Got sick over the weekend, so this one's a little late.
Things that matter to me:
1. People-watching.
2. History, which is just macroscopic people-watching.
3. Good music. You'd better believe I judged that Miley Cyrus post.
4. Language. I like knowing what words mean, what they imply, etc.
5. The way men and women interact.
6. Economics, because the question of "who gets what" is pretty important.
7. The scriptures, and other good books.
8. Civilized discourse (which is why I don't watch cable news).
9. Thoughtful science fiction.
10. The gospel, which is the only reason any of the other stuff matters.
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It doesn't surprise me "people-watching" is on here. Explains how entertained you were with our "oh my gosh, my thighs" conversation. Which, I know you thought it was silly, but in our defense, you came in at half-time.
ReplyDeleteYou judged my Miley Cyrus post? Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge Hannah fan, but the words of that song are good, don't you agree? Maybe a little repetitive, but what makes good music good to you? This is not a rhetorical question. I want you to answer it.
Hmm... for starters, I have general issues with the entire "tween" Disney-pop genre. Everything from the star's personality, to the songwriting, to the performance itself is so sanitized and market-tested as to lose all meaning.
ReplyDeleteThis song in particular is just one of those general pop anthems about "belief" that, to me, has all the inspirational force of a Dove chocolate wrapper. It invites you to have faith--but faith in what? In order to be inoffensive and appeal to as many listeners (and as much money) as possible, the message is watered down into nothingness.
In my opinion, American kids have entirely too much of this vague, insipid optimism in their lives. We hear it all the time--"If you want it bad enough, anything can happen"--or "you just have to believe in dreams"--but life just doesn't work that way.
That's the long answer. The short answer is, it's shallow and cynical and boring.
"Hmm..." Okay. Would you like to tell me what music you are talking about on your list then? You have good music listed, I'm just wondering what you consider "good" music.
ReplyDeleteHey, I don't like Cyrus' personality either, I was talking about the song. About the "watered down into nothingness." What would you prefer her sing specifically about? Climbing Mt. Everest? The difficulties of her lame love life? I don't see anything wrong with it appealing to as many listeners as possible. Besides, the song is about life, I think you missed that part. There are "climbs" in every aspect of life--the lyrics are uplifting.
I'm sorry you think American kids have entirely too much of this vague, insipid optimism in their lives. I'm sorry, when I fail a test, I don't want to hear a song telling me "that's how life is, suck it up." I'd rather hear a song that boosts my low, telling me things will get better and I can get through. And that is the purpose of the song, it gives the little uplift people need to feel a little bit better. I know, cheesey, and maybe unrealistic, but I choose hope, not pessimism. There are American kids out there going through worse, and you think that they need to come in terms with reality, in order not to lead them into a false hope that life will get better, because it just doesn't work that way. I'm not saying I want American kids believing in false hope. Music is powerful though. I don't quite understand why you think that this song has an inspirational force of a Dove chocolate wrapper. The faith it is talking about is that life is hard, but you can keep going, and it will get better.
Eh.. I can see your side I suppose, just don't quite agree. I would like to hear your definition of good music though.
Sigh..
ReplyDeleteI sound completely brainless, don't I? Well, I don't care, I still like the song, and it's message, no matter how vague it is. Even though it may be fake, it still makes me happy when I'm sad!
It isn't that I don't like uplifting music. It's just that I don't find this kind of music uplifting because it seems shallow and disingenuous to me.
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite musicians are Sufjan Stevens (kind of an indie Christian folk-rock), Chris Whitley (blues), Beirut (kind of a brassy revival band), Cat Stevens, John Mayer, Led Zeppelin, Modest Mouse, Radiohead, etc.
We have Cat Stevens and John Mayer in common. hurray.
ReplyDelete