What do you have to put up with because of love? Hootie? Paula? Amos? Andy?

Tell us your stories of bravery.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2000

Answers

For some reason, all of my exes had similar music taste, but everyone else I know has the desire to convert me into someone who loves all of the music they do. I have had to put up with attempts to convert me into a fan of: Kid Rock (As a person, he's okay, because of the good Yzerman comment, but I still can't stand the music), Rush, Korn, Puff Daddy, weird techno stuff, Blues Traveler, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, and the worst thing of all, my brother's favorite cheezy 80's pseudo-glam-metal-christian band, Stryper.
Eeeeeeuuwwwwwwwwwwwww.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2000

glam-metal-christian? Oh dear, and I was just going to contribute "Kenny G". I never win these competitions.

Pamie, I can't BELIEVE Stee didn't know who Billy Bragg was. He was joking? right? Eric, back me on this?

anna

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Oh, you whining little pussies... >:> Paula Cole. Hootie. Third Eye Blind. Jewel. FEH! I have all of you beat!

Try having a beloved fiance who listens to insanely obscure, early-80's METAL.

Trouble. Trixter. ***KROKUS!*** Remember that * piss-awful * "Screaming in the Night" video on early 80's MTV??!!! The one with the chick in the leather leotard? M OWNS THE ALBUM. When we first started dating, he 'fessed up to liking early 80's metal, and I laughed, "Oh, *gawd,* like Krokus?" "You're kidding me, right?" I came home to find "Screaming in the Night" on my answering machine the next day...

Deep Purple. Uriah frickin' HEEP. Raven. Sabbath. Tull. Priest. You name it, the boy listens to it, and * prides * himself on playing the best of the worst, just for me, so he can fully enjoy my pained facial expressions as I absorb the sounds of hell.

And when he's in a softer mood, he makes me listen to UFO, Triumph, and &^%$#! Night Ranger's first album, gawd help me.

But I've got my revenge planned...just wait 'till after we're married, and we're living together, and I decide to have a DURAN FEST...heh heh heh... I'll get Kajagoogoo on CD... The Blow Monkeys... The Thompson Twins... SPANDAU BALLET!... Oh, revenge will be sweet...

Heh!

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Hey, why is my name up there? Do you have a bootleg copy of one of the 3 albums of my crappy high school band 'Days of Gathering' (yeah, it sounds stupid, but it was in honor of Hank Gathers, the greatest basketball player ever to die at half court. We even had the sides of the first album, Hank's House, as the 'Hank side' and the 'Bo side' in honor of Bo Kimble, Hank's best friend. So that's pretty cool, right?)? Besides, I only wrote the 3 or 4 songs I sang on. That other guy just got to sing because it was his idea to start the band and he had the money to rent the studio. And that first album, whoa. I wasn't even on that one.

Now that I've proven how much of a geek I used to be (that should have gone in another thread), let me just say that my girlfriend has probably the best taste in music of anyone that I've ever dated. The only complaint is that on a mixed tape that she made for me last Valentine's Day, there was one song that stood out as just bad- some kind of weird groovy Steve Vai sounding instrumental with an electic violin that sounded like a nauseated cat. Everything else she adores- Willie Nelson, David Bowie, Sleeter Kinney- I like. I've even grown to appreciate Mr. Bungle and Shonin Knife.

Especially when compared with the mixed tapes I have received from previous girlfriends- Garth Brooks, 4 Non-Blondes. I had to break up with a girl once because of her fanatical devotion to 311.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

My hubby is still listening to his old high school favorites like Judas Priest and Pink Floyd. If an AC/DC song somes on in the car, he cranks the volume up to top level. He's not stuck in the 80's though, he also likes groups such as The Armageddon Dildos, Aphex Twins, Lords of Acid, Curve, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode. I have to admit, I really like all of those too, at the right time. I let him play those groups, and he'll tolerate the one week per month that I insist on playing Enya, Sting, The Outfield and Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Love means never having to say your sorry you made your honey listen to your favorite song.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Two words:

Celine

Dion

(run screaming into the night.....)

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

I was going to say, "Rush Limbaugh and WorldNetDaily, plus all of the commentary that comes out of the righteous indignation caused by listening to/reading that particular brand of media", but Ron Collings frightening tale of Celine Dion obviously has me beat.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

OMD. Keith Gunn. Newage drum music, sounding like a bunch of guys off in the woods sitting in a circle with warpaint on pounding on drums and crying about their dads.

