and of course you being a black guy,you know who black people liked....right?...many black artist covered beatle songs....
The fact you are arguing with me tells me just how little you know about the black community
....never listened to a Beatles song until I was twenty-three. I heard a few snippets when Across the Universe (2007) was advertised. And, I enjoyed the covers on American Idol. But, I never heard them sing their own songs until I was cornered by white coworkers shocked and amazed at my inability to name a singular member of the group or song.
Their puzzlement went from inquiry to harassment to public shaming as they paraded me around the office showing me off to other white people who were similarly shocked at my apparent âpoor upbringing.â They had no idea that their projections of what constituted âgood musicâ denoted their own simmering privilege. Meanwhile, they were discrediting everything I actually had grown up listening to.
It all started when a young white lady in the office was commenting on her favorite Beatles song. When asked, I responded, âWhich group is that?â Then, âel shitâ hit âel fan.â I got the Beatles mixed up with the Eagles mixed up with the Rolling Stones. They asked me to name them and I said âWell, I know itâs not Elton John. Bob Dylan? Maybe Billy Joel?â Shit everywhere. It was completely foreign to them that I could have possibly missed something so integral to their lives. So, they attempted to shame me.
The responses I got from everyone were in virtual lockstep.
âWhat in the world did you listen to at home?â
âWhat? Did you live under a rock?â
âDo you just never turn on the radio?â
âWhere are you from?â
To which I responded, âWell, Iâm black.â And, I simply explained that there are other radio stations that play other music. Unsatisfied with this answer, they pelted me with further inquiries.
âDo you just never watch TV? cause the Beatles are EVERYWHERE!â
It was cute for about two seconds then it just got stale. What was funniest about it was that they were almost offended when I mentioned non-Beatles members. Like I had somehow broken white people music code by mentioning Billy Joel or Elton John in the same conversation. The Beatles were so sacred to them that they guffawed about it and it became an office joke until I eventually left the team.
Isnât it funny though how I was assumed to be some foreigner transplant because I didnât conform to white musical interests? They questioned my momâs parenting skills before they ventured to think that maybe black folks just arenât interested in listening to boring music sung by vocally-challenged British men.
My mother raised me on Anita Baker, Luther Vandross, The Four Tops, The Commodores, Patti Labelle, and a healthy dose of gospel artists. I have heard and appreciated a host of other greats. Presently, I love the soul sounds of India.Arie, Jill Scott, and John Legend. Not to mention I come from a family of talented singers, rappers, and song writers. I was never lacking for musicality in my home or life. But, my music and upbringing didnât âcountâ to these folks because it didnât measure up to their standards. This is the definition of white superiority.