10. declare your love for an uncool band.in my book, this question is what's totally uncool. i love music, like many others, and though i was not blessed with a gift for playing it (i gave violin and flute a try, but it was really just so i could get out of class and leave gym early in middle school) or singing (seriously, i can't carry a tune in a zip-lock bag), i connect very strongly with music. i'm a strong believer in hans christian andersen's expression "where words fail, music speaks."
i turn to music when i need help with anything. for writing, i play explosions in the sky. if you haven't heard them before, they're a fantastic instrumental band that conjures emotions and paints pictures so vividly and beautifully words are unnecessary. this is the perfect writing music for me, because it helps to take my thoughts somewhere other than the blank screen or whatever other distractions plague me.
when i'm feeling a little mellow, not sad, but dangerously close to blue, and want to just be calm, i turn to bands and artists like dave matthews band (sorry sunshine, they'll always be number one!), john mayer, the fray, jack johnson, matt nathanson, jason mraz, matt white, gratitude, and radiohead.
when i'm getting ready for a night out of dancing with my favorites, i'll crank up the dance music like david guetta, afro-jack, pit bull, enrique, britney spears (that's fucking right), lady gaga, the rent soundtrack, and the like. i'll car-seat-dance to "teach me how to dougie" and whip my hair back and forth no matter where i am or who's watching from the passenger seat or sidewalk. when i'm in that kind of mood, my music shows it, and my body reacts in ways i can't control. and that's just okie dokey with me.
if it's a girls night out or a fun gathering of friends i'm headed out to, or i'm just bopping around town with the stereo blasting, in a genuinely good mood, i'll be all over the place, listening to anything with a good beat and fun tune and sing-out-loud lyrics. yes, this is when miley cyrus will come up. say what you want, but "party in the usa?" great song. well, not really a great song, but i love it. next up will be anything from lil wayne to maroon 5 to drake to set your goals to say anything to rooney to story of the year to flight of the conchords to the format to music older than me.
when i'm angry, you know it because i'm cranking angsty tunes from taking back sunday, emanuel, bullet for my valentine, rise against, strike anywhere, story of the year, godsmack, hot cross, the used... the list goes on.
music is a deeply personal choice. i don't think i could really proclaim my love for an "uncool" band because who the hell determines what is or isn't good in music? i think the people who think they have the right to put down someone else's music choices are really obnoxious and it drives me nuts when people tell me that i'm an idiot for liking lady gaga as much as i do or questioning my intelligence because i don't love love love a band they adore. it's a personal thing, it's preference, and it's different for everybody. a music choice doesn't indicate a person's intelligence or coolness (and can we get over the idea of "cool" already? we're not in grade school anymore) or anything else.
music reaches everyone on a different level. and maybe you will find that you hate writing with explosions in the sky in the background, and that you prefer godsmack when you're down in the dumps. that doesn't indicate anything about you other than you hear your music differently than i do, and that you connect with it in a different way.
"music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents god has given us." - martin luther
5 comments:
I like Jo Calderone better than Lady G, but that's just me.
I like Jo Calderone too!
yeahhh i'm a big fan of his too :)
The Rent OST :O I thought I was the only one...
no WAY! "out tonight" is the perfect song to do my make-up to! :)
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