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Things I think I think: God, your taste in music
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Written by Donovan Petri, The Eagle Guest Columnist
Hello kittens and puppie dogs, how have you all been?
Today I’m here to talk about something that is becoming more and more of a problem these days; your God-awful music taste. Well not your music taste per se, but why you like the music you like. The reason this problem has come to my attention is because every single time some cat writes a story in fiction, the character is always listening to one of three bands:
The Beatlesê
The Rolling Stonesê
The Clashê
Here’s the problem with these bands, and it’s not that they aren’t good-because they are-the problem is that listeners are too lazy to go out and formulate their own taste in music. Now it’s true that most people get their taste in music from their parents (either following their music or going against it) but that sometimes leads to us liking music for the wrong reasons. Not one person in my fiction class could tell me why The Beatles was their favorite band for any other reason than “because they sound good, haven’t you heard them.” Come on, I know something sounding good is a good reason to like it, but in my personal opinion, I think The Beatles are way overrated.
The next topic of the day is one I see many people on The Eagle writing about, cigarettes.
I’m going to be as unbiased and real as I possibly can right now, and keep in mind, I am neither telling you to or not to smoke, I’m just giving you the facts. And by the way when I say facts, I don’t mean school facts, I mean facts like the extensive research I’ve done before writing this section. Now I’ve dissected cigarettes into a few common misconceptions.
Common misconception #1: You can get addicted after smoking one cigarette. Many people think this is true, but in fact it can take weeks of regular smoking to actually acquire an addiction.
Common misconception #2: Not coughing means you have strong lungs. Actually not coughing after taking a big drag means your lungs are way too weak to expel the smoke, it’s probably because your lining is all messed up. (For some people anyway)
Common misconception #3: You will NEVER again have healthy lungs after you start smoking. Now I know this one will be hard to believe but it’s true. Say I started smoking at 15 and quit at 24, I had been smoking for 9 years right? Well if I stayed clean for 18 years my body will have removed 98% of the non-organic material in my lungs and my risk of smoking related death is now back to that of a non smoker. My source is the Surgeon General’s report, last updated 2007. So, yeah, a little dated but good enough to be a common misconception.
Common misconception #4: Cigarettes are worse for you than marijuana. In fact smoke from marijuana is twice as potent and damaging for your lungs than cigarette smoke.
So there are 4 common misconceptions about cigarette smoking and like I said, I am not telling any of you to start smoking, I went through that phase and it sucked. And to be honest, I still take a drag or two when someone offers me one. But since I stopped buying I’ve saved a lot of money and regained a lot of respect from my peers.
Well kids that’s pretty much all I have to say today. So on that note, I bid you adieu.
Oh, but I do have one question for you before I go: What reasons, other than their nostalgic value, do have for liking The Beatles? Annnnnd, what should I write about in my next column?
Well until next week, see ya guyyys!
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December 5th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
You know Donovan, I don’t usually comment on the opinions of my columnists, but you have forced me out of the shadows. While I agree that your generation needs better musical tastes, especially where rap and pop are concerned, your comments about the greatest musical act of the 20th century…and one of the greatest acts of all time… The Beatles, colors your comments as just plain, well, “ignorant” about music.
Before The Beatles, there was nothing approaching the current trend in music.
And since them, there has been very, very little that can be called “new”.
Calling them overrated is like saying Beethoven knew how to write a few tunes. Tell us that it’s time to move on, to find different musical styles, to explore new performers and their music, ok. But calling The Beatles “overrated” is just way off base.
Look at the time period in which these guys played and listen to what they did. Their genius comes in the writing and the melody, as well as playing. It’s been 40-50 years, and no group or performer has consistently made full discs of music standards.
Maybe Gaga will be your generation’s Paul McCartney. Then again….
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December 7th, 2011 at 11:35 am
on note of what mr. Kocur is talking about
i believe the only reason writers choose these sort of bands is because of they’re i dont even want to say mainstream but its more of just a common thing. like you need to breathe just like you automatically like the beatles and since everyone likes the beatles, they dont wish for readers to react differently to the characters after hearing what they listen to so they aren’t really lazy they are just playing it safe
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December 7th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Donovan, I am fairly suprised with this column. The Beatles are what started people to be more open minded when it comes to music. Even bands today that are “new” say that the Beatles are idols of many. I don’t know where this is coming from, but I miss the old donovan.
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December 7th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Ok man, i said id get a bad rep for calling them overrated but that is my opinion only because in my eyes is that most people in my generation like them because they went on their parents CD rack and said “oh the Beatles, iv herd my mom listening to them they must be good.” i like the Beatles IN MODERATION! and like the Beatles lady gaga represents artistic freedom, the Beatles wrote poetry to a beat, Lady Gaga has played on Lennon’s Piano and well, she doesn’t create music to get popular, she does it for a purpose.
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