Ten reasons you shouldn’t snub other genres

From an early age we are exposed to genres of music that, as we grow, become “un-cool” among our peers, I was guilty of this until I turned 16.

My childhood was filled with music of the past, religious harmonies and melodies played by my Grandfather on his electronic keyboard, the rock n’ roll, classical, opera and country music my Dad played on his HiFi system and my Mother’s musical tastes of Disco, Soul, Pop and some soft Rock.

Yet as I entered my Teen years it was Heavy Metal that I was drawn to, the dark lyrics and heavy distorted guitars, the shrill yet powerful vocals and deep driving drum beats and basslines, it spoke to me like no other music ever had before.

Listening to metal stuck me in a box, if the music wasn’t classed as metal or rock, it was crap! I was adamant, (not Adam Ant) Pop music? No way!

I had become a music snob, I refused profusely to listen to anything else for years to come, it was a box I couldn’t break free of, it consumed my life and before long I found myself among company who’s thoughts on music were the same.

I don’t regret those years, in fact from what I can recall they were some of the best years of my life, but I cannot help think in closing myself off to other styles of music, I inadvertently stumped my growth as a musician and a fan of music.

At 16 however my life was changed, I was introduced to Pink Floyd and Dire Straits, Hawkwind and Gong, The Levellers and Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts (yes that is a band), the point being my mind was blown with other genres of music I hadn’t heard before.

This had a positive effect, it opened something in my mind which has only expanded over the years, I began to find an appreciation for the beautiful melodies and lyrics of love songs, the storytelling of country and Prog Rock, the heartache and pain of the blues, the anger of segregation and suffering in rap, my appreciation of music was no longer relegated to a narrow file, expanding my knowledge of these, and other genres, has done nothing but enhance my understanding of music as a universal language.

With this said, here are 10 reasons you shouldn’t snub other genres of music.

1. Listening to other genres we wouldn’t normally listen to can lead us on to an artist or song we really like.

2. Just because you don’t like a musician/band/performer doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to be respected, after all they have achieved something many of us will never achieve, being a popular musician.

3. Give a song/genre a chance, too many people only listen to a short excerpt of a song, rarely listening all the way through, the same can be said for genre, where listening to just one or two artists from that genre may put people off, yet among the minefield of music there may be that one track which changes your life.

4. If you are a musician, learning about other musicians and how they got where they are today, will give you an insight as to how the music industry really worked at the time these artists made it, it will also give you a realistic view of the hardships it can take to follow your dreams.

5. Yes some music is “cheesy” or too “happy” for some of us to cope with but even these songs have their place, these party songs are usually one hit wonders, yet they survive the test of time for a reason, that being a lot of people like these types of songs when they are happy, drunk and partying.

6. Listening to other genres of music gives us an appreciation of that style, a respect for the work it takes to create.

7. Enjoying other genres of music will introduce you to people you may never have spoke to before, attending a gig of any kind brings people together from all walks of life.

8. Music is about feeling, the lyrics usually have a story to tell if you listen closely, except for “nonsense songs” which are created purely to make people dance.

9. Even if you really dislike a genre of music, listening to it may lead you on to other styles of music you do like, especially when using sites like YouTube or Spotify.

10. Remember not every artist from genres you dislike will be to your taste, and this is quite alright, you do not have to like every genre.

Music is a universal language, no matter the genre, it teaches us about life if we choose to listen and delve deep enough into the chasm of backgrounds, learning what drove, inspired and tormented the musicians, what demons did they have to overcome, if indeed they did overcome them, music is so much more than just a drum beat with a few other instruments thrown over it and a singer wailing into a microphone.

It is the heart and soul of the world, without it the planet is silent, without music who is there to turn to in the darkness? Without the plethora of genres to choose from life would be mundane and dull, so next time a song comes on the radio or you find one on a streaming platform, or perhaps there is a live gig near you, no matter the genre, give it a chance you may be surprised where it takes you.

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