Music is a personal thing. Shared with others sometimes, but it is also some sort of indication of your identity or person, yeah? Sure everyone has read Sarah Thornton’s book, but what do you do when someone comes over to your house and does not like the music you listen to?
I readily accept the charge that I like ‘bad’ music. It is bad, like Van Halen. Some of it realllly bad, like Meatloaf. But it is also good, “Why Can’t This Be Love?” is one of the greatest songs ever (with philosophy of time in the lyrics) and “Bat Out Of Hell” makes me feel like I am not alone in the world even when I am. Then there is Rammstein’s totally rockin “Zwitter” that sounds like they are saying ‘Sweeter’ hence making the song really funny. (ooh, that reminds me what got me into anime. The old ‘Manga’ brand anime that was released on video had a fuckin awesome film clip self-advertising thing at the start of most videos. They had all this awesome footage from the classic anime, like Akira and other shit I can’t remember now. Yeah, and the music playing was by Sepultura off their Chaos AD album. I loved that clip thing. People, that song — “Refuse, Resist!” — is awesome. Awesome!) Another example, Motley Crue’s “She Goes Down” is a really bad song, possibly one of the most offensive on my playlist, except it has the funkiest beat for a metal song I have ever heard. Plus it is a funny soundtrack when watching Pam and Tommy’s home video. Not that I do that often, haha… I have a big thing for covers. Especially metal covers of 1980s pop tunes. So big props to Flashman for the link to this site.
My response is to let people, umm, ‘find’ their own music. When Helene was over and crashing at my joint we got onto some Violent Femmes. Yeah. Other times, other people, it has been other music. I have R. Kelly on my playlist now. Hmm, ok, I had Nelly on my playlist earlier, but only because it was the “Work It” track (with Timberlake) that sampled ACDC’s “Back in Black”. R. Kelly…
Now, here is a thought experiment for you. If I like bad music and I go over to someone’s house with perfectly good music tastes, do you think I am going to like the music this person puts on? This person has made it very clear that the music I like and listen to everyday is very bad and they they like and listen to good music. So, because their music is good music, I must like it, yes? Nope. I don’t like good music. Sorry… Anyway, imagine if this person does not have an internet connection and a long list of MP3s from which to select or ‘find’ a track or five, wouldn’t you encourage your visitor (that would be me) to choose some music to put on? To allow them the joy of discovery and pleasure of selecting something from your music collection (which I assume you actually enjoy because, well, you own the CDs)?
That is the problem with Thornton’s subcultural capital/’hipness’ approach, with it’s focus on the politics of ‘good’ music taste. Via the art of compromise, sometimes people will listen to bad (or even good) music for the sake of others…