Bradley's taste in music spans genres

The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.

by Ian McCormick

Staff writer

The great majority of people like music; for some of us, it’s a good way to pass the time while for others, it’s a lifelong hobby. For those who enjoy music, however, we all have our individual tastes: some fantastic, others questionable to say the least.

Hilliard Bradley is no exception to that rule; many students and teachers here enjoy listening to music as well. With that, let’s dive into our individual tastes and determine what new songs could interest you.

Firstly, Taylor Swift’s music in general seems to be a huge hit with a large portion of students, and it's easy to see why. Her songs can range from joyous and upbeat to a sad, yet relatable melody. One of her songs in particular, “Champagne Problems,” stood out to Bradley Junior Will Fisher (11) who explains, “I would recommend it to anyone who likes emotional music and lyrics that have meaning.” After listening to the song myself, I can understand why Will enjoys it so much. It has a laid back tone that anyone with a more tame taste in music can relate to, as well as a chorus that’s sure to get you humming along.

Next up, for those who have an old soul, the band Pink Floyd seems to be popular among some, especially their 1973 song “Money” from the album “Dark Side of the Moon.” Aspiring Guitar player Alex Diaz (11) says, “I like it because it has a cool guitar and bass part. I play guitar, so I’m trying to learn the solo.”

As a fan of the old-school rock genre myself, I see this as a fantastic song to add to your playlist. It has a nice beat and strong lyrics that make it an overall fun listen. Additionally, bouncing off of what Alex said, there is indeed an awesome guitar solo in the middle of the song that fits nicely before the end.

Finally, Bradley English teacher Mr. Rawlins mentioned that he’s a big fan of music, even saying “it’s always been a huge part of who I am.” He later brings up a band that I had not heard of before, called the Allman Brothers Band. He explains “there’s a song that’s called Blue Sky, I love It, It’s like a southern rock song.”

I, of course, went and listened to the song myself to get an idea of what Mr. Rawlins meant. After a pleasant five minute experience, I've determined he gave an accurate description. It sounds as if early modern rock met halfway with country music and it’s a style that works really well. If you like either of the before mentioned genres of music, then it’s definitely a song for you.

In the end, everyone has a unique taste, especially when it comes to music. Different songs can have different meanings to each person who listens. No matter your personal taste, however, hopefully you tune in and check out a couple of these songs in order to expand the library of music you love.

A scene depicting Spotify open on a phone screen that may belong to someone who enjoys music. Photo by Ian McCormick (11)