I got thinking about this because of the Dashboard Confession thread.
Why do people(me included) feel like they have to justify what music they like? I was writing a post saying why DC whining is different from other whining, when I realized it wasn't, it just didn't annoy me so much. I do the same thing with other bands, who I KNOW suck, and continue to listen to anyway.
So why do we do that? Is it a human nature thing, or what?
And why, when we find someone loves a band we hate, do we try to talk them out of liking it?
Ni!
Posted by Richard Berg (Member # 133) on :
1) I am a complete music snob. I can talk musicology with the Schenkerian weenies, harmony with the post-Schönberg theorists, and interpretation with any wanker stupid enough to listen. I prefer my pianos with Pythagorean temperament. I can't listen to anything tonal without inscribing the figured bass in my mental picture. Yet...
2) De gustibus non est disputandum. Period.
Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :
There are certain types of music I hate. Country, a lot of rap, etc.
But in general, something a friend said once really struck me, and I agreed with him. He said (or at least the jist of what he said) that as long as the music makes someone happy, it's not bad and you shouldn't dis someone for listening to it.
I hate country and rap.
But I'm not forced to listen to it, and I'm glad it makes other people happy.
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
I like a lot of music, but, for some reason, to me, Classical music is the closest to the divine we can get.
Science can explain a lot of things about people, even morals, but they'll never be able to explain how classical music manages to blend mathematical structure and the human soul so effortlessly.
At least, I hope so.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
We probably try to talk people into liking the things we like because it helps us feel that our feelings are valid. I think when it comes to music, different things appeal to different people. I have very strong tastes, but I try not to inflict them on others who don't like the music I do. I expect the same from them. (This means quit turning your stereo up so loud that my car shakes! Do you want me blasting Bach at you?)
Posted by Richard Berg (Member # 133) on :
quote:Science can explain a lot of things about people, even morals, but they'll never be able to explain how classical music manages to blend mathematical structure and the human soul so effortlessly.
The brain is complex, but it's not magic. At a high level, we already know a lot about how the balance between contextual memories and variations creates aethetic responses.
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
Ha ha!! (hugs this thread, and CM's reply)
I take a lot of flak from my friends for listening to not much other than 80's music, James Taylor, Weezer, The Wallflowers, and gag music like Weird Al. I like other music, I listen to other individual songs, and I'm getting kind of tired of having to apologize for my taste all the time. Or at least having to mention it. Garg.
Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
For me, music is something of value. Not being a fan of rap, I don't see the value in most of it, especially the more debasing, incoherent artists. On the other hand, I do like Eminem because I think he has a message, albeit sometimes controversial. I try not to think bad of people whose musical tastes are different than my own, but a lot of times those are the people who make fun of my tastes which are pretty random and don't necessarily coincide with my intellect or musical inclinations.
What I think I'm getting at is you shouldn't feel like you have to defend your taste in music. "It works for me" should be sufficient. Obviously a person listens to a certain type of music because they find value in it, despite what other people think. It's one of those things that I just don't even try to argue about. If i'm in someone's car, and they're listening to music I don't prefer, I just deal. And if they're in my car, they will deal with my music. If they can't handle that, they can find another means of transportation. However, I don't deliberately play music I know someone doesn't like, especially on long car trips. I would go nuts if it happened to me.
How's that for contradiction? Posted by digging_holes (Member # 6237) on :
There are many types of music I don't like. Some of these are very good. I could also use the rap example. I don't listen, but I understand why some people do. On the other hand, alot of it is just crap (just as any other style of music, 90% of it is not worth listening to). I despise Michael Jackson, but I have to admit that he does (or did) have a genius for catchy pop tunes. I always make an effort to tell the difference between things I don't like and things that are truly not good. It's not always easy, but usually if I'm honest with myself, I see it.
I have also frequently been in the position of finding myself liking something that by all logic, I should hate. I've given up trying to justify myself. If I want to like a sappy love song that plays on the radio five gazillion times a day, that's my business. Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Whistles atonally to self while browsing music selection:
Gregorian chants - check Chopin - check Iron Maiden - check Mozart - check Celtic - check Dixie Chicks - check Metallica - check Cowboys With Attitude - check 80's wave - check Willie Nelson - check Rick Springfield - where is it, where is it? OMG! It's gooonnnneeeee!
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Which reminds me -- I've GOT to get that CD that dkw played when we were visiting at her home.... what was the name of it again? Oink? Grunt? something piggy...... the barnyard gregorian chants....
Farmgirl
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
Usually I people tend to ignore or like whatever I put on.
But occasionally, I just have to throw on something to challenge them and their little square-peg view of music.
I went to high school in Oklahoma. At the school dances, to keep things balanced, they would play 50% country and 50% non-country. That's right. Every form of popular music was categorized as "non-country". I don't know how they did it, but the country lobby must have been pretty powerful.
Being the obnoxious teenager I was, having country music foisted upon me made me hate it. Years later, I find that I really enjoy some of it. I haven't gotten into it much, and I couldn't even name a dozen current country artists, but it is something that I could get into some time.
Over the last few years I *have* gotten into bluegrass. I might even get the opportunity to join a bluegrass band sometime in the near future! And yes, I have tried to share it with others. I really don't believe that it is to validate my feelings (like I care), but I think it's because I want to share something that I enjoy. Just like if you find a great book/movie/resturaunt, you want to share it with others. Or at least I do.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Thanks dkw!
FG
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I have that Grunt cd! *feels kinship*
------- Okay, that's why we try to talk other people into having the same musical taste.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I loved the Blooming of the Tonic, in Schenkerian analysis. We didn't spend a lot of time specifically on that though in Music Theory.
I liked Counterpoint the best I think, loved the rules and math involved.
Btw the rules (and yes there are lots of rules) for composing classical music were developed by trial and error, but with modern science we've found they are almost all directly rooted in mathematical acoustics.
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OMG! It's gooonnnneeeee!