The song “Hit ’em Up Style” — the version by the Carolina Chocolate Drops — came up on my shuffle at the gym the other day. Here’s video:
And I started thinking about why imagining wickedness can be so much fun. Why is it that this song — a song whose lyrics are entirely antithetical to so many values that I hold dear — has become one of my very favorites, a song that I’ll hit “Replay” on over and over again?
It’s not like the song is expressing resistance to cultural values that I tolerate but resent, and I enjoy the fantasy of rebellion. The song is antithetical to my very own values. Why is it so much fun?
Of course, part of it is that the Carolina Chocolate Drops just freaking rock the house. And their own fun with it is so very contagious. Still. This one is puzzling me. I’m not overly concerned about it, I’m happy to enjoy it. It’s just odd.
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Perhaps this analogy:
We like food primarily for its taste. Nutrition is important, but it is secondary and part of higher-level executive functions that kick in after pleasure/pain responses.
We like music primarily for melody, rhythm and emotion. Concepts and ideals are important, but are secondary and part of higher-level executive functions that kick in after pleasure/pain responses.
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It isn’t a perfect analogy, because most of the music I listen to regularly is all about the concepts and ideals, and that’s precisely why I like it and come back to it. Other music is nice – candyfloss for the brain – but it goes in one ear and out the other and I’ll never think of it again. Content is what keeps me coming back.
This is directly opposed to my food analogy, because nutritional content isn’t exactly what keeps me coming back to fettuccine carbonara. (Hhhhmmmmmm, fettuccine carbonara… *drool*).
But methinks there’s a grain of truth, all the same.