While working my summer retail job, I was approached by a woman in her middle to late 30s. She was very kind when I greeted her, asking me how my day was before telling me “I’m looking for some emo crap for my daughter.” Being that my youngest sibling dresses exclusively in clothing from Hot Topic, I knew what she intended when she said this. “Emo crap” intended that she was looking for band tees, wristbands and other apparel that was based around a few particular artists and bands. How it came to be universally known as “emo crap” I will never know, but the fact that I myself knew exactly what she meant at the same time that my manager, who is a good generation above me, had to mean that it wasn’t a new concept.

This woman didn’t care much for the music her daughter listened to, calling it emotional and whiney, saying it was dramatic but if it made her happy then fine, she would buy her shirts for those bands. We laughed about the topic and told her that these specific items were located next door, in Hot Topic. My manager, however being the incredible salesperson that she is, offered her an Insane Clown Posse shirt that was Ouija board themed, because it is similar to the way some of the shirts for these bands appear. I know a My Chemical Romance shirt that has almost the exact same theme to it. When offered this shirt, the woman laughed and said “No that’s the kind of music my husband and I listen to.”

Now, this didn’t make sense to me. From my understanding, a lot of parents didn’t like Insane Clown Posse when they first became a sensation. After helping the woman with what we could, she decided to go next store but told us that it was very helpful of us to try. When she left, I couldn’t help but ponder the idea of generational difference in music. My mother listened to New Kids On The Block (which apparently is the only band I know she listens to because it’s the first one that always comes to mind), in fact she grew up in the same city as them, and I can tell you right now I’m not a fan of the music the way she is. I don’t mind it, but I can’t get behind it either. My father listens to rock music, like Aerosmith and Def Leppard. Again, I listen to the music, and it’s nice, but I can’t get behind it.

I myself like the listen to the Rolling Stones and White Stripes which my dad doesn’t really mind, and my mom and I listen to a lot of the same music, but I like to listen to music from other countries. Music that’s in different languages. My parents often times tease me about it, saying I can’t understand it so I can’t enjoy it, but almost all of my friends listen to the same music. My older brother listens to a lot of music with the same idea, different in a lot of ways that stand out to the generations that came before us. And my youngest sibling listens to that "emo crap” more often than not. But between the three of us, we can listen to each other’s music and not wonder why the other has strange taste or think it’s too different. So what about music changes between more than one generation to make it unbearable to listen to or laughable?

If you look at it from one perspective, music is a way for generations to define themselves. It’s how people express their feelings. Think about it. Deep down, you listen to music that subconsciously makes you feel like someone understands. You like music that has the same kind of message you want to tell others. But our lives change, our ways change and the world changes the more we age so every generation wants to share a new message, a new lesson that the generations before just don’t care for.

If you look at it from another perspective you're more likely to listen to music your parents don’t like because, hey, everyone’s a rebel. I know when my parents don’t like one of my favorite songs, I play it more often when they’re around. I know I’m not the only one.