I love music, and it’s one of those things I get pretty opinionated about. Given that, I’m glad my brain isn’t burdened with the task of classifying every band or music artist that I hear so that I can decide whether or not it’s cool and therefore worth listening to.
I read a post on another blog the other day comparing emo and hipsters, the writer putting them-self more in the hipster camp. For example, in outlining the 2 genres, they listed “Yellowcard” as “emo”. I disagree with that label (at least with their most recent music, I’d just slap it in the “pop” genre), but I digress. Author talks about how the hipsters are music snobs who have to like stuff that’s not popular or mainstream at all, etc etc. In the comments, a dialogue like this appeared:
Visitor 1: “no I don’t think these couple bands are emo, they’re more alternative” (referring to Yellowcard as one of them).
Author: “You’re wrong. Yellowcard is totally emo for reasons x, y, and z.”
Visitor 1: “I don’t really know what these bands *look* like. I’m going off the sound, etc.”
Visitor 2: “No, Yellowcard is emo, It’s more about the lyrics than the look or sound. Just read their lyrics, totally emo.”
This annoys me. First, most of the “emo” they mentioned is mostly pop, even if some of it has some emo roots. Second, I would define that genre differently than either the author or visitor 2 does, so their classifications would be worthless even if I did care.
After thinking about it for a while, I came to this conclusion: I’m glad I’m not a music snob who has to classify music to know if it’s cool or not, and who places value on music according to its popularity. (Look at me– I’m my own kind of self-righteous music snob, turning my nose up at the other snobs, hehehe). These people could argue all day long about what is emo, what is not, what’s this and what’s that, etc, because they have a need to be cool and make fun of everything that is not “cool”, and heaven forbid they like or get caught listening to some music that might fall into or be related to an uncool genre.
Aside from that post, I still find music increasingly hard to categorize these days, just another reason not to worry about how specific you get in categorizing it.
I also hope to continue to become less judgemental of other’s tastes– everyone has different preferences. (If I slam a type of music it’ll be something like rap, and not because of the sound of the music so much, but rather because in general the content is so base and depraved– it’s not even worth it to listen to try to find stuff that is clean).
Edit: I just remembered another reason I was disgusted with the “hipster” attitude– for shunning artists that are “in it for the money”. I’ll save that for another day, since it touches on more than just music.
Comments
3 responses to “That’s So Emo”
great post. there’s a tshirt for sale on http://www.theonion.com that says, “cheer up, emo kid!” i laugh every time i think about it.
there’s a music history major here who wants to write a book about what make certain styles/bands in pop more “authentic”. i asked him what his standard of authenticity would be… he didn’t know, but acknowledged that it’s probably commercial motivation. so, i don’t know how you get around the “they-sold-out” argument, because it seems to be at the heart of the discussion. but the “they-sold-out” people sell out by using the cliché. ugh. i don’t know. but i recommend you checking out radiohead’s new album. it’s a free download! and it might be emo, i don’t know, but i like it. 😉
Here’s the problem with “sold-out”– it’s not with the artists as much as it is with the RIAA / record labels. The labels get too much say in how the music sounds so it ends up going cliche, and that’s a concession some artists make in order to get on a bigger label. It’s definitely a problem that needs to be solved– because the choice of “authentic but unknown” and “inauthentic but popular” are dumb choices to be limited to.
Still, some bands manage to find labels that will allow them to make their music the way they want to. I’m all for sticking it to the greedy RIAA and finding an alternative way of producing and marketing good music.
haha, this reminds me of how kato would stop liking a band because they got regular radio play. Ya, the radio sucks because they will beat a song to death, such that you never want to hear it again – even if it’s awesome. but that’s the rediculous mentality some people have. I don’t know if she is still that way, but i doubt it. I for one am totally excited for a band that becomes popular, because they get more exposure, meaning they can reach more people (which is why they create music, to be heard). If the music is that good, why can’t the radio listeners have a taste of good music, and why can’t bands make a little money off their own hard work. My only gripe is, like you mentioned, when the stinkin record labels strong-arm the band into making the album they want, rather than let the band create their own music.
Anyone who thinks the bands they like and listen to don’t want to become popular is utterly and completely naive. All bands want a shot at reaching a broader audience. To think otherwise shows complete ignorance and stupidity.
So ya, I could be a “music snob” in the fact that i don’t like certain genre’s (rap and country), but that’s because of their sound/lyrics, not what they wear or how they style their hair. I openly admit to liking “emo” music, does that make me “emo”? No! I do however get offended when someone says people who listen to emo cut their wrists, because that is just the most rediculous stereotype i’ve ever heard.
In the end, every genre is an off-shoot of another, emo, is obviously derivative of Punk (even tho real punk fans will get pissed at that assertion), but come down do it punk isn’t original either. In the end, they are all sub-genres of Rock music. Not to say all genre’s are, just those that seem to do battle with eachother. Hipster, emo, indie, punk, alternative, folk, metal, experimental, powerpop – it’s all rock. These people (in the thread you visited, and countless others) just need to get over themselves and let people listen to what they like.
So theirs my rant for ya! Music snobs (ie: hipsters) are utterly retarded, totally ignorant, and complete A-holes.
“what the hell’s a rant?”