Music

Do I listen to pop music because I’m miserable or am I miserable because listen to pop music?

— John Cusack in High Fidelity

In the past, I’ve been able to comprehend most of life’s big mysteries. The meaning of life? Pff, I can tell you that in 5 minutes. Linear Algebra? That’s child’s play. Keanu Reeves’s movie career? Completely understandable.

However, there is one particular part of life that I’ve never quite been able to put my finger on, and that is music in general. In fact, I’m always a bit hesitant when someone asks me what type of music I like, because I’m never too sure what the answer is. I usually just say, eh, I like whatever sounds good, which is, of course, true, but, then, what exactly sounds good to me anyway? And why does it sound good?

In an effort to help explore exactly what type of music it is that I like, I went through the last 10 cd’s I created (with questionable legality), and I selected my favorite song from each cd. My intention was for this to enlighten me on just what type of listener I am. Well, this is what I came up with:

1) Matchbox 20: Bright Lights
2) Lou Reed: Take A Walk On the Wild Side
3) Pink Floyd: Mother
4) Dusty Springfield: Son of a Preacher Man
5) Red Hot Chili Peppers: Soul to Squeeze
6) Mad Caddies: Drinking for 11
7) A Perfect Circle: Lullaby
8) The Kinks: Nothing In This World
9) Cat Stevens: The Cat’s In the Cradle
10) Opeth: Hope Leaves

I think you can be placed into mental institutions in some states just for compiling that list. It’s ridiculous. Who puts Cat Stevens and Opeth on back to back tracks and likes it? Well, obviously not anyone with good taste.

So, basically, my musical taste remains a mystery to scholars everywhere. What is the internal function that places both A Perfect Circle & Dusty Springfield on the same list of favorite musicians? In what sort of mind would such a connection take place? I’m as clueless as you.

I guess the underlying meaning of this entry is that I am strange. But, then, you probably knew that already.