[Written by new prospective intern Kasey Snyder]
I like to say that I love music from every angle. Depending on my mood, I’ll listen to anything from country to classical, as every piece pertains to a specific memory. Give me Shelter by the Stones reminds me of getting lost in the backwoods of Carolina, Eroica by Beethoven reminds me of my study breaks from economics, and Tom Petty evokes the drives from New York to DC. The point is that every genre of music has had a specific effect on me that I transmit into certain memories.
For most people, music relates specifically to their mood, but most people do not like every genre. I remember going to an OAR concert in high school and looking over to see my best friend Eddy listening on his iPod to the new Lupe album. Not everyone likes all kinds of music. Many New Yorkers dislike country, some of my friends have never heard of Daft Punk, and most only know Lynyrd Skynyrd when I say, “the guys who sang Sweet Home Alabama.” But there is a median that everyone from every background of music and generation can find; the Man in Black.
When I was growing up, I had the mug shot of Johnny Cash on my wall. He was the bad boy who made it big that my friends and I all aspired to be. I was lucky enough to be old enough to remember his last big hit, Hurt, originally written by 9 Inch Nails. Hurt, in my opinion is one of the best covers ever sung. Something about Cash singing about his life as it was coming to an end was the perfect way to end such a brilliant and influential life.
Right now I am sitting in the library with my classmates Yana and Danna studying for my finance exam. I asked them about their thoughts on Johnny Cash. While both of them claimed to know and like him, Danna couldn’t name a single song. So I asked her what she knew about him and she responded, “I don’t know he’s one of those cool older guys from the sixties.” I could only respond with a sigh and handed her my earphones so she could remember who he was. But although not everyone knows all of his songs or how he made his name, no matter what you listen to or your race, gender, orientation, generation, or style, everyone knows the Man in Black.



















