A Late Week Musicfest (Inspired by a Facebook Exchange with Frank)

Midafternoon, Thursday, September 12, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire

Last night on Facebook, Frank, a friend from the now-closed Amazon Discussion Board (DB) mentioned in response to my comment on his GIF post that while he respects Taylor Swift’s talents and public support for Vice President Kamala Harris, he does not enjoy her music.

This is what Frank said:

“I definitely think she’s talented. There are many musicians I think are very talented but their sound just isn’t my thing. Not that I have one sound, but it just doesn’t do it for me. Another person like this, for me, is Prince. I think he was incredibly talented, but I was never into his music. It’s definitely possible to think they’re gifted musicians but just not your thing.”

I pondered over my friend’s point about the difference between recognizing a musician’s talent and actually liking their music. What he mentioned about Taylor Swift and Prince not being his cup of tea hit home for me because, well, I don’t connect with their songs on an emotional or intellectual level either. And that’s true for a ton of musicians and even entire genres. You might love KISS or think the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” is the ultimate dance track…and that’s cool…for you.

For me? Not really.

Anyway, here’s my reply to my friend’s comment on Facebook.

“Frank, I’m not in imminent danger of joining the Swifties…musically. Politically, on the other hand… 🙂 She’s also easy on the eyes. My genres (or sounds) tend to be older pop/rock stuff (The Beatles, Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand, Bill Haley and the Comets, etc.), jazz/swing, Broadway songs, classical music, and film scores. Some folk/C&W tossed in variety’s sake.”

(I totally forgot to bring up international tracks, like “La vie en rose” by Edith Piaf, but hey, it was just a Facebook comment, not an essay on my musical taste.)

I don’t want to write an essay on my musical taste, either, so how about some relevant YouTube videos instead, okay?