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Music snobs

  • 29-11-2010 2:46am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 552 ✭✭✭


    What is everyones thoughts on music snobs ? Are you one?

    From my own experience i come across what i call music snobs a good bit because i hang around with a lot of musicians , allot of my friends dont think music can be made unless it is with live instruments.
    Personally i dont really like punk with the odd exception i dont think that makes me a music snob.
    Anyone know the sort of person who heard some bad dance tune and hates all electronic music because of it?


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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,543 ✭✭✭JerryHandbag


    Sharkey 10 wrote: »
    Anyone know the sort of person who heard some bad dance tune and hates all electronic music because of it?

    Yeah I know someone like that, wouldnt call him a music snob though....just takes whatevers on de wireless as a good indication of modern day music


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 53 ✭✭ryaner012


    i know a few music snobs that don't like virtually all music made since 1990-present

    and then there are friends that would be a different friend that hears a song with a beat and some electro and it would be an utter SH!TE dance song like those dance versions of the fields of Athenry and immediately think that i like it cause i enjoy electro music


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,457 ✭✭✭Rigsby


    I think there is a difference between disliking a certain type of music and being a snob. IMO, what makes a snob is when a person belittles or dismisses another person's music. On the other hand, if someone genuinely loves any type music, then they wont give a f--k, or be bothered as to what anyone else says or thinks about it. ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,778 ✭✭✭✭Kold


    Live instruments? How twee.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 708 ✭✭✭zimovain


    I prefer the early stuff!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19,969 ✭✭✭✭mikemac


    I liked them before they went mainstream!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,990 ✭✭✭Cool_CM




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,070 ✭✭✭✭Malice


    Sharkey 10 wrote: »
    allot of my friends dont think music can be made unless it is with live instruments.
    Your friends are idiots. Do they play electric guitar or bass and use any effects? If so then they aren't playing through "live" instruments are they? What is a live instrument anyway? Are there dead instruments around somewhere?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 682 ✭✭✭Phony Scott




    I do have certain snobbery towards dance/techno/house music. I find it droning, repetitive and rather soulless. I grew up in an area in which everyone seemed to be into this music, constantly passing around their mix-tapes to everyone, driving with the music blaring at 3 in the morning or going to nightclubs, getting loaded on drugs and getting into fights seemingly every week.

    With all that said; I’d be an idiot if I didn’t admit that music like this hasn’t, for better or for worse, been massively influential in other music genres like hip-hop and metal. There are musicians who I do like; like Fat Boy Slim, Basement Jaxx, The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy. Those are great musicians, probably because they have a bit of social commentary mixed in their music.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,778 ✭✭✭✭Kold


    I do have certain snobbery towards dance/techno/house music. I find it droning, repetitive and rather soulless. I grew up in an area in which everyone seemed to be into this music, constantly passing around their mix-tapes to everyone, driving with the music blaring at 3 in the morning or going to nightclubs, getting loaded on drugs and getting into fights seemingly every week.

    I wouldn't so much call that music snobbery, the fact that you can't get into something doesn't point to some kind of elitism.

    I think a problem is that people are not willing to have their criteria of music challenged. I have a lot of musical discussions, with friends, strangers at parties, whatever. It is one of my biggest interests and usually quite an interesting way to strike a bond with someone. I'm a bit of a musical snob but I would at least say that I'm open minded about the format of music.

    The people who I enjoy discussing music with tend to be eclectic and knowledgeable, everyone has their own opinions and these people's opinions are based on listening to a lot of music for the sake of appreciation. You know, being able to swap from Bowie to Captain Beefheart to the Boards of Canada streamlines discussion. The people I don't like discussing music with limit themselves to genres, dismiss music that doesn't sound like something they know and make wild stupid sweeping statements with very little to back themselves up. Luckily I can switch to something like football or tits or the weather or something.

    The snobbery kicks in then when f*ckers whack on the Kings of Leon at a party though.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,467 ✭✭✭Oasis_Dublin


    No doubt about it, there are music snobs out there. Not to flog the dead (and badly decayed at this stage) horse but they tend to be the "Kings of Leon were only good for their first two albums", "Radiohead's best work has come about since Kid A" brigade. They provide me with much entertainment at parties, I have to say.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,778 ✭✭✭✭Kold


    No doubt about it, there are music snobs out there. Not to flog the dead (and badly decayed at this stage) horse but they tend to be the "Kings of Leon were only good for their first two albums", "Radiohead's best work has come about since Kid A" brigade. They provide me with much entertainment at parties, I have to say.

