Musical Snobbery, Justin Bieber, and a Horse Eating Crow

@TheHorse (238370)
Walnut Creek, California
January 21, 2016 11:50am CST
When I take my Thursday kid out hiking, I let him take control of my radio on the way home. He usually settles in on a sort of teeny bopper rap station, exposing me repeatedly to "you used to call me on my cell phone..." (we sing along to that one) and other stuff I normally wouldn't listen to. The other evening, we heard a low key song about an ex-lover. It had clever lyrics, clever instrumentation, and a catchy groove. I said, "Man, I like that one. It's kind of clever!" I even thought it would be a fun one to learn, just to mess with my greying hipster music buddies. To my horror, when the song ended, they announced it was by Justin Bieber. I, The Horse, a musician and musical snob, LIKE a song by Justin Bieber. Later, I researched it. It's called "Love Yourself," and is co-written (I think) with Benny Blanco and Ed Sheeran. So now I'm sitting here eating crow with my coffee and wondering what to do next. Have you ever liked a song by someone you usually didn't enjoy listening to? This is up there with a couple of Foreigner songs and one by Gun Club that I used to enjoy in secret.
23 people like this
24 responses
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
21 Jan 16
Oh how the mighty are fallen!
5 people like this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
21 Jan 16
@TheHorse We'll call you 'Feathers' for the rest of the week Mr Horse. (If it's any comfort, it can happen to any of us)
4 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 16
@boiboing Feathers is fine! It'll get my mind off of My Little Pony, which is @DaddyEvil's fault.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 16
I'd respond, but my mouth is full. Dang it. A feather is stuck in my teeth.
4 people like this
sishy7
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
21 Jan 16
It must be the Ed Sheeran influence that has made you enjoying the song...
4 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 16
That's what I thought. Um, who is Ed Sheeran?
3 people like this
sishy7
@sishy7 (27166)
• Australia
22 Jan 16
@TheHorse From the UK, I believe... I love his photograph song. He's not too big in the States, is he? Everyone is in love with him here, he's been touring down under a few times and his concerts were always a sold out.
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 16
@sishy7 I'm so out of modern music I've never heard of him either.
2 people like this
Yuki
@yukimori (10192)
• United States
21 Jan 16
I can't really say that I have, at least not recently. The majority of the music I choose to listen to is Japanese, and since I have to go hunting for specific artists I typically don't stray far from what I enjoy. The closest I've probably come to what you've described is getting back into 90's and early 2000's rock courtesy of a coworker who would take over one of the Bluetooth speakers at work and play Pandora in the mornings. We'd end up with things like Linkin Park and Alien Ant Farm.
2 people like this
Yuki
@yukimori (10192)
• United States
21 Jan 16
@TheHorse I'll take Linkin Park over the other things my husband listens to, honestly... he's a huge fan of video game music, and there's a band that does Mega Man songs that never fails to give me a headache when he's playing stuff by them.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 16
Linkin Park! The horror! One of my inmate clients in Oakland liked them. The horror.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 16
@yukimori I wouldn't know Mega Man if he stopped by for tea. My knowledge of video games is limited to Grand Theft Auto at a bachelor party and the word "FATALITY" from some game or another.
2 people like this
Jabo
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
22 Jan 16
I wonder if 'eating crow' was where the term 'spitting feathers' came from?
3 people like this
Jabo
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
22 Jan 16
@TheHorse It's a term I've used on here, and Americans seem not to have heard of it. It means 'hopping mad' so I suppose it's not the same as eating crow. We would just say 'eating your words'.
3 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174707)
• United States
22 Jan 16
@jaboUK @TheHorse This American has heard that term before... I also looked it up and found out there are two meanings for the phrase. The first one is the one I have heard and it means your mouth/throat are completely dry and you literally spit white froth... That, apparently, is the older usage of that phrase. (I'm so thirsty I could spit feathers.) The second meaning is extremely angry. (You're so angry that you are actually spitting feathers.)
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 16
That's a good question. I may have to go and look that one up later.
3 people like this
WorDazza
@WorDazza (15826)
• Manchester, England
21 Jan 16
I absolutely loved (and still do) the song 'Bye Bye Baby' by The Bay City Rollers who were an awful teeny-boppers band back in the 70s in the UK. Never admitted it back then though. I would have been called a 'poof' and had my head kicked in!!!
4 people like this
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
21 Jan 16
I love Bye Bye Baby @wordazza. It's a classic "Shoulda' told you but I can't linger There's a wedding ring on my finger"
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 16
Poof! Where did that term come from? How does it translate into American English? I remember the name Bay City Rollers. Couldn't name a song they did, though (except for Bye Bye Baby now, but no melody comes to mind).
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 16
@boiboing Hmm. Still drawing a blank!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 16
How embarrassing! Does he have more than one nice song?
3 people like this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (24078)
• United Kingdom
22 Jan 16
Oops you have already seen this Judy. I have just tagged you to read it! Remember the horror of horrors of ABBA comment
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 16
I'm not sure! It sounds like he might be capable of it, with the right surrounding cast.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382555)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 16
@garymarsh6 Did he (the Horse) ever get round to replying to those comments? Maybe I missed them. Or maybe he was so embarrassed he ignored them. Which do you think it was? Oops, there he is - just above. Hope he misses this too!
3 people like this
alchemistrx
@alchemistrx (2547)
• Philippines
22 Jan 16
Well, we eat our words.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Jan 16
Munch munch munch.
