After writing about taste and identity, and specifically mentioning Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana, I saw this oh-so-newsworthy news item about how Coldplay’s Chris Martin likes Miley/Hannah. Martin says of Cyrus/Montana, “She’s doing something quite different…I just think she seems to have a sweet character.”
Which reminds me. Soon after I started listening to Miley Cyrus, I reevaluated my hatred for Coldplay. With all sincerity, I rate these artists equally: both have a handful of songs I really like, both have many more I don’t like, both play catchy music, and both sing bad-to-mediocre lyrics. More importantly, both carry social stigmas.
In one social circle it might be cool to like both, in some circles it might be cool to like one and not the other, and in an another circle it wouldn’t be cool to like either one. That last circle is where I have typically seen myself.
I will never be a huge fan of Coldplay or Miley Cyrus, based strictly on my taste for their music. But I can try to listen to both objectively, and to take them or leave them regardless of social identity. If I don’t like them, I don’t have to be vocal or hateful about it. If I do like them, I don’t have to be embarrassed.
I am not my iTunes Library.
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What does the fact that I’m tempted to defend my liking of Coldplay say about me? Hmm, let’s just say I liked them the first time I heard them 8 years ago and have yet to hear anything since that made me change my mind. I’ll also say that I was shocked recently to find out there was actually a social stigma to liking them. By that point I didn’t care, but that may be because I’m basically a walking social stigma.
In the last comment of the previous post you asked if music had a physiological aspect that the other mediums don’t. I would say, wholeheartedly, yes. Music moves us. These 3 minute vignettes about life and love are calls to action. Are focused mirrors of ourselves. Plus music, in a way, indwells us. It causes us to dance even when we can’t. Go any place where live music is being played and note the infectious nature of a toe tap. Some think music even can cause us to kill. I’m not saying a good movie can’t inspire you to action at times, but you can only cram so many movie viewings into a day. Plus, when’s the last time you got a movie stuck in your head? (Ok, this may have actually happened to Steve, but the rest of us?) I still remember when I walked into my youth minister’s office with the great revelation that the only way to “save the world” was through music. What I meant was that the only way to get a large portion of our young populace to believe in Jesus was to have a hugely popular music act to lead them in that direction. It just seems that music inspires devotion and frenzy unlike anything else.
(Sorry, this is long.) As to why it is so attached to identity, I think that’s just the culture in which we live. Everything we say and do is tied to identity. Because there are so many bands and so many songs we just have more options of how to piece together that mosaic. I will say I’ve recently tried to quit evaluating people on what they like or don’t like. I basically categorize people these days into people who care about music and people who don’t. I feel really bad for the people that don’t, but usually just let them be. When I find one who does care, and I discover they are passionate about something I’m not, I try to find out what it is they like and give it a try. This has lead, in some cases, to a broadening of my tastes. And less angst about deciding whose tastes are right. I must admit, though, your Miley Cyrus revelation is quite a pebble in my sandal.
Yeah, I’ve tried to quit evaluating people on what they like, too.
And that effort sets off a chain of events in my mind that won’t let me rule out Miley for any reason other than her music. And, quite honestly, I can’t do that. Some of her songs are catchy, and I find her voice to be pleasant and natural sounding (even while assuming that it’s probably doctored up in the studio).
By the way, I appreciate your comment, particularly in your second paragraph.
I’ve had movies stuck in my head since I was saw “Star Wars” at the drive-in in Gainesville in 1978.
Oh, and I saw Coldplay live with Farky and thought it was a good show.
But trust me, it will pale in comparison to what’s going down at the Bass Hall on August 15th.
So, we don’t really know each other, but I must say I read this while listening to “Viva la Vida” again, for the countless time, specifically during the closing chords of “Death And All His Friends.”
I love Coldplay. I will agree with Farky that I discovered them years ago and have yet to find something like them since, although Keane has come pretty close.
But I also am a closet fan of both Hannah Montana (the show) and Miley Cyrus’ music.
I also will admit to reading your previous post about “Taste and Identity” and it sparks in me the same comment as your line “I am not my iTunes Library.” My Top 25 Most Played playlist consists of artists from Coldplay to Crowder to Aqualung to Mungo Jerry to Kanye West. In my actual “Library,” however, three genres dominate — Gospel & Religious (Crowder, Newsboys), Alternative (Phantom Planet, Coldplay, Weezer) and Soundtrack (Across the Universe, Smallville, Space Jam).
So, does this say something specifically about me, or about my generation?
Hey, Geoff. I think it probably says something about you, not your generation.
I think it’s more significant that your own music taste seems to say something to you, or maybe even for you. To me, that’s the most interesting part of your comment, and really any statement that a person makes about her/his own taste in music.
(I’m sure it’s too late to comment on this post, but, oh, well.) Good thoughts on objectivity & not being your iTunes library. I’ve tried to stop evaluating people based on their musical tastes too. And I think I do a decent job of it. Sorta. I’ve gotten better at not making judgements based on what people like. But now I catch myself making judgements based on what they don’t like.
I think that’s a pretty fair, objective assessment of Miley Cyrus & Coldplay, but maybe that’s because I have similar feelings about both. I will say that I tend to be harder on Coldplay simply because Chris Martin isn’t a kid & he’s so vocal about what a brilliant songwriter he thinks he is. Maybe I shouldn’t, but I let bad lyrics slide with kids way more than I do with adults. Also, I know I’m not making a completely fair assessment of Coldplay since I’ve had access to their new album since it came out & still haven’t listened to it, and I do like some of their songs, but they’re one of those bands that kinda makes me feel sick if I listen to them for too long. Not carsick like Dashboard Confessional, more like headache/tightness in the back of my jaw sick. Weird, but true.
Oh, yeah, and if you ever read This Is Your Brain on Music, I hope you’ll tell us about it.
Since you brought up lyrics, that’s what really bugs me about Coldplay. Their lyrics are just really bad. As for Miley’s lyrics, they’re mostly just inoffensive, neither embarrassingly bad or very good. She only wrote the lyrics on her newest album, and they really aren’t bad for a 15 year old.
Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about! They really aren’t bad for a 15 year old.