I read an article that voiced something I’ve seen in so very many sub-cultures: the hatred of things once they become popular because popular can’t possibly be good.

I think music might give the best example, just because I can so clearly hear the things people said about so very many bands.

1. Oh, I love (obscure band). You haven’t heard of them?
2. I saw (now up and coming band) back when they first started.
3. Ugh. (Now popular band) totally sold out. I hate all their new stuff.

Yes, sometimes good bands put out lousy follow-up albums. Some artists change things up and so every album is different which means what you loved about one album may not be in a later album (See: Prince). But usually it was the same music and only popularity tainted it and made it unpalatable.

The same thing happens with books of course (hence the original article catching my attention).

The fantasy books (and mysteries) I love are typically looked down upon because they aren’t “serious literature”. I never believed that about fantasy, though I did look down upon romance novels for decades. However, that was due to my introduction to the genre, which was full of rape, and the fact that I just don’t care for boinking in books, and the romances I came across were full of it. (“UGH. They’re kissing again. Can we get back to the sword-fighting and cat burglary?”)

I eventually got over that, because there were so very many really good stories I was missing out on solely because they were kissing books, although I still skim the boinking bits to get back to the crime solving or whatever.

And of course the same happens with movies. If it’s popular we have to look down upon it for it cannot be “good”.

Whatever. Give me my explosions and car chases and you can watch whatever “artistic” stuff you want. And don’t even get me started about the bullshit that happens at cons with “fake gamers” and “you’re not a real fan if you don’t know every bit of minutia” crap that is almost always directed at females.

The fact is, hating things solely because they are popular doesn’t make you cooler or show better taste. It just means you’re an asshole.

There are plenty of books I’ve hated, and some genres of music I absolutely cannot stand. But the fact that I dislike something does not make it inherently bad, it just means I prefer other stuff. Sure I’ll still complain about how much I dislike opera and I flat out won’t read dystopias because they make me feel terrible. But if you like opera or dystopias: good for you!

If someone has found something that makes them happy, that is AWESOME! We need more happy in the world.

I like what I like. If you don’t agree with me, I’m delighted to discuss why “I hate all those high notes that sound like screeching”. Just don’t try to tell me something sucks solely because it’s popular. Because that’s elitist bullshit and I’m completely uninterested.

Hating Popular Books Does Not Make You Superior: A Lesson Learned

Here’s some happy music I’ll be listening to today.

R.E.M – Exhuming Mccarthy

Mexican Institute of Sound – Yo Digo Baila

Lee Morgan – The Sidewinder

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NPR has an article, You Are What You Hear: What Your Favorite Music Says About You, that I thought would be nice to play along with.

Problem is, of course, that often these things depend upon both mood, and what’s happening in my life. I’m quite sure that if I answered this last month, some of the answers would be significantly different from what I’ll come up with today.

What was the first song you ever bought?
Prince’s Purple Rain soundtrack. That one’s easy and wouldn’t change.

What song always gets you dancing?
There are many here (and several that are out now that may make this list; only time will tell): Fishbone Housework, Mighty Mighty Bosstones The Impression that I Get, Moby South Side, The Guild (Do You Wanna) Date My Avatar, The Proclaimers I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), They Might Be Giants Birdhouse in Your Soul, Tina Turner What You Get Is What You See, Cracker Lonesome Johnny Blues, Nickel Creek The Fox.

These are songs that I turn to time and again when I need to cheer up, or cheer me up when I hear them. Which I realize is not quite the same thing.

What song takes you back to your childhood?
Pete Seeger’s Guantanamera (from his Live at Carnegie Hall recording. That whole LP, really. I think Brian & I listened to it endlessly.) AND Fat’s Waller’s Hold Tight (Want Some Seafood Mama)

What is your perfect love song?
Storybook Love from The Princess Bride

What song would you want at your funeral?
Taliesin Orchestra’s version of Fanfare for the Common Man if it can’t be that specific, than the Quaker hymn, Simple Gifts

Time for an encore. One last song that makes you, you.
Bob Mould’s Sunspots from Workbook.

If you love somebody
Better tell them while they’re here ’cause
They may just run away from you

You’ll never know quite when, well
Then again it just depends on
How long of time is left for you

I’ve had the highest mountains
I’ve had the deepest rivers
You can have it all but life keeps moving

Take it in but don’t look down
‘Cause I’m on top of the world, hey
I’m on top of the world, hey
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, hey
Been holding it in for a while, hey
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I’m on top of the world.

I’ve tried to cut these corners
Try to take the easy way out
I kept on falling short of something
I could of gave up then but
Then again I couldn’t have ’cause
I’ve traveled all this way for something

Take it in but don’t look down
‘Cause I’m on top of the world, hey
I’m on top of the world, hey
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, hey
Been holding it in for a while, hey
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I’m on top of the world.

‘Cause I’m on top of the world, hey
I’m on top of the world, hey
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, hey
Been holding it in for a while, hey
Take you with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I’m on top of the world.

And I know it’s hard when you’re falling down
And it’s a long way up you make your round
But get up now, get up, get up now.

–Imagine Dragons

I like to imagine that’s how you felt at the top.

It’s so damned unfair you left the rest of us down here, with a huge aching void.

Today needs something upbeat in tone.

And for something completely different:

Adeste, fideles, laeti triumphantes:
Venite, venite in Bethlehem:
Natum videte Regem angelorum.
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I am officially old.

Guns N’ Roses, the Beastie Boys, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are this year’s inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Not making it this year? The Cure, Eric B. & Rakim, Heart, and Joan Jett and The Blackhearts.

I… I think I need to go have a midlife crisis now.

I’m blasting this from my laptop while Terri Gross is playing on the stereo. I don’t know why Michael loves me.

Was just sitting here wondering, what is your favorite REM song?

If you hate REM, no need to tell me so, though you can ask me to ask about another artist or group.

They needed to note that a song entitled “Fuck You” has explicit language?

Or would you rather be a fish?

Plots and sex scandals failed outright
Peter merely said
Any kind of love is alright

This evening, I am thankful for satellite radio, because without it I’d not be listening to Wynton Marsalis expound upon jazz.

My life goes on in endless song
Above earth’s lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it’s music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness ’round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble in their fear
And hear their death knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile
Our thoughts to them are winging,
When friends by shame are undefiled
How can I keep from singing?