Irrational Dislikes
On being contrary and far too proud of it.
I’ve been making an internal list of artists, writers and actors and musicians that people love and that I don’t. Hopefully this is controversial.
Tilda Swinton. I know I’m meant to but her brand of chill is not my thing. I probably need to try and like white people more.
Jessie Buckley. I’ve tried and she made music with Bernard Butler who I like a lot but it came off kind of pretentious tbh despite her beautiful vocal. Also I struggle with people who are good at more than one thing, like when Kate Hudson put out an album which was okay actually, but just okay. Jennifer Lopez thinks she can sing which is hilarious but she can also emote and dance and make bad romantic decisions so I like her and I love her hair.
Timothee Chalamet. Then again, nobody likes Timothee. Even Kylie is pretending. Sometimes having limited facial mobility is useful.
Nirvana. I haven’t tried. I do like Kurt Cobain though. Poor fulla.
Toni Collette. Good actress. Vapid features, sometimes you can’t help but judge somebody on their looks. Mostly women. Oh well. This has been a visceral thing for me for many years. I feel bad about it in a way I don’t feel bad about Tilda Swinton.
Pearl Jam. What is he saying? Reads lyrics. Not important, never mind.
Rufus Wainright. Stop whining man.
Taylor Swift. Although I will concede Shake it Off is a good song. Except when she dances to it.
Lorde. I sort of tried. Shades of Toni Collette. Also talks about her favourite water bottle too much.
Roxane Gay. I feel bad about this especially since I haven’t read her book just her tweets. Oops.
Kaveh Akbar. It’s the fringe. And the floral effusiveness. And the sobriety.
William Wordsworth. Stop molesting the clouds and the daffodils you terrible man.
I really love Kevin Bacon. It’s adorable how he sings to his goats and looks like his surname. I’m trying to be positive about someone because hate is such a pure emotion one doesn’t want to waste it.
Mind you I’m in no position to be a cultural critic, because this act of aesthetic violence against the Pixies is currently my favourite reel. The dog is shaking his ghost head at me for falling in love with this ridiculous dobie called Cowboy but he should know I still check for him every time I um dismount the bed in case I squash him. Old synchronicities die hard.
I forgot Meryl Streep!