I’ll give you a hint: It’s not David Bowie. Surprise, surprise.
Time’s up. The CD is, oddly enough, Hybrid Theory, by a little band called Linkin Park. I don’t know why I love this CD, but I do. I just listened to it three times in succession. It makes me purely, unreasonably happy in a way that usually only Bowie can touch.
I first heard this CD at a friend’s house, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that, contrary to my misgivings, it was quite good. I made a mental note of the band and album cover, and determined to eventually purchase it myself. Approximately a year later (as of 12/29/02, in fact), I went on a fact-finding mission with Sally to a local Best Buy to pick up memory cards for our brand-new Playstation 2, and found Hybrid Theory. I figured, what the heck, and bought it. I have not regretted my purchase. I adore this CD.
In spite of the rather hardcore appearance of Hybrid Theory, it’s not offensive or vulgar in its lyrics. Yes, it’s angry teenager rock, but there is no cursing or derogatory attitudes displayed in the music. It’s parent-friendly alternative rock that everyone can enjoy. The adults can listen to it and enjoy its comparitively positive messages, and the kids can think they’re getting away with playing hardcore rock music. Fun for the whole family.
It’s a rather odd selection for me. I hate rap, and this CD is very rap-intensive. I hate loud, violent music, and this is about as angry and angst-ridden as they come. Despite all of these factors, I find Hybrid Theory soothing in the extreme. I could literally fall asleep to it.
You must understand how completely incongruous this is for me. I grew up on soundtracks to movie musicals and Beach Boys tunes. Given that, it was probably inevitable that I would be attracted to more offbeat tastes, especially stuff that would mildly piss off my family. Ironically, the music with which I choose to piss them off is thirty years old.
I first began my rebellious ways via the aforementioned David Bowie. It started out innocently enough, when DC dragged me to her house to watch Labyrinth. I naturally adored the movie, and desired to listen to Bowie’s music in general. Fortunately, my cousin Meg had a copy of ChangesBowie, a compilation CD, and I borrowed it from her. If I liked it, more’s the better. If not, I could just give it back, no harm done.
It was somewhere around the third round of Changes in the CD player that I just fell in love with his music. I developed an absolute, unconditional adoration of everything Bowie, and soon learned that my love was not shared by the general populace. I cannot think about how many times I’ve had to defend his name, and my fondness for his music, in public. There is a small but highly vocal faction of people out there who really despise him, and they do not hesitate in putting him down, often in defamatory terms.
I freely admit that he is not for everyone. His music is not exactly harmonious, and can be difficult to sing along to. He also frankly can look very, very strange and somewhat off-putting in glittery costumes and eye shadow. He is, in short, an acquired taste, and I personally have to give each of his CDs a few listens before I like them (again, somewhere around the third listen I learn to like them, and thenafter develop a leech-like affection for the CD. I like to break in new Bowie CDs with a string of computer solitaire...it’s something to do that isn’t mentally taxing and gives me the opportunity to pay attention to lyrics).
But despite all this, I just really, really like his music. It makes me unreasonably happy, something my family cannot understand. Since he is played so rarely in public (on the radio, over store speakers etc), whenever I do get to hear him in public I get a dopey grin on my face and am blissful for upwards of a half-hour. I still haven’t forgiven my sister for switching the station on the car radio when “Young Americans” was playing. Grrr.
Which brings me to another point. My family hates Bowie. Oh, my mother tolerates him a bit, at least, although she prefers that I play him with headphones on (despite the fact that she plays all of HER music sans headphones at top volume--I’m constantly telling her to turn down the volume, which is highly amusing in retrospect), but my sister actively hates him. She refuses to let me play him at work (we are allowed to choose our own music in the back, provided it’s not too loud or offensive), and will unplug the stereo if I try to play his stuff.
A big chunk of her hatred is based on his physical appearance. She thinks he’s ugly, and will not hesitate to mention this to me. I’ve heard the terms “scrawny”, “squinty”, “weird”, “bad teeth” and some unrepeateable words used to describe him. My mom holds the same opinion, albeit couched in politer terms, with an emphasis on his effeminance. Of course, her taste runs to scruffy guys who look as though they haven’t showered in weeks (case in point, Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. She thinks he’s just the cat’s meow).
In my defense...what can I say? I like pretty, skinny blond Brits. :) I’ve mentioned my fondness for Legolas a few times, and I think a good chunk of female Buffy fans will agree with me about Spike (I’m still kicking myself over not seeing James Marsters while at GenCon 2001). And Lucius Malfoy in The Chamber of Secrets? Oh, my. I don’t care that the character’s an asshole...the man’s just plain yum!
Where was I? Got a bit distracted there... :)
Point being, I’m sick of feeling like a lone voice of reason in the pro-Bowie camp. I resent constantly having to defend my tastes whenever people ask, “What do you like to listen to?” I’m tired of hearing the same response to the question over and over again: “Ugh, you like Bowie? He’s so awful/talentless/ugly/old/gay*/(fill in the blank)!” I’ve even run into a few people who haven’t the slightest clue that Bowie exists (admittedly, I was just like those poor souls a few years ago), and just stare at me blankly when I explain that he’s an established rock legend. One particularly pathetic individual offered, “Didn’t he front for Queen?” Arrggh...
Bowie seems to be one of those artists you either love or hate. There is no middle ground. I have rarely come across the individual who states, “Oh, he’s all right...not my favorite, but not bad.” More likely, it’s “I love Bowie! He’s the greatest!” or “I hate Bowie, his music’s terrible!”
I accept that there will be people who don’t like him, and who will never like him, even when given the opportunity to really sit down and listen to him**. All I ask is that they give him a fair shake and look past the hair, the teeth, the costumes, the highly publicized career and personal life, and pay attention to what really counts: The music.
*For the record, Bowie is not gay. He’s been married twice, and his current marriage has lasted over ten years, with him very devoted to his wife, so that pretty much dispells any homosexual leanings. He has engaged in various acts with persons of both genders in the past, so if anything I would describe him as a possible bisexual who is currently in a committed monogamous relationship with a member of the opposite sex. He has also maintained exclusively heterosexual relationships for about twenty years, so this has been a steady pattern, and seems unlikely to revert to a homosexual lifestyle. Let me say that again: Bowie Is Not Gay. Now that that is cleared, you may resume your usual business. :)
**In case you’re interested, I like to use Hunky Dory as conversion material...it’s nice and light and pretty, with awe-inspiring, breathtaking lyrics. Anyone who tells me Bowie can’t write gets a taste of “Quicksand” and “The Bewlay Brothers”, which are considered two of his overall greatest works.