Some of the WP bloggers I read have been chatting about music, which has inspired these musings. Just like apparently everyone else online, I love music, but I guess I have learned that I am not a "fan" in the sense of "fanatic." I don't actually know much about the various musical genres ~ I just like what I like, mostly classic rock, some pop, a bit of alternative, a smattering of grunge, a smidge of reggae, a touch of country, etc. I'm not good at defining genres, nor can I pick out various instruments. I dgaf where a song was recorded nor do I care about obscure band trivia. I like clever lyrics and a catchy or dreamy tune... and that's pretty much the end of my interest. With rare exceptions, I don't usually listen to whole albums (though I did way back when); I prefer a variety of songs and artists. I adore musical movies however and listen to their soundtracks: Hair, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Sound of Music, and of course the Mamma Mias. I generally prefer music from a studio to live because the lyrics are clearer and there's no yelling from the audience. Sometimes I enjoy going to concerts because I get caught up in the energy and enthusiasm of a performance, but that's very different from simply listening to a live recording in the car or wherever.
I'm beginning to think I'm not a fan(atic) about anything at all. I joke about having OCD, but most of the time I approach things lightly. I've read a zillion romance novels over the decades since I was a teen, but I certainly can't name a whole bunch of authors and their titles. Same with poetry ~ love it, but I have to look up the quotes. I've seen tons of movies, but most of the time their details drift away soon after viewing, and I can't quote much off the top of my head. I'm pretty awful at trivia generally, even though I'm a fabulous test-taker. If I have to memorize a pile of stuff to ace a test, I will do it, but it's not fun, the facts melt from my mind quickly, and I wouldn't memorize recreationally. Bottom line: I remember things I care deeply about, and I don't care that much about most things beyond a superficial level.
That sounds like a weird thing to admit. People often define and differentiate themselves by their areas of passion; they sort of geo-locate themselves with a list of loves and hates. How will I know you? I'm the one who knows everything about the Grateful Dead, loves to crochet, and hates pickles. Oh, OK. I guess I can pick you out of a crowd then. I don't think I can be identified that way. I'm just drifting, not passionate about anything in particular, floating through my likes and dislikes with a shrug. I say I love cupcakes, but baking them is too much work, and I am usually too lazy to walk across the street to get one at the Sprinkles near my office. The older I get, the shorter my list of priorities becomes (family,* health, work), and stuff that falls outside that list slips into the vast vat of indifference. I mean, I spend time creating playlists on Spotify because that's fun, but I don't usually play them except in the car, and (SSC)...
Sometimes I don't even listen to music in the car at all.
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*Including Gatsby
Once again, we are sisters in spirit. I'm not a fanatic, either. I have some favorites, but I've never gone out of my way to Get Every Album or Attend Every Concert for anyone. I'm a happy middle-of-the-roader. I randomly find new music to like, and equally randomly I find old music to like, and will purchase new faves (I personally believe in buying, not streaming, and in having plenty of storage on my phone :-D ).
ReplyDeleteWhy am I not surprised? 💖
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with that. I used to spend my time in high school listening to albums and reading and re-reading liner notes. But that's me. You do you.
ReplyDeleteThanks John! Good to see you here.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see that you are still blogging. Fandango gave me the link to your blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jim!
ReplyDeleteI've gone through phases, with music, but--to join the club--was never fanatical about any band or any genre. The one phase that was almost an exception to that was the time I got interested in classical music. We bought many albums--and then CDs--and read liner notes and probably sounded like snobs, but I enjoyed some of it immensely, and still do to this day, though I couldn't really sit still for an entire symphony, I'm thinking. My favorite piece of music (if you can even say that) is Tchaikovsky's violin concerto--but only the first movement. I like Holst's The Planets, but only a few of the movements, Mars, being the most fun to listen to. I realize that's like saying I like the Grateful Dead, but only Ripple.
ReplyDeleteHi5, Roy! I too enjoy some classical pieces, but I left the genre off the list because I actually can’t name more than a few…
ReplyDelete