I have opinions. Sometimes very strong ones. And sometimes I voice them a little too loudly. That does not mean, however, that I am wrong. It only means I believe something different.
A good number of my friends automatically discredit me on a number of subjects. Whether this is because I believe too strongly about a particular matter or not, it still hurts. It could even be because they feel threatened by something that is not what they believe.
In any case, it seems to me that the more knowledgeable I am about a subject, the less credit I have with certain friends about that subject.
On one hand, there's my music.
Music is my life. Sitting down at a piano and playing whatever comes to mind. Even more, I enjoy singing. It's the easiest and best way to get out everything that I'm feeling. I can pick a song, any song, and go with it whether it sounds good or not. My emotions are coming out and that's what's important.
Although, honestly, fine tuning a piece until it sounds amazing is what really feels good. Not just learning a song, but perfecting it. Finding what notes I can play with to make it my own, where I need to be loud, or just a little quieter. Which voice to use in my mid-range and where the appropriate place to switch voices comes during a run.
That, to me, is the true magic of singing.
I've been singing ever since I could remember. My mom placed me on a stage before I was mature enough to be there on my own. I remember making her and one of my closest friends stand by my side as I sand "Jesus loves me" to a sanctuary filled with people.
I've learned a lot of things on the way, and developed an ear for music. I can easily pick out melodies and harmonies that most people don't see. In fact, it's a challenge for me to sing the melody of a song I know well. I always want to harmonize.
This ear, though, comes at a price. Not all of the things I hear are pleasant. If somebody is off-key, whether largely or barely noticeable, I can hear it. To be honest, it hurts. The worst is when somebody doesn't quite make the high note, but it's close enough that most people don't notice.
Then again, most people haven't spent years training to hear those kinds of imperfections.
This makes it difficult for me to listen to many kinds of music. I can hear problems that a lot of people can't, and some think that I am "snooty" with my music, and can't appreciate a changing world and society. They discredit me because I hold music to different standards, whether they be "higher" or "traditional" is only opinion, and one that will be different for everybody.
I believe the difference is, however, that I hear things differently, though different ears.
In any case, it is not my opinions that matter. I don't care whether or not you agree with me, you don't have to. All I ask is that you respect my opinions, respect that I have them, and don't try to "correct" me of my "wrongful ways".
In the end, everything is only opinion. Each and every person will believe something different and that, that point right there, is what makes us who we are.
Juli, while I certainly respect your opinions, I think that it's possible that occasionally, you may judge music a great deal by the singer's technical skills when they may have a good amount of other strengths.
ReplyDeleteI mean, not all music is about the quality of the voice. That's not to say that you should "suck it up" and like music that you don't like.
I mean, obviously plenty of classical music has no vocals and people love it. It's not about the singing. Likewise, I don't listen to say, Brand New because I think Jessy Lacey has a great voice. I listen to them because the lyrics move me and I find the music interesting.
I am most certainly NOT saying you're wrong or anything like that! I understand what you mean and you're right, people do need to be more understanding of why certain people like/dislike certain things.
Just make sure you too can appreciate that different people have different ears from you, and perhaps enjoy other aspects of music that you don't really "get" in the same way.
But like I said, you're right. :D