h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've just moved back to university for my final year, and my mother finally managed to get me to sort out my bedroom back home before I left. It was during this sort out and looking through my CDs that I came across my "Bad Music Choice".

Do you have an album that you love even though you know how bad it is? You're embarrassed to have it in your CD collection. You make excuses about it when people notice it. And they always notice it, despite your trying to hide it between you Led Zeppelin CDs. But it's still a favourite.

Mine is "Middle of Nowhere" by 'Hanson'. I developed a huge crush on a member of the band when I was about fourteen, and although I have now (mostly) recovered from this time of bad taste I still enjoy listening to the album. It's great singing along to Mmmbop and knowing all the words, knowing when to 'mmmbop' and when to 'doowop'. I think we all have one of these skeletons in our musical closet. And although it is right to be ashamed of the disgraceful music taste we have shown, we should also be proud that we are not sheep.

I think that our choice (good or bad) of music tells us a lot about ourselves. My embarrassing album is a reminder of my confused youth. It's amazing that of all the annoying boybands that could have had me as a closet fan, it was Hanson that that grabbed my attention. Why not Take That? Boyzone? Backstreet Boys? or any other boy band you care to mention.

I actually became quite a scary person, in my full Hanson-mania period. I knew the full names and birthdays of all three Hanson boys. I still remember that Taylor's birthday is on 14th March, but I put that down to my birthday being a few days earlier, which is why it sticks in my mind (and not that I am still a Hanson fan, honest!). I knew loads of really strange facts about Hanson. Was I sad? Am I sad?

Maybe, but that's the whole point! What's the point of going in to a bad music choice half-heartedly? Why put yourself up for all that ridicule, if you don't care about the little things? Anyway life is meant to be enjoyed, and if I choose to enjoy myself listening to horrendous music and enjoying it then why shouldn't I?

Anyway, I'm off to listen to some more Mmmbop.....


(....and in an Mmmbop you're not there!)