The following quote showed up in my facebook news feed a couple of weeks ago:
“Getting over you is like trying to move mountains. I just can’t do it.”
Possibly influenced by Usher’s new song, I cannot deny the cheesiness of the quote. But there’s a reason why I am writing about it in a blog post almost two weeks later. It is probably related to why Usher is so much richer than me. Huge numbers of people relate to “cheesy” expressions of emotions. Combine that with the catchy and sometimes outright dope beats and dance sequences attached to the words and it isn’t too hard to understand why it sells (I am defining "cheesy" as lines that would cause a roll of eyes at best if used in face to face conversations).
What I am trying to get at in this post is 1) why is it that hallmark-ish expressions of emotion have such a wide audience (Chris Browns With You was in the top ten for god knows how long, and no its not just teeny boppers listening to that stuff) and 2) Why do so many people above the age of 14 vehemently deny and even hide their enjoyment of this music (I KNOW I am not the only grown ass person with a guilty pleasures playlist on my ipod). Any answers? Confessions?
Obviously, this entire post is driven by the non-selfless goal of not only justifying the existence of said playlist, but trying to understand the fact that reading that quote made me want to pick up the phone, call my long time on-again-off-again ex/best friend and declare that* “trying to get over you is like moving mountain. I just can’t do it. And I wouldn’t go as far as saying when im with you, I don’t need money, I don’t need car’s cause we both know that’s a dam lie. But I need air air air. So … what you wanna do do do? Now its me and you, you, you. Make a move?”
* Don’t worry I din’t do it. I din’t rreeaally wanna do it anyway. See question 2).
3 comments:
For the record, I really like that "moving mountains" lyric. It's really sweet, and often very true.
1)
Because everyone can take a general human sentiment--like love or friendship--and add on their own meanings. I think it's an issue of ease of personal investment--the artist provides the (usually) artful/poetic lyrics, and catchy beat, and you provide the inside jokes, personal memories, and deep significance.
2)
Because one maintains their cool quotient by having aforementioned music be on the "guilty pleasures" playlist, while the intellectual/radical music is comprised of people you are allowed to be "really into right now."
For example: Heard seriously rocking out to M.I.A= +10 points. Heard seriously rocking out to L.O.V.E by Ashlee Simpson= -20 points
You do the math.
"cool quotient" ... nicely put!
We obv agree on the "moving mountain" sentiment. screw the math, I already feel less un-cool :D
maybe cuz we FEEL in the cheese and are simultaneously ashamed of it. Though logic and mastered cynicism may tell us the lyrics are wack, it appeals to that part of us that feels "no, really, though. My love for her IS that deep."
And of course, we must remain ashamed of that feeling and that draw to the music cuz we gotta maintain the authority to ridicule in public.
ok, maybe that's just me.
But you know who bridged that shit? Alicia Keys. When "No One" came out, pop radio couldn't get enough of it, and my guilty pleasure grew before I knew the artist. But once I knew it was Alicia Keys, the song suddenly became legit! My brother and I could proudly profess "you know, we like that song!"
...so yeah, in conclusion, maybe r.'s right. it's got somethin to do with the legitimacy of the artist. If Jill Scott sang a Pussycat Doll's song, I'm sure it would suddenly take on a whole new meaning.
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