    Kings of Leon were never good and Radiohead's albums improved vastly after the Bends anyway. But I don't know how you could surmise musical snobbery with these two opinions. Well I sort of do but it's a dumb way to hypothesise.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,467 ✭✭✭Oasis_Dublin


    Kold wrote: »
    Kings of Leon were never good and Radiohead's albums improved vastly after the Bends anyway. But I don't know how you could surmise musical snobbery with these two opinions. Well I sort of do but it's a dumb way to hypothesise.

    The Bends (especially) and Pablo Honey are 2 of my 4 favourite Radiohead albums. I'm forming an opinion based on personal experience. I dare say it's the most practical way to conduct a discussion based purely on people's opinions.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,629 ✭✭✭magma69


    No doubt about it, there are music snobs out there. Not to flog the dead (and badly decayed at this stage) horse but they tend to be the "Kings of Leon were only good for their first two albums", "Radiohead's best work has come about since Kid A" brigade. They provide me with much entertainment at parties, I have to say.

    So I am a music snob because I prefer 00's Radiohead to 90's Radiohead? :rolleyes: If anyone is being the snob here it's you by resenting those who have a different opinion than you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,457 ✭✭✭Rigsby


    Kold wrote: »
    Kings of Leon were never good and Radiohead's albums improved vastly after the Bends anyway. But I don't know how you could surmise musical snobbery with these two opinions. Well I sort of do but it's a dumb way to hypothesise.
    The Bends (especially) and Pablo Honey are 2 of my 4 favourite Radiohead albums. I'm forming an opinion based on personal experience. I dare say it's the most practical way to conduct a discussion based purely on people's opinions.
    magma69 wrote: »
    So I am a music snob because I prefer 00's Radiohead to 90's Radiohead? :rolleyes: If anyone is being the snob here it's you by resenting those who have a different opinion than you.

    This thread is deteriorating fast. :rolleyes:


    Music is a very personal choice, whether it's Big Tom or Bach. If you like it, you like it. What difference does it make if someone else does not ? It should not take from your enjoyment.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 682 ✭✭✭Phony Scott


    Kold wrote: »

    I think a problem is that people are not willing to have their criteria of music challenged. [...]

    The people who I enjoy discussing music with tend to be eclectic and knowledgeable, everyone has their own opinions and these people's opinions are based on listening to a lot of music for the sake of appreciation. You know, being able to swap from Bowie to Captain Beefheart to the Boards of Canada streamlines discussion. The people I don't like discussing music with limit themselves to genres, dismiss music that doesn't sound like something they know and make wild stupid sweeping statements with very little to back themselves up.

    Fantastic comments Kold. As much as I enjoy The Beatles music, some of the comments in 'The Beatles Thread' are pretty wild statements. I agree with a few, then there are others were I think; haven't you even heard of 'The Mothers of Invention'? :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,503 ✭✭✭Riddle101


    I would have to say I'm a bit of a music snob. The thing is, my favourite bands are comprised of this
    Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Queen, Iron Maiden, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Deep Purple, Radiohead, Stone Sour, Foo Fighters, KISS, Slipknot, Creed, Nirvana, The Offspring, Sixx AM, Black Label Society, Nickelback, The Police, Oasis , The Clash, Velvet Revolver, Tenacious D

    Most of which made a name for themselves before 2000, which generally makes me a snob of most music made in the last decade. With the exception of Sixx AM, which is comprised of vetern musicians Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba and James Micheal, I'm not a fan of any bands of this era, and that includes Kings Of Leon, although i do respect them, but i do tend to snob music of this era nonetheless. I also like to stick to the Rock and Metal genres with a few exceptions. Maybe I might be a little narrowminded in my music tastes, and should broden my music tastes. But I just like to stick to my own genres.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 682 ✭✭✭Phony Scott


    Riddle101 wrote: »

    If I had to be a snob, that'd be a pretty great selection of bands to be snobby with! :D;)

    But I can't believe anyone would be dismissive of everything that has come out in the last ten years? Surely there must be someone? Mastodon?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,778 ✭✭✭✭Kold


    If someone called themselves a movie buff but only really liked and watched gangster movies from the 80s and 90s it would be hard to take their views on film seriously, except for when talking about gangster movies I guess.

    snobedit: Also, Nickelback? Ew.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,467 ✭✭✭Oasis_Dublin


    magma69 wrote: »
    So I am a music snob because I prefer 00's Radiohead to 90's Radiohead? :rolleyes: If anyone is being the snob here it's you by resenting those who have a different opinion than you.

