Taking music too seriously

Ruralyoke · 22-05-2012 03:29PM

I am a bit of a music snob though. Can't help it. At least I admit it.:o

enfant terrible · 22-05-2012 03:29PM

Ruralyoke wrote: »

Problem is, most people are a "something" snob.

Maybe it's all happy clappy and who cares man? whatever you like man when it comes to music, but if you dare tell that same guy that e.g. Blue nun is really nice... :eek:

...well you're automatically a philistine who probably has nits as well.

True with the middle east too, i'm Israel and my friend's Palestine.

Make's it more interesting when you pick a side.

wonton · 22-05-2012 03:30PM

Kev_2012 wrote: »

I find that especially in metal, people think they have to assimilate the "culture" associated with it. I think everyone falls into this trap with different types of music (what clothes to wear and who you hang around with etc.), but you grow up to realise its all bollocks.

thats also bollocks though, when that happens it usually means they are just assimilating to some other "culture" which doesnt mean they are somehow more enlightened, probably means their new job or being a parent means its easier for them if they dont dress like a rocker, not necessarily they realise its bollocks, situation dictates it.

Dudess · 22-05-2012 03:30PM

They can listen to Justin Bieber all they want - and others can say he's sh1t.

Dudess · 22-05-2012 03:32PM

Ruralyoke wrote: »

I am a bit of a music snob though. Can't help it. At least I admit it.:o

I'd bet you're not - personal preference is not snobbery.

The way people get pissed off at those who prefer a band's earlier stuff is gas - and another form of snobbery. I prefer Kings Of Leon's earlier stuff - because I think it's better, end of.

To me, a music snob is someone who pretends not to like something just because it's popular or not credible enough.

There's all this talk of music snobbery by people who want to come across as really tolerant and express how enraged they are by it - but I can't say I've come across much actual music snobbery at all.

Oasis, U2 and Coldplay fans get the most butt-hurt - they're hilarious. I find all three bands mediocre overall, but they still have plenty of individual songs which I like. Apparently though, you're a snob (and a begrudger in the case of U2) if you simply don't like them... and it's the Bieber fans etc who are seen as the ones whose tastes are policed?!

Sky King · 22-05-2012 03:43PM

RichieC wrote: »

Bull****e, my love of music only grows as I age.

Agreed.

It's also easier than ever before to find music you like and listen to it on demand with the internet.

When I think of the sh!t I had to put up with when I was a kid... ordering in CDs that would take a few weeks to arrive and the radio never playing stuff that I liked....!

metaoblivia · 22-05-2012 03:43PM

Take music too seriously? I studied music for years - that would probably be considered taking music too seriously by some. But it was and is something I enjoyed.

As for music snobbery, we all like to think we have the best taste, don't we!

But music is largely about how a song or musician makes you feel, so it's almost entirely subjective.

However, there is a craft to it, and that sometimes gets overlooked in light of all of the subjectivity. For example, I have a lot of Britney songs on my ipod. She's not the greatest vocalist, but her music gets me going, especially if I'm working out. I do not have any Frank Sinatra songs on my ipod because I can't stand that man's music. But objectively, he's an incredible singer, much better than Ms. Spears. Not my cup of tea, but I can't deny the man's talent, nor can I deny that Britney is rather mediocre when it comes to singing. :pac:

grindle · 22-05-2012 03:44PM

Dudess wrote: »

The way people get pissed off at those who prefer a band's earlier stuff is gas - and another form of snobbery. I prefer Kings Of Leon's earlier stuff - because I think it's better, end of.

Yerra sher, you're welcome.

af_thefragile · 22-05-2012 03:45PM

Music is quite overrated.

Back in my teenage days, like most other teenagers, I used to take music a bit too seriously. I was a bit of a punk rocker and believed music can bring big changes to society and the world and all that, was in a band for a wee bit, studied sound engineering and music production and was generally quite obsessed with music making it part of my "lifestyle" and all of that . Also the kind of music I would listen to was quite narrow ranging from some punk rock to metal. I took my music very seriously.

