Sinister:Another one of lifes great mysteries unravelled...

[Sunset .]

A tale from my dim and distant past... boxing day 2000...
I couldn't move. I stared hopefully at the TV remote control but it was 
being stubborn and refused to jump willingly into my hand. My sister was 
sprawled on the settee next to me. I feared we might never move again...To 
die of boredom whilst surrounded by new CDs and videos. Surely there must be 
a moral in that somewhere?

My sister suddenly suprised me, jumping to her feet heading towards a pile 
of CDs. After careful choice the sounds of Madonna's "Music" filled the 
room. Maybe if I hadn't been quite as much of a lead weight I would have 
protested slightly. Instead I said:
"I didn't know you like Madonna?"

It was true I didn't. In the whole 20 years of knowing her I had been 
clueless to this fact. An aspect of her personality I had been completely 
unaware of. And I am intrigued by people's choice in music. How can some 
people have such good taste while others, well, they like spice girls and 
stuff...

One night, amidst this very same debate a friend took the trouble of telling 
me what great taste in music he had.
"You can't deny it I have excellent taste in music, I really have..."
He was more than slightly drunk and suspect blushed somewhat the next day. 
In his defence, and in my opinion at least, I would have to say he is 
probably right... he does have good taste in music...

This opinion would be undoubtedly not shared be two girls whose conversation 
I happened to overhear minding my own business walking down the street.  "Oh 
they like stupid music, err.. like Belle and Sebastian..."
How could they be so wrong? But that's the thing, certain peoples idea of 
"excellent taste in music" is others idea of "stupid". Musical taste has the 
ability to surprise if nothing else...

Anyway back to my sister. She looks thoughtful frowning slightly. I wait for 
her to answer. In due course she does…
"Oh everybody likes Madonna"


How could I doubt her? She did say it so matter of factly... I questioned 
myself. Did I like Madonna? I didn't think I did particularly. But maybe 
this was the secret I had been missing out on all of these years. Whilst I 
was congratulating myself for liking good music the rest of the world was 
feeling smug because they knew the secret that holds society together.  I 
understand why I have always felt like an outsider. Someone forgot to tell 
me this earth shattering fact.  Maybe it was my parents who when teaching me 
to, look both ways when crossing the road and wash my hands before I eat, 
completely forgot to mention it… "Oh yes and as for music… well that's one 
secret that even we don't understand. Here it is anyway, remember it, it 
will stand you in good stead late on in life."  Or maybe it was just 
something I should have learnt at school. In the fortnight I had my tonsils 
taken out perhaps. My sister still has tonsils so that is a genuine 
possibility.

My sister continued to sprawl on the settee... now humming a little. She 
doesn't even realise what she has just said.  My confidence is shattered, 
concepts of musical taste shredded, I resign myself to becoming a complete 
member of the club... I too now know the secret...

"Everybody likes Madonna..."


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