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"Elitism"

The more time I spend going to concerts and just dipping into the music scene in general, I’ve begun to realize that there is a really big problem with it. It’s something called elitism. Elitism is feeling and acting like you’re better than someone. This is making the music scene feel a little bit like high school. I’m going to comment on elitism when it comes to music taste.

When it comes to elitism, I automatically think of Punk. So many people get angry at the over use of the word Punk and are quick to inform you which bands they feel are Punk and which ones aren’t. But since when did what kind of music the band plays matter? When you put a CD in, are you listening to it because you like it, or because it fits into a category? If it’s the second one, then I suggest you explore other types of music; there’s a lot out there. Besides, it’s pretty hard to tell what really is Punk in the first place, because someone will probably tell you it's not. The only thing everyone agrees on about Punk, is that Avril is not it.

Music and the love for it is being killed by elitism. If you listen to Minor Threat and The Casualties, you are no better than someone who listens to Good Charlotte and Simple Plan or vice versa, but I’ve never heard it the other way around. Music is about passion and love. It’s about getting excited to go see your favorite band and pushing your way to the front so you can see them and shout along at the top of your lungs, hoping they notice you doing so. It’s when you’re in your room alone, and you’re dancing around pretending you’re the person singing the song. It’s when you’ve had the worst day imaginable, and the right song soothes it. It’s the fresh feeling of the first time you play a new CD and that evolving into knowing every word of every song. It’s hearing the song that describes you personally. The list goes on.

So if you feel that way about your music and someone else feels that way about something else, there’s no reason for you to scoff at them because yours is somehow better. It’s not a bad thing to listen to what you like; in fact it only makes sense.

Article By: Ben