    Without any shadow of a doubt you are, yes. Resent? I'm not sure you know the meaning of the word chap.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,467 ✭✭✭Oasis_Dublin


    Rigsby wrote: »
    This thread is deteriorating fast. :rolleyes:


    Music is a very personal choice, whether it's Big Tom or Bach. If you like it, you like it. What difference does it make if someone else does not ? It should not take from your enjoyment.

    But I only listen to music if I think that other people like it. Half my life is spent floating around last.fm trying to find out what other people are listening to

    /sarcasm


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,778 ✭✭✭✭Kold


    The Bends (especially) and Pablo Honey are 2 of my 4 favourite Radiohead albums. I'm forming an opinion based on personal experience. I dare say it's the most practical way to conduct a discussion based purely on people's opinions.

    Wanna know how I know your opinion is rubbish?

    Trollface_HD.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,467 ✭✭✭Oasis_Dublin


    Kold wrote: »
    Wanna know how I know your opinion is rubbish?

    Trollface_HD.jpg

    Pablo Honey and The Bends (along with OK Computer) are the last albums Radiohead made before they disappeared up their own arses. FACT


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,778 ✭✭✭✭Kold


    Pablo Honey and The Bends (along with OK Computer) are the last albums Radiohead made before they disappeared up their own arses. FACT

    How exactly do you think they disappeared up their own arses? By making music that doesn't necessarily cater for the lowest denomination? Going on your idea of what a fact is, I bet you thought the kids that weren't in the remedial classes were up there own arses too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 836 ✭✭✭fruvai


    Pablo Honey and The Bends (along with OK Computer) are the last albums Radiohead made before they disappeared up their own arses. FACT

    OPINION


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,467 ✭✭✭Oasis_Dublin


    Kold wrote: »
    How exactly do you think they disappeared up their own arses? By making music that doesn't necessarily cater for the lowest denomination? Going on your idea of what a fact is, I bet you thought the kids that weren't in the remedial classes were up there own arses too.

    Whatever makes you feel good about yourself fella.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,467 ✭✭✭Oasis_Dublin


    fruvai wrote: »
    OPINION

    Well of course it's opinion! Has anyone else actually looked at the title and opening post of this topic?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,629 ✭✭✭magma69


    Without any shadow of a doubt you are, yes. Resent? I'm not sure you know the meaning of the word chap.

    Maybe you should check the meaning of a music snob. Someone who looks down on others who don't share the same musical tastes as their own. i.e. You

    In your warped mind, Magma69 prefers the later era of Radiohead and I prefer the earlier era therefore Magma69 is a music snob. :pac::pac::pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,629 ✭✭✭magma69


    Rigsby wrote: »
    This thread is deteriorating fast. :rolleyes:


    Music is a very personal choice, whether it's Big Tom or Bach. If you like it, you like it. What difference does it make if someone else does not ? It should not take from your enjoyment.

    I thoroughly agree and it doesn't in any way take away from my enjoyment of music. I couldn't give a monkeys if everyone hated the music I like.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,324 ✭✭✭RGDATA!


