Why do people always ask you stuff like, �So�what kind of music do you listen to?� Does anyone really care? I mean, what exactly are they looking for when asking a question like that? If you asked someone, �So�what kind of music do you listen to?� and they answered, �You know, like, John Tesh, Yanni, Kenny G�the usual!� would you totally stop speaking to them?
When I was in London, I met this weird Italian girl who was absolutely fascinated with American music. She kept asking me what music I listened to, and I�d just shrug and be like, �You know, all kinds of music.� Evidently, eclecticism was not a concept with which she cared to familiarize herself, and she kept trying to get me to commit to a particular genre. So I finally announced that, at the time, I was very into Aimee Mann.
Me: Well, lately I�ve really gotten into Aimee Mann.Italian Girl: Eminem?
Me: Aimee Mann.
IG: Eminem?
Me: Aimee Mann.
IG: Eminem?
Me: �sure, Eminem.
IG: Oh, I like him too!
The problem is, I�m always afraid I�m going to say something�wrong. I mean, I don�t listen to John Tesh, Yanni, or Kenny G, but there are so many other artists out there who completely polarize the public. I know a fair number of people who think Sheryl Crow is Satan�s Whore, but just as many who love her. I know people who like Green Day, and people who think they�re a bunch of crappy sell-outs.So the question has become this: to what do I cop, in regards to my musical interests? I�ve taken to being very evasive when confronted with that question lately. Like, I�ll insist that I like almost everything -- and I do indeed like at least a few songs or artists from almost every genre -- but my CD collection won�t always back me up on that. Do I tell someone I really like Coldplay just to impress them, when the fact of the matter is that I just really like that one song by them that I�ve heard, but I�m not sure I want to buy the CD, because what if I don�t like the album, since it�s not stuff to which I typically listen?
Likewise, how safe is it to admit that I like, for example, Aimee Mann? I think she�s brilliant, but it�s not radio-friendly fare. I mean, she�s indie, which automatically garners her at least a little respect from serious musical enthusiasts, but she�s also pretty artsy, which can be a serious deficit. I mean, you tell people you listen to an �artsy� female musician, and suddenly you�re branded an Emo Kid. I�m not an Emo Kid! I like some Emo music, but I also listen to The White Stripes! I swear it! I just can't afford their album right now!
But if I could, should I buy it? I don�t even know if they have any cred anymore! I mean, the punk movement is so bizarre. It�s like, the minute people start listening to you, you�re out. If you get air time, you�re automatically too �mainstream�, and you�re exiled from the counterculture movement. So am I going to be branded a poseur prep kid who thinks he�s got �edge� because he listens to masses-friendly punk rock? Or what?
I guess a better question would be, why do I care? I guess I don�t, when I think about it. I like what I like, and if that makes me a poseur, or an Emo Kid, then so be it. Still, I hate to be automatically categorized when I meet people, simply based on what�s in my CD player. Like why don�t you get to know me before deciding what categories I fit into? Plus, I don�t want to handicap myself when I meet someone for the first time. I prefer my personality speak for me, rather than my tastes.
Then again, maybe I have the personality of a poseur Emo Kid who thinks he�s got edge. In which case, I guess the point is pretty moot.
Well, then, it�s decided. I�m damn cool.
