Jordan Peterson on punk rock:
No, no, no, it’s perfectly fine to respond favorably
but just understand what these feelings are and what they might lead to.
The wise and knowing punk rock fan: fuck you.
Punk is too pure for philosophy.
The caustic dickhead is not the punk rock fan
but the philosopher who attempts to demean punk rock
by asking questions: are drum solos allowed?
are the lyrics always nihilistic? Is it more attitude or tempo?
No, the punk rock fan thunders, there’s variety!
Rockaway Beach by the Ramones is not nihilistic.
The philosopher cannot help sounding like a dick:
Well I’m not saying punk has to be about murder and torture.
Sure, you can find variety everywhere. What’s your point?
That punk is really something else? You’ll get no argument from me.
So the Ramones are up-tempo re-visiting the 50s. Clap. Clap. Clap.
I know the blues can make one happy. But generally,
“the blues” lyrically paints misery
and “punk” lyrically paints nihilism. And it’s probably
not too much of a stretch to say punk is really
just teenage, angsty, blues, trying its best
to hide the fact that it’s the blues—for the kid
doesn’t want to be like his parents.
Sir, is it the philosopher who is the dick?
Or is it the music I love which is nihilistic?
Can we have a drum solo, please?
After all, the jacket is leather and the jeans are ripped at the knees.