at first i thought Regina Spektor's song with the "crispy crispy Benjamin Franklin" line was funny, though dark-sounding. then i keep obsessing over her and find out it's called Chemo Limo and is one of the saddest songs i have ever heard. and now it's my favorite song by her.
why does everyone assume that because i like one artist, i must like every other artist that sounds vaguely like them. examples:
i like Immortal Technique (awesome, harsh, well-written, college-educated, politically-charged gangster rap) so people tell me i should like Jedi Mind Tricks (boring boring boring overly-violent pointless junk).
i like Regina Spektor (the love of my musical life at the moment, so quirky and cute and dark and beautiful) so people tell me i should like Joni Mitchell (old lady with too many albums???...dull) or Tori Amos (overrated weirdo with dumbo ears) or Fiona Apple (Angsty McAngstalot).
i like the Dresden Dolls (positive energy everywhere!! fun to sing along with!! and just plain bright, beautiful, shiny good people to boot) so people tell me i should like Regina Spektor...which i DO NOW, but not for the same reasons at all.
i think the Dresden Dolls and Gogol Bordello have more in common than the Dolls and Regina do. because i like both the Dolls and Gogol for their raw energy, use of performance art and mixing punk with other odd Euro/old world elements. Regina...i don't know if there is anything i can think of to compare her to that i listen to.
this is probably boring to read but as someone who works in a music store and is often singled out as being the weirdo in the store (besides the manager who listens to soulless techno and 80s synth-crap), i'm constantly trying to define what it is i really like. i appreciate strong melodies and lots of energy, as well as strong lyrics. i like rappers who have a story to tell or a point to make (see Immortal Technique, or Sage Francis who is just an amazing poet and has an almost comforting way of sing-songing his rhymes). i like songs that are about real, tangible things (Dresden Dolls' Jeep Song is one of the best examples). i want music that, even if it's not inherently beautiful on its own, will make me see the beauty in other things (Giant Squid made me, for the first time ever, appreciate the cold, gray ocean here, because the music is so haunting and i can't help but think about the things living in it that i'll never see myself).
as much as i explain it to people, and as much as they seem to understand it and agree that the connections i come up with make some sort of sense, i still get music i just don't want anything to do with shoved in my face.
i'm sorry but i just don't like Joni Mitchell.
why does everyone assume that because i like one artist, i must like every other artist that sounds vaguely like them. examples:
i like Immortal Technique (awesome, harsh, well-written, college-educated, politically-charged gangster rap) so people tell me i should like Jedi Mind Tricks (boring boring boring overly-violent pointless junk).
i like Regina Spektor (the love of my musical life at the moment, so quirky and cute and dark and beautiful) so people tell me i should like Joni Mitchell (old lady with too many albums???...dull) or Tori Amos (overrated weirdo with dumbo ears) or Fiona Apple (Angsty McAngstalot).
i like the Dresden Dolls (positive energy everywhere!! fun to sing along with!! and just plain bright, beautiful, shiny good people to boot) so people tell me i should like Regina Spektor...which i DO NOW, but not for the same reasons at all.
i think the Dresden Dolls and Gogol Bordello have more in common than the Dolls and Regina do. because i like both the Dolls and Gogol for their raw energy, use of performance art and mixing punk with other odd Euro/old world elements. Regina...i don't know if there is anything i can think of to compare her to that i listen to.
this is probably boring to read but as someone who works in a music store and is often singled out as being the weirdo in the store (besides the manager who listens to soulless techno and 80s synth-crap), i'm constantly trying to define what it is i really like. i appreciate strong melodies and lots of energy, as well as strong lyrics. i like rappers who have a story to tell or a point to make (see Immortal Technique, or Sage Francis who is just an amazing poet and has an almost comforting way of sing-songing his rhymes). i like songs that are about real, tangible things (Dresden Dolls' Jeep Song is one of the best examples). i want music that, even if it's not inherently beautiful on its own, will make me see the beauty in other things (Giant Squid made me, for the first time ever, appreciate the cold, gray ocean here, because the music is so haunting and i can't help but think about the things living in it that i'll never see myself).
as much as i explain it to people, and as much as they seem to understand it and agree that the connections i come up with make some sort of sense, i still get music i just don't want anything to do with shoved in my face.
i'm sorry but i just don't like Joni Mitchell.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
i've been meaning to check out Regina. she came into the store and bought some cd's the last time she was here. of course, i missed out on that.
while i do love some Joni Mitchell songs, i can see not digging her. she put on one of the best shows i ever saw.
i like your idea of music bringing out the beauty in things you wouldn't necessarily think that about!