By Brendan Harte Gilsenan
Sophomore year of high school a strange thing occurred. The social system of the student body shifted, and people who never would have been caught dead making eye contact in middle school were now finding common ground. I firmly believe this shift can be credited to classic rock.
What prompted the change was the introduction of 60’s and 70’s music to a portion of the “popular” girls in my grade. This, although never said aloud, yet visually obvious, made these girls feel cool. They would soon be seen sporting their Janis Joplin t-shirts through the hallway, and their Jimi Hendrix button covered school bags. However, it wasn’t really the music that these girls liked. It was the concept of the music that captured their attention. Sure, they thoroughly convinced themselves that they were diehard classic rock fans, but what they really enjoyed was neither the music, nor the musicians. To them, Jim Morrison wasn’t their savior. But thinking he was their savior is what made them feel cool. They liked being perceived as music intellectuals. Even if they won’t admit it, or even realize it, they weren’t into music. They were into the idea of being into music.
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Sophomore year of high school a strange thing occurred. The social system of the student body shifted, and people who never would have been caught dead making eye contact in middle school were now finding common ground. I firmly believe this shift can be credited to classic rock.
What prompted the change was the introduction of 60’s and 70’s music to a portion of the “popular” girls in my grade. This, although never said aloud, yet visually obvious, made these girls feel cool. They would soon be seen sporting their Janis Joplin t-shirts through the hallway, and their Jimi Hendrix button covered school bags. However, it wasn’t really the music that these girls liked. It was the concept of the music that captured their attention. Sure, they thoroughly convinced themselves that they were diehard classic rock fans, but what they really enjoyed was neither the music, nor the musicians. To them, Jim Morrison wasn’t their savior. But thinking he was their savior is what made them feel cool. They liked being perceived as music intellectuals. Even if they won’t admit it, or even realize it, they weren’t into music. They were into the idea of being into music.
Continue Reading...
