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The Folly of Dismissing the Mainstream and Popular in Music
Let me begin this by saying that I despise musical snobbery. By this, I do not mean an appreciation for the high art involved in constructing music, nor an understanding of the language of music, nor a dogged appreciation of one style or genre of music. Rather, I mean an a priori rejection of a musical form or performer simply because it/he/she is popular. I do not say that popularity equates with quality, nor do I deny the possibility (cherished by music snobs) that truly great music is buried underneath piles of mindless dreck. But I do say that even buried within the art of those whose music we revile, the music which zooms up the charts inexplicably like funky swamp gas into your nostrils, is gold waiting to be mined. Maybe it's just a song that needed to bake in the oven of the AC charts for a time; maybe they wait while we mature, leaving the petty cliques of our youth (and their distinct sonic identities) behind. In at least one case, it's happened to me.
I hate the music of Celine Dion. Or at least I thought I did. She sang melodramatically, her lyrics usually don't make sense, (or too much sense) she's vaguely French, she married a (seemingly) creepy old guy, and you couldn't entirely be male and like Celine unless you were a foreigner (non-American). Most of her songs tempt me to throw away the supernatural virtue of hope. "Titanic" theme, I am looking squarely in your direction. Anyway, deep in my Celine closet, there are the 3 exceptions. Songs I like so much that it cancels out the other 20 or so that make me have ill will toward women. I really need to admit this. I'm not going to say all three. But this is the main one. I'm still not sure what this song is about, but I can say I adore this song. I keep waiting for one of today's stars to remake it. There's probably some poor fool who didn't know it was her, and I ruined it for him. Ah, well.
Dear Celine: most of your songs sound like rejects for a horrid "Beaches 2" soundtrack, with Renee Zellweger and Rosie O'Donnell in the lead roles for the movie. But those three I cherish are so great that I forgive you, I really do.
With Appreciation,
Jason Kettinger
Pete's sake, I need a drink, before I start liking Coldplay and Nickelback.

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