I’ve never been much of a music elitist. Sure, I have standards to which I hold “great” bands, albums, shows, and the like. But it takes very little for me to give a band a chance and enjoy them, or even to call myself a fan. Even the most inane lyrics and unoriginal songs can be rescued for me by a dose of sincere enthusiasm and a good stage presence. I’m the type of person to make emotional connections, both with the music and with the performer, so perhaps that makes me more sympathetic that most. I’ve even said that before to people, that meeting an artist or forging some sort of personal connection will make me more passionate about their music, no matter what it is. So if all it takes is a smile, a moment of connection, a fun moment, a catchy chorus, or a hug and a “thanks for coming” to make me a fan, then I think it’s safe to say that when it comes to music, I am one easy girl.

Really, what does playing hard-to-get net a listener in the end? Smug satisfaction that only the purest and finest tunes will grace your aural landscape? It’s not that I think everyone should love all music. If bubblegum pop, mall “emo” pop punk, or over the top eurodance don’t appeal to you, don’t listen to them. But even if the lyrics are trite or the tunes lightweight, that doesn’t demean its value to those who do enjoy it. If it makes me dance and laugh and have a good time for half an hour, then I’m a fan, even if the music itself doesn’t change my life–if that makes me easy, then guilty as charged. I take something from most of the bands I hear, and that is often enough to endear me.

That’s not to say there aren’t some bands who I absolutely can’t stomach, or bands I’ve given a try to and just do nothing for me that I won’t go out of my way to see. However, I’m not going to turn my nose up just because a band just wants to get together and have fun instead of change the world, or if they are trying to change the world and their message just doesn’t connect with me. Still, I try not to just dismiss them with, “Oh, they suck,” or whatever the equivalent gut reaction might be. What good comes from throwing away precious minutes of your time that you invested in listening? When that happens, I try to get what I can from the experience still, or let it go and not waste my time with negativity. (Granted, every once in a while it’s still just going to happen, but if you go in with a mindset that you’re going to like what you hear, and not that they have to prove something to you, it will happen far less often.)

That kind of attitude makes music as a whole much more rewarding for me, and keeps avenues open to that can lead to places that I otherwise never would have traveled. Maybe in the end, that’s what being easy is really about — finding the good things, the connection point in any song or performance and taking that away with me as a positive. It keeps music fresh and amazing for me at all times, and that’s the best feeling of all.