I was just thinking — Kelly Clarkson has a huge collection of depressing songs. It's like, oh boy! I get to listen to TalkRadio Emo all day. So you sign up a contract with a major recording industry and all your music is about going away, failed relationships, and how you got saved from the depths of human grief? If she didn't sing well and have catchy songs, I wouldn't even care.
Girlie pop has maintained its tradition of letting me down. Then, there's Radiohead to pump me back up.
Indianization and the decline of suburbia
To keep up with the fitting pessimistic view that today's entry has to have, I noticed my neighborhood's borders getting larger — but the space within getting more constrained. I realized that in my five years of living here, I only know about five of my neighbors out of a neighborhood the size of a small city. There are so many Heritage Parks in this part of Friendswood that you get lost just listing names. Terrace, Pointe, Village, Estates, etc. One nice guy dropped over a few times to invite us to multiple barbeques and it was really hard to tell him we were vegetarian. I mean, how do you go about doing that? I was so shocked by the action that the response didn't come out of me fast enough. I bet he thought I was more than a little slow based on that. Oh wells.
In addition to this, all the Indian families in the area (and there are ooooh so many) seem to know each other by heart. Why is it that when a city expands, so does its Indian social network. Even I don't know that many Indian people, but they apparently know me, my ancestry, and my apparent "excellence" in music (which would explain my teaching piano...kinda? And why everyone smiles at me while I walk the dog).
My thoughts at that moment: Are they looking at the dog? I know she's cute but...she's drooling all over the sidewalk. STOP STARING AT MY DOG.
I guess I broke Rule #1 of being Indian by having a dog, and Rule #2 by not excelling in science and math. Contrary to popular belief, I was not born with a Calculus book under my pillow. I am the anti-Indian, and even in my shrinking neighborhood, that's pretty cool.
Read 4 comments (Leave a comment?)
Musme said:
I think pop music had deteriorated with time… Mind you, not EVERYONE has that bad music, but I think for obvious reasons I’ve always liked Rock best. Take for instance this phenomenon called RBD [Mexican pop group] their music is the most plastic you can have around. They say they don’t make plastic music, but then again Kelly Clarkson wouldn’t say, “Oh, I make depressing songs.” Some of RBD songs translate to “smooth, sensual” which by the way talks about the hair of the person who they [as a group] are crushing on… how dumb!
I don’t know my neighbors @ all… so don’t feel bad!! I’m an indoor person, and I like it that way. I live like 10 mins. away from one of my best friends and I just rather spend time with him than meeting my neighbors… don’t know why… Might be because I’m shy… ? Laters.
Posted on July 1, 2006 3:38 PM; Permalink
Biscuitrat said:
I guess I wait for people to introduce themselves to me all the time. That is, up until I get to know them.
I just wish people had taste when they were writing music - take the Beatles for example. People think their songs are about so many things, but when you get down to the facts, it’s really about having fun and making music. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the new “genres” of music.
Posted on July 1, 2006 3:44 PM; Permalink
Zalette said:
I actually kind of like Kelly Clarkson… oh, for shame.
I don’t know my neighbors well either… and nor do they know me. Actually, I don’t even think some of them come outside… or at least I’ve never seen them outside.
Posted on July 2, 2006 9:42 PM; Permalink
Biscuitrat said:
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I like her music, but her themes are so depressing. She’s made about…two or three happy songs? I remember A Moment Like This, You Found Me, and Anytime off the top of my head. Everything else is like “I WANT TO LEAVE BAD PLACE NOW OKAY BAI”
Posted on July 2, 2006 10:35 PM; Permalink