I'm always surprised that wherever you seem to go, the 'norm' for music is light, pleasant, and vaguely catchy. Someone mentions a light pop or r&b singer and others chime in that they're a fan too. Doctors' and dentists' offices are unfalteringly tuned to the lite fm station in the area. I'm amazed that people never complain. The only thing I like less than going to the dentist is having to sit through Celine Dion and Natasha Beddingfield.
I guess alternative music is named as such because it's an alternative to what people consider 'normal' or at least 'typical.' At work, you'll tend to have coworkers listening to lite fm, pop or r&b. Any office I walk into at work will not disappoint me in playing music I don't like listening to. And it's weird that a conversation can strike up between coworkers about one of those three genres. I tend to stay out of the conversations rather than uttering my disdain for their preferences.
I truly believe that no matter where I go, my music will not be the norm. My coworker and boss had a discussion today about a new singer named James Morrison. That spurned a conversation about Daniel and Natasha Beddingfield which led to a brief mention of David Gray and what could have, in a horrible turn of events, resulted in discussion of Coldplay where I would have to depart my office by window, head first. I sit quietly listening to the more agreeable sounds of Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, the Sex Pistols and Minor Threat (among others). It's not loud; it's not even audible over the pop nearby. Nobody even notices I'm listening to what would be seen as "disagreeable" music. I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to have anyone stop by my office and say "I love Macho Insecurity! Remember when that album came out...." If anything, I'd expect someone to come in and say "WHAT are you listening to??" Whereas pop and r&b will evoke the exact opposite reaction.
Anyway, this is just a very lame rant about musical standards. What is it about clichéd songs about rain falling that makes them so well loved by office workers? Even more strange are the people who put up with it who don't like it. Are no dental hygenists hardcore metal freaks? None? Really?
In any matter, Alex again sums things up best.
trust your jello: what kind of guy likes the fray?
YouKldKnny: the lead singer of the fray?
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The lite and pop stations are patently unoffensive. It's not that many people really like it, but most of them aren't going to complain about it. It's better than silence (trust me... I've been in a dead quiet waiting room at a dentist's office before), and no one's going to question the moral standing of the office holder. Could they do better... sure, but it would involve some thought on their part, and why bother? Sticking with the dentist example, I'd rather have a dentist more focused on handling the drill than by what's playing in the background. Alternately, when I'm enjoying aggressive music, and tend to thrash and flail... I think a steady hand would be better (again, keeping with the dentist example).
I don't get R&B though. I get old R&B, but this new stuff just makes my skin crawl.
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