This, which I'm writing on, is something that has been on my mind for a very long time now. Luckily, something happened at work recently that brought it to the fore, and the urge to write about it today, enveloped me.
At my workplace, some of my colleagues, had this project they were working on together and soon enough, they complained about how faster they'd have been, had they listened to music while working. Then this guy, began streaming songs loud enough for everyone around him to hear. He played songs for a while and someone then said 'What kind of songs are you even playing?' That destroyed the guy's confidence and he immediately connected to his airpods and listened privately. Although he might not have taken it so deeply but statements like that hurt.
This guy's music taste became a topic of conversation for them and they soon began discussing artists they preferred to others. Amidst the opinions that were aired, one of them said 'You see the thing about us in this country is that many people have a very poor music taste.' And that statement of his, is what brought about this post. What is the definition of "good music taste"? Or rather what genre of music is classified as good music taste, which minority of the citizens of Nigeria have?
This isn't actually the first time I'm hearing something like this. Experienced it firsthand as well. Someone scrolled through my playlist back then, and said 'Don't worry. You don't have good songs'. When I hear people say things like this, what runs through my mind is the saying 'Music is food for the soul'. If it is food for the soul, what rule states that our souls are meant to eat the same type of food? I've met people who playlist-shame (as I'd like to call it) a lot and even when they're not doing it to me, I feel bad for the person whose playlist they're talking down on because why do that?
There is so much diversity in music, and everybody has the liberty to listen to whatever they want to, however. If you have a problem with the lyrics of a song, that's okay because I understand how salacious some artists can be in their lyrics. But disliking a particular genre and imposing your dislike on it's faithful listeners, isn't the right thing to do. As trivial as this topic may seem, people get hurt deeply by words. Which is why, playlist-shaming shouldn't be a thing.
This is me ranting about this because I genuinely do not understand the logic behind talking down on someone's music taste. If I enjoy listening to rap, and don't listen to RnB, does that make me a listener with a poor music taste? It sure doesn't. Tem's is a good singer but what if I chose Ayra Starr over her, because I like to dance. Does that mean I don't have a good music taste? Or if I listen to only love songs and never listen to reggae, what does that make me? An unworthy listener?
Letting people feel like they're misfits, due to the kind of music they listen to, is unfair. With talks like these, who would blame those that keep their cherished songs away from the prying eyes of others? When I come across a song I love so much, I very rarely share it with people. I can't be letting people rub their music tastes off on me.
You see, there was a time in my life, someone said she didn't like the songs I listened to. Then, I started looking out for every song she listened to just so my music taste would seem woke to her. After doing that for a while, I would realize that you can't force music taste. If I have a music taste that is eclectic, and you listen to one genre, what difference exactly does that make? What matters is that I'm enjoying it, isn't it?
Hearing people playlist-shame others, all in the name of having good music taste isn't proper to me. Let people have the time of their lives while listening to songs they enjoy for themselves. Stop trying to bully them into thinking that their selection of songs are weird. Music is for everybody. And that is why, singers have varying talents. To accommodate all the types of listeners out there. Why then are you making people feel they need to listen to only one genre, with specific artists to enjoy music?
Anyways, I think I've said all I have to say on this issue. Everyone should feel a connection to what they listen to. If you do not enjoy what someone else is playing, just tell them 'Its fine. This isn't really my genre'. If you say this politely, and not criticize them for listening to a song you don't fancy, we'd be fewer steps away from making the world a better place.
Thanks for reading.
Imagine above is mine and the second, is a screenshot from my music player.