Not entertaining other types of music..

[Digby]

Why do so many people seem to only enjoy music from a certain genre and completely dismiss anything outside of that genre?

Is it that these types of listeners simply appreciate a certain style and construction of song, rather than appreciating 'music'? Is it as simple as "you like what you like" or is there more to this?

I will happily flick from country to hard rock, from 80's electro to an Irish ditty, 70's disco to some 60's prog rock, classic Motown to classical, Reggae to Jazz and may end up listening to African drums...(and lots more besides).

I will admit there are songs I don't have much fondness for, so I do have an understanding of not finding a 'bond', but I will still listen.Pretty much anything which is well constructed will get a listen, but numerous people I know will listen to rock, for example and absolutely nothing else.As soon as a new band appears who can make a very similar sound to what they are used to, they instantly love them and off they go on their rock trip once again.I know people who do the same for specific types of dance tracks, even though many of them, by their own admittance, do sound much the same.

I have seen some people 'come around' when forced to listen to certain selections when they are trapped in a car on a long journey for example, but I have always been curious how you can play something like.... (pick from one of million songs here) Genesis - Supper's Ready and have someone suggest "What the hell is this #@it?" Even if that type of track is not your prefered style, how can you NOT accept that it is an amazing musical journey?

What makes some people go "wow, love this" and others suggest "Utter turd"

[technodup]

I listen pretty much exclusively to hardcore. More specifically English hardcore/jungle from 92-93 and the more Scottish/Dutch hardcore/gabber from 94-96. Hardcore outside of these years is not to be given ear time, never mind other genres, with the exception of 98ish trance.

This is quite a narrow listening experience granted, but it's what I grew up with and never grew out of.

I'll dip in and out of Youtube when I'm bored and play stuff like the Specials, Killers, or Caro Emerald but I'd never pay for them. There are still hardcore records I haven't got yet. Don't know if that answers your question.

[kowalski655]

As a middle aged man with such diverse stuff as 80s pop,,prog,eurovision,NWA & early rap,,country,folk,etc on my phone,I am firmly of the view that there is no bad music,just music you dont like personally (except anything from the X Factor,thats ALL ste )

Take time to explore other areas & there will always be stuff that you like,or at least tolerate,just pick a video o Youtube & then go from there by clicking on the sidebar of similar stuff,and who knows where you end up
You may not buy any of it but you cant complain about other peoples tastes(unless its blasting pout of car speakers at 1am when youre trying to sleep,or through scratchy earphones on a quiet train)
I just wish most radio stations didnt play thesame stuff over & over

[DanoS4]

FWIW, it's just as hard to get publishers to go with your music......

[Z06George]

Never understood properly narrow minded people when it comes to music genres. You miss out on so much! I've been luckier than others as I've played instruments since I was 7 so that I've been exposed to more genres at a more accepting age IMO. There's some genres I can't listen to a lot of music from, but apart from punk and grindocre (with the exception of one band) I'm happy to listen to anything. Baroque composers to black metal bands, be bop to gangster rap. There are certain artists/bands/composers that represent their genre better than others and listening to a bad one can dim your view of that genre but personally I think I'd lose my mind if I listened to just one genre of music.

[THX]

It's when people say 'I only listen to REAL music' that my ahole Alert starts screaming. As if their chosen genre is the be all and end all of musical taste.

I'm of the opinion that you can find something to appreciate in most popular records. Even if it's not your thing, like say a fluffy pop tune, often the production values are top notch. And, as a drummer, I listen to the session musicians hired to play for >whatever pop idol of the month< with nothing but admiration. Even if the tune is fairly simple, keeping steady time and nice clean fills is an art form in itself.

Personally, I struggle with hardcore mental. But the musicianship on display is often mind blowing. Not my thing, but worthy of respect.

[kowalski655]

DanoS4 said:

FWIW, it's just as hard to get publishers to go with your music......

Surely its never been easier to get your music out there,with the internet,Youtube,Bandcamp etc? Or am I utterly wrong?

[singlecoil]

There are some forms of music that I find it hard to believe that some people actually like. Surely they can only be pretending to like it? Obvious examples would be the more screechy type of opera (I like G&S) and jazz, of course.

[Halmyre]

singlecoil said:

There are some forms of music that I find it hard to believe that some people actually like. Surely they can only be pretending to like it? Obvious examples would be the more screechy type of opera (I like G&S) and jazz, of course.

Country AND Western...

