From the hard rock you might hear in your father’s car to the classical violin concertos a teacher plays during study hall, today’s world allows access to a vast range of music genres tailored to suit almost any occasion. We live in an age in which streaming services offer tuneful discovery at the click of a button, even if the artists are fairly early in their careers or otherwise not readily available. Any desire can be met, ensuring every taste, from flashy pop to underground indie, is met to a T.
That being said, when you put a large group of small-town teenagers with access to streaming services into one high school, it begs the question: how diverse does it really get? And out of all the genres available at our fingertips, why are students drawn toward specific ones?
Focusing on the straightforward aspects of music taste, the most common citation for why people like certain genres is the sound. While conducting a survey to discover student preferences, about 50% of the students that responded indicated that they loved the way a specific sound made them feel. Lena Clayton, a sophomore music enthusiast, states that although she likes all music, she listens to soft indie the most. “Soft indie or downtown girl music is so calming to me,” she explains “it really tickles my brain.”
Beyond that, music also serves as an inspiration for creative minds. A senior member of the student body, Kate Rannenberg, states “Folk music is known for telling elaborate stories, and twining that with the sound of classic rock makes a genre that modernizes what a ‘folk song’ is. There are legends (old and new) alongside electric guitar solos, making the songs nostalgic and up-to-date at the same time. As a creative writer, it fascinates and inspires me.”
Music can mean any number of things to a person beyond just enjoying the instrumentation and feel, and that becomes apparent when you start asking for specifics. Punk and goth can be categorized as major political music scenes, with the artists being of a specific ideology. Bands like Green Day, Rage Against the Machine, and Megadeath are very vocal about their political stances, especially when playing concerts; however, there are plenty of lesser known artists that also inject their opinions into their songs. Noa Bennett, a WCHS sophomore, provides an excellent example: “Take the Oozes, a British punk band I have recently discovered. Their most popular song, ‘Blah Blah Blah,’ conveys emotions of betrayal, anger, and disgust as they critique the government they are oppressed by (the political party being described as a ‘deep blue sea’ they’re drowned by).”
Along with political scenes comes a strong feeling of unity among fans. Valix Hardin, sophomore, articulates this well: “I love the sense of community that comes with it all.” She explains. “Everyone who likes metal all love one another. Small shows are full of people who all care about the same things. They care about the same political movements and pride themselves on kindness.”
In divulging the preferences of Woodford students, it becomes abundantly clear that music taste is reflective of character: values, preferences, and inspiration are all found in the songs we adore so much. From creativity-inducing rhythms to political solidarity, music is a way to connect with yourself and others, and genre is an extension of this exploration. In this age of digital streaming, carpool dads and exhausted teachers alike have something special in music.