I get back at her, however. I listen to Christmas music. All. Year. Long!

Go, Bobs!

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Oh, man, Jeremy and I can't even talk about music. We sort of dance around the same genres, but while we occasionally like the same artists, we almost never like the same songs.

We were both shocked and dismayed when we each asked for the Beastie Boys anthology for Christmas. That whole set is now "our song," just because it doesn't send either one of us screaming from the room.

Actually, we like some of the same local bands. We met for the first and second times at shows. We both hate a lot of the same bands. But the boy made me listen to Rob Zombie all the way home from vacation, and that's the sort of thing you just don't forgive.

Then again, I don't think he's too hot on Cole Porter or Patsy Cline, so I guess we're even. Or at least, we're equally annoyed most of the time.

And who was it who mentioned Garbage? Whoever that soul was, hook 'em up with my boyfriend. Eesh.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

I have nicknamed my boyfriend "The Poster Boy for Easy Listening" ... nothing but stations with names like LITE-FM, and programs like "Love Songs at Night".....ARGH....Among his favorites: Billy Joel, (granted we live in NY, but c'mon... I don't need to hear the same damn song 50 times a damn day) Phil Collins, and Kenny Loggins. He OWNS Return to Pooh Corner.. The things I do for love. I don't ask for much, maybe a little R.E.M., U2, something with a little bass... that's all.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

anna,

I can't believe that Stee didn't know who Billy Bragg was either. Seems as though Socialism isn't big in his neck of the woods. Perhaps they only listened to bands that featured a Jug.

Pamie,

What hurts the most is not the deception, but that fact that you mock me, yet the only reason that I like 3rd Eye Blind is because it reminds me of you and the time that we went on vacation in SF (hootie, well, I have no excuse for that). I hope you have fun listening to Christina Agulera and The Spice Girls (you failed to mention those two gems in your collection - and the fact that you have 2 copies of "Genie in a Bottle") on the porch, cause that is where your shit is going to be when you get home from work.

hugs and kisses,

e

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

After looking over the other selections that you guys have to put up with I realize that I really didn't have it all that bad.

And it's cold here on the porch.

Taylor doesn't have opposable thumbs, so he can't figure out the door. And I do believe that Cal is eating my Spice Girls CD.

Me and my big mouth.

Sweetie? Hello? We'll always have the Foo Fighters!

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Okay, you can come back in. But no sitting.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Backstreet Boys and Ricky Martin.

Beat that, bee-yaches.

O.

P.S. I'd never heard of Billy Bragg either... (dodging...)

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Well, it's not because of love, but then again it is. I love myself too much to kill her. My roommate has a video of Celine Dion singing with N'Sync. She watches it all the time and sings. My ears bleed. It's a messy thing.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

I've actually seen Billy Bragg in concert, opening for The Smiths.

Proof there is such a musician, unless of course you don't think I exist.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

I also forgot to mention that in between Billy Joel (Uptown Girl, Shameless, Honesty, I Love You Just the Way you Are, ad nauseum) Kenny Loggins, and Phil Collins, is SPORTS radio on AM. Now, see, it's nice that he'll miss "The Game" to spend time with me, but it doesn't count if he makes me LISTEN to it while we're going to my favorite restaurant. I know he likes to think it does, but it really doesn't. In fact, and I've mentioned this to him, it's much better if we go to the bar and WATCH the game, so then I can at least see what's going on. (and it's much easier for me to pretend I'm interested if I know when to yell "Yay" and all that)

I'd KILL for some Third Eye Blind and Garbage.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

eric,

Don't fuck with Jug bands.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Instructions for jug band:

step 1: lift jug to mouth

step 2: blow into jug

Step 3: repeat

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

i tolerated sisters of mercy, scraping foetus off the wheel, and christian death for several years. actually, i like sisters of mercy, though. the others gross me out. gotta admit, i'm glad to be rid of that man!

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Oooh, yeah, baby - da Jug Band

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

I'm not really contributing, I just wanted to say that I also bought Deadicated for the Jane's Addiction cover. Sadly.

My boyfriend is a jazz musician, and while I can't say I get or appreciate most of what he listens to, I can't really complain about it. Especially given what he puts up with from my collection.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Close eric.

