“Cool” Music
Its a rather interesting thing, all this “coolness” running around. Have you ever stopped to think about “cool”? Its a pretty silly concept, it you ask me. I’ll tell you what I’m driving at.
I’m not a really “cool” person. I didn’t listen to my first real “with it” band until I was in the 8th grade. I grew up on David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and a lot of jazz. So it was a bit surprising to me when I started to Jr. High to realize I had no fodder for being “cool” i.e. had no real connection with popular music. So I started to listen to the local alternative station and soon found my niche.
I’ve had a variety of music interest since then. I pretty much like every thing but country and hard rap. My favorites were, at the beginning, Dave Matthews, Marilyn Manson, Bush and the Indigo Girls…a rather odd assortment. As I got older I added others to my listening library, bands like Counting Crows, Collective Soul, REM, and the like.
I’ve realized, in my musical wonderings, that music “coolness” changes. Take the aforementioned Dave Mathews. I love Dave. Always have. But it seems like his demographic has changed and now he’s no longer cool. His music hasn’t changed. At least not the stuff I have. Its the same music on those cd’s, but somehow over the course of the last few years his fans have changed, I guess, and now its no longer “hip” to like Dave Mathews.
That’s a stupid way to choose likes and dislikes. Like what you like, I say. I still listen to the Indigo Girls and love them (in a purely platonic way I assure you). I love Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, and all the other guys the hipster movement has deemed “deush-baggish”. I also love Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, and The Knife.
I guess what I’m saying is its ok to like a certain band or singer, even if you don’t like their listeners. I’ll admit, popped collared wienies named Chad probably listen to The Dave Mathews Band. But Dave’s live version of All Along the Watchtower still holds out as my number one favorite song. Ever. Here, have a look-see:
February 27th, 2009 at 9:54 am
I think you also need to take into consideration the always changing sub-cultural winds. As a culture morphs and progresses (or digresses depending on perspective) aspects of art or music are no longer new and attractive, or no longer hold the same cultural significance because the mainstream has changed. Its all setting and perspective. That is what I find so magical about lasting art- as it stands the test of time it maintains its significance (whether we understand it or not).
A flaming tennis ball is interesting at first, but it gets old quick. However, a flaming tennis ball bouncing off the walls of a deep mine shaft… timeless!
February 27th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I think “cool” is relative. Ex: The mere fact that you listened to David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and jazz in middle school proves to me that you are still the coolest girl I’ve ever met; bolstered ever more by the fact that you keep your bunny in the bathtub