    Kold wrote: »
    snobedit: Also, Nickelback? Ew.

    pointless and totally snobby aside - wtf is Nickelback doing on a list with The Who, Stones, Sabbath, AC/DC etc.
    I completely and utterly fail to understand how you can get bands like this and not see Nickelback for the steaming pile of ****e they are. The sound of mediocrity with a ball of cash thrown at it.
    Each to their own and all but... :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,070 ✭✭✭✭Malice


    Well of course it's opinion! Has anyone else actually looked at the title and opening post of this topic?
    If you agree that it is in fact opinion and not fact then why did you bother with this post?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,503 ✭✭✭Riddle101


    RGDATA! wrote: »
    pointless and totally snobby aside - wtf is Nickelback doing on a list with The Who, Stones, Sabbath, AC/DC etc.
    I completely and utterly fail to understand how you can get bands like this and not see Nickelback for the steaming pile of ****e they are. The sound of mediocrity with a ball of cash thrown at it.
    Each to their own and all but... :)

    Yeah I get a lot of slack about liking Nickelback:). I just find them to be an alternative to music that I heavily assoicate myself with, and I don't generally dislike them either, even if they might lack substanance, or are mediocre.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 608 ✭✭✭Bassboxxx


    I'm defo a music snob...

    I've noticed I've had less and less time for some music the more popular it got:cool:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 592 ✭✭✭TonyM.


    Riddle101 wrote: »
    I would have to say I'm a bit of a music snob. The thing is, my favourite bands are comprised of this
    Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Queen, Iron Maiden, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Deep Purple, Radiohead, Stone Sour, Foo Fighters, KISS, Slipknot, Creed, Nirvana, The Offspring, Sixx AM, Black Label Society, Nickelback, The Police, Oasis , The Clash, Velvet Revolver, Tenacious D

    you should check out "Camp Freddy" all your bands rolled into one ,some good live music on youtube.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,585 ✭✭✭honru


    When I was younger I used to have stupid criteria for basing whether I liked a band/song or not, things like if the band got a positive critical reception or were considered "cool".

    Nowadays if I like a song, I like a song. I also tend to focus mostly on acts I do like as opposed to acts I don't like. There are plenty of acts out there that I'm not crazy about, such as Limp Bizkit or Paramore or something, but I'm not afraid to say I like one or two of their songs and at least give them that.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,467 ✭✭✭Oasis_Dublin


    Malice_ wrote: »
    If you agree that it is in fact opinion and not fact then why did you bother with this post?

    Oh dear.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,503 ✭✭✭Riddle101


    [QUOTE=TonyM.;69309048I would have to say I'm a bit of a music snob. The thing is, my favourite bands are comprised of this
    Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Queen, Iron Maiden, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Deep Purple, Radiohead, Stone Sour, Foo Fighters, KISS, Slipknot, Creed, Nirvana, The Offspring, Sixx AM, Black Label Society, Nickelback, The Police, Oasis , The Clash, Velvet Revolver, Tenacious D

    you should check out "Camp Freddy" all your bands rolled into one ,some good live music on youtube.[/QUOTE]

    I'll give them a look see, thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,688 ✭✭✭Nailz


    I myself would say I'm definitely a music snob, I listen to all music I can manage to get my hands on, a very eclectic range at that, I don't base my opinion on ones popularity necessarily, but on what I hear, which is what it's all about, despite the fact that the vast majority of artists I like tend not to be mainstream or very popular, that's why I believe a lot of radio-music listeners aren't really music fans per-say, it's only music made to sell for the masses.

    Albeit it, even if I don't like an artist, I will still listen to their new work for the sake of open-mindedness, nor does it mean I will automatically dislike the new work, in fact, on numerous occasions I've found albums from the artists in that personal niche which were very good. Although, I base my snobbiness on how far off the mainstream my tastes go, Avant Garde, Kecak and multiple other sections of the International traditional music genres. But the largest part goes to where I live, the far east of Cavan, practically Monaghan border, most people here, bar a few, are musically retarded.
    Riddle101 wrote: »
    Even though I do like the work of about half those bands, they're too common to part of a music snobs criteria. So congratulations, you're not a music snob.



    See what I mean...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,503 ✭✭✭Riddle101


    Nailz wrote: »
    I myself would say I'm definitely a music snob, I listen to all music I can manage to get my hands on, a very eclectic range at that, I don't base my opinion on ones popularity necessarily, but on what I hear, which is what it's all about, despite the fact that the vast majority of artists I like tend not to be mainstream or very popular, that's why I believe a lot of radio-music listeners aren't really music fans per-say, it's only music made to sell for the masses.