Instructions for jug band:

step 1: lift jug to mouth

step 2: blow into jug

Step 3: fuck the family dog

Step 4: repeat

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

my poor jimmy was abused as a teenager and now loves those whiny metal songs... you know, the stuff they sell on infomercials as 'monster ballads'.... extreme, white snake, bon jovi, poison, mr. big, bad english, and winger. he sings along when it's on the radio and rolls his eyes at me when i tell him, that in fact, i have never listened warrant.

of course, i dont complain too often publicly, cuz that's when he reminds me that i know every word to 'crazy' by britney spears. (it's catchy!)

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

My sweet baby likes Jad Fair (I think I'm spelling this right). The few times he's tried to get me to listen, it sounded like radio static in the background, interspersed with screaming. He also likes a lot of random Seattle bands from the 80s (not the big, well-known ones, the crappy-ass unknown ones). This is probably because he's from Seattle, and he went to college in the 80s.

Of course, he also introduced me to the joys of Robyn Hitchcock, so I can't fault him too much. After all, he puts up with my Crash Test Dummies and Ben Folds Five.

Jan

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Dear Pamie: are you on crack? How could you put Richard Thompson on the same list with Oasis and [gag] Hootie? Richard Thompson rocks the world. He does not "tinkle deedle deedle." Good Lord, woman, have you even heard "Black Vincent '52" or "Walking on a Wire"?

This, coming from a woman who admits she bought a Sugar Ray album! Hmmph.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

I still think the stuff I put up with for the sake of my brother has you all beat.
"Yeah! (screech) Hey! (yowl) Yeah! (sound of a guitar mercilessly being throttled to death) To Hell with the Devil!"
Oh, the humanity...

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

I only know that Eric has several albums of artists I've never heard of. The latest being Richard Thompson. The question mark by his name was due to the fact that I had no idea who he was, but his album "Mock Tudor" (stummy political alert) had only part of the picture on the cover. Eric got the poster and I thought part of it had been cut off.

I only know him through his poster art. Sorry to offend. Jeez, you guys are like a bunch of Erics.

And GARBAGE RULZ!

(Do you guys ever watch the MTV request shows where they over stimulate you with the internet requests during the videos? The requests always crack me up: "i think FREAK ON A LEASH is the best video EVER and should be on your list of ALL TIME greats because KORN RULE."

Korn is apparently plural. and they need no further justification.)

(did you hear that? I just turned into my father.)

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

I thought Richard Thompson was John-Boy on the Walton's. His career would've been much more successful had he removed that growth.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

I thought Korn was a vegetable. These kids got no appreciation for vegetables these days...

aging rapidly,
O.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

I commute to school with my ex-boyfriend.

As punishment for still being his friend, he turns on any Wu-Tang Clan song he can find, blare it at full volume, with the bass up so high that the car shakes. And he does this in my vehicle as well. I used to like one of their songs and thought they were funny, but now I just want them to all shutup.

He also makes me listen to 80s heavy metal. But if I ever want to listen to Tiffany or Debbie or the Bangles, it's all over.

Although he did introduce me to REM pre-Automatic for the People, so he isn't all that bad.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

Ugh. Korn.
Pamie, (or Beth maybe; I know you've dealt with this recently) Doesn't that guy make the EXACT same noise that a dog does when it decides that tug-of-war on a leash is a FUNFUNFUN game to play?
GrrAArrgghhhghRRRRarrraRRAAggrrrggr
Sad what passes as music these days.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2000

That's it.

I'm turning my journal into a Billy Bragg information-and-fan-site, and I'm going to force you guys to read it.

I mean it. It's for your own good. Honestly.

Cheers Anna (humming "Socialism of the Heart" but not, unfortunately, wearing the T-shirt)

http://www.lucidity.au.com/home.html

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2000

Actually, I used to play Billy Bragg when I DJ'ed in college ('86-'90, for those keeping count...) "Waiting for the Great Leap Forward" -- that was a B. Bragg song, no?

Hey, what about John Wesley Harding?

