Paula Abdul... Ace of Base... Aerosmith... Christina Aguilera... Tori Amos... Fiona Apple... Richard Ashcroft... To some, that list of names just means a roll call. To me, it means the 'A' section of my CD collection. As eclectic, popularized, and perhaps, boring as that list is, it starts off my pile of albums. And still, with an unimpressive list of 'A’s' like that, sometimes I think I'm something I've always despised, a music snob.
It started when I was about ten. My favorite artists were not legends like Hendrix, the Beatles, or the Doors - they were Debbie Gibson and New Kids on the Block. My mother was listening to Billy Joel and Genesis, and all I could think was "If Mom likes it, it can't be good!" I'll admit, I sometimes forced myself not to like anything that might have been coming from my parents’ stereo speakers. (Sorry, Billy - you won me over long before your 1999 tour, if that helps.)
Twelve years and 300 CDs later, I don't look down at the music my parents might like anymore (although country music is still a no-no), but I still find myself staring down tmy nose at other 'musical crimes.'
I have a friend, for instance, whose CD collection consists largely of albums purchased for a 'hit single' and several of the Now compilations. Many times I've asked her how an album is, only to get a "I haven't listened past ‘Oops... I Did It Again’" in response. Each time, I can't help but feel a mix of disgust (for such a response) and pride (in owning albums by artists no one's heard on the radio). I'm in it for the music, not the chart history. Yeah, that's the ticket.
I am also a bit anal about lending out my CDs. People who stack discs outside of their cases drive me crazy - return a CD to me with just one scratch and find yourself on the 'Never Again' list. And never, ever mark up the liner notes. I don't care if you're the biggest Cher fan on the block and accidentally knocked your glass of soda over while dancing to 'Believe' - you stain my album liner and you die.
I've also found myself prejudging music based on little to no knowledge. I hated Hole based solely on the fact that they hit it big soon after the suicide of Courtney Love's husband, Kurt Cobain. It was only five years later that I discovered that I honestly like Hole, whether they were riding Nirvana's coattails or not. I once wrote off Creed, accusing them of sounding like my favorite bad, Pearl Jam. One Behind the Music and several (televised) live performances later, I realized my beef was actually with Days of the New and that at some point, I might want to buy a Creed album.
As for judging my friend's hit laden collection, how different is it from mine? While my collection of CDs tops 300, I can't honestly say I've listened to every one of them frequently. In fact, half of them may have only been played once. And if I were such a music connoisseur, would I dare own close to fifty greatest hits compilations?
Music snob or not, it's a hobby that interests me to no end. My tastes range from pop to R&B; Backstreet to Beck. My favorites: Deborah Gibson, Tracy Chapman, and Pearl Jam. When it comes down to it, there's no reason to limit yourself when it comes to music. We live eclectic lives; why not have an eclectic soundtrack to back them up? The chances are slim that another person has the exact same album collection as I do - and I like that. It makes my menagerie of music that much more valuable. I like the fact that as my catalog increases, so does my common interests with friends, colleagues - even Mom and Dad. And if they're not so common interests, there's more of a chance to turn someone on to the next big thing, or an oldie they're missing.
I am training myself to be less anal and stuck-up. I've come to accept that sometimes, cover songs are better than the originals. I've learned not to let radio dictate my music choices - positively or negatively. I've come to realize that charting on Billboard does not equate with talent in all cases.
And, Mom, even though I swore otherwise half my life ago, I really do like Genesis, Billy, John, Paul, and even Elvis - but not that ugly jumpsuit phase.