I had an enormous crush on someone at one point in my life, and said person was a Wilco fan. Do you know what any smart girl would do? You’re right- become a Wilco fan too. Well, sort of. I really tried to like them. I listened to them and concentrated. I listened to them as background noise (on the hopes that it would subconsciously grow on me). I listened to them in the car and at home.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and I was listening to WXPN’s 885 Greatest Songs of the New Millennium. I was excited because I was driving home as the DJ was going through the top ten. Then, number 8! Was it Adele? Was it the Foo Fighters? Nope. It was Wilco with Impossible Germany.
A wave of realization passed over me at that moment, and I realized something. I don’t like Wilco. And, I don’t think I’ve ever liked them. Ever. After admitting this to myself, I felt so much better. It took me this long to realize that I don’t have to like something (or someone) just because someone else does, or just because I’m supposed to.
How many things in our life do we “like” because we think we should? What is your personal Wilco?
*Disclaimer: One of my all time favorite songs is California Stars, which is a song that was previously unheard of before Wilco recorded it along with Billy Bragg on the album Mermaid Avenue, a collection of songs written by Woody Guthrie. Amazing song, so just giving credit where credit is due!
Copyright 2014 Anne Mathay
Wilco is seriously underrated.