I am sorry our walk earlier didn't turn into more for you. See, even explaining it to you isn’t easy. But for me this theory I am trying to describe is a theory I am going to take with me to the grave. I’ll try to lay it on anyone that is willing to listen from now until then. But I think I should preface this talk with the following: the person has to have an open mind and be willing to try new things, think outside the box if you will. Anyone who only does what society demands is not allowed in the club. Oh, and the theory might contradict itself a bit. Remember, openmind.
Remember back about 6-7 years ago when we were at that party and I was trying to explain the Britney Spears theory to some folks. The theory that the radio sucks but no too much, because it can become great for folks in the future once stuff is done getting overplayed. Most hip grown ups don’t listen to the “popular radio” but rather the hits from their generation and those hits that find there way out of the current generations, lasting through the ruckus and rigamarole. (I can’t wait for an all 90’s station - which I am sure already exists). Well, this theory, is partially that I think I have the power to hear a song and hate it for being overplayed at the current time period (where and when it exists on the radio), but yet love it because I know when given to me in small doses throughout life I can be cool with it and actually like the song. For instance, it will be nice hearing the instrumental version of 'Oops I Did It Again' at Kohl's in 8 years; or even the fully sung radio edit while at a family outing in 14 years heard on Nice 92 FM. Are you following me by chance? The other part is even if it is in a genre most hip adults don’t like (ie pop), the song can still be catchy and good. I suppose where my logic and convincing goes wrong is when I am trying to convince someone about a crappy song from now (see Britney Spears above) prior to it having had the time to properly age, rather than giving an example from say 10-20 years ago. Like Prince's ‘Party Like It's 1999’ song. C'mon. Who doesn't love that song or at least smile and listen when it is played? Now what I am saying is the Britney Spears' of the world (loosely) will be the same as Prince for us in 10 more years. Can you fathom that?
The part where I contradict myself is that I also want people to be open-minded and listen to music that is not mainstream as well. Appreciate it for it’s beauty – or at the least just give it a shot before saying, “this sucks, let’s listen to the radio.” So it cycles back to my original point. That person who says, “this sucks, put on the radio” isn’t allowing him or herself to hear it for what it is worth and would rather do what the man tells them. I am not asking you to like Jazz if you don’t like Jazz. But rather just be able to try something chill if that is what is on. I don’t really like Amy Winehouse per se, but I can appreciate how chill it is and definitely like it as background noise. See how that works? And maybe, in 20 years, it will be even better - like a fine aged cheese.
The point here is to take any song that is a part of someone’s life, good or bad, and then put it into the Britney Spears theory and allow 20 years to go by. In 20 years, those songs become either comedy, great, or just plain old nice to give a listen too one more time. I am not saying that the song has to be liked when it is heard again, but rather understood and absorbed, sort of like the song is representing or meshing with your brain. It will trigger either happy, hatred, dislike, or non-feeling; regardless a popular song today will be a good thing in the future - good because it triggers some sort of emotion. All I want is acknowledgement and for someone to admit and say, "Hey I remember this song" followed by some feeling in their heart, be it hatred or a smile that says, “I love you song, even though you were annoying in the 90’s”. Thus, the Britney Spears theory. I do think Oops I Did it Again is annoying, but I want to hear it again later in life for sure. I am so advanced that I already have it on my iPod, but don't try to understand me. Just follow the theory. I'll worry about saying I told you so.
On that contradicting note again, I want this same sort of open-ness to be applied to a song no one has ever heard before from an underground or unknown group. This shouldn't be a tough thing to pass to someone's brain, but it has proven to be for me and is frustrating. When I push the B. Spears theory on someone, all they do is tell me, "No, I don't like Britney Spears" and I say that is not the point. Like you said, we all can have our own opinion about any song we want…we can say, "I don't like that song Sara by Jefferson Starship" but who knows, in 15 years that could be downloaded and added to your iPod. Just like I did last week. Now are you following me? If only that logic can be applied to stuff that isn’t mainstream as well. Sort of all coupled into a big pot of what floats to the top. Good non-mainstream stuff and stuff from 15 years ago that isn’t being overplayed anymore. Thus, a good time had by all.
Could you imagine if the people in the early Baroque music period (~1600) didn’t ever allow the music to evolve and said “no” to those musical pioneers trying to push middle and late Baroque trends (up until ~1750)? And then what about the Classical period that evolved from this time period? I am sure people from after 1750 learned from listening and sampling songs from the Baroque period, thus inspiring them to create great music. Multiple that times 40 and now you have MC Hammer, The Liars, and Leonard Cohen. See, you have to appreciate what was – and per the Britney Spears theory if you give something annoying or even something good but overplayed about 10-20 years to sit in a wine cellar, then break that stuff out - you get good fun music for your ears. Then you can listen and learn and grow from it. Genesis: Take Me Home, Dee-Lite: Groove Is In The Heart, A-Ha: Take On Me, Ron Geesin: Spiky Diving Belles. Point made.
As you know I am anti-radio, but I also think I am “pro-radio after 20 years”. Let it age, sort through it all and find out what is good and what is crap. Music that was popular 20 years ago is just now getting downloaded and played by me. I am just starting to realize how good Christopher Cross can be, how magical Michael McDonald still is (love the current infomercials), and why people loved Hall and Oates and Peter Cetera. Damn. So give me 5 more years and I will be targeting the Bodyguard song, Soho, and La Bouche for their grandness. With me? I do get mad at people that only listen to the radio, yes, it is true. But I was there at one point in my life. So I can’t totally front. What I want them to do is to be able to open their ears past the current radio and listen to something from the past…or even deeper, something that was never played on the radio.
Some of you are saying that is BS, there is music out there that totally sucks and I know it. I dislike 'Take On Me'. Okay, that is fine. You don’t have to like everything. I sure don’t. But just give new things a chance, try old things again, and for sure don’t deny yourself these items which will complete you – and I would also like to thank Britney Spears for her efforts and songs that she put out there for us. I will see you in 15 years baby.
Did you ever check out one of those "what are the celebrities listening to" articles? They always peak my interest. If J. Timberlake says something like Ron Geesin, Man Man, De Euromasters, and Mr. Bungle I think to myself, wow he is worldly and has tried new things. He isn't just saying he likes the new Pink, Beyonce, Deftones, Black Eyed Peas, and Pearl Jam albums, but really being honest and allowing himself to open up and try new things. Think about how much celebrities are privy too, they get to sample all kinds of music and if they have an okay listening ear they can find something that isn't "popular" or isn't "jammed down your throat". Sometimes J. Timberlake says stuff like Ella Fitzgerald or Nat King Cole. Popular back then, cherished now.
In closing: be open-minded and less mainstream (at least for a few years, then back-track). Try it. Also, step it up and appreciate something different for a change, or something from 20 years ago. Have a sense of adventure – don’t be scared to say you like a silly, cheesy, or even older song – if your mind enjoys then it let it roll. Don’t let the man tell you want to listen to (although if it weren’t for the man the B. Spears theory wouldn’t work), and lastly don’t buy any Kanye West albums.
