Rock on, Macduff, rock on

Here I am, finishing homework, and I need some background noise to entertain me. However, instead of listening to my favorite classic rock like Queen or the Beatles or even something more...rockish...like some sweet Breaking Benjamin or Artic Monkeys (excuse my wierd tastes), today I choose to listen to some Beethoven.

You know, this modern culture of teenagers does not appreciate classical music as they should. I mean, just listen to Fur Elise or some Vivaldi and wow, you cannot help but marvel at the musical genius that existed in those bygone times. I mean, they had real talent. I struggle just to learn to read music. Beethoven and Vivaldi and Bach, now they were geniuses.

And while I enjoy being cool and rocking out to some wicked little electric guitar solos and turn up the bass when "We Will Rock You" comes on the radio, there are times, such as now, when soul and body are tired and need respite from the chaos and turbulent mess of the world. It's times like these when I reject my usual diet of rock and roll and reach for a good old-fashioned can of classical. It's so soothing and calming, especially the piano as it rises and falls in a delicate pattern of sweet harmony that seems to hit just the write notes to appease my tired ears.

I also fail to understand those people who live with their earphones jammed into their ears and have their ipods eternally playing a steady rythm of harsh cacophonic noise such as metal rock or the like. Sure, some of the the songs sound great. Maybe it's just me, though, but I cannot listen to that all day long. There comes a time when it seems to strike my very soul and darken my mood. I need something a little lighter now and then.

Which is why I not only keep a provisional stock of classical, but I also download other genres such as swing and big band, or musicals, or old jazz. There are times when nothing sounds better than Frank Sinatra. Alright, so maybe my tastes are old-fashioned. You'll have to blame my parents for that. But there's something about music of old that holds a certain charm to it. It's nothing like the cheap commercialized onslaught of noise that we are bombarded with these days. And it seems that we must accept and even like this junk we are fed today if we want to be considered cool. What's up with that? Sure, "Sexyback" has a funky beat and I can't help but bob my head when it comes on the radio. But I'm proud to say I haven't fallen into the superficial trap of pop and rap music that seems to have taken over the airwaves. Thank you very much, but I'll take Old Blue Eyes over Justin Timberlake anyday.

Music of old seems to have a lot more class than today's hits. The majority of today's music is trashy and cheap. Rap is filled with swear words and vulgarities that would make your grandfather blush, which dissapoints me because I enjoy the rythms and the beats of many of the songs, such as "Cyclone" or "Low". Rap artists are musical genuises in their own rights for having created such wonderful rhymes and music. However, I cannot agree with the lyrics and for that reason alone I refuse to listen to it. Pop music is almost the same, however not as bad.

So when it comes to music, as in all things, I am very picky. But, see, I'd rather have quality over quantity. While everyone is reading Seventeen and Cosmopoliton (which is also trash) I'll be stuck in the corner, with 2-inch glasses being all nerdy and geeky, reading Shakespeare. Call me old-fashioned or whatever, but personally, when it comes to music, I'd rather stick to classics.