As everyone who knows me knows, and everyone else will know once they’ve finished this sentence, I am quite a musical person. Music is pretty much my dominant pastime and one of the only thing that I am undeniably good at. I am deniable good at other things, but undeniably good at this. Hmmm.
Unlike sport, astrophysics or whatever else people pass their time with, music is something that nearly everyone is interested in, in the sense that they listen to it, and they have an opinion on it. Everyone knows what they think of as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ music, and even what’s ‘cool’ and ‘whatever the opposite of cool is, possible uncool’. It’s as easy to judge someone instantly on the knowledge that said person likes Lostprophets and My Chemical Romance as it is to judge someone on the fact that they’re wearing black jeans and a t-shirt with real blood smeared over it. In reality, these two tend to coincide anyway. It is also safe to assume that this person thinks that Nickelback are a disgrace to the human race.
One thing that I’ve found noticeable is people trying to show me how cool they are with knowledge of bands that no one has heard of, which makes them indie. I’ve learnt that it is normally advisable to nod along and look impressed when someone declares that they are listening to the ‘Midnight Foxes’ or the ‘Lightning Bolt Brigade’, who they only know as they saw that in a tiny tent at a festival, but I wouldn’t have heard of them because they don’t advertise on the internet, because that’s too mainstream.
n.b. These are only guesses at indie band names, but for all I know, they may well be real bands. I just haven’t heard of them, because I’m too mainstream
n.b.b. It is also advisable to note that these people are always wearing red chinos. This will help you to avoid these people in the street.
Being a musical person myself, at least to the point of being a multi-instrumentalist, people tend to assume that I like small bands, and hate mainstream music. This often leads to people openly laughing in my face as they scroll through my iPod and find Now CD after Now CD, occasionally punctuated by Elton John’s greatest hits and Songs from the Musicals. My music taste is a complete mish-mash of stuff, to the point that it is indefinable by genre by itself. In general, I just like music that is catchy or well put together, and myself favourite music tends to be both. For example, all of the Beatles ever.
It would be almost impossible to make a list of my favourite songs, as they change all the time. It’s also worth mentioning that some of my favourite artists haven’t done any of my favourite songs, like Jason Mraz, and some of my favourite songs are by artists who I otherwise don’t like, or are 1 hit wonders. But he’s a go at my top however many it is favourite songs, in no particular order:
- Time to say Goodbye
Classical song, half of it’s in Latin, amazing tune, what’s not to love? - Somewhere (from West Side Story)
Just an amazing tune with lyrics that mean something, rather than all the modern ‘Get on the floor, something about the beat’ rubbish. Yes, I’m looking at everything that Pitbull has ever done - Hello, Goodbye
It’s not the best some the Beatles have done, but it’s certainly my favourite, if only because it’s amazing to sing along too. And contrary to the previous point, the lyrics mean absolutely nothing. But it’s a beautiful nothing - No Woman, No Cry
Possible the only song that I could listen to on loop for the rest of my life, and it would never get annoying - Concrete Angel
Partly because of the heart breaking music video, but this song is possibly the most emotive 4 minutes of anyone’s life - One Song, Glory
From the musical Rent. It’s so good, and I have no idea what it’s about - Faure’s Pavane
The original’s not a song, but there is an equally wonderful choral version. This is what people who write off classical are missing. - Jupiter from the Planets
Again, not a song, but there are lots of songs that have taken the tune, especially hymns. Also, makes the list because it’s my favourite piece of music of all time. But then again, you probably haven’t heard of it, because it’s too mainstream for you
