3.19.2007

I see you... You see me... Differently



I know saying this will likely throw me in the proverbial
NUT HOUSE IN THE SKY, but I've been really irked by something my friend constantly repeats about Dave Matthews. She calls his music "Country", and continues saying it. I know it's mostly in teasing, but it bothers me just the same.

Before I get into my rant, my readers should understand something about me. When it comes to music and idols, I love whole hearted.

Dave Matthews is MY IDOL, MY MUSICIAN, MY MESSIAH. It took a long time for me to find him, but once I fell into his music, I fell in totally. There have been times where this music has kept me from total depression, possibly points of personal annihilation. It's more than an out, it's an in. An entry back to sanity.

I've always felt that his music is damn near impossible to categorize. It's incredibly eclectic, with a mishmash of Jazz, Rock, Classical, Alternative, African Influences, and yes, probably a tiny bit of country *I'd say when there is involvement of a fiddle*.

To throw him in that tight, sometimes intolerable slot of COUNTRY is a travesty to me. The image of the recent past and present of Country music has been completely against progression. It does have admirable roots, considering that at one time it was the beating heart of our nation. But it's roots have long since been torn from the ground, with nothing left but a dead tree full of stuff that was never intended to be stored in it.

In my opinion, and you can glare at me for it, Country has slowly edged backwards into the influence of pop. Most songs today sound exactly like ones on the top 40 stations but with just a little 'twang' and a y'all here and there.

I suppose to the untrained, foreign-ish ear, anything that is in-between categorization can be hurled into the nearest, biggest slot... but MAN, did that get to me.

I've had plenty of people put down Dave, but mostly in matters of personal taste. I can't be offended by a person just not enjoying the music. That's like disliking someone because they can't stand Hawaiian style pizza, when it's your absolute favorite.

Which, by the by, you're a total freak if you don't like Hawaiin style pizza.

In this case, it was almost like a blasphemous slap in the face to his music. Sure, call him a crappy, whiny yodeler. If that's the way your ear takes it in, okay.

But don't hurl him next to the sell outs with the big white cowboy hats and sparkle clad dress shirts.

2 comments:

sourpatchbaby said...

Umn, not to put your friend down or nothing. But, have your friendship tastes gone down? I mean, I'm no fan of Dave Matthews (but that's only because I don't really listen to music radio...that's right I listen to NPR. My secret is out bwahahahahah) but he doesn't sound like country. In my book country music is what you commit suicide and mass murder to. It just doesn't happen. I mean, people listen to it, but no one admits to it. Oh, and everyone knows that in order to properly eat pizza it must be hawaiian with bacon instead of ham. I mean, if you're going to do something, at least do it the right way.

The Children's Barn Store said...

Damn right on the pizza. DAMN right.

As far as Jackie goes, I think she associates Dave with country music because she's not been exposed to what country music really is .

Personally, I think she's lucky for that. I have several relatives enamored with Country, and have had many musical assaults on my ears in the past years. Including, but not limited to, a concert by the gayest of the gay gay gays Country band ever to walk the planet Earth - Raskal Flatts.

I mean, I have no clue what the difference between a Salsa and a Mariachi song, or Limbo or whatever the hell else genres they have. So I suppose I can understand the confusion.

But, still, the insinuation that my favorite singer is a Country singer is enough to make me throw up in my mouth a little.

Okay, a lot.