I'm one of those people who has earphones in at all times. No, it's not just so random people don't stop to talk to me, but it's also because I love music. While I wouldn't necessarily say it's a passion of mine, it definitely has a strong place in my life; in fact, I bought a miniature, remote-controlled strobe light just so that I can lay in bed and try and match the colors with the mood of the song I'm listening to.

Music, above all else, can influence and control the atmosphere of almost any social setting, and taking a good look at someone's playlist can be a great way to get to know just what kind of person they are.

If you're anything like me, more often than not people wrinkle their nose or roll their eyes in disgust when they take a look at your Spotify. "Ew, you only listen to pop music?!" they'll ask, as if me listening to Lady Gaga was as repulsive as, say, a huge infection across my face.

Pop music is often bashed for being shallow and benign, but the fact of the matter is that it's a genre dedicated to celebrating and enjoying some of the most fun, pleasurable aspects of life- sex, love, partying, dancing, and every sanguine act one could ever do- and I find that kind of beautiful. It's all too easy to get dragged down by life's constant twists and turns, so what's wrong with wanting to just sit back and listen to some Beyoncé?

When it comes to music, and many other forms of media, people seem to think that the more pessimistic or bleak something is, the "deeper" it is. Misery is not depth, and choosing to languish in sorrow does not make you more "realistic" or "down to earth"; it simply means you chose to put yourself into a bad mood and then decided to pat yourself on the back for it. And just as an anecdote here, there's nothing wrong with wanting to lay in bed all day listening to sad, melodic songs- that's a valid human emotion and there can be satisfaction in letting yourself experience it.

Furthermore, pop music doesn't necessarily have to be about sex and partying; there are several artists out there who create epic, explosive, emotional ballads about their struggles and insecurities who are technically classified as pop artists (Sia, Marina and The Diamonds, etc.). Pop as a genre is not limited just to what is listed in the top 40's, and has countless subgenres that mingle and interact with other types of music entirely. Examples of such genres are synth-pop, pop punk, bubblegum pop, chillwave, and dozens of other neat little categories you can explore.

In conclusion, I love pop music and I'm not afraid to admit it.