The Sound of Clubbing

I was never really a fan of club music, the kind of sound typified by steady beats, thumping bass, and the sort of scratching one would associate more with a chalkboard than a turntable. Yet, through the power of dance, it not only becomes palatable--it's preferable.

Music has changed dramatically over the years, and what was once danceable is no longer danceable. It's hard to imagine moving your body to the tune of pop classics that our ancestors rocked out to eons ago. Can you imagine clubbing to The Beatles? Or The Rolling Stones?

Those classic tunes are the kind of music I would listen to in recreation. It's nice to kick back, close your eyes, and be transported to another world, but if I'm trying to relax, club/dance/electronica is absolutely horrible to listen to. Might as well bring a cheese grater to my ears.

But if I'm in the mood to dance, then bring it on! Those scratchy beats and random noises suddenly make sense in my head and my body has to obey. It's funny how the music I hate is the key to unlocking the dancer inside of me.

To dance, or not to dance? Such an answer depends entirely on one question:

What's playing?

I'm Human

Never knock something until you try it. I never figured myself to be a dancer, but it's not like I've ever put myself in the situation where I could. So color me completely unsurprised when I found out I couldn't, even when sufficiently intoxicated.

Am I human, or am I dancer?

I guess I'm human.

Okay, I lied a little bit. I could dance, but only under extreme circumstances. I have to be really drunk to do it.

Dancing just ain't in me.

Now the reason I bring up dancing is because I was in a club/bar not too long ago. My friend invited me out for a drink with two other buddies. What followed that night was something pretty funny. My friend is also of my ilk, human in every way. Even after having downed 4 or 5 drinks, he still could not muster the strength to dance, not even when one of his buddies hooked him up with two other girls who sandwiched him. His awkward expressions and breathless pleas for help could do nothing to soothe my laughing soul.

I left to get a few more drinks and when I returned, our two buddies were pissed. My friend squandered his chances.

What else can you do when a guy cockblocks himself?

Once you try something and decide for yourself that it ain't worth it, cross it off your list. There's no point in satisfying the whims of friends who promise good times. If it really is fun, then it should be instantaneous. If you have to account for various factors like location, time of day, and crowd, then it's not really worth it since the stars have to align every time.

Knowledge certainly speeds up the alignment process but now you're just getting to the point of too much work and not enough fun.

I think I'll give the dancing thing another shot. When the stars do align, perhaps the dancing beast will unleash. Won't that be quite a sight?

Lifesum

Nothing can sum up a person's life better than their autobiography, but since most of us don't have the time, patience, talent, or ghost writers to write about our oh-so-thrilling lives, we have the next best thing--our playlists. This ties directly into the old adage, "you are what you eat." There's a reason why "what do you like to listen to?" remains one of the most popular questions to ask when meeting a person for the first time. You are what you listen to.

People are just walking playlists. Some have music you like, and some have music you don't. Even if you don't like their music, you can at least respect it. Some playlists are padded out with filler songs, or have music that are so similar, they all sound the same. Some have an eclectic and incredibly diverse collection. Depending on their mood, people listen to chill, to dance, to reflect, or because it just sounds nice.

Whatever your playlist may be, it reflects your story.

It's your life's soundtrack.

And you know, I'd like to listen to it sometime.