"But she's a chav, she can't like The Smiths!!"

I guess this is a bit of a continuation of my post last week. This week I'll be looking at how certain people ban other groups of people from liking a musical artist. I also am sorry for seemingly using The Smiths a lot in this topic, but people who like The Smiths often seem to think it is the 'indiest' thing and question others who lie them.

"But she's a chav, she can't like The Smiths!!"

There have been numerous occasions when I, or my friends, have said something along the lines of "how can she even like Pink Floyd, she's such a chav" or "what, she's a goth how can she like Arctic Monkeys ?!" and looking back on it, it's so silly. I don't really want to go into stereotypes, but I fear I will go off track - I apologise.
Everyone gets so caught up in this whole process of labelling people by what social group they look like they belong to, that suddenly someone wearing an adidas tracksuit just CANNOT like David Bowie. That girl with loads of piercings and that is wearing all black 'probably hasn't heard of' The Smiths. Why is this is the case? 
What difference does the way somebody acts or dresses make on appreciating music that they enjoy? Should someone just listen to what all of their friends are listening to? No? We'd criticise them for that, for not being 'individual'. You'd probably look down on them for listening to what you consider music that isn't very good. 
Yet again I'm going to bring up this point that we all seem to think we have to stay with what everyone else you're friends with is listening to, that we have to dress like the people that make the music we like. But again, I'm going to remind you that we don't.

If you don't dress like this, it's 'shocking' you enjoy listening to them

You shouldn't be 'offended' when someone that is in a different social group to you announces that they like someone that you thought what 'so indie'. You shouldn't attack them, either. Somebody liking a band/artist you like is great. There's no real reason for you to think that your favourite artists are strictly for everyone like you, you have to let other people like them. 
What's funny about it all, is that most of the time you'll tell people to 'like better music', to 'go home and listen to Sonic Youth', but when they do, it's a major disaster. 
BANDS ARE NOT FOR ONLY ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE, JUST BECAUSE YOU LIKE OTHER BANDS LIKE THEM AND YOU WEAR VINTAGE JEANS, IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU OWN THEM (just like if you wear loads of eyeliner, black lipstick and a studded choker, you do not own Motionless In White).

I guess the main message of this post is to just remind you that it's not a shock if;

• someone who likes The Smiths doesn't wear white socks, doc martens and shirts 
• someone who likes Marilyn Manson doesn't have black hair and heavy eyeliner
• someone who likes Dappy doesn't wear a snapback and baggy jeans.

So just remember that just like music tastes; looks and fashion sense isn't everything either. People have different sides to them and they can listen to what they want to, when they want to. People shouldn't be surprised when somebody that doesn't look like you or your friends likes your favourite band just as much as you do. 


- Charlotte x