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I've been realizing more and more that the stories, gimmicks, images, controversies/hype and overall experiences and journeys are also sometimes massive selling points to me aside from the music itself no matter how popular or obscure they are. On the other hand, when giving a proper listen, I just focus on the music itself in spite of whatever gimmicks and controversies the band would be rife with. I also realize that one can also easily contradict themselves when it comes to discussing controversies (Character flaws and blunders.) and gimmicks (Which can also very well include the sell-out topic.) as well, since they can also be into musicians that kind of more or less do the same things that the ones they've sworn off too. As with expressing opinions in general, that's when it sometimes gets tricky.
I also further realize that as long as I can have fun with it, aside from being able to relate/cope with it, that's all that really matters to me, whether it be a couple of songs or a couple of albums. I also still love listening to and collecting albums, but after trying to force myself to listen to albums in chronological order when getting into another band for the first time for a long time, it finally helped me see why some people just settle for songs. Admittedly, some musicians' discographies seem to be best listened to in chronological order, but skipping around albums has also saved me a lot of trouble, and helped make it not like pulling teeth for me.
I still admit that I care what others think, and I try to keep an open mind as I appreciate people's knowledge and credibility, but for me personally, I see why it's up to me to figure out what works for me and what doesn't, and to just remember that it's still always impossible to just please everybody. Just going through life has also made me realize just how personal and serious music can be for some, so it's not a subject I take lightly when brought up. I can't ever claim to be a hardcore music buff either, but I also never wanted to turn getting into music and album collecting like some sort of competition or chore in terms of keeping up with who or what.
It'll never be good enough, or even enough to some and with anything in general, as much as I have a bucket-list mentality to certain things in life, I always hated just doing things just to say I did it. It also makes perfect sense that like any other person performing for a living, they must mentally condition themselves to accept that it'll still never be good enough, or even enough to somebody. It's also no wonder, otherwise they'd be far/much too paralyzed/crippled in fear/regret to even keep/hold/maintain a career in music. (For musicians specifically.) And well, just like how other interests are not for certain people, that could even include music itself. Almost everybody I know likes music, but obviously not always in the same way and that's okay. I had to catch myself as well, which is yet another reminder that just because something floats your boat, doesn't mean it'll float their boat.
For instance, it's okay to be a hardcore gamer and for somebody else to be a moderate and/or casual gamer. It just seems to be a matter of accepting and respecting those differences, since not everybody will be into the same interests in the same exact way, through the same exact reasons and means.
For an example, if it's a matter of bickering about bad taste, it's also a matter of just not getting into enough tastes. Nothing wrong with expanding your tastes/interests either, but it's like a hardcore gamer chewing out a not so hardcore gamer for not playing as much video games as the hardcore ones, if not just to discuss good games and bad games, while neglecting the fact that not everybody is meant to be, let alone be interested in becoming a hardcore gamer.
This just occurred to me again as I ponder why I got into music in the first place, and knowing and experiencing just how one's tastes and ranges of tastes and motives can be easily criticized and questioned to a seemingly perpetual amount of proportions and angles. I know I shouldn't really care or let it get to me, but I figured that this is the perfect thread/forum to get this off my chest. Upon realizing this, it just motivated and encouraged me to just do me and move on. (But not like to the point that I dismiss other opinions and views either, nor also being incessantly swayed by them either.)
-To somehow tie this in with the thread title, I'm basically referring to how even one's own very preferences and even reasons for getting into music can be controversial among music fans.-
This isn't just exclusive to ETS and music either, but even life in general from people-pleasing, which is an ultimate product of constantly caring what other people think, making so many things a mission to satisfy and impress others, while also trying to win them over in terms of having them absolutely love/like and making them happy every which way possible. It can take a toll when even you keep asking yourself, "Is this right? Is this wrong? Should I continue? Should I stop? Why didn't I start?"
Now, it's just like whatever. To each their own. Take whatever good advice/suggestions you can get, but always remember to just do you man, and most importantly, just have fun on this short existence on Earth, but this time to myself.
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Originally Posted by Space Suicide
