Listening to music - Men vs. Women

[C0ffin D0dger]

Just wondering if this is a common thing or just me that suffers

My idea of listening to music is to stick an album on in a low lit room, preferably on some good kit, decent but not ear shattering volume and get absorbed into it (glass or two of single malt helps here).

Whereas the wife will want to be doing something, e.g. bending my ear about something I have little interest in, moan it's too loud, and usually not like my music choice either as it's a bit weird or whatever. I like a lot of prog rock type stuff as well as electronica particularly the more "ambient" type stuff - FSOL, Orb, Aphex Twin, Global Communication, etc., she really struggles to understand these albums

So I appreciate we have different tastes and I can accept that but the way we appreciate music also differs a great deal. Is it just a man thing or does anyone elses other half happily sit on the sofa and listen to Pink Floyd without interruption?

[GetCarter]

More than 50% of the musicians I have employed in the past year have been female... I think they may have something to say abut that!

[singlecoil]

I'm sure female musicians would have something to say about that, but in the main the OP's observations are borne out by my own.

[Maxf]

My Mrs will generally want to be online or something while we listen to music. I like to kick back and enjoy the music with a glass of wine, and get lost in it for as long as possible. I think she sees it more as a pause between TV shows.

That isnt to say she isnt interested in music - but she definitely humours me a little bit with it all.

She is a(n amateur) pianist though and would much sooner be playing than listening - which I suppose is similar to me not liking watching sport, but being happy to play maybe?

[Mr Will]

For me music is always an accompaniment to something else. I can count on my fingers the number of times I've sat down and just listened to an album without interruption. I'm no audiophile though, I know others differ.

[Mastodon2]

I don't have music on as a background thing. If I'm listening to music I'll have headphones in, a bottle of a nice beer or cider. I can't sit in a well-lit room filled with distractions and enjoy the music. For me, listening to music is a celebration of the expression of emotion and a celebration of the ability of the musicians, you can't do them justice by half-listening while you do something else.

[SWoll]

I don't think it's a man vs woman thing TBH. I find the majority of people listen to music as an accompaniment to other tasks (driving, gym etc.) whereas only a few will actually put aside time to just listen and nothing else. That's why the majority of music has always been shallow and disposable, it works as an ever changing background to other things.

[silvagod]

C0ffin D0dger said:

does anyone elses other half happily sit on the sofa and listen to Pink Floyd without interruption?

Yep, mine does. Been to see The Wall