I like to picture goth as a big beautiful black umbrella. In my head, music is the central pole or shaft of the umbrella, and the ribs are things like fashion, makeup, DIY, various spooky interests . . . I don’t have a full diagram in my head but you get the idea. This might slowly turn into a series of posts on the “goth umbrella” but this post is just about the music.
Most goths, I suspect, would happily agree with music being the central shaft of this umbrella. Which specific bands count, though, is endlessly debated among us. I don’t generally join these debates because I’m not a music geek. Geeks tend to memorize tons of facts about what they love and care a lot about organizing those facts–I totally do this about books because I’m a book geek but with music I just listen and enjoy.
But I do wonder sometimes how bands as different as Bauhaus, Dead Can Dance, Sisters of Mercy, the Cure, Sisters of Mercy and Tones on Tail are considered core goth bands while other similar bands from the same era are considered questionable. Some of these are tied together by sharing band members or playing at the same clubs, or by shared fashion sense, but musically they seem pretty different to me.
Then there’s the question of industrial music. As a ’90s goth I love me some industrial music but a lot of goths insist pretty hard that it’s NOT GOTH, just some awful stuff they played in ’90s goth clubs because people are stupid. Bands with a heavy metal influence get the same treatment–are bands like Nine Inch Nails and Type O Negative acceptable goth bands or non-goth bands a lot of goths happen to like? And if a lot of goths like NIN and a lot of goths like Tones on Tail, does it even make sense to call one band goth and the other not?
Not being a music geek myself, I mostly just listen to what I like. Enough of it fits the goth description that I feel comfortable under the big Goth Umbrella and I’m not concerned about keeping out anyone else who feels comfortable under the big Goth Umbrella. I also don’t worry too much about what YouTube or other “goth celebrities” say. I listen to what they have to say but I also know that strong opinions generate more views so I don’t take them too seriously.
But I’m curious. I would love to hear thoughts on this from non-celebrities. How much do you care about what music counts as goth or not? Do you listen to metal or industrial, and how much do you care about whether it’s goth? What about new bands? Are they goth if they sound like older goth bands? If they’re influenced by classic goth bands? Are they goth if they dress in gothic fashion? If music is the shaft of the big goth umbrella, what exactly is that shaft made of? Bonus points if you’re some sort of expert in music or music history. Don’t be afraid to get specific or technical. 🙂
Oddly Cultured 
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