    Albeit it, even if I don't like an artist, I will still listen to their new work for the sake of open-mindedness, nor does it mean I will automatically dislike the new work, in fact, on numerous occasions I've found albums from the artists in that personal niche which were very good. Although, I base my snobbiness on how far off the mainstream my tastes go, Avant Garde, Kecak and multiple other sections of the International traditional music genres. But the largest part goes to where I live, the far east of Cavan, practically Monaghan border, most people here, bar a few, are musically retarded.

    Even though I do like the work of about half those bands, they're too common to part of a music snobs criteria. So congratulations, you're not a music snob.



    See what I mean...

    I take your point, I would have defined myself as a music snob on the basis of how I feel about my music compared to that of someone elses who I might not like. Believing mine to be better, although maybe Nickelback might be overreactive or even some others on my list, and maybe I come off as a bit of a c*nt saying this. But let's say for instance I meet someone who is really in love with all the type of music you see in the charts nowadays, such as Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry or even Jedward. I tend to laugh at them, thinking how could you like these guys? Same with people who like Kanye West or NDubz etc


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 11,393 Mod ✭✭✭✭lordgoat


    Riddle101 wrote: »
    I take your point, I would have defined myself as a music snob on the basis of how I feel about my music compared to that of someone elses who I might not like. Believing mine to be better, although maybe Nickelback might be overreactive or even some others on my list, and maybe I come off as a bit of a c*nt saying this. But let's say for instance I meet someone who is really in love with all the type of music you see in the charts nowadays, such as Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry or even Jedward. I tend to laugh at them, thinking how could you like these guys? Same with people who like Kanye West or NDubz etc

    See I have a problem with the dismissive attitude to pop music. While it's never on my radio, i think it's important to be able to give credit to the very few pop acts that craft a good pop song. I don't mean the manufactured xfactor swill. But dismissing Gaga, Kanye, Beyonce like this is harsh. Writing a pop hit is still one of the most difficult things to do and despite what a lot of bands say the vast majority still would love to be number 1 on TOTP.

    Also i know ratings are no true gauge but Kanye's latest got a perffect 10.0 on pitchfork the snootisiest indie website out there (well it was).


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  • Posts: 5,311 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Pitchfork is painfully hip and drearily pretentious, the articles are akin to drawn out asphyxiation, never understood why many musos would revere it as the testament of approval. Still it's a measurable improvement on slick manufactured pop (Glee, X-Factor etc) where grandiose marketing in the form of stylised racy videos and breathless promotion sets the heart aflutter and the money on the counter :pac:


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 11,393 Mod ✭✭✭✭lordgoat


    Pitchfork is painfully hip and drearily pretentious, the articles are akin to drawn out asphyxiation, never understood why many musos would revere it as the testament of approval. Still it's a measurable improvement on slick manufactured pop (Glee, X-Factor etc) where grandiose marketing in the form of stylised racy videos and breathless promotion sets the heart aflutter and the money on the counter :pac:


    Again to label all of pitchfork like that is a bit incorrect. It is a massive resource and you can find out pretty much everything that's released on there. I mainly use it to find out what's new and if i see something that might be half decent i give it a spin. They are also fantastic for interviews and odd collaborations...

    Some of the reviewers are terrible but there are some better than decent ones on it. Nothing worse than HotPress or NME and many a damn sight better.

    I don't like the scoring system but it's part of their signature now so i can see why it persists.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,289 ✭✭✭Howard the Duck


    I see this thread is full of music snobs! who would have thunk it. I used to be a music snob but i got feed up with people thinking i'm a dick. Now they have to get to know my real personality to find out i'm a dick.
    I still am a music snob but i just keep my snobbish opinions to myself now.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,503 ✭✭✭Riddle101


    lordgoat wrote: »
    See I have a problem with the dismissive attitude to pop music. While it's never on my radio, i think it's important to be able to give credit to the very few pop acts that craft a good pop song. I don't mean the manufactured xfactor swill. But dismissing Gaga, Kanye, Beyonce like this is harsh. Writing a pop hit is still one of the most difficult things to do and despite what a lot of bands say the vast majority still would love to be number 1 on TOTP.

    Also i know ratings are no true gauge but Kanye's latest got a perffect 10.0 on pitchfork the snootisiest indie website out there (well it was).

