):
I don’t have a favorite type of music. I like all music.
REALLY?
So you place LL Cool J in the same category as Kool & The Gang? You have no preference for music anywhere on the range from U2 to Blink 182? It couldn’t matter less to you if you turn the radio on and it’s Kenny G or Master P?
BULLSHIT.
This wishy-washy, everything’s okay, we’re-all-special-winners crap has to stop. Form an opinion. Like some things more than others. It’s okay, really! And I know that you probably do have a preference, but that’s a good thing. No two people have the exact same tastes on everything. Let your musical freak flag fly! I won’t make fun of you if you like the Grateful Dead or As I Lay Dying. There’s no judgment to be had if you like Frank Zappa or Frank Sinatra.
And wouldn’t you rather be honest with other people? If someone doesn’t want to associate with you because you listen to Engelbert Humperdinck, do you really want to be associated with them?
FORM AN OPINION AND STICK TO IT!
Then there are the people who say that their favorite band is The Beatles. THE @#*!ING BEATLES! That’s like saying your favorite movie is Star Wars. You’re discussing a band that influenced so many different types of music that they transcend genres. Your favorite band can’t be The Beatles, because that’s like saying that your favorite band is every band.
I’m not ashamed that I listened to Matchbox 20 and Third Eye Blind after their late-90s renaissance. I’m proud to have been an early adopter of Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World and Coldplay, even if I don’t listen to them now. Musical tastes change and evolve as we change and evolve ourselves.
There seems to be an unspoken rule that it’s fine and dandy to have opinions and tastes for different things on the Internet, but when we’re in public, there is a need to conform to a sanitized, politically correct standard of “everyone should like everything equally, and anyone who doesn’t is an elitist jerk.” In that case, call me an elitist jerk.
As much as people might have different tastes and opinions on things they like and don’t like, they also carry a fear of being cast out for these preferences. This might be born out of the need to feel connected to other people or just a need to belong, but the absence of an opinion also creates the absence of a true relationship and connection with others.
So what kind of music do you like?
haha. much of what I like falls under the category of stereotypical indie music (Sufjan Stevens). but a lot of it isn’t stuff that’s on the radio. so, at least as much as I hate people who like all music, I HATE being asked what kind of music I like. because I usually feel like the person is asking for me to pick from a set of outdated genres (“alternative”??) and while I could give tell you specific preferences, I can’t put them all under one category. I’m almost a total hipster, but then, I love Taylor Swift and also much of the Top 40.
also, this reminds me of Sarah Palin’s famous response to being asked what periodicals she reads to get her news: “All of them.” =D
oh, yeah. I’m with you re:people whose favorite band is the beatles.
I say “I like all kinds of music” all the time.
I listen to anything I like whether its Run DMC, Rosemary Clooney or The Dateless Losers (a local duo). My music preferences is “undefined” because I don’t listen to one genre. However, I am sure the person asking me probably doesn’t want a run down of my music library. A better question might be “Do you like (insert band or music type). That I would answer with a yes or no.
Aurora – The question is definitely part of the problem. I’ve found that using a few representative examples, or describing the sound of the music that I like (ex: “low-key etherial melodies with a strong drum and bassline, like Broken Social Scene, Phoenix or Royksopp”) can kind of cover that. And I like the fairly topical political interview reference.
Amber – I agree with you that that would be a better question, especially as original one can be too broad. Everyone’s tastes can be all over the board when it comes to music, so having some idea of what the person who’s asking you likes and finding similar (or different) bands and artists can work well, since the question is really a “getting to know you” type of inquiry.