Defining Music

"So, what kind of music do you like?"

"Well, like, I like to listen to mostly pop radio. Um, Clay Aiken is totally awesome and-"

And the conversation ends.

How many times have you been out on a date, at a party, or just tried to start a discussion with someone when the aforementioned question arises?

Music has become a defining point of character for our generation. Certain unavoidable traits are associated with certain genres. Hippies listen to Phish, punk-wannabes listen to Jimmy Eat World, scary kids listen to hardcore, hicks listen to country and music snobs listen to indie-alternative.

What kind of stereotypes pop into your mind when someone tells you their favorite singer is Toby Keith? What about that freshman girl who is obsessed with John Mayer?

If we know what kind of music a person listens to, we can place them in a convenient category in our mind. We compartmentalize a person's entire being based on what's playing on their stereo.

You know you do it, but why? If someone tries to pigeonhole us into one of those same categories, we claim to be unique.

"Oh, I like Dave Matthews, but I really appreciate his value as an artist. I'm not like one of those countless other college kids who wear Birkenstocks and pink polo shirts with the collars flipped up. I'm different."

Of course you are.

Why has music become the trigger point for so many of us? Sure, we'll talk about movies, politics, books, or philosophy, but music is the most common denominator. We're most comfortable using music to label someone.

Unfortunately, many of us think that having a musical taste that matches someone else's is something to be sought after. But if this happens, how much room is there for growth or discovery?

"Don't you just love Jack Johnson's new album?"

"Yeah, that last track is amazing."

"Yeah."

Once again, the conversation is over. Perhaps there is something to be gained from discussing music with those whose tastes differ from our own.

Some of my current favorite bands have come along in the form of recommendations from friends, people whose tastes I don't necessarily agree with wholeheartedly, but respect nonetheless. As a result, my own preferences have evolved to appreciate artists and genres that I, at one point, had never even heard of.

After all, your taste in music is a culmination of life experiences mixed with personal characteristics. Listening to a certain genre indicates something very clear about your past and how it has helped to fashion the person you are.

Music is something we just do for ourselves, and being comfortable in our own preferences is key.

It's what we sing, often terribly, at the top of our lungs in our cars when we think no one is watching. It's what gets the adrenaline pumping before a big game or when we're pushing our physical limits at the gym. It's what keeps us company on that long walk across campus or while riding the bus back to the dorms.

I find it funny that something so personal is one of the first things we choose to divulge when meeting someone new.

But do we really have the same answer for everyone, or does the music change depending on whom you're talking to?

If you're trying to impress someone, chances are you're not going to admit to having a copy of Jimmy Ray's self-titled album tucked away on your shelf or Journey's "Greatest Hits" under the driver's seat of your car.

So then it follows that while we're running around labeling people for the music they listen to and basing our first impressions on that label, they're not even letting on to the good stuff.

Most students have a varied palette of tastes. Sure, they might have more favorites in one category than the next, but they're all over the spectrum, so the first impressions we're drawing aren't all that accurate anyway.

Somehow, even when we bring up the topic of musical likes and dislikes casually over coffee, we're revealing a very personal facet of who we are, but that's only if we're being truthful.

The next time a friend shares their weakness for listening to something embarrassing, take a minute to think about what they're really telling you.