Do me a favor, think about music. I’d imagine that you are not thinking about the technical definitions or looking over musical theory in your head, you are thinking about songs. Those iconic melodies that define entire eras prove how integral music is to the lives of so many. Often though, factors outside of the sound govern what we listen to, perception being chief among them. 

           Several genres exemplify this best, pop and punk, for example, are excellent examples of how the impression music gives off to determine how we perceive it. How many die-hard fans of the Ramones and the Misfits would even give someone like Carly Rae Jepson a second listen, or by the same token how many Swifties would consider listening to a Bad Brains album. 

           But really, these two genres are not as separate as some would believe. If one was to listen to the song “Blitzkrieg Bop” without the context of who the Ramones are, there is not as sharp of contrast with some pop music as one would believe. The starkness between the two genres comes from the artists behind them. Artists like Sid Vicious give their music a tone before you even start the listening experience. With a name like Vicious, you expect a harsh and aggressive tone that skews your perception from the start.

            In a more modern example, Kanye West comes to mind. West is, to say the least, iconic. Regardless of people’s beliefs about him, the man has made an impact on the state of music the size of which few can equal. This does not stem from his music alone however, it stems from the image surrounding him also. 

          West has cultivated an image of the unstable genius that draws people into his music with a voracity that brings every album to the forefront of the news cycle every time. His recent foray into the gospel scene Jesus Is King, he reached the top of the billboards with an album that was panned by critics universally. 

         Gospel is not in its musical prime at the moment, yet because of West’s influence, he was able to debut above every other major release. K-pop is another example of this, with entire fandoms dedicated to one band whose every move is scrutinized, so much so that the members of said groups go to schools dedicated to teaching proper behavior in the public eye. 

          These examples stray from the key point a tad, although they illustrate how much our perception plays into our listening habits. The artists give their music a reputation

          This is both a boon and scourge, although the negatives have begun to outweigh the positives. It is beneficial to cultivate a culture around music, both to encourage creativity and to give fans an outlet. Music can serve as a means of communication between people that would otherwise not have the chance to make needed connections. And a singular culture can also serve as a refinery, developing key ideas over the years.

          Yet, it can often develop toxic tendencies that are so painful to see. People wrapped up into a culture can act as gatekeepers with their attitudes, preventing others from experiencing other types of music. The most harmful attitude is that that shies away from other experiences in favor of one limited situation. People will shy away from music that they have never had an opportunity to enjoy because of preconceived notions.

          Music is, at the end of the day, communication. Cutting off communication, for any means, is not the right approach. We place arbitrary limits on what we allow ourselves to enjoy, taking away what could be precious moments. I for one, listen to mostly music from counter-cultures, rap, punk, etc.. But September by Earth, Wind, and Fire is a bop. We as a people should work to understand the world and separate perspectives, not seclude ourselves from it.