Answering "What Music Do You Listen To?"

Hello! So my taste in music is... bad. I can't even lie. I also think it's strange that I can't easily describe my music taste. I freeze when people ask, "So what kind of music do you like to listen to?" Part of it is I feel a bit embarrassed to describe what I listen to. So you all are getting a deep dive into my mind today. I know my music taste is odd, so part of the reason for this post is to make you feel better about your music taste and to try and define what mine is.

The first answer that comes to mind when I'm asked the question is, "Uh... pop." Which isn't wrong. That is primarily what I listen to. It has gotten to a point where K-pop is more accurate, which is not my favorite thing to admit. When I started listening to it five years ago, I thought it would be a phase I would grow out of. But... it's been five years. I definitely am not as passionate about it as I used to be. I would await all comebacks with bated breath and buy physical albums. Now I just see a music video come out and go, "Hey, that's cool." I also want to see more of my favorite groups in concert now that I am an adult and have money.

I also listen to some mainstream pop. I currently have a Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Charli XCX obsession. I listen to Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, and Dua Lipa on occasion. I want to get into Olivia Rodrigo, Laufey, and less popular artists. I also like more trap and R&B-oriented artists like Meghan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, and SZA. You might have noticed someone is missing. It's true: I am not a Swiftie. I feel like people either love or hate Taylor Swift, but I'm honestly neutral. I don't hate her music, and I think her accomplishments are incredible, but I also don't feel a strong desire to listen to her stuff, either. If you look closely, there are more people missing...

Men. I don't listen to male artists. I don't know why. Maybe it's part of my duty as a man-hating feminist. I don't even listen to BTS, the most popular K-pop group. All my K-pop posts on my blog have been about girl groups. I listen to the pop girlies but not the guys. I feel like the only music by male artists I listen to is if it's trending or silly. I don't know how to explain it. I like "Not Like Us" because Drake creeps me out, but I also like "God's Plan" ironically. I understand that it doesn't make sense. I just love purposefully bad music. I will willingly ingest garbage. I sometimes listen to K-pop groups like Stray Kids and Ateez, not because I think their music is good, but because it's noisy and silly. This isn't hate for male artists or men in general or anything. I'm just weird, I think.

I am trying to fix my ways, though, by listening to more men in an unironic fashion. For example, I had heard good things about Tyler, The Creator, and listened to some of Chromakopia, and it is so good. I think it's the prettiest rap project I've ever heard (mostly because I haven't listened to many), but I'm definitely going to check out more of Tyler's discography. I've heard good things about Frank Ocean, too. And lots of other people. Maybe I don't hate men.

I haven't even talked about my favorite music: girl groups. Literally any girl group. From the U.S.? Great Britain? South Korea? The Philippines? Older? Newer? Doesn't matter. I will listen to them. I think my music taste is, overall, just fun music. Just noise I only have to think about sometimes. Also, I love women. I think these qualities all culminate in my love of girl groups. My favorite music artist of all time is a British girl group, Little Mix, and my second is a Korean girl group, Twice. I used to listen to Little Mix and Fifth Harmony when I was younger, and now, it has extended into my current years, when I've just added groups from non-English speaking countries to the mix. I just love fun little songs about girl power and being yourself. Yes, I'm a simple man. And cringe. But they make me so happy. These days, I feel like I'm leaning a bit into hyper pop, and as I mentioned in my last post, am a sucker for anything in the minor key. So like, give me an electronic song by a girl group that sounds kind of creepy, and you've made my favorite thing ever. Well, there's my answer.

Sorry for rambling. I can't help it. I must yap about my hyperspecific interests that nobody cares about. I feel like my writing lately has been more for myself than particularly trying to gain an audience, even though this is a public space (the Internet). I would write about something more mainstream and relevant (and less personal) if my goal was to reach more people. So if you are reading this, thank you. Okay, l'll stop now. Stay tuned for the rest of the semester because I got a good lineup on the way. I've been Grace, and I'll see you next week!