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Probably the weirdest music I listen to is not Tajiki rap, nor Jewish rap, nor Azerbaijani folk, nor Chinese opera. Not Indonesian gamelan, Orissan, Tuvan covers of Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida, Soul Coughing, Ceza, Pink, Mindy Smith, Dolly Parton, or Lead Belly. It is not Yann Perreau, Royal City, Flook, Eminem, Information Society, John Conlee, Jefferson Airplane, or Wumpscut.
It is, instead, James Taylor.
Gorilla? One of my favourite albums ever. But the reason I call this weird is not because until this year I'd seen James Taylor live more than anyone else (now he's merely tied with MCR) nor because I actually like his music, but because it's not organically my choice.
It is instead my mother's choice. I'm sure I listened to James Taylor a WHOLE LOT when I was a fetus. Gorilla came out in '75 (this fact courtesy of KMTT's Nine At Nine) and I was born in '76. I grew up listening to James Taylor, Johnny Cash, and Shel Silverstein, and I went happily with all of these choices. That makes James Taylor the part of the fugue that has no internal logic - I didn't actively choose his music, but I love it when I hear it. Mexico on the radio this morning vastly improved an already-shitty day.
And I never think to exploit this. I don't own any of his albums on CD or mp3, I never think to PLAY his albums that I do have, and I definitely DON'T seek him out to listen to. But listening to Gorilla takes me to an awesomely happy place, and most of that mid-seventies Martha's Vineyard vintage mellow would make me want to kebab babies and eat them for lunch.
But not James Taylor. I love him completely unironically, and he is absolutely the weirdest music I listen to and love, and I'm all right with that. And when I find Mexico or Fire And Rain or Sweet Baby James on the radio, I'll stop and listen and feel much, much calmer.
Also, today I am having a hard time not bragging about how awesome I am because I know someone awesome. Either I am awesome because I am awesome or I'm not and it doesn't matter who I know and I'm pretty sure my motive is just "neener neener I know someone you don't."
It is, instead, James Taylor.
Gorilla? One of my favourite albums ever. But the reason I call this weird is not because until this year I'd seen James Taylor live more than anyone else (now he's merely tied with MCR) nor because I actually like his music, but because it's not organically my choice.
It is instead my mother's choice. I'm sure I listened to James Taylor a WHOLE LOT when I was a fetus. Gorilla came out in '75 (this fact courtesy of KMTT's Nine At Nine) and I was born in '76. I grew up listening to James Taylor, Johnny Cash, and Shel Silverstein, and I went happily with all of these choices. That makes James Taylor the part of the fugue that has no internal logic - I didn't actively choose his music, but I love it when I hear it. Mexico on the radio this morning vastly improved an already-shitty day.
And I never think to exploit this. I don't own any of his albums on CD or mp3, I never think to PLAY his albums that I do have, and I definitely DON'T seek him out to listen to. But listening to Gorilla takes me to an awesomely happy place, and most of that mid-seventies Martha's Vineyard vintage mellow would make me want to kebab babies and eat them for lunch.
But not James Taylor. I love him completely unironically, and he is absolutely the weirdest music I listen to and love, and I'm all right with that. And when I find Mexico or Fire And Rain or Sweet Baby James on the radio, I'll stop and listen and feel much, much calmer.
Also, today I am having a hard time not bragging about how awesome I am because I know someone awesome. Either I am awesome because I am awesome or I'm not and it doesn't matter who I know and I'm pretty sure my motive is just "neener neener I know someone you don't."
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From:
no subject
...James Taylor is okay too.
From:
no subject
I don't even know, my make-a-joke is broken now. I've spent too long calling the new guy "Fresh Meat".
From:
no subject
Strangely enough I do brag about knowing you *makes your day*
From:
no subject
Everyone I have
forced to listen to me recount my Epic Adventures On The East Coast at gunpointtold about my holiday is impressed that you (and your friends) are so awesome. Which is true!From:
FYI
From:
Re: FYI