Anna
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
22 Jan 16
Oh my, how can something like this happen? I am curious to go to YouTube and listed to the song, or do nothing. I hate Justin Bieber.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
22 Jan 16
@TheHorse I have listened to the song, it reminds me a very old song, I will find out which one. Anyway, not too bad.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 16
@LadyDuck All music is derivative. I hope it's not TOO close to something else.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 16
Give it a listen. Let me (us) know if you agree that it's kind of cute. I haven't looked for it on YouTube. I have found him to be a pretty repugnant person up 'till this point.
2 people like this
Alfredo Rossi
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
21 Jan 16
yes,Amy Winehouse and Lady GAGA.I do not like all of their songs but did find some Amy Winehouse who is a jazz vocalist.Lady Gaga surprise be with the duet with Tony Bennet.I bought the album and to my sruprising she was great there.so as you can see that there is a lot of singers that we do not care for.There is a song that you hear and like your son there finding Justin Bieber there. Did I ever tell you that you write very well.I think I did.No I am not looking for any praise.I appreciate your writing. Have a good day.Alfred0.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 16
Thanks for the compliment on my writing. I agree: Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga both have (or had) talent. I wouldn't seek out their CDs, but, both have surprised me.
2 people like this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (24078)
• United Kingdom
22 Jan 16
OH my word above how are you ever going to live that one down! Horror or horrors!! I must bring this to the attention of @JudyEv another person who has impeccable tastes I am sure she will have a great laugh at this too! Justin Bieber indeed!
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 16
I find that wild rice and sauce l'orange makes crow taste a bit better. Sigh.
2 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (35122)
• United Kingdom
22 Jan 16
Yes a couple of times I've heard a song I liked then found it was by One Direction, a band chiefly marketed at pre-teen girls!
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 16
Glad I'm not the only one!
2 people like this
Justusforus
@desertdawg (312)
• United States
24 Jan 16
Oh my Horse...I can truly understand the horror you must have felt. I think I would be in a Biebs coma if I even tapped my foot to one of his. Call me a snob too.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jan 16
I have to accept what happened. I punished myself my singing "Kung Fu Fighting" for half an hour. But it didn't work.
1 person likes this
Cindy Tolbert
@cintol (11261)
• United States
21 Jan 16
Hahaha, its funny how some songs are really good and then you find out who was singing them huh. I think we all have had songs like that in the past at one time or another.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 16
I'm finding that a little BBQ sauce really helps the taste of crow.
2 people like this
Bethie Annie
@BethieAnnie (818)
• Dayton, Ohio
22 Jan 16
Lol. The exact same thing happened to me with Beiber. I just try to remember that I was a teeny bopper once.
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174707)
• United States
25 Jan 16
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 16
Ah, yes. Weren't we all? and he is kind of pretty.
2 people like this
Bethie Annie
@BethieAnnie (818)
• Dayton, Ohio
25 Jan 16
@TheHorse lol. You would have loved to be a fly in the wall the other day. My female friends were trying to convince me about how "HOT" beiber is. I was like, but he is a little kid! They were like he is of legal age now! I was like, but he is just a kid! They were like, but he has a six pack. So, I go look at pictures, and while he does have a baby face, I still think he looks like a kid.
DE
@DaddyEvil (174707)
• United States
21 Jan 16
pony? you could have at least posted a warning with this one! I read these things, you know! MAN! Now I have an image of you grooving to JB! WTF am I going to do now? I'm going to have to read everything you write with caution in case you write anything else that me or makes me! I do hope you keep this kind of thing a secret from now on, pony! You might try de-feathering the crow next time and I have heard lots of ketchup helps improve the flavor!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 16
I'm not used to this sort of thing. What next? A beautiful lilting Irish ballad from Britney Spears? I'm so...ashamed. But not hungry, at least.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174707)
• United States
22 Jan 16
@TheHorse Uhm... yeah, you really shouldn't have eaten the bones, beak and feet, either... Those can cause a pony some definite problems... I'm hoping we won't need to take you to the vet! Those kind of things are expensive and frankly, you don't make enough on myLot to cover the costs! (sigh!) I'm about to be paid again, I guess I can help...
1 person likes this
Jessica
@JESSY3236 (22287)
• United States
25 Jan 16
I don't like Justin Bieber either. I always justify that I like the original music if I like something made by someone I don't like.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Jan 16
Bieber co-wrote this one. I have no idea how much came from him and how much came from his co-writers.
paigea
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
22 Jan 16
It's never happened to me. I don't listen to enough music though. If I liked a song I wouldn't care who sang it.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 16
I definitely have favorite musicians, though they've changed over the years.
1 person likes this
ingrid
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
22 Jan 16
I haven't heard that song yet, and i hope Justin is a better person now.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 16
I hope so too. Of course, I have no idea. Now, when I hear the song, I wonder whether he's developing a musical sensibility, or whether his "handlers" were responsible for the tasteful and clever arrangement.
1 person likes this
fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
26 Jan 16
Hard to believe, Justin Bieber. I can't listen to stuff like that. I don't particularly like country music but this one artist is wonderful. Name is Nancy Griffith. Love her stuff. I have just about all her music.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Jan 16
I love her version of John Prine's Speed of the Sound of Loneliness.
1 person likes this
fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
26 Jan 16
@TheHorse I love her Talk To Me While I'm Listening and On Grafton Street, 2 of my favorites.
1 person likes this
Mandy
@x0MandyLynn0x (1056)
• Canada
25 Jan 16
Justin Bieber has done it to me as well! I really actually like his song "Sorry" a lot! I love the tune, the lyrics, it makes me want to dance! Every time it comes on, I just actually really love that song. I wish I could say I'm ashamed because it's by him. But his stuff has gotten better. Not the biggest fan of 'him' but he has some good songs finally coming out!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Jan 16
It may happen again. I'll try not to be biased. I wonder if he'll improve as as person as well.
1 person likes this