If you were to flick through my iTunes library, you may think any number of things based upon what you saw there. You may wonder whether the account was shared by two or more people. You might wonder if I had some sort of multiple personality disorder. You might wonder if I am simply a very strange person. If you're the kind of person who feels that the "shuffle all songs" option is a very, very dangerous thing, then you probably know what I mean by this.
I have a varied and eclectic taste in music. I hear something, I like it, and that's that. I tend not to question who a song is by, or what genre it belongs in, or any of those sorts of things. My music library probably contains something that could actually make anyone happy. But most importantly, it is packed full of music that makes me happy, and that is, in fact, the point. My music library exists solely for me. Not for you, not for my friends (although I like to think they sometimes benefit from it), not for my mother, and certainly not for music snobs out to judge me for my taste in music. My music is all about me and what I like to hear. If you don't like it, well... that's a shame. Isn't it a good job I'm not making you listen to any of it? Unless you're in my car and I'm driving you somewhere, in which case you're going to need to shut up and deal with it. And even then I'll be considerate. I understand that it's not nice to subject people to the 25th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall live recording of the Phantom of the Opera, starring Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo. Unless they're really into that. I'll usually stick to the Franz Ferdinand, Lily Allen, and Razorlight side of things whenever I have to inflict my musical taste on someone else.
I'll never understand why some people insist on judging others for the music they like. The way a person reacts to music is based entirely upon their own personal experience. If you don't have the same life experience as another person, then it is to be assumed that the same things aren't going to touch you in the same way, and that's okay. What is not okay is to mock, tease, or look down upon a person because they like a band or singer you don't. Not your business, carry on.
Even more confusing to me is the people who love a band before they become popular, and then "can't listen to them anymore because they are on the radio now". This is one of the dumbest standpoints I've ever heard. Because other people have nothing to do with the music you like. And let's be real, that quirky little indie band aren't exactly sitting down and penning intellectual songs just for you. You should be happy when other people begin to appreciate your favourite artist. It means other people feel the same way as you do, and that can be incredibly comforting sometimes. It means that you're now way more likely to hear that song you adore in public on the radio, and that's always a pleasant surprise. And, most importantly, it means that a band or singer that speaks to you has become popular, and are most likely going to be able to continue to write music that is probably still going to speak to you. It's all a win, from where I'm standing.
I do appreciate that there is this question of "quality" of music, and there's the idea that perhaps artists like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber aren't on the same level as, say, Nirvana or Kings of Leon and the like. But what you need to consider is that Taylor Swift and Kurt Cobain are, in fact, rather different people, as are the people who like their music. For the record, I don't care for Justin Bieber. It's not because I think his music is crap, but because it's not something that speaks to me. If I were a 13 year old girl, I may very well feel differently. But I'm not, so.... no I'm not a Belieber. But hey, to be fair, I'm not really that into Nirvana either. There are a few good numbers, but on the whole I'm not going to sit down and think "Yeah, it's a Nirvana day today, get me that lithium". Personally, I have a tendency towards British pop/rock along the lines of Franz Ferdinand, the Kaiser Chiefs. I also have a lot of love for strong, independent women who sing about taking no shit from anyone, such as Kate Nash, Lily Allen, and Marina and the Diamonds ("Hard Out Here (For a Bitch) off of Lily Allen's new album is basically my theme song). I relate to their music, and that's that. And that's just my pop/rock preferences. I'm also a huge Broadway nut, enjoy classical and baroque music, and will never, ever get sick of Spanish guitar.
Finally we come to my "guilty pleasures", except they aren't really all that guilty. For the most part, Taylor Swift drives me nuts. But I do have some of her music on my phone, because sometimes I just want to sing along with her about how dumb boys are and think "yeah girlfriend, preach". If you're a woman with an idiot ex boyfriend in your past, you can't tell me you don't relate on some level to "We are Never Ever Getting Back Together". If you've never wanted to yell those kinds of sentiments at a particular idiot, you're either lying, or a much, much better person than I am.
I simply don't see the sense in feeling bad for liking "guilty pleasures". Yeah, sure I'm not exactly expanding my mind by listening to them, but at the same time when I listen to Dispatch I don't exactly want to rock out and dance. Different music suits different situations and feelings, and sometimes you just need to have a dance party for one.
Take Blurred Lines as the perfect example. I'll admit the first few times I heard it I thought "Oh god what is this, please stop", and that was before I'd even heard the lyrics. But it earwormed its way into my head and the next thing I knew I was dancing in the car every time it was on the radio. After a while it made its way into my iTunes library, and after an even longer while I actually paid attention to the lyrics and went "Oh". Admittedly I wasn't too quick on the uptake, but when I finally did pick up on the rapey nature of the song, I felt a little conflicted. I'd been tricked by a catchy beat into singing along with sentiments I don't really agree with. But at the end of the day I still like the song. It's still on my gym playlist, and my "no one is home so I'm going to dance around in my underwear" playlist. Not because I agree with or condone what the lyrics suggest (and I certainly do not appreciate the image of Miley grinding all up on Robin Thicke with a questionable foam finger, which can never be unseen). But because secretly I'm thinking "yeah, I kinda do want it." If by "it" Robin Thicke means to rock out to this sick damn beat that he and Pharrell just laid down", despite the horrendous lyrics that make me feel like a bad feminist. And who are you to judge me for that? Damn I hate these blurred lines of music appreciation.
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