"It's a good song," I responded. "The type of music doesn't matter as long as the song's good." Good as in well-written,performed with some measure of conviction, and decently recorded. Example: "Hit Me Baby One More Time" is Britney's best original song. Most of her other songs are retreads. If you're riding in an elevator, you might hear 'Bridge Over Troubled Water" or "Feelings", both apropos for an "adult contemporary "playlist. "Bridge Over Troubled Water"is a great song. "Feelings" by Morris Albert is not.
Most of the friends and acquaintances I've made through music listen to what I would term intelligent music--punk, alt rock or alt-country, blues, old school funk/r and b, jazz or obscure oldies/glam rock. This is understandable. Those types of music tend to attract some pretty intense and smart listeners.
But I must confess on occasion, I leave the comfort zone of my intelligent companions and enter the world referred to as "dumb rock" by the literati. It's music not intended for the geeky, Kafka reading types. Although I've recently gained a few metal/hard rock friends, back in the day, I was on my own in pursuit of such music. When I wanted to go to a concert featuring a metal or hard rock act, I'd have to go alone. My friends would not even accept free dinner, drinks or bribes of any sort to view such abhorrent acts. Needing my live show fix, I attended solo. I felt like a space alien! Everybody was drunk or stoned, regardless of age. The guys were left over from a "Cops" episode and the few females in attendance were "Girls Gone Wild" rejects. "You were expecting philosophy majors to like this crap?" was the usual response I got at work the next day. This dichotomy in taste always confused me and my music snob friends. "So the music is stupid and all the other people who were at the concert weren't too bright. So why do you like this stuff?"
Current Banter
Music Snob-"Wait a second You were in the audience for a live TV show-to see that bozo?"
Me-"C'mon, he's a nice guy. He's a show biz phony, but he's a nice guy!"
This got me to thinking about the pinnacle of my musical schizophrenia in the late 80s/early 90s.You see, in my record collection I have all kinds of music. "Like A Prayer" by Madonna, "Dr. Feelgood", Love/ Hate, REM, Vixen, Danzig,the Chanting Monks, Tone Loc, etc. "You'll listen to anything!" my music friends would say. "You can't be trendy all the time. Sometimes you have to have fun," I'd retort.
Go To Page: 1 2