[6th Gear]

singlecoil said:

There are some forms of music that I find it hard to believe that some people actually like. Surely they can only be pretending to like it? Obvious examples would be the more screechy type of opera (I like G&S) and jazz, of course.

Which type of jazz in particular?

Jazz is a broad genre that includes many different styles.

[singlecoil]

6th Gear said:

singlecoil said:

There are some forms of music that I find it hard to believe that some people actually like. Surely they can only be pretending to like it? Obvious examples would be the more screechy type of opera (I like G&S) and jazz, of course.

Which type of jazz in particular?

Jazz is a broad genre that includes many different styles.

The sort of jazz that doesn't have melodies.

[Tom_C76]

I'm with singlecoil here, the majority of modern jazz can be accurately described as too many notes played in the wrong order.

Can't say I like reggae either. Particularly not reggae played by white guys, ie The Police and UB40.

[6th Gear]

Fair enough. I respect some styles of jazz could put someone off the entire genre.

[conkerman]

But do these individuals only eat fish fingers or chicken Korma?

[Z06George]

Tom_C76 said:

I'm with singlecoil here, the majority of modern jazz can be accurately described as too many notes played in the wrong order.

Can't say I like reggae either. Particularly not reggae played by white guys, ie The Police and UB40.

Again that completely depends on the style of jazz, modern jazz isn't just one genre. Also I wouldn't say The Police are reggae?! Granted Stewart Copeland has that vibe to his playing but he does mention it as a big influence in his playing but I'd say they were more rock by some way. Anyway getting away from the subject.

[kowalski655]

Fair enough if you are into modermn jazz,I think it sounds like the playerr is making it up as they go along,and would never be able to repeat the same tune, but I wont take the piss(much! ) out of you for it

[Fantuzzi]

kowalski655 said:

I think it sounds like the playerr is making it up as they go along

I thought that was the point of improvising...


I find it interesting when you consider how many different musical paths you can go down from just one starting point. Take a super popular band like Queen, you can like the Rock elements of them from songs like 'sheer heart attack' or 'stone cold crazy' and then get into Deep Purple, Sabbath etc and from there the metal bands of the 80s with that fast heavy riffage, or the theatrical side of things with Glam rock of T-Rex and Bowie and that might take you down more poppy roots like Elton John, or if you like the experimental craziness get into Prog and psychedelic music of Genesis, King Crimson, Floyd and that might take you into Jazzy stuff or ambient music.

That's why I don't lament the internet age, it gives people a chance to say 'who the hell are vanilla fudge' and go check them out and find new and interesting stuff.

There isn't any genre I don't appreciate, but with any thing some stuff just grabs you while other just don't. I'm sure a physiologist might be able to give some more reasons on why we like the things we do, I'm guessing childhood and positive associations have a large part to play!

[Tom_C76]

There's improvising and improvising though. One of my local pubs has a long tradition of putting on bands on a weekend, local scene rock or blues clovers mainly. This brings in a decent crowd, so they've decided to add a monthly "jazz" evening on a Thursday. I happened to be in town, saw my drummer in said pub so stopped for a listen. The band were playing jazz/funk, 10 minute improve that they'd clearly rehearsed and was (IMHO) fretboard masturbation. Drummer was good though, but far louder than any of the rock bands are allowed to be.

[Justin Cyder]

When it comes to excessively self regarding note smithery, I'm wholeheartedly with Johnny Marr.

Johnny Marr said:

There's a lot of guitar culture that I don't like at all. I find the traditional idea of the guitar hero to be really irrelevant to the 1990s. I don't think that young people are that impressed with some guy brandishing Spandex trousers and a hideously shaped guitar, playing that kind of masturbatory, egotistical noise. Being a soloist who wants to just display virtuosity is a dated philosophy, and I don't think there's any room for it in pop music. It's the last stand of late-'60s/early-'70s rockism, and it should have gone a long time ago.

[Halmyre]

Justin Cyder said:

When it comes to excessively self regarding note smithery, I'm wholeheartedly with Johnny Marr.

Johnny Marr said:

There's a lot of guitar culture that I don't like at all. I find the traditional idea of the guitar hero to be really irrelevant to the 1990s. I don't think that young people are that impressed with some guy brandishing Spandex trousers and a hideously shaped guitar, playing that kind of masturbatory, egotistical noise. Being a soloist who wants to just display virtuosity is a dated philosophy, and I don't think there's any room for it in pop music. It's the last stand of late-'60s/early-'70s rockism, and it should have gone a long time ago.

This is what comes of working with Mancunian miserabilists for too long.