Music.

Listening to music is like taking a big pill..the good kind.

I find myself increasingly ignoring reviews/what’s ‘in’ in terms of music because I usually find that if something is to my taste..i’ll find it eventually in my own time. Hours of my life are spent scouring the internet and I often find myself in a spider-web situation with more than 20 internet tabs open with new promising artists. I don’t believe that people should ignore artists that are ‘big’ or popular, after all there’s a reason why they’ve caught the attention of top music execs and are being publicised all over the world, but I think as I get older I’m starting to realise that contrary to the popular answer of “yeah I love all types of music” actually, I do have preferences. I have of course regretted my slow taste in music, the Foster the People record ‘Torches’ came out what feels like an eternity ago, and only now is it getting played on my iPhone constantly. It’s a shame, I’ve missed out on months of happy-listening, but I am sure than making up for it now!

Whilst I’d definitely consider myself open-minded, there are some super famous artists that have slipped through my ‘net.’ For instance, Nicki Minaj is currently building quite the career for herself, and even after watching a few interviews/live performances (in which she seems lovely, for what it’s worth) I just can’t bring myself to like her music. She’s playing at a festival that I’m going to this year, and whilst I’ll no doubt find myself bopping along to her set (my friend from uni is obsessed) she’s not someone I would usually pay to listen to. So what I’m trying to say is that no one’s music taste is universal- no one can possibly like everything, however cool it may be to say you have a ‘varied’ taste.

I find it kind of funny how there’s a sort of hierarchy in terms of music, people are quick to judge other peoples’ taste. Whilst I have been guilty of doing so in the past, it does seem silly. Whilst bands such as Oasis, Radiohead, The Clash and Nirvana (all of whom I listen to on a regular basis) are seen as ‘proper music’ because they play their own instruments, I think it’s quite rude of any listener to disregard another artist and label their own efforts as frivolous. Okay so Justin Bieber (whose song ‘Boyfriend’ is fast becoming a favourite of mine) may not be able to kill a guitar solo like Johnny Greenwood or keep rhythm like Ringo Starr but he’s still successful and hard-working and deserves the same respect in my view. I really dislike how there’s so much snobbery- there’s a reason why artists like Bieber are famous, people need to accept that others clearly do listen to and enjoy his music.

Lastly, in what has turned into a ridiculously long blog post, it disappoints me when people are willing to stop loving a band after they’ve become famous. Ed Sheeran once talked about how disliking mainstream artists in and of itself is a mainstream belief, and I can’t help but agree. One of my flatmates used to love Dubstep and listened every day, but has now taken a strong disliking to Skrillex as he claims that “he ruined the Dubstep movement.” Actually, hasn’t Skrillex really helped this type of music? He’s made it more accessible, providing a platform for future Dubstep artists to showcase their work. I guess I just find it confusing that people are willing to walk away from music they enjoy just because others are now enjoying it too. How ironic, I always thought a common interest and love for music was a great uniting point for people.. it would seem I’ve been mistaken!

I guess this has been a really pointless, possibly ill-worded blog about music and my thoughts on others music tastes. I’m not one to judge, my music taste is all over the place, but I am loving as I’m getting older, I have the time to really hone in on what I enjoy listening to.. I guess I’m lucky to have such a luxury.