One of the best questions to be asked is "What kind of music do you listen to?" or "What are your favorite bands/artists?" I could go on and on naming off some of my favorites. But sometimes, especially with people older than you, they give you a very confused look after hearing your favorite artists.
They scoff "Ha! What do you know about that band? That's way before your time!" In response to this, I used to feel a slight embarrassment. Sometimes the person will quiz you on albums and songs, trying to see if you're a "real fan" or not. Sometimes they just don't take you seriously and brush it off. But I think that people should stand by their music taste no matter what it is.
What some older people don't realize is that there's this new thing called the internet that they're still learning to use, with specific sites like YouTube and apps like Spotify, that allows you to peruse and research all different kinds of music. This is something my mom still doesn't understand -- the vast access that we have to all different types of music at our fingertips.
For example, when I have the aux cord in the car on road trips, she'll exclaim, "Wow, this is old! How do you even know this?" and I just thank the internet for leading me down the memory lane of music. I can't imagine what I would be like if I only listened to the music that's been released since I was born.
Being a 1997 baby, I came into the world right after a whole bunch of defining eras of music. The 80's rock scene, the 90's punk scene - all of it, I did not have the privilege of experiencing firsthand. Growing up, I basically just listened to whatever was on the radio or on my Kidz Bop CDs. Beginning to use the internet in my preteen to teenage years was what changed my music taste forever.
Us millennials have been extremely lucky, in my opinion, to be the real first generation that grew up on computer technology, acquiring the skills to use it as tech has progressed throughout our lives. We all now live in an informational, digital age. There is plenty of knowledge and resources at our fingertips, and this has specifically helped me to discover some of my favorite bands of all time.
When I told my mom that I was getting a Red Hot Chili Peppers tattoo, she looked at me like I was crazy. She has tattoos herself and has been supportive of my other ones, but this one left her puzzled. "You mean the 90's band?" she asked me. Yes, the 90's band and the band that is still releasing great music to this day. Yes, one of my favorite bands ever that gave me my first real taste of 90's rock.
I stand by my music taste no matter what. Now that I am an adult, I know for a fact what I like and don't like. Of course, it's subject to change as all things are in life, but I am glad to have discovered the older music that I never would have known without the internet.
Next time someone tries to test you on your favorite band, you shut them down and name every album in order because no one should be able to shame you for liking music that's older than you are. Be proud of your great taste.
