Be True Music Fans and Respect Your Elders

Recently the Grammy awards were held, and the reaction of some fans to their idol’s missing out on a record of the year award showed a shameful lack of knowledge about popular music. Fans of Taylor Swift were beside themselves when some “nobody” named Bonnie Raitt snagged the Record of the Year Award they thought rightfully belonged to Swift. “Who’s Bonnie Raitt?” they demanded to know. 

True fans of popular music were laughing themselves silly over the naivete of the “Swifties”. Bonnie Raitt is one of the most revered singers and guitarists in popular music. She’s won 13 Grammies and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She is ranked number 50 in the list of “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” by Rolling Stone magazine and is on the magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time. 

Learn the History Behind Something You Love

When I was in middle school, one of the most popular classes was a music class taught by a very insightful teacher. Music was a required course in my school district. Before this teacher came along, it was the most frequently missed class for those who didn’t play an instrument and barely tolerated by those who did. 

Then a teacher was hired who transformed the class into learning the history and roots of the music we all loved to listen to. The course was packed every day. By teaching us that all popular music is evolutionary, we were able to expand our range of interests and discover the musical influences and extended links of our favorite artists. 

You can bet that someone as successful as Taylor Swift is well aware of the name and music of Bonnie Raitt. She may have grown up listening to her songs. It’s a shame that her fans are only fans of her, as good as she may be, instead of the larger body of excellent popular music that goes back for generations.