I was born in the late 70s. I was a child of the 80s. But I really grew up in the 90s. I would argue that the 90s produced some of the best music EVER. No, not this. Or this. I’m talking the grunge and alternative scene. Nirvana. Smashing Pumpkins. Soundgarden. Alice in Chains. Crash Test Dummies’ Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm. (Kidding. But it’s still better than Ace of Base.)

I would love to claim that I was right there in the scene, rocking my flannel and not showering, but alas, it would not be true. Even back then I couldn’t deal with not showering, and that’s before I developed my tendencies. The flannel was a yes though. Sometimes.

Truth is, I’ve always had an issue finding my place when it came to music. In grade school, I made myself like New Kids in the Block just to feel like I fit in. And then I ended up liking them anyway. It was such a disaster. I should have stuck with the metalheads and called it a day. The music was so much better. In high school, I once again found myself with the type that listened to metal, grunge and alternative music, so I did listen to it around them. But in my own time? Showtunes. No shit. Showtunes. And singers of showtunes, like Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. I even had a big band phase. Oh, and the House of Pain phase.  All of this may sound fine and dandy now, but not as a teenager! I am amazed that I even had a social life listening to freaking showtunes. (This is pre-Glee, so there’s no way to excuse it. I’m assuming they do showtunes in Glee.  I’ve never had the inclination to watch it.)

It got a little worse after high school Showtunes, still, but now I was into some pop music. Pop music like No Mercy. I’m embarrassed to even admit this, but I owned a cassette of “MmmBop”. It later broke my cassette player in my car, which was probably life trying to tell me something.

At some point in my 20s, I finally escaped bad pop music. I ending up having an angry chick music phase (lots and lots of Ani Difranco) which got me through some tough times. I think it was the rise of Napster that really truly rescued my bad taste. Well, that and the former WOXY, who introduced me to some really awesome bands. I just wish it hadn’t taken so many years to find my groove.

I’ll leave you with this awesome tune from House of Pain – “Shitkickers”. Man, I was such a badass.