Well said and shared. It's something the #MusicThreads community stands behind every day. There's no need to yuck someone else's yum. You can simply let it pass by. Or you can give your pals a boost with a nice, "I'm glad you're enjoying _____."
Praise the music gods! Thank you for stating this so completely and accurately. The snobbery drives me INSANE. And way too many times women are the target of these barbs. They aren’t taken seriously b/c of their gender (ask Joan Jett) or their physical appearance or age. As you said, it’s immature. Not your bag? No problem. But don’t act like you’re the leading voice in what’s good or bad in art. There’s no such thing.
Pardon me, Thea, while I have a WTF moment. How can anyone run down Joan Jett??? Boggles my mind!
I am a wee bit prejudiced. I worked as staff writer for Joan's PR firm and wrote her bio for the US release of Bad Reputation. Her original Blackhearts – Lee (RIP), Gary and guitarists Eric and then Ricky are all friends of mine. She has been true blue to rock'n'roll from the outset, has total integrity, zero star trip prentensions, totally cool and real human... a rock goddess.
We need to talk! I saw her documentary Bad Reputation in 2018. In writing/researching an article about the doc, I found that things hadn’t changed much for women in music since her early struggles to be taken seriously as a rock musician. I was furious! That inspired me to start Herizon Music as a nonprofit in 2019 (then just a podcast called Backstage Chats with Women in Music). Joan signed a guitar and donated swag for fundraising when she heard my story. I switched to for profit and changed the name after COVID (whole other story), and am forever grateful to her and her team for helping me get started. She embodies the heart and soul of rock and roll. 🤘🏻🎶🎸
First mention I've seen on Substack of the YFBS pod. Those guys are always a fun listen. I always enjoy the episodes on bands I like versus ones I'm indifferent to or don't care for.
I broke into journalism as a music writer years ago. Since, I’ve worked as a film and book critic. And it’s all the same. So much snobbery.
Taste in anything is so subjective. One of the best lessons I learned about being a critic I learned back in high school, from my then-English teacher (who wrangled me into her literary criticism UIL - and I’m still not sure how our tiny school justified competing in it).
You don’t have to like something to appreciate it. I don’t necessarily *like* anything I’ve had to review. Some things I do, some I don’t, and that’s all of us. But no point in me dragging it, because it’s not something I’d choose to listen to.
It’s rare that I see something truly *bad* that’s irredeemable. The closest it comes is stuff like Kevin Federline’s *Playing with Fire.* Everything is the sum of its parts. *PWF* is bad writing, bad production, bad performance, bad recording. But it’s still not brain-melting unlistenable. I think I referred to it as “offensively capitalistic soft serve,” or some such when I reviewed it. Horribly disingenuous and an obvious cash grab, at the time.
That’s my bar, I guess. Music as a PR vehicle and commodity is where “bad music,” starts. But even then - somebody out there probably liked the Kfed album, at least for listening purposes. Who am I to say they’re wrong? I have my own questionable music tastes, if I’m honest with myself. And so do we all.
Well said and shared. It's something the #MusicThreads community stands behind every day. There's no need to yuck someone else's yum. You can simply let it pass by. Or you can give your pals a boost with a nice, "I'm glad you're enjoying _____."
Thanks for the kind words. Alas, snark and snootiness is a popular indulgence.
Oh, I know. And I suffered from the affliction myself, as do most avid music listeners and seekers. But, like you said, I grew up.
And what about some love for Bob Seger? One of the most underrated rockers of the 70’s.
Agreed. 👍🏻
Praise the music gods! Thank you for stating this so completely and accurately. The snobbery drives me INSANE. And way too many times women are the target of these barbs. They aren’t taken seriously b/c of their gender (ask Joan Jett) or their physical appearance or age. As you said, it’s immature. Not your bag? No problem. But don’t act like you’re the leading voice in what’s good or bad in art. There’s no such thing.
Pardon me, Thea, while I have a WTF moment. How can anyone run down Joan Jett??? Boggles my mind!
I am a wee bit prejudiced. I worked as staff writer for Joan's PR firm and wrote her bio for the US release of Bad Reputation. Her original Blackhearts – Lee (RIP), Gary and guitarists Eric and then Ricky are all friends of mine. She has been true blue to rock'n'roll from the outset, has total integrity, zero star trip prentensions, totally cool and real human... a rock goddess.
Errr... some people....
Sooo, that means YOU were, in a way, part of Herizon Music’s birth!!
Far be it from me to make such a claim, but have always enjoyed women and female musical artists.
Thanks to both of you!!
We need to talk! I saw her documentary Bad Reputation in 2018. In writing/researching an article about the doc, I found that things hadn’t changed much for women in music since her early struggles to be taken seriously as a rock musician. I was furious! That inspired me to start Herizon Music as a nonprofit in 2019 (then just a podcast called Backstage Chats with Women in Music). Joan signed a guitar and donated swag for fundraising when she heard my story. I switched to for profit and changed the name after COVID (whole other story), and am forever grateful to her and her team for helping me get started. She embodies the heart and soul of rock and roll. 🤘🏻🎶🎸
Yes, by why is the music drivers blast from their loudspeakers always so bad?
Forgive them for their sins, roll up your windows and turn up music you like.
Respond with Scottish bagpipes....
First mention I've seen on Substack of the YFBS pod. Those guys are always a fun listen. I always enjoy the episodes on bands I like versus ones I'm indifferent to or don't care for.
The ability to laugh about what we love and ourselves is a precious and fine human quality, IMO.
I broke into journalism as a music writer years ago. Since, I’ve worked as a film and book critic. And it’s all the same. So much snobbery.
Taste in anything is so subjective. One of the best lessons I learned about being a critic I learned back in high school, from my then-English teacher (who wrangled me into her literary criticism UIL - and I’m still not sure how our tiny school justified competing in it).
You don’t have to like something to appreciate it. I don’t necessarily *like* anything I’ve had to review. Some things I do, some I don’t, and that’s all of us. But no point in me dragging it, because it’s not something I’d choose to listen to.
It’s rare that I see something truly *bad* that’s irredeemable. The closest it comes is stuff like Kevin Federline’s *Playing with Fire.* Everything is the sum of its parts. *PWF* is bad writing, bad production, bad performance, bad recording. But it’s still not brain-melting unlistenable. I think I referred to it as “offensively capitalistic soft serve,” or some such when I reviewed it. Horribly disingenuous and an obvious cash grab, at the time.
That’s my bar, I guess. Music as a PR vehicle and commodity is where “bad music,” starts. But even then - somebody out there probably liked the Kfed album, at least for listening purposes. Who am I to say they’re wrong? I have my own questionable music tastes, if I’m honest with myself. And so do we all.
Nicely said!
And hey, that's exactly the kind of speaker wire *I* use! Gov. Walz rocks and Rules OK!
Right on, my bro! Chacun a son gout...
TY, my fellow Rob.