While walking into an Express the other day, we heard a Rihanna song and started kind’ve mouthing the words. One of the female workers gave us a smirk, but in the way you might give someone who just did something completely ridiculous.

Did we miss something? Is it wrong to know the words to Rihanna? We didn’t know it was just a chick thing—or maybe we didn’t get the memo?

In addition to some Ri-Ri, it’s completely normal to blast some Katy Perry, Colbie Caillat or even John Tesh—at least that’s what we keep telling ourselves.

We may not be 21-year-old girls or a cane-having 60-year-old man, but if it’s something catchy, we’ll listen to it.

Since we think (okay, hope) most guys come across the same problem when something “not so manly” comes on their iTunes or iPod while at the gym, desk, or coffee shop, we wanted to restore our manhood by defending why it’s okay to turn it up. Let’s not have our love for music hold us back any longer!

1. You Work Easier With It

For whatever reason, our go-to writing music is either Jet or David Guetta. Completely different genres, but we get that sh*t going, and we can work like the damn Energizer Bunny.

For other people, maybe the Josh Groban Pandora station does it for them. Either way, if they’re not talking to anyone because they’ve got headphones in, chances are they’re in the zone – which is probably a good thing!