Are you embarrassed by or ashamed of any music that you own, for any reason?

I'm just wondering if anyone is embarrassed by any music that they own, and if so, why?

At one point my answer would have been "yes" because I listen to a pretty eccentric mix of things including some things that skew either below or above my age-group in terms of what's generally acceptable by most people, but then I decided I don't particularly care about that, so I voted "no". I also happen to love a lot of really cheesy, silly pop music and I am not ashamed.

 

Yes, because I worked for a music distribution company for a long time and often received garbage for free.

 

Why did you keep the stuff if it was garbage you didn't really want? I would have either given it away, or dumped the inserts and CDs and re-used the jewel cases.

 

Not anymore. Used to be with that Columbia House deal, it'd be hard to find 13 discs. That meant some regrettable choices, which were later traded toward store credit to obtain something more suitable.

 

Oh man, that's right! I forgot all about that! "Okay, I found 5 that I want, now I have to pick 8 more that I don't really want all that much or at all...".

I hope you remembered to return the monthly selection card.

 

Not in the least bit.

 

I keep a very concise collection for the most part. It's tough to get much more than questionable sonics past me. Otherwise I like what I like and proceed with much caution moving forward.

All killer, no filler...

 

Occasionally I buy something "new", and end up tossing it, because it's nowhere as good as the old stuff. That's as far as the "guilt" goes...

 

I'm sure plenty of other people would be embarrassed by things in my collection, but I'm certainly not. I don't care about norms or expectations in that way. And I basically think there is something potentially of value in all music, even the small amount of stuff that I think is garbage. There's been plenty of music I disliked that I came to like years later, and if nothing else, music that I still dislike reminds me of things I want to avoid in my own music.

 

Well, I've got more music that I can ever actually enjoy, which points to a character/mental flaw.

 

Haven't you heard?

CDs will rise in value after their slow demise

 

Oh yeah, welcome to the club! Nice to have you with us.

 

Time to play ELP- Love Beach

 

The older I get, the less hung up I find myself about whether something is potentially embarrassing, uncool, etc. If I like it, I like it. I'm not 20 anymore and I figure life's too short to miss out on something based on its perceived coolness or lack thereof. 20-year-old me would be appalled at some of the stuff on my iPod today.

 

I would never buy or keep anything i'd be ashamed of having, makes no sense to me.

 

When you wear the LOVE BEACH tee shirt, then we'll know you're truly comfortable in your skin!

 

If I was really ashamed of something but still enjoyed it, I could never see myself getting rid of it.

...I would probably just hide it or something.

 

I have to think about that. I do have a cdr of some Manilow stuff I kind of hide.

I talked to a guy who had a tape of Townes Van Zandt near the end. He was a collector and had to have it, but he was ashamed when he traded it to other collectors cause Townes was so pathetically drunk and in such a mess, the show was a shambles.

 

My kids tell me on a regular basis that I should be, but what the hell. Fly that freak flag!

 

But how can you be ashamed of music you enjoy, it's not exactly murder or s&m.

 

That's the conclusion I eventually came to as well.

 

The ability to sample some - if not all - of a title in the digital age before or shortly after release has effectively eliminated the unexpectedly disappointing purchase. This isn't on-point with the OP, but it occurred to me how many gambles I'd have taken had I been of age to appreciate and purchase music before 2000ish.

As for the original question: No. But reaction of friends, family, and coworkers make me aware of the degree to which my tastes deviate to the "unique" at times.

 

To a certain degree, yes, because I can't even make up my mind about some of the artists in my collection, examples being KISS, Styx, and Asia. I've talked bad about all of these bands, but from time to time, I find myself wanting to listen to their music.

 

I voted yes. I own Gary Glitter records!

Aside from that, and in that instance the embarrassment is nothing to do with music, no, I'm not ashamed of or embarrassed by anything. It's only music, they're only records and CDs.

 

Not ashamed exactly, but there is a lot of stuff I only play when no one else is around. Yoko Ono, Kluster, etc...