Sinister: Indie Schmindie

[David White]

You know all this Indie stuff that has been mentioned recently really bugs
me. Why do people feel the need to pigeon hole themselves into categories
according to the music they like? It's mad really, you don't see old ladies
hanging around in groups because of the television programmes they watch,
you know the Eastenders posse at one side of the post office dissing the
Coronation Street massive on the other side on pension day, or certainly not
where I live anyway.

Kevin Hyde wrote:
"there are people around where I go to school who call themselves indie, but
they're really just punk kids who pretend. I think Belle and Sebastian fans
(the ones who REALLY like them- you know who you are) are a sub-species of
indie kids"

No offence mate, but I think that's a lot of shite. Firstly, who defines
that someone is "punk" and someone else is "indie" and why can you not be
both if you want? Some things in life are inevitable as a result of
genetics, taste in music is not, to the best of my knowledge, one of these.
Secondly, who decides what criteria are required to be a member of either
tribe? Is there a book out there instructing kids what clothes they must
wear according to the music they listen to? Thirdly, why do you care what
music other people listen to anyway? Listen to what you like, nobody can
stop you, but leave other people to listen to what they want and have the
opinions they want, it's none of your business.

As for B&S fans, what difference does it make whether you are a fan who
likes them a little bit or a fan who likes them a lot, surely you're still a
fan? This kind of music snobbery is disgusting. Surely if you find somebody
who likes the same kind of music you should be happy, not immediately want
to belittle them for not being a real fan or because they like other bands
as well that you might not. I am a fan of B&S, I wouldn't say I was their
greatest fan but I like them, just like I like a lot of other bands and
other kinds of music, probably bands which rule me out of your so-called
"sub-species".

There's a lot of good music out there, music which doesn't always fit with
what you might percieve as your taste but which nonetheless you might like
if you took the time to listen rather than let your narrowminded prejudices
prevent you from listening.

David White
www.belleandsebastian.freeserve.co.uk


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