Jenny P (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} anijen21) wrote,@ 2008-03-04 14:56:00 |
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but it's the beatles...
Something funny happened yesterday, my roommate was like "do you have any beatles music?"
I was like, "well, yes." The question seemed absurd to me because what is an iPod or hard drive without any Beatles music on it?
Then she said, "I need a crash-course in the Beatles. My friend Rachel asked if I knew any, and I said no, and now I feel like I need to learn it." Okay actually that was a paraphrase.
I kind of looked weirdly at her, and then I got to thinking. However absurd it seems that someone has never heard a Beatles song before in their life, I mean, I can see how it's possible. Luis was sitting next to her and agreeing that he knew nothing about the Beatles, but then I realized they're both immigrants, right? And I I don't want to be racist, but it's not really racist to say that musical tastes in Ecuador and Cuba are a little different than what they are in the Midwest. And the only reason I know anything about the Beatles is because my parents were such huge fans, and let's be honest, when you're a little kid, a larger than insignificant percentage of your time is in the car with your parents, who, at least in my house, had complete control over the radio. And I remember every time an oldie would come on my mom would test us, say, "who wrote this song?" And the default answer if you didn't know was "The Beatles."
It's just weird to think knowledge that feels so inherently cultural doesn't spread as far as you think. The Beatles do not pervade all. Imagine having never heard the song "I want to hold your hand"...or, "Imagine," for that matter. This also made me feel kind of good, though, because I usually think my knowledge of music leaves much to be desired, but I do know my Beatles! But then again, Lady and Luis listen to entire genres of music I don't even know the name of.
I don't know. The point is, we're all *solipsistic*, and yes, that was just an excuse for me to whip out one of my limited five-dollar words.
Something funny happened yesterday, my roommate was like "do you have any beatles music?"
I was like, "well, yes." The question seemed absurd to me because what is an iPod or hard drive without any Beatles music on it?
Then she said, "I need a crash-course in the Beatles. My friend Rachel asked if I knew any, and I said no, and now I feel like I need to learn it." Okay actually that was a paraphrase.
I kind of looked weirdly at her, and then I got to thinking. However absurd it seems that someone has never heard a Beatles song before in their life, I mean, I can see how it's possible. Luis was sitting next to her and agreeing that he knew nothing about the Beatles, but then I realized they're both immigrants, right? And I I don't want to be racist, but it's not really racist to say that musical tastes in Ecuador and Cuba are a little different than what they are in the Midwest. And the only reason I know anything about the Beatles is because my parents were such huge fans, and let's be honest, when you're a little kid, a larger than insignificant percentage of your time is in the car with your parents, who, at least in my house, had complete control over the radio. And I remember every time an oldie would come on my mom would test us, say, "who wrote this song?" And the default answer if you didn't know was "The Beatles."
It's just weird to think knowledge that feels so inherently cultural doesn't spread as far as you think. The Beatles do not pervade all. Imagine having never heard the song "I want to hold your hand"...or, "Imagine," for that matter. This also made me feel kind of good, though, because I usually think my knowledge of music leaves much to be desired, but I do know my Beatles! But then again, Lady and Luis listen to entire genres of music I don't even know the name of.
I don't know. The point is, we're all *solipsistic*, and yes, that was just an excuse for me to whip out one of my limited five-dollar words.