    Well I won't say all pop music is bad, or hip hop. It would be wrong to, but the variety of artists today, just don't please me. Kanye West? meh, i prefer something more old school like Dr Dre, Tupac and Xzibit. As for pop, i have tremendus respect for artists like Micheal Jackson or Prince. Course there are plenty of other artists I could list but I go back to an earlier post of mine about music of this era, and how it just grits my teeth.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,778 ✭✭✭✭Kold


    I see this thread is full of music snobs! who would have thunk it. I used to be a music snob but i got feed up with people thinking i'm a dick. Now they have to get to know my real personality to find out i'm a dick.
    I still am a music snob but i just keep my snobbish opinions to myself now.

    Ha it's kinda funny when you realise how much of a dick you sound though so you try to rein it in and then someone states a horrific opinion about some terribad song and you try not to say anything but they can see it in your face and think you're a dick anyway.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,778 ✭✭✭✭Kold


    lordgoat wrote: »
    See I have a problem with the dismissive attitude to pop music. While it's never on my radio, i think it's important to be able to give credit to the very few pop acts that craft a good pop song. I don't mean the manufactured xfactor swill. But dismissing Gaga, Kanye, Beyonce like this is harsh. Writing a pop hit is still one of the most difficult things to do and despite what a lot of bands say the vast majority still would love to be number 1 on TOTP.

    Also i know ratings are no true gauge but Kanye's latest got a perffect 10.0 on pitchfork the snootisiest indie website out there (well it was).

    I regard Pop music as 'kitsch' which as an artist I have to believe is the enemy of real art. It's a formulaic simulation. It's an imitation of other music with none of the artistry.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 260 ✭✭Kid V


    Think i used to be a pretty bad snob but i've forced myself to get better and i've embraced my guilty pleasures so much so that i'm not guilty anymore. Sigur Rós and the Sugababes happily coexist on my ipod.

    You can never truly slay the snob inside though. I cant help rolling my eyes when someone puts on crap music at a party.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,457 ✭✭✭Rigsby


    Kold wrote: »
    I regard Pop music as 'kitsch' which as an artist I have to believe is the enemy of real art. It's a formulaic simulation. It's an imitation of other music with none of the artistry.

    "Real art" is in the eye (ear) of the beholder. ;)

    That's the beauty of music..it is so personal.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,805 ✭✭✭Setun


    lordgoat wrote: »
    Writing a pop hit is still one of the most difficult things to do and despite what a lot of bands say the vast majority still would love to be number 1 on TOTP.

    To say the obvious about the charts: it's generally about hype generation, and has been for a couple of decades - if Lady Gaga etc releases a new single, it will get in the top 5, if not number 1, in the download charts because of the level of anticipation drummed up by the record label and the media. Never mind if the record was accidentally released without the vocal track, if it's completely atonal, if it's badly produced, or even if she goes all Stockhausen and does something royally nuts with a string quartet and a couple of helicopters, it will do well in the charts. Pop musicians are icons - their celebrity is a greater selling point than their ability to produce music, and I find it difficult to enjoy their music with that in mind. I can appreciate Lady Gaga's ability to distort expectation and write a catchy tune, but as of yet she hasn't released anything that I would have a place for in my music collection.

    So maybe I'm a snob? Probably but perhaps not consciously - it's also a question of aesthetics and subconscious preference. Whatever formula they've crowd-sourced that results in The Ultimate Pop Song In The Year 2010 simply grates in my mind and does not produce any satisfactory auditory sensations, and to a large extent, this is out of my control - perhaps like people prefer certain foods over others without quite being able to articulate exactly why.
    Kold wrote:
    I regard Pop music as 'kitsch' which as an artist I have to believe is the enemy of real art. It's a formulaic simulation. It's an imitation of other music with none of the artistry.
    While it sounds pretentious to say the above, I completely agree with it. But I suppose it's necessary to define pop music as being music made with the end-goal of selling by pandering to a general consensus, rather than a record that is released without chart-topping in mind and subsequently becomes popular. It could be speculated that some time in the last 30 years this paradigm changed from the latter to the former.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,467 ✭✭✭Oasis_Dublin


    Kid V wrote: »
    You can never truly slay the snob inside though. I cant help rolling my eyes when someone puts on crap music at a party.

    I know someone like you. The worst kind of person:rolleyes:


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