I have no understanding in music.
More accurately, I have no understanding in music genres. For example, if someone says they listen industrial music, I have no idea what they're talking about. I just cannot think of any bands that might be industrial. However, I'm absolutely certain I know bands that are classified industrial and it's quite possible I might even own some of their albums.

The only genre I'm the slightest bit aware of is 'goth' because I've been lurking around in goth newsgroups etc. to find out what the fuck it's all about (something I've never bothered doing when it comes to industrial or alternative or whatever).
Mind you, it seems very likely I might be classified 'goth' (um, ignore all the pastel colours). Which is what I was trying to find out after someone threw a snide mark my way. (Although I'm hardly a stereotypical goth, if I am any).

I don't seem to fit in any genre of music. My taste in music doesn't fit in. Lately I've learnt to stumble to the alternative/goth/industrial/plain weird -section in music shops but I'm still not sure what I'm actually listening to. Yeah, Bauhaus is goth (they say it is, otherwise I wouldn't know), The Cure is too. Uh. Smashing Pumpkins is... rock?
Yeah.

Consider this. I have records from Offspring (one, actually), Muddy Waters (jazz, for your information), Elastica (britpop?) and Prodigy. Now, which of these genres I belong to? Do I say I listen to goth music, because I have cds by the likes of Sisters of Mercy? Or do I say I listen to punk because I have a Sex Pistols cd? Or am I perhaps a britpopper? A raver? Hare Krishna*?

(* I was given a few wonderful cds that have music on them and an occasional chant about Hare Krishna. I listen to them because of their musical value, I have nothing to do with Hare Krishnas myself. )

Anyway. I'm confused by all this. I can't really say I listen to everything because I don't. I leave N'sync well alone, for instance. I can't start listing that I listen to industrial, alternative, indie, trance, jazz, classical, rock, pop, goth, metal, etc. etc. because it takes aeons and because I'm simply not sure if I actually do listen to any of these categories. Even less can I start listing all of my cds (or even all of my favourite bands). 'Most music' is too vague for me. 'Lots of music' doesn't say anything about the quality of music but instead of the quantity.

And this is a real problem. I'm seriously addicted to music. I love talking about music. I love listening to music. What I don't love, are categorites, classifications. I have principles against all kind of separation.
But how am I supposed to describe my musical tastes when I don't have the words for it?

Even if I knew the genres, it'd still be difficult. I can't list them all. And even if I listen to a few bands inside whatever genre it is, that doesn't mean I like the rest of the members in that genre. In fact, it doesn't prove anything. It doesn't describe anything. So I'm annoyed that anyone has come up with this particular form of classification because it hasn't proved to be anything other than impractical.

And I'm exactly where I started from. I have no way of classification. I could say I listen to good music. But that differs with everyone. And I do suppose people came up with genres to make it easier to talk about music.
So, what do I say?
Anyone?

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