Then as I grew up, I came to realise how weak a form of expression music is. Infact music is the weakest form of expression imo among all of the arts. Its mearly just a form of pass time entertainment and nothing else. That's when I stopped taking music seriously. The type of music I enjoy broadend and now I just listen to whatever sounds good to me regardless the genre. Although I still appreaciate good musicianship. Love bands like King Crimson, Yes, Pink Floyd etc.

Bottom line is music is just a form of entertainment and there's no point taking it too seriously.

RichieC · 22-05-2012 03:46PM

Sky King wrote: »

Agreed.

It's also easier than ever before to find music you like and listen to it on demand with the internet.

When I think of the sh!t I had to put up with when I was a kid... ordering in CDs that would take a few weeks to arrive and the radio never playing stuff that I liked....!

truly the dark ages! Though a new album in your hand back then had a certain excitement I no longer get.

enfant terrible · 22-05-2012 03:53PM

Beethoven probably took music too seriously, he made some good music though all while he was nearly totally deaf.

Good bbc documentary about him on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx_4UY83C1I

Bipolar Joe · 22-05-2012 03:53PM

I am a media snob in general. Movies, television, music, all art in general. I do try pretty hard not to be a snob, but my mind boggles at the idea of someone who thinks Adele is brilliant and Lady Gaga is the most original thing out there, but have them listen to music even as conventional as Brian Eno or a selection of Autechre, whatever, and they glaze over. I'm confident I do have better musical taste than the crowd who might frequent HMV. Some people just have awful taste. How do you think Cecilia Ahern got to be so big? Someone had to be buying all those terrible, terrible books.

later12 · 22-05-2012 03:53PM

PseudoFamous wrote: »

How can you not like music? That's pretty weird.

How can someone not like sport? That's pretty weird.

Music is just another hobby. I don't think it's 'weird' not to like it.

Statistically improbable, unusual, yes.

Not 'weird'.

wonton · 22-05-2012 03:56PM

random mindblowing fact.

Alice coopers album "thrash" was written by the same person that wrote livin la vida loca by ricky martin and waking up in vegas by katy perry.

aka, the music industry isnt as seperated as the people listening to it

minidazzler · 22-05-2012 03:57PM

later12 wrote: »

How can someone not like sport? That's pretty weird.

Music is just another hobby. I don't think it's 'weird' not to like it.

Statistically improbable, unusual, yes.

Not 'weird'.

It is a bit weird though. Music is absolutely everywhere, TV, Movies, Ads, Radio, even just walking down the street you are likely to hear some music. So not liking "any" music would be weird.

Dudess · 22-05-2012 03:59PM

Bipolar Joe wrote: »

I am a media snob in general. Movies, television, music, all art in general. I do try pretty hard not to be a snob, but my mind boggles at the idea of someone who thinks Adele is brilliant and Lady Gaga is the most original thing out there, but have them listen to music even as conventional as Brian Eno or a selection of Autechre, whatever, and they glaze over. I'm confident I do have better musical taste than the crowd who might frequent HMV. Some people just have awful taste. How do you think Cecilia Ahern got to be so big? Someone had to be buying all those terrible, terrible books.

You're not remotely a snob. I dislike seeing people cave into the mindset. Everyone has personal preference and view what they like as better, otherwise they wouldn't prefer it! Even the "right-on" people here are the very same.

Dudess · 22-05-2012 04:00PM

later12 wrote: »

How can someone not like sport? That's pretty weird.

Music is just another hobby. I don't think it's 'weird' not to like it.

Statistically improbable, unusual, yes.

Not 'weird'.

Saying you don't like music is like saying you don't like food. It's too diverse for there not to be anything at all within it that appeals. Sport is much narrower.

PseudoFamous · 22-05-2012 04:01PM

later12 wrote: »

How can someone not like sport? That's pretty weird.

Music is just another hobby. I don't think it's 'weird' not to like it.

Statistically improbable, unusual, yes.

Not 'weird'.

I was under the impression that "weird" was a synonym for "unusual".

and as for music being a hobby, I don't really think of it as such. I see videogames and TV as a hobby, but to say you don't like music - even a small amount of it - is probably just stubbornness. As long as you have the ability to hear, I don't think its possible to dislike all music.

