23ji no ongaku

I recently wrote about what I called the SCANDAL bait-and-switch–that is, all-girl rock band SCANDAL introducing themselves with some authentic, likable rock material before abruptly switching to an undeniable pop style. SCANDAL isn’t the only band guilty of such a move, and may perhaps be more likable in their situation than, say, Nanase Aikawa. (I still can’t get over that. Really.) Since making that post, I’ve admittedly felt a little guilty. I listened to “Taiyou to Kimi ga Egaku STORY” enough to memorize the lyrics, and to be perfectly honest, it’s appealed to me more than even their first mostly-rock mini-album. That of course doesn’t mean I don’t find their rock material memorable… but it is, in fact, less memorable than the pop song I posted about loathing so much.

What I realized, a few days back, that I wanted SCANDAL to be something that they were not. I still believe they’re better than the coordinated dancing, upskirt-flashing crap, but “Taiyou” did, evidently, do something right. It isn’t what I wanted, but it’s what I got, and I have to admit to enjoying it.

Late last week, I worked late to finish a project for my boss. I didn’t have to do it, but I wanted to get it finished, so I did. By the time I left my desk and walked out into the street to retrieve my car and head home, rush hour traffic was all but gone. Early summer in Pennsylvania has been very warm so far–high 80s, low 90s–but this particular afternoon was surprisingly comfortable. The sky was a perfect shade of robin’s egg blue, dotted with puffy clouds, and I thought it would be the perfect afternoon for some noanowa. (Although… every afternoon is the perfect afternoon for noanowa…)

Then I checked my iPod and remembered that I’d loaded it with new music–no noanowa–and the only album left to listen to was Stereopony’s OVER THE BORDER. Groan. (I actually groaned.) Like SCANDAL, Stereopony started out strong, as an all-girl rock band, and quickly moved to an unfavorable pop sound. I wasn’t expecting to like this album, but it was virtually all I had left to listen to without falling back on ONE OK ROCK for the twentieth time. So Stereopony was switched on and I headed for the highway.

I was in a pleasant mood that afternoon. It was from a combination of things–my job, my recent marriage, plans for that evening and the weekend, and the comfortable weather. Even though the Stereopony album wasn’t what I was hoping it would be–rock–the easygoing pop songs still went over well with me. As I drove, I forgot what I was listening to, and just enjoyed the calming sounds of music in my car. By the time I was halfway home, I was humming along to one song in particular, “100 Pararhythm,” leaving any negative thoughts or ideas in my dust.

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Listening to this song and looking up at the blue sky, I thought to myself that my mood and the music seemed to match perfectly. And then I thought, rather suddenly, that I probably wouldn’t have appreciated this music if I had been in a sour mood. If I’d been listening to Stereopony tonight, for example, after working late because a company unexpectedly scheduled a conference call at 5:00, and annoyed because of other drivers doing various idiotic things… well, “100 Pararhythm” probably would have gone over as well as another driver swerving around between lanes without signaling. But on that day last week, because I was in a comfortable mood, I just shrugged the thoughts of “this isn’t as good as their first three singles” off my shoulders. I just drove, and listened, and sang “pa-pa-pa” along with Aimi.

And I enjoyed it. And I’m still enjoying it.

I think the problem I’m having is that I’ve been expecting certain things from these girls. I wanted SCANDAL to rock out, and I wanted Stereopony to kick ass. That isn’t what either of the groups have ended up doing, despite initial offerings that may have hinted otherwise. But what can I do about it? Not much. And I still enjoy pop music, obviously. Perhaps all I need to do, when something like this happens, is take a step or two back, swallow back my expectations and bitter feelings, and then enjoy the music I’m offered for what it is–and nothing more.

Perhaps my expectations have been too high, and too demanding. And it isn’t right for me to criticize a perfectly good band just because they’re not what I wanted them to be. Sure–if the music’s awful, that’s one thing. But looking at OVER THE BORDER in light of what I’ve just typed, and even back to Stereopony’s first album, they’re solid pieces of music. Standard pop fare, yes, but I can’t deny that much of my disgust was based entirely on their changes in sound.

And when I stop making every musical experience into a critical one, I start enjoying things a hell of a lot more.

The first time I listened to “Hanbunko,” I hated it. Now that I’ve stopped expecting it to be the next “Namida no Mukou,” I’m loving it. It’s funny how easily these changes can be made, isn’t it?