I Hate Music

Nah--not really. But I've recently come to the realization that I don't LOVE it either...

Quite a shocker. Especially given that for a long time it was my dream to be a singer. But I must confess I'm no longer up on the hot bands. A recent issue of Rolling Stone featured the Jonas Brothers on the cover and I'm thinking "What the @#$%?!!!" Most of the bands featured inside I have never even heard--or heard of. And it's not like I have any inclination to check out that four-star rated album by that Emo chick from Finland. I mean, if I was a music lover, I'd be all over it--wouldn't I? Maybe I should have titled this post, "I Hate NEW Music."

The problem is, I'm too old for new music. Okay, that's a lame excuse. My friend Stevie who's got a few years on me, totally knows who the upcoming musicians and hot bands are. She knows about that Emo chick from Finland even before Rolling Stone does. Me, I know TV and movies. Maybe my brain just can't fit any more "stuff" in it!

It hit me some time ago. I remember driving to work past kids waiting at the bus stop wearing baggy jeans with the crotch hanging to their knees and thinking, "Their mothers let them go out in public like THAT?!!!" At about the same time that the radio D.J. came on announcing he was about to play a new song from Lush...or maybe it was Luscious Jackson--or maybe it was Michael Jackson...I don't remember but I do remember thinking, as I switched to another station, "I don't want to hear a NEW song! I want to hear a song I already know!"

Since I converted from Walkman to iPod, I rarely hear new songs anymore. Plus I hardly ever drive these days, so no chance to hear anything on the car radio, either. My only exposure to new music is from Jessa during yoga class (she is responsible for at least THREE new songs on my iPod), but even that's iffy since Jessa (who is all of twenty-six!) has this strange predilection for Journey and Neil Diamond.

I guess I'm not the only one who likes old older songs!

I can't remember the last time I sat down and just listened to an album. I used to--poring over the lyrics, singing along, playing the drum parts inside my head...These days I really only listen to music when I'm working out, walking or driving. When I'm in motion, as it were. Music has ceased to be "relaxing" for me since there's now a Pavlovian "kinetic" association with it now. (Speaking of "relaxing," I never did like classical music--it always makes me tense. Punk rock, on the other hand, can soothe me to sleep...)

Okay, I don't really HATE music. I can't imagine how I'd be able to get through a yoga class or gym workout (or even walk to the gym!) without it to keep me motivated. I don't even hate NEW music.

Music is definitely evocative (try watching a movie without a musical score). Sometimes you hear an old song and it brings up memories of the time and place when you first listened to it. Or it's a new song which just clicks--like having instant chemistry or meeting a soulmate. It's the first time you've heard it, but it seems like you've known it forever...

The most recent song (which is almost a year old!) I've heard that I want to score for my iPod is Psycho by Puddle of Mudd

Psycho

Maybe I'm the one
Maybe I'm the one
who is…
the schizophrenic psycho… yeah…

Maybe I'm the one
Maybe I'm the one
who is…
the schizophrenic psycho…

She lays down on the fresh lawn
She can make everything magical
But she tied one on big time
And it makes me want to rewind

To back in the days when we were young
When everything was like a loaded gun
Ready to go off in any minute
And you know we're gonna win again

Yeah you know we're gonna win again
Yeah you know we're gonna win again

Maybe I'm the one
Maybe I'm the one
who is…
the schizophrenic psycho… yeah

Maybe I'm the one
Maybe I'm the one
who is…
the paranoid flake-oh… yeah

She lays down on the sidewalk
Never very analytical
She is something simply beautiful
Reappear with youth and magical

Back in the days when we were young
When everything was like a loaded gun
Ready to go off in any minute
Yeah you know we're gonna win again

Maybe I'm the one
Maybe I'm the one
who is…
the schizophrenic psycho… yeah

Maybe I'm the one
Maybe I'm the one
who is…
the paranoid flake-oh… yeah

I'm the one
I'm the one
who is…
the schizophrenic psycho

I'm the one
I'm the one
who is…
the schizophrenic psycho

You're the one
You're the one
who is…
the schizophrenic psycho

Back in the days when we were young
When everything was like a loaded gun
Ready to go off in any minute
And you know we're gonna win again

Maybe I'm the one
Maybe I'm the one
who is…
the schizophrenic psycho… yeah

Maybe I'm the one
Maybe I'm the one
who is…
the paranoid flake-oh…

You're the one
You're the one
who is…
the schizophrenic psycho

(Maybe I'm the one
Maybe I'm the one
who is…
who is the schizophrenic psycho)

You're the one
You're the one
who is…
the schizophrenic psycho

(Maybe I'm the one
Maybe I'm the one
who is…
who is the schizophrenic psycho)

You're the one,
You're the one,
who is the schizophrenic psycho