Let’s talk about music. Why? Because it’s my blog, and I’ll talk about whatever I want. In this case, it’s music. Why? because why not? I have terrible taste in music, which I will cheerfully admit at the drop of a hat. It flummoxes people, actually. They’ll tell me I have terrible taste in music and I’ll agree with them. It really takes the wind out of their sails, which makes me extremely happy. There is one song that I was embarrassed to admit I liked: What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction. But when I confessed it, many other people said they liked it, too, and that it was a banging song. And I realized that I was being prejudiced simply because they’re a boy band (which is historically looked down upon because anything a young girl likes is considered lesser).
Now, I don’t give a shit; I truly don’t. It’s how I feel about the popular media I consume in general. I like what I like and so what? I read mysteries mostly and twenty years ago, it was considered strictly genre and mostly for women. Which, again, meant that it was lesser. It didn’t matter that it was hugely popular, it was still looked down upon, until men started reading it more. I noticed roughly fifteen years ago that there was a massive influx of muscular mysteries that include ex-FBI/CIA operatives going rogue-ish. Very boring, to be honest, but also to be expected.
I also have no interest in the mystery-romance crossover, though I did try to get into it. Iris Johansen is a huge name in this, and I read several of her books. They’re fine for passing the time, but they’re so disposable. And it has the ‘tough, independent woman who needs to be tame’/’gruff, woman-hating guy who needs a gentle touch’ stereotype running through it.
Back to music. The first band I ever stanned was Duran Duran. Man, that is a pleasing sentence. I loved them so much and went to one of their concerts. Then, it was the hair metal bands phase, starting with Bon Jovi. I saw them and Cinderella in concert. I also liked White Lion, Poison, Firehouse, Warrant, Autograph, Def Leppard (and yes, I’m now looking at an alphabetical list), Europe, Extreme, and more. (I got bored after E).
When I hit college, I became aware of sexism and the fact that women often get shoved to the back or ignored completely. I made a choice to listen to more women. Some of them include: Indigo Girls.
Side Note: The Indigo Girls are the ones who helped me realize that I was attracted to women as well as men (this was back in the binary days). I had a crush on Amy that continues to this day.