You’re living the nerd life. Playing the nerd game. Drinking the appropriate nerd drinks consistent with the fandom you’re representing. (Mountain Dew for gamers. Butterbeer for Potterheads.) Even after all that, there are still people out there that can’t see that you’re a total nerd. An über geek! This is when you have to bring out the lyrical support of the nerdcore bards. The way nerds and geeks are perceived by others has definitely changed over the last couple decades, but there still seems to be this need to clarify what we’re all about. This is even true within our own kind. Fortunately, we’ve been given the tools needed to clear up the misconception surrounding our culture. It’s time to highlight these songs like they were science class notes!
One downside to being a nerd is the inevitable bullying. It’s terrible! We’ve put up with it for too long by people who don’t understand why we love what we love, but it’s even more painful to be bullied by people who share the exact same hobbies as us. We shouldn’t have to live in fear of sharing our passions with people who share the exact same passions. A song that called “Nothing to Prove” by The Doubleclicks addresses the problem geek girls have. This song gives a very important and powerful message about equality. The official video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Rjy5yW1gQ) drives the point home by sharing the experiences of real geek girls who have faced persecution for being the “wrong gender” to like what they choose. No geek should be left ridiculed and bullied, especially by those who have supposedly been through the same trials. A similar commentary of hating on each other and being bullied by other nerds is made in “Angry Nerds” by Insane Ian and the great Luke Ski. (http://insaneian.bandcamp.com/track/angry-nerds) There’s a point when sharing your opinion crosses a line and ends up becoming disrespectful and hurtful. If you make someone feel like dirt for enjoying something, all progress is lost. One line states, “Angry nerds! Like a spoiled brat, they take your wide-eyed wonder, then they squash it flat.” It’s sad to say that I see that happen on a regular basis.
Our fandoms can be perceived as childish by a lot of people, especially other adults (perhaps your in-laws if you’ve got them), and we may even recognize this in ourselves. I know I refer to myself as a giant kid. “Fake Adult” by the great Luke Ski and “Grow Up” by Random (released under his Mega Ran identity) both center around this point. “Fake Adult” (http://lukeski.bandcamp.com/track/fake-adult-2) is my current nerdy anthem. There’s a great line that hits home so perfectly. “…growing older doesn’t mean you abandon what you love.” That has been my philosophy my whole life. In Random’s song “Grow Up,” (http://megaranmusic.com/track/grow-up-2) he raps about his gaming experiences. If being a gamer makes him childish, then growing up isn’t for him. Not only do I relate to this, but he raps it over Mega Man beats, which is one of my favorite game series! That’s a double win for me. And I know, as a gamer myself, that a lot of people consider gaming to be a waste of time and that I need to “grow up and be a man.” I shall refer those people to the songs mentioned above.
As for those seeking specific fandom representation, your clarity and voice has not been forgotten. Whether you’re a Potterhead, Otaku, or Brony, there are songs to delve into the misconceptions and realities of your lifestyle, trials, and joys. In “The Brony Song” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUdiCqDVUxI) by Random Encounters (a group known for its musical theater style songs on Youtube, and not to be confused with Random Encounter, another nerdy band) they take a humorous approach to addressing the problems both Bronies and Pegasisters face. To add to the cleverness, it’s set to “This Day Aria” from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. One of the many, many wrock (wizard rock) bands out there is The 8th Horcrux. “We’re the Potter Fandom” (http://the8thhorcrux.bandcamp.com/track/were-the-potter-fandom-2 a parody of “The Freshmen” by The Verve Pipe) follows a Potterhead as he recalls his feelings toward the Harry Potter series. For example, “I always cry when Severus dies, and Harry has Lily’s eyes.” captures the emotion a lot of fans go through. It really allows a listener to understand just how important this series is to all the Potterheads out there. Great books evoke emotion, and this explains it very nicely. Another misunderstood and often ridiculed group of fans are the Otaku. Animé fans can get hassled quite frequently, and Gumi Megpoid approaches this experience with humor as well through the eyes of a student who keeps getting caught enjoying animé and the cosplay that goes with it. “Sorry for Being a Closet Otaku” is a Japanese song, so it’s got that catchy J-pop sound we animé nerds can’t get enough of – even if some won’t admit to it. There are subtitled videos of the song, so if you don’t speak Japanese, you can still enjoy reading it… like a book… There are audio books, so I guess it’s not too weird to have to read a song. It has a great ending, so please enjoy it to the very last word. (This link is to a fan-made video for the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn0HFhrhKO0)
The convention scene is the biggest it’s ever been these days, and a lot of people don’t quite know what goes on at cons or why they’re so important to nerds. Luckily, we music-lovers get to enjoy answers to both of these questions in song form! According to “At the Con” by Possible Oscar, (http://music.possibleoscar.com/track/at-the-con) “What happens at the con, stays at the con,” but they’re kind enough to share with us what we could be missing out on. “Where else can you go to see Sailor Moon in the hot tub with Frodo?” Nowhere. There is nowhere else where you can see that. Well, maybe you can Photoshop it, or find it on Tumblr, but still… the point is still valid! As for what the cons mean to nerds, Kirby Krackle illustrates that excitement in “Going Home.” (http://kirbykrackle.bandcamp.com/track/going-home-2) Their perfectly executed simile, “It’s like a Mecca for Geeks…” explains why cons are where nerds belong. It is home like no other.
One thing that consistently shocks me is how often science is misperceived – not just a concept, but the entire point of science. I suppose with so many institutions and organizations out in the world today that try to deny things that have been scientifically proven – that this is bound to happen. This too has been addressed. They Might Be Giants released a song called “Science is Real” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty33v7UYYbw) which reiterates a fact that most nerds may feel is redundant. “Of course science is real!” you may say. However, I’ve found that some people have been taught to disregard its findings. This song is short, but gets straight to the point about it. And as much as it pains me to say this, my lawful good transmuter elf is… not real. (Stupid science!)
It’s pretty much drilled into every geek’s head that even though we may be low on the social ladder as we’re developing our talents, it will all work out in the end for us. We nerds will turn out just fine. MC Lars sings about this in “Geeked Out” (http://mclars.bandcamp.com/track/geeked-out) where he recaps some instances from his own life growing up as a geek. “Don’t be afraid of your intelligence because that’s awesome.” Great words from a great MC. I Fight Dragons shares the same point of view in “The Geeks Will Inherit the Earth.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV0YPfJ_EoU&list=PL37DA84888F74A0F2) These are two reassuring anthems for any geeks going through rough times accepting themselves.
Being able to share a part of our culture with those who may not understand it can be a great experience for everyone involved. If you’ve had a hard time expressing your feelings or explaining your point of view on these various topics, taking a few minutes to share a song will help close the gap of misunderstanding. If nothing else, you can have peace of mind in knowing that there are songs to represent you.
Many of the songs and artists I’ve mentioned today can be supported at bandcamp.com, the artists’ websites, Youtube, and iTunes (among other avenues), so I encourage you to check them out, and support the nerdcore community by supporting them.
Thanks for reading! The Knights of Nerdvana forums have a spot to start threads regarding this blog, so if you’ve got more music to share, or just want to talk about the nerdcore scene, I’ll see you there.
You can e-mail me at jrobbins3839@hotmail.com or follow me on Twitter @jmrobbinswrites.
-Lt. Jason