Music Shaming

Everyone loves listening to their favorite songs. Everyone has, at some point in their lives, listened to a song or an album that made them feel something; listening to that particular song and forming a connection far deeper than just words alone. Music is powerful and we have songs that remind us of certain times in our lives—childhood, relationships, friendships, breakups and more. Most people favor a specific genre of music, many are passionate about a certain artist, and some love so many different types of music that it’s impossible to pick a particular favorite genre. Music is a huge part of our lives, and it says a lot about who we are.

When anyone asks me “What kind of music do you like to hear?” it frightens me a bit. You can tell a lot about a person from their playlist. That question has become something of a game; a trap to see who can mention the most obscure or unique artist.

While I would say that my music taste is relatively eclectic, I wish that I didn’t have to feel ashamed admitting that I enjoy the jam session to my One Direction playlist. Music is supposed to bring joy — whether that joy comes from Adele’s single or one of the Justin Bieber’s single shouldn’t be of any concern to anyone besides the person doing the listening. But whatever your opinions or choices are you’ll never be able to come out of the musical prejudice.

This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as “music shaming,” comes from an inherent need humans have to feel superior; be it our taste in movies, food or music, there is something satisfying about being able to say “mine is better than yours.”

Music shaming is basically the act of criticizing someone for having musical preferences that differ from your own. It’s a problem most of us don’t even think about, but it happens all the time. The most common target of music shaming is pop music; in our culture, it’s considered “uncool” to like what’s mainstream. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received an eye roll or a short for expressing my love for a new One Direction album or listening to old classical music. Pop music isn’t the only target, either. I’ve seen all genres—whether it’s alternative, country, EDM, Indian classical or hip-hop—become objects of equally harsh criticism.

Why do you tear others down for expressing interest in something they enjoy? Maybe it’s because the music you like is very important to you, so it’s hard for you to understand why someone would choose to listen to anything else. Maybe it’s a matter of self-validation, and criticizing someone else’s musical taste makes you feel better about your own. It is completely unfair to shame someone for celebrating something they enjoy. If there’s a certain type of music that makes you happy, you should be able to listen to it and love it openly, without feeling guilty. We’re all different people. People like different things. Why is that seen as a bad thing? Just because someone likes something that you don’t, that doesn’t make it “wrong” or “bad.” You wouldn’t criticize someone for eating chicken simply because you are vegetarian.

Don’t quickly jump to the skip button as soon as those “guilty pleasures” come on shuffle. Sing out those One Direction tunes. Rap along with Drake or Lil Wayne. Whatever you listen to, be proud of it. Embrace the music you love. Music should be celebrated, not shamed—after all, the purpose of music is entertainment and enjoyment.