I’ve been thinking a bit lately about an online exchange I had…it had to be years ago at this point. It was regarding the Devo cover of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, and this person who loved both the Devo and Residents covers basically said that they had “no desire” or “need” to listen to the original Stones version. Which came off as so…weirdly close minded to me. Yeah, you’re able to take music that is borderline unlistenable, that comes off as pretty “open minded.” You’re so *cool* and *sophisticated* for listening to that in your spare time. But you’re not even going to listen to *try* listening to the original version of the song and put those covers in context? You’re just going to dismiss it without considering why those groups would have covered it in the first place?

I get being turned off by “classic rock” but choosing ignorance in the name of looking *weird* and *quirky* of how we got here isn’t going to do you any favors. Pink Floyd and The Who introduced me to the concept of music as a serious art form when I was a kid. Exploring my parents’ eclectic CD collection opened me up to all sorts of different music and planted the seeds for my own independent exploration. Don’t let your exploration of all that life has to offer be defined by sticking within a carefully defined set of restrictive borders. No matter how “cool” you think you are as a result.