Wednesday, June 1, 2011

I Love That Song

Today I read an article called, "Listen Up: I Don't Know What I'm Talking About." Beginning with an antidote about a girl in an antique shop, it talked about how people often speak with conviction regarding things they know nothing about. The author's own personal experience dealt with music and instruments. While Maddux loves music and frequently writes about the subject, she cannot play any instruments. She admits to only half-heartedly trying to learn but also finds her lack of skill to be a redeeming quality. When Maddux listens to music she bypasses the notes and pays attention purely to the sounds. She differentiates what she likes, what she doesn't, what else it sounds like, and what she wishes it sounded like. All of this helps her form her opinion without getting caught up on the actual notes being played.

I relate to not being able to differentiate one note from another, but also take it one step further. When I listen to music I listen blindly, most of the time I don't know what the song is called or even who it is by. While I have learned the names of my favourites, I love the anonymity that comes with this ignorance. I'm not trapped by having to avoid bands that are "uncool" and can relay to friends what I'm liking by singing a few lines or looking it up on the internet.

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