Ruralyoke · 22-05-2012 04:01PM

Dudess wrote: »

I'd bet you're not - personal preference is not snobbery.

Ah no, I am kinda.

I would definitely, on more than a few occasions have thought "well actually you haven't a clue. You are simply wrong."

enfant terrible · 22-05-2012 04:02PM

wonton wrote: »

random mindblowing fact.

Alice coopers album "thrash" was written by the same person that wrote livin la vida loca by ricky martin and waking up in vegas by katy perry.

aka, the music industry isnt as seperated as the people listening to it

Ya I said that earlier Justin Bieber and Britney Spears are working with the best producers in the world so no surprise some of their songs are good whether you like Justin Bieber or not.

Cathy Dennis wrote eight UK no 1's yet most people probably never heard of her.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathy_Dennis#UK_and_US_number_1_compositions

humbert · 22-05-2012 04:02PM

Domo230 wrote: »

I do recall a very common medical condition (cant remember the name) where people can't process the sounds right and so it all sounds very similar and bland to them.

It's very common and most of them don't like music.

Edit: It's Amusia: Affects 4 percent of people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4655352.stm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amusia

Bloody hell, that test from Newcastle Uni doesn't half go on. Would like to know the results from the first 30 god damn pairs but it went on to part 2 without any indication how many more were to come.

You'd need a psych evaluation after listening to that many electronic sounds.

grindle · 22-05-2012 04:03PM

Instead of the word 'snob', can we use 'elitist'?

It carries all the negative connotations for the feeble-minded riff-raff, but none of it for the tasteful.

"Oh, I'm elitist, am I? I believe in some things being better than other things, do I? Thanks!"

later12 · 22-05-2012 04:03PM

Dudess wrote: »

Saying you don't like music is like saying you don't like food. It's too diverse for there not to be anything at all within it that appeals. Sport is much narrower.

It's incomprehensible to some people how anyone doesn't like football or rugby.

I agree that music has broader appeal than sport, but it's still not quite like food - the source of life. It's just a past-time that a lot of people tend to enjoy at the end of the day.

Ruralyoke · 22-05-2012 04:05PM

grindle wrote: »

Instead of the word 'snob', can we use 'elitist'?

It carries all the negative connotations for the feeble-minded riff-raff, but none of it for the tasteful.

"Oh, I'm elitist, am I? I believe in some things being better than other things, do I? Thanks!"

Oh dear oh dear - you sound a little bit dangerous!

enfant terrible · 22-05-2012 04:05PM

later12 wrote: »

It's incomprehensible to some people how anyone doesn't like football or rugby.

Don't know anyone like that.

grindle · 22-05-2012 04:08PM

Ruralyoke wrote: »

Oh dear oh dear - you sound a little bit dangerous!

Dangerous like a paedophile MacGuyver.

Dudess · 22-05-2012 04:09PM

Ruralyoke wrote: »

Ah no, I am kinda.

I would definitely, on more than a few occasions have thought "well actually you haven't a clue. You are simply wrong."

In fairness I wouldn't even say that to my pal who loves Westlife - if she likes them she likes them. That's not wrong. But I will obviously say I think they're sh1t and she freaks over it! Whereas I couldn't care less what derogatory stuff she says about the music I like.

Ruralyoke · 22-05-2012 04:10PM

...but I only think it. I may be a snob, but I'm not rude

Latchy · 22-05-2012 04:12PM

stovelid wrote: »

I take it very seriously as in I love it and listen to it all the time.

Being, however, over the age of 20 means that I don't really care what other people listen to.

Ditto !

I've always loved the fact that there is so much diversity in music out there to explore and enjoy which is why my musical tastes go right across the board ie, popular classics/ pop/rock /soul /folk /electronic / blues .

minidazzler · 22-05-2012 04:14PM

Dudess wrote: »

In fairness I wouldn't even say that to my pal who loves Westlife - if she likes them she likes them. That's not wrong. But I will obviously say I think they're sh1t and she freaks over it! Whereas I couldn't care less what derogatory stuff she says about the music I like.

Just start telling her how life will improve for everyone once Westlife Split up, always works to get my sister wound up

Taking music too seriously

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