Craig Brougher wrote:

> Maybe I just didn't write it very well.  Anyone who knows me also
> knows that I love to introduce people to the thing I love--player
> pianos.  I've been doing that all my life.  I do not dislike anybody
> who also likes rock and roll, because I like rock and roll!  But
> apparently some of us do not understand how absolutely wretched much
> of this trash really is, hence the people who also sing it.

I think Craig feels very strongly about certain things and may not be
using very precise language about it, but I thought I might point out a
very obvious things that might bear on this debate.

I don't think anyone seriously objects to certain types of music becoming
"popular" with the public.  I know I certainly don't.  But there are
certain types of music that _are_ popular that many of us feel really
shouldn't be.  Despite the simple-seeming reversal of the concept, these
are two separate and really _unrelated_ thoughts.

As to _why_ some of us feel that certain types of popular music are
trash, I think it's a very emotional issue -- and that should surprise no
one, for music exists for no other purpose than to evoke emotion.  But
whereas most of us here (I'm assuming) have a very positive and upbeat
feeling for music -- we respond with lightened hearts to The Song of Joy,
with smiles and toetaps to the Maple Leaf Rag and so on -- much popular
music speaks instead to nihilistic, even mean-spirited emotions.  I, for
one, would not care to hear a music box -- which is for me the very
epitome of happy and cheerful -- playing Ice T's "Cop Killer".  I think
that is the feeling Craig is talking about.

What behooves us is to recall that every human being is a bundle of
varying emotions -- we, each of us, run the gamut of all emotions -- and
while I would never listen to "Cop Killer" no matter what emotion I was
feeling, I can't help but hope that someone who would would also listen
to the Song of Joy in another mood.  And at that time, with that music,
we can reach a common understanding.

That is why this music is so important to us.  It's our way to reach
people we'd like to be with.  For those who don't listen to music the
same way, we can't help but feel rejection of ourselves and our values.
And, of course, that is _precisely_ the emotion music like "Cop Killer"
is meant to invoke.  In essence it _denies_ the concept of a common
understanding.

And the sad bottom line: there are some people who simply don't care to
communicate or share the things _we_ consider to be positive.  And we
fear that those people will take the trappings of our happiness and
contaminate them somehow -- like a music box sparkling along to "Cop
Killer".

But that _is_ an illusion.  We need only turn that box off and turn once
again to the Maple Leaf Rag and the Song of Joy and find again that which
is important to _us_.  To those people who want to share that, we can.
To that that do not, we don't.  To each his own.

regards,¶
Larry Smith