Sup

I've always been curious as to why people listen to certain genres of music. Like some forms of music such as Pop-Punk or Hardcore just have never clicked with me, I'm not sure why but I just can't get anything out of it. I mainly listen to music because it evokes a feeling, whether it's excitement or it just makes me feel like a badass. For instance Some death metal bands I really enjoy, not because it's a negative thing like everyone assumes but because the music is exciting, it almost gives you energy. That being said I could never go to a club and dance to it, I have no problem dancing to techno or some shitty hip-pop song, and thats because that is what it is made for.


Why do you listen to music? Why do you listen to certain genres over others?


Is your preference just based on musical talent or does your favourite actually effect you on another level?


goodnight!!!

Hahaha I knew you would post here Shep, I semi had you in mind even.

Musical talent will NEVER tell me whether I like the music or not.

I swear I know people who listen to bands like Behold....the arctopus, Necrophagist and Dream Theater just because the musicians are REAL TECHNICAL

Personally, I don't care about musical talent. It's fine as long as it sounds good, whether it's a simple (Pop) or complex (Classical) piece of music. As for why I prefer my favorite genres over the others, hmm...well...I don't know. I just do. Sorry if you were expecting a longer answer.

But I can say that I slightly prefer dramatic(?) pieces. If I had to choose, I would put a moody Depeche Mode song over something like "19-2000" by Gorillaz, though both are good in their own right.

There are some genres which are pretty obvious why people listen to them. Pop because it is just catchy, punk because it caters to rebellion and anger and gives people who don't have standard societal values a place to fit in, metal is based around instant gratification and escaping reality for a bit (same reason someone might read fantasy novels say). Other genres kind of stump me though. I mean things like country and folk are understandable to, but I can't really say for what reason. Folk is like everyday reflection of a countries culture so it's easy to understand why people would appreciate something that is about something they are a part of.

Other genres stump me pretty bad though. Psychedelic rock and jazz to name two big ones. Both aren't catchy or contain lyrics making it notable less emotionally powerful I think, especially since unlike classical they generally aren't composed to express emotion. So I think it comes down to a basic appreciation of aesthetics for some genres.

I know you did, Afura.

Also, note I was speaking about myself, I know those people exists, I think those people are stupid because they are missing the whole real deal about music. A shame.

Is it really that worthless to value human skill and aesthetics over someone else's emotions though? I mean I think there is a time and place for most any music.

upon what do you base this claim heh

I had more but seriously I just want to know. Do you really think that progressive rock and jazz are all like Emerson, Lake and Palmer or Glenn Miller or something (examples of practically emotionless music from both genres heh)?

I actually said psychedelic rock, but either way, I just don't see them as expressing emotion which is I guess why this thread exists. To me I can't find any emotion I've experienced that correlates with jazz. I occasionally like jazz, but generally I don't listen to it. On the other hand I love psychedelic rock, but the same thing. I mean what emotion does that express? I mean I guess there's the whole drug use thing to look at, but that's hardly an emotion and I pretty much listen to all music equally while tripping. Not to say either, that either genre has no emotion, just I think other genres are far far more emotional than those two. So even though I enjoy both genres to some extent, I really have no idea why except for I think it sounds cool.

First, that's a complex question, separate human skill from aesthetics.
If the prime reason you listen to such music is mostly based and FUCK THAT GUY IS GOOD, then yeah you're pretty much missing the whole deal.
Now, if you say, I love this music, and then it turns out the guys are really fantastic technically, that's fine!
The argument that arises here is that musical talent and dig the music are cause and effect, it is an intertwined thing, etc. That's bullshit.
I dig Victor Wooten's album A Show Of Hands, because the album is fantastic. Then I am told bass and voice are the only instruments there and I say FUCK ME!!
But then I listen to What did he say, his second album I think, and don't dig it as much. BUT THE GUY HAS TREMENDOUS TALENT JESUS CHRIST.
You see? it is a matter of knowing how you set your priorities.

But my friend listens to stuff like Dream Theater and stuff, not exclusively or anything, he's got a decently broad taste, but he legitimately enjoys the way highly technical music sounds, so I feel like it's unfair to say that he is missing the point of the music when the point of the band for him is the technical aesthetic. Even though I think DT is stupid and I make fun of him for listening to them, I have a hard time genuinely looking down on him for it because that's just what he likes. I also have to agree that A Show of Hands is great, but I've never heard anything else by him. But if you have someone that appreciates technicality and someone who appreciates whatever A Show of Hands has above and beyond technicality, it would be hard to say the technical fan is missing the point of music just because he likes the other albums because that is the point for him.

Anyway, I think another interesting point is music piracy. Because when you buy albums you have a vested monetary interest in liking the music so I think you are more likely to like something you have purchased, because when you steal stuff it doesn't really matter if you don't like it because deleting it isn't a waste of $20 dollars. If I didn't have the ability to browse through infinitely many albums, even very obscure ones, I would never have the musical taste I do now.

It depends what genre it is.  Every genre has the aspects of it which make it great, including some PROG even (although most of it is BLAND HORRIBLE SELF-INDULGENT SHIT, without much AT ALL in terms of complexity).  I also think punk is really good, but if you listen to it for "complex arrangements" then you're not listening for the right thing.  Punk is about the punch of the music, and about message and energy, which is completely valid (and awesome).

A lot of music is about being emotional, but that's not all music has to be about.  There is nothing wrong with music being about technical ability (although prog isn't usually the place for this), and that is satisfying in it's own way.  Also musical complexity and intellectual depth of music could be another venue for creative (like Boulez and a lot Modernist music).


All genres have something good in them as long as you understand what that genre is about.  Even, UGH, COUNTRTY