The Music Snob

Urbandictionary.com defines a music snob as: “A person who believes s/he has a more refined taste in music and has much more knowledge in the field of music in general. Every song and genre is unacceptable unless the snob happens to like it, then it is absolute perfection. Music snobs feel obligated to enlighten everyone with unwelcome critiques and irrelevant musical trivia.”

Music snobs are the most irritating type of snob I know. At least wine snobs have some foundation for their arrogance, there are years of research, cultivation, pricey bottles and snobbery behind the science.
But music, com'on- It’s not a commodity, it’s not something to purchase or consume, it’s something you experience, you listen to music for the sheer pleasure of it.

My philosophical side says that music doesn’t have to be a song on the radio, it’s a rhythm that attracts you and can calm you down, pump you up, turn you on, or just make you smile. It could be rain on the roof or a train in the distance, as long as you enjoy it. So how can someone tell me that what makes gives me pleasure isn’t as good as what they are listening to?

A colleague of mine is a typical music snob. I once mentioned my daughter was going to a Jonas Brothers concert. “OH MY GAWD …” she exclaimed, “I would never allow the Jonas Brothers in my house. My daughter likes the classics, Led Zeppelin, the Who, of course the Rolling Stones.”

Seriously?  Isn’t that some form of child abuse? Not allowing your children to listen to something they like? Is my daughter any less of a person because she likes a boy band? People that want to shove their music interests down my throat and, worse yet, their own children’s throat – should be locked in a room full of hockey moms. I mean, watching the Jonas Bros on the Family Channel today is no different than watching the Monkees when I was a kid. (Yes, I had a crush on Michael Nesmith I was a rebel.)

Just because I don’t like a certain type of music, doesn’t mean I should expect other people to dislike it too. I’d rather chew tin foil than listen to a Celine Dion song, but if it makes my mother happy to sing along, fill your boots!  YMCA will never go down in history as one of the classics, but when played at a wedding you can’t deny that everyone’s having a good time, and comfortable making a fool of themselves.

What goes around comes around – the site Top Ten Artists Who An Aging Music Snob Can Start Admitting He/She Likes only scratches the surface. But music snobs are simply missing the point. Music motivates, inspires, and changes perspectives.

There's nothing more personal, different songs affect people in different ways. It’s a bookmark to moments in our lives. And unlike music snobs, who run their course – the love of music stays with us forever.

So whether you're a Bob Dylan fan or a One Direction groupie, it doesn't matter - remember this. Whenever I'm asked what my favourite music is, my answer is simple, "the ones that give me goosebumps."