As for "Monster Ballads," I actually WANT to buy that album!!! I want to buy that album in the same way I bought, and regularly listen to, my "70's Party Killers" album -- because the music is so friggin' awful, it's goood. Here's the track listing:

Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree -- Dawn The Night Chicago Died -- Paper Lace Billy, Dont Be A Hero -- Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods (Youre) Having My Baby -- Paul Anka with Odia Coates Playground In My Mind -- Clint Holmes Feelings -- Morris Albert Sometimes When We Touch -- Dan Hill The Candy Man -- Sammy Davis, Jr. Afternoon Delight -- Starland Vocal Band Torn Between Two Lovers -- Mary MacGregor Escape (The Pina Colada Song) -- Rupert Holmes Muskrat Love -- Captain & Tennille

Gotta love it, man. :>

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2000

What? No "Seasons In The Sun"!?!? What kind of album is that?!

The scariest thing is that I remember all of those songs and could probably start singing them if forced to at gunpoint.

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2000

One of my exes had every single recording ever produced by Motley Crue, yet he had the audacity to mock me for liking Jamiroquai.

Schyeah!

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2000

Michael actually * took * me to see Motley Crue.

Cheap Trick was opening (sad state of affairs, when Cheap Trick opens for Motley Crue) and since he was a big Trick fan, he doled out the cash to see both bands. *I*, meantime, had paid for us to see They Might Be Giants the day before.

They Might Be Giants -- $15 each for tix, small club, awesome show! Motley Crue/Cheap Trick -- $45 each for tix, Trick's set was too short and Motley Crue SUCKED.

Yeah, I'd say I got the better part of the deal... :> But I *did* give him Black Sabbath Reunion tix last Christmas, so I suppose I'm being trained, like Pavlov's dog... :>

-- roe

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2000

John Prine: I'm on the phone the other night with this guy who I'm sort of 'seeing' and I mention my father loves John Prine and that it's a little annoying.

He immediately says, "I love John Prine!!!" I almost fell off of my bed with laughter. [Another scary thought: my dad and him are both electricians.]

Don't get me wrong, I actually like John Prine, but only in moderation. Mr. Prine is an awesome songwriter and him singing is not so bad. [Angel From Montgomery and I Just Wanna Dance With You are some really good songs.]

Now instead of just putting up with it for dad's sake, it's for his sake too.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2000

My exes have all had excellent taste in music, there have just been some things I didn't care for that I preferred not to hear. I.e., I understand Jimi Hendrix, but am beyond tired of him now.

I have to second the Rush Limbaugh experience, too. I tolerated it in the name of "know thy enemy"...and no one can be wrong 100% of the time. It's easier to get yoru brain cranked up and thinking if you are usually opposed to the moderator of a program. When you agree with them on something, it's interesting how many flailings your brain will go through to keep your worldview from rocking too much. ;)

I've been told I have excellent taste, but I have kept everything and I have belonged to both BMG and Columbia record clubs (even back when they sent albums) and sometimes I forgot to send in my "please for the love of god, don't send me your crappy selection of the month" card. I forget some of the things I have. Also, people give me their cast-off vinyl when they upgrade to CD or move. I have, in my collectio,n artists that I know are good at what they do, but I still despise them (Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan). I have all my old Duran, Adam Ant, etc. stuff...which I still like (because they bring back good memories), actually.

My last ex had extremely snobby and refined tastes but his guilty pleasures included Chad & Jeremy and candy-coated sixties twee pop with titles like "I like kites". (It made him 'cuddlier' and more human, to be honest.)

I have a friend who periodically gets into music that I HATE and LOATHE and it's been educational for me because in the past, I'm so musical-snotty myself at times, I'd have a hard time being aroudn someone who really dug on Celine Dion or Kid Rock. She's been into _Purple Rain_ (yeccch), Peter Frampton & Sgt. Pepper, top 40 (Cristina, Ricky, Brittany, Kid, Korn, 311, etc.), Heart, etc. and gushing about them for months now and I'm miserable. (She'll mention a song I loathe and then I'm stuck with an earworm from Hell ALL DAY.)

I go home to soothe myself with Drake, VU+Nico, Ronno, Bolan, Ig and Mott, which are equally earworm-esque, but I find them more enjoyable. If I have to regress, screw the Bee Gees. ;)

The trick to getting along with vastly differing musical tastes is to make mix tapes together BEFORE long car trips...

-- Anonymous, March 07, 2000

I put up with Tori Amos, Jewel, and Type-O negative. I prefer Mozart, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dar Williams.

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2000