I feel like going on a thought spree, even though I have tons of homework. For some reason my brain has decided to analyize everything today. The first topic I was thinking about this morning while I was counting money at work was music. I hope I can keep this thought straight. So, everyone likes music, right? I like music. I like many different types of music, but not all types, or even most. But there are some things I don't understand about people and their relationship with music. It's one thing if you are a musician, I am not talking about musicians here, I'm talking about regular people who may or may not know how to play an instrument or have any talent or understanding of music.
- Why do people associate themselves so much with the music they listen to? If I see a bunch of punks sitting on the sidewalk downtown, it seems highly unlikely that any of them listen to jazz or techno. And I can tell this by looking at what they are wearing. This is not a generalization on my part, it's really true. There is the rare one every now and then, but for the most part, people dress based on the music they like. I met a guy once who dressed all punk rock and listened to crust, but he also listened to boroque and opera. However, I think part of it was for shock value. Have you ever known someone to be like, "Well, I really like the fashion of the dread locked hippies and peace signs, but I sure can't stand reggae and The Grateful Dead." I think it's more like, "I love reggae and I am going to dress like all the other people who like the same music." I don't think it's always a concious choice like that, but you get the point. And why don't people have clothing styles associated with what types of books we read or movies we like? I know you could say, "Well, horror fans might dress gothy." But I bet you they listen to similar music, too. And they most likely identify themselves with their music and not the horror movies. There are people who are huge fans of horror(among other things) who do, but not the average person.
-Why do we base our friendships and relationships on music taste? Personally, I refuse to ask people what kind of music they lsiten to. Especially when I am first getting to know them. It doesn't matter to me. If they like country or gangsta rap, it's fine by me. I almost every person I have ever met, it's like the first thing they ask after, "what's your name?" and "Where do you work?". Eventually if it comes up natually, I am fine to talk about music. But I will not intentionally ask.
-Don't get me wrong. I don't hate music. I just don't understand our obsession with it.
Slightly off topic. Today I was listening to The Human League. I'm sure you all have heard the song, "Don't you want me?" Well, I realized how messed up the lyrics are. You know how you might know a song really well and know all the words, but you never really payed attention to what they were talking about? Especially of it's a happy, dancy song. Here is a sample;
"I picked you out, I shook you up, and turned you around
Turned you into someone new
Now five years later on youve got the world at your feet
Success has been so easy for you
But dont forget its me who put you where you are now
And I can put you back down too"
WTF? It's like, hey I got you where you are and I can take it away. There's more.
"Dont, dont you want me?
You know I cant believe it when I hear that you wont see me
Dont, dont you want me?
You know I dont believe you when you say that you dont need me
Its much too late to find
You think youve changed your mind
You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry"
Whoa.
And it made me think of other songs with not so cheery lyrics.
I was always kind of offended by "Pretty Woman".
"Pretty woman, stop a while
Pretty woman, talk a while
Pretty woman, gave your smile to me
Pretty woman, yeah yeah yeah
Pretty woman, look my way
Pretty woman, say you'll stay with me
'Cause I need you, I'll treat you right
Come with me baby, be mine tonight"
The last thing I want is some creepy dude harassing me on the street. Not romantic.
Then there is "Every Breath You Take" by the Police, but I think they know that song is creepy. Right?
I should get back to my piles of math and Spanish homework. Ugh, and I'm sick, too.
- Why do people associate themselves so much with the music they listen to? If I see a bunch of punks sitting on the sidewalk downtown, it seems highly unlikely that any of them listen to jazz or techno. And I can tell this by looking at what they are wearing. This is not a generalization on my part, it's really true. There is the rare one every now and then, but for the most part, people dress based on the music they like. I met a guy once who dressed all punk rock and listened to crust, but he also listened to boroque and opera. However, I think part of it was for shock value. Have you ever known someone to be like, "Well, I really like the fashion of the dread locked hippies and peace signs, but I sure can't stand reggae and The Grateful Dead." I think it's more like, "I love reggae and I am going to dress like all the other people who like the same music." I don't think it's always a concious choice like that, but you get the point. And why don't people have clothing styles associated with what types of books we read or movies we like? I know you could say, "Well, horror fans might dress gothy." But I bet you they listen to similar music, too. And they most likely identify themselves with their music and not the horror movies. There are people who are huge fans of horror(among other things) who do, but not the average person.
-Why do we base our friendships and relationships on music taste? Personally, I refuse to ask people what kind of music they lsiten to. Especially when I am first getting to know them. It doesn't matter to me. If they like country or gangsta rap, it's fine by me. I almost every person I have ever met, it's like the first thing they ask after, "what's your name?" and "Where do you work?". Eventually if it comes up natually, I am fine to talk about music. But I will not intentionally ask.
-Don't get me wrong. I don't hate music. I just don't understand our obsession with it.
Slightly off topic. Today I was listening to The Human League. I'm sure you all have heard the song, "Don't you want me?" Well, I realized how messed up the lyrics are. You know how you might know a song really well and know all the words, but you never really payed attention to what they were talking about? Especially of it's a happy, dancy song. Here is a sample;
"I picked you out, I shook you up, and turned you around
Turned you into someone new
Now five years later on youve got the world at your feet
Success has been so easy for you
But dont forget its me who put you where you are now
And I can put you back down too"
WTF? It's like, hey I got you where you are and I can take it away. There's more.
"Dont, dont you want me?
You know I cant believe it when I hear that you wont see me
Dont, dont you want me?
You know I dont believe you when you say that you dont need me
Its much too late to find
You think youve changed your mind
You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry"
Whoa.
And it made me think of other songs with not so cheery lyrics.
I was always kind of offended by "Pretty Woman".
"Pretty woman, stop a while
Pretty woman, talk a while
Pretty woman, gave your smile to me
Pretty woman, yeah yeah yeah
Pretty woman, look my way
Pretty woman, say you'll stay with me
'Cause I need you, I'll treat you right
Come with me baby, be mine tonight"
The last thing I want is some creepy dude harassing me on the street. Not romantic.
Then there is "Every Breath You Take" by the Police, but I think they know that song is creepy. Right?
I should get back to my piles of math and Spanish homework. Ugh, and I'm sick, too.
VIEW 11 of 11 COMMENTS
Ha. I don't remember us having things in common. Oh... but I guess I didn't listen to The Knife or read Toothpaste For Dinner back when I was still on here. Actually I haven't read toothpaste this week at all and need to fix this immediately.