A lot of people get characterized, whether they like it or not, into some sort of genre or classification. Emo, goth, indie, rap, metal, hip hop, country – its all there, and everyone gets lumped into some category by someone else. If you wear jeans on the tighter side, like myself, or wear dark eyeliner, people are bound to call you “emo.” Wear all black and have piercings? Well, you’re just “goth” to somebody. The cycle goes on and on. Myself, I don’t really buy into categorization. People call followers of a certain music “scenesters,” but are we really following a scene? Or are we just comfortable in that surrounding? Personally, I hate it when someone sees something I wear or hears what I listen to and automatically asks “are you one of those emos?” Well no, I’m not “one of those emos,” I just wear pants that fit and listen to a certain type of music.
I’m a believer that we are all a product of our environment and that it’s just a matter of where we are and who we are surrounded by. I’m sure if I were born in Tennessee, I’d probably be clamoring for Rascal Flats tickets. Or if I were born in Compton for some reason, there’s no doubt I would have grown up listening to NWA and had the wettest jheri curl you’ve ever seen. That’s just how it seems to work sometimes. We all are shaped by our environment to some extent.
I went to a college where everyone listened to either Dave Matthews Band or whatever rap song with unrecognizable lyrics was the most popular at that time. Neither really worked for me, and fortunately I met people that introduced me to the music that I now listen to. Things worked out great, but I honestly believe that if I had not met those friends, I would be listening to DMB and rap only because it would be the only music that I was surrounded by. If every bar I go into is playing Dave Matthews Band, eventually I’m going to remember the songs and associate myself with their music. That’s not to say that people don’t have a say in the music they choose to listen to, but more so that the people and places around us influence us more than we may think.
Ultimately, though, I think it comes down to what we feel comfortable listening to. Not everyone is going to listen to the same bands, and I think it’s hard for some people to understand that. If some 30-year-old guy loves the Backstreet Boys and doesn’t mind pumping up the volume in his car to let everyone else know how much he loves them, I can’t really find any fault in that; He likes that kind of music and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. I think it shows a certain amount of bravery to put yourself out there when you know you’ll have to endure some unjust critiquing. So for all you hardcore Backstreet Boys fan, you have my support. And for everyone else who doesn’t care how they are perceived, you have my support too.
Howie D’s Number One Fan,
Matt
