THE WONDERWHY: THE "REAL FANS"

Oh man, look, some teenage fans of The Beatles in New York

(Credits to flashback.com)

Music, to most, has positive connotations: it is an art form which saves us, it touches us, it whips up our most intense emotions and it brings us together. You can be from any background, creed or culture, put aside your differences, and be united by your passion. Music is unique in its all-encompassing influence: it’s perhaps the most powerful medium of art that extends to us all.

So then, who – and at what point – made music a civil war? And why? Perhaps it has escaped your attention, but in order to qualify as a fan, you have to meet the dress code. You have to think certain thoughts and look a certain way. If you fail, somehow – unwittingly – guess what? You’re that person the “cool kids” tweet snide remarks about after the gig. You’re that person who doesn’t deserve to be there. You’re not a “real fan”.

There’s one particular demographic who almost exclusively the beating: teenage girls. They turn up at your favourite band’s gig, and you reckon they ruin the atmosphere; they’re naïve, they don’t take anything seriously. They’ve probably only heard that one song, you think.

No way! Some more teenage fans, this time for The Rolling Stones

(Credits to Diffuser.fm)

Let me ask you to contemplate something. What if…

These teenage girls you scrutinise and hold such contempt for are in every right to be there? Imagine if this artist you’ve decided they shouldn’t be qualified to be a fan of, is their favourite? They know every song – they adore them, in fact. What then?

You never hear of artists discriminating against a specific portion of their audience. They value them. The presence of teenage girls doesn’t mean they’re not a “real band”. If you remove females between the ages of, say, 13-17, from their fan base, most artists wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. They are just as fundamental to the support and success of a band as you are. Don’t bite the hand that feeds.

Was it not The Beatles? Bowie? The Rolling Stones? who have the bemoaned teenage girls to thank for their astronomical success, after all?

Before you start to criticise people who actually share in the love you have for a band, remember this: music is for everyone. Music, unlike many other art forms, is not for the elite. You don’t need over 1,000 twitter followers, Doc Martens, or a Supreme t-shirt to deserve the right to be a fan. Come as you are – whatever that may be.

Remember the good old days when music was for anyone and everyone – not a clique of elected members with the right credentials? Me neither.