I read a lot of music blogs. I keep up with the local music scene. I pay attention because I love music. But, I’ve discovered something recently: I’m just not cool.
When I was in high school, I like un-cool music. When I was in my 20’s, same thing. I’m now in my 30’s and I continue the trend of complete un-coolness.
I try to understand what it is that people like in either really popular music or in the cool underground scene. I just don’t get either of them. Music touted by all the cool indie blogs so often bores the hell out of me. Some are innovating and interesting, but that just isn’t enough to keep my attention. I need great melodies, interesting instrumentation, memorable grooves - with the emphasis on that first one.
On the other hand, straight up pop music is no better. It’s disposable and overly simplistic. It is watered down in an attempt to make money and has little to do with art.
I’ll just stay in the uncool middle between the bizarre and the dull. For me, it’s better than the alternative.
Isn’t “cool” really a relative term? I mean, what is cool? Isn’t cool what YOU like? I mean, I think the Bee Gees are cool. But that doesn’t mean that anyone else thinks that. (They should, but whatever. I know they are fabulous. Well, at least some of their stuff is. Barry Manilow too. You can stop laughing at me now.)
If by “cool” you mean “popular” … well, lets remember that in reality, the popular kids in school often sucked. They just managed to become popular. I often found the BEST people to be among the lesser known crowd. And I was ok with that.
In a way, being uncool is really the coolest thing of all if you embrace it.
I agree, being ‘cool’ is completely overrated. Why would you want to be into what everyone else is into? After all, some of those dudes are people who listen to what Avril Lavigne says.
Give me a really good bass line and some ironic phrasing and I’m so down. Uncool is way sexier.