Dudes being Dudes

This post absolutely benefits from musical backing so I’d recommend sticking this on and then coming back here.

One day I’ll write about raising boys and how that’s different today than it was 30 years ago, and why it’s strange to see the word “masculinity” without the word toxic before it. But today is not that day. Today I’d like to talk about dudes being dudes.

It’s good that they’re smiling

My six-year-old son, no doubt encouraged by his metal-loving father, is really into power metal. Swords ringing, dragon slaying, battle pumping power metal. My wife is generally bemused but accepting: you parent the child you have, and our child loves Dragonforce and Majestica. In fairness, she spent at least some time at University watching me play rock in various bands so this is sort of on her…

My son and I were watching the video above (Diggy Diggy Hole by Wind Rose) and my wife was surprised (but happy) to find that the band were all smiling and laughing while playing. It’s something that’s sat with me, and I think I now understand why.

New listeners to metal tend to imagine angry serious men playing angry serious songs, and sometimes that’s true. Sometimes, dudes are angry and that’s OK.

But sometimes, a group of men who have known each other for years and become masters of their instruments get together and have fun. They write fun songs that sound cool. The songs lets you imagine yourself as a band of brothers going on a quest. You come together and achieve something greater than the sum of your parts. You make something. And then, you go on stage in front of thousands of people and shout “are you ready, brothers? Will you fight with me?” and they all scream with you. Fun? What could be funner?

So yes, the band are all smiling, and so am I. My son loves it, too, and it was great to see my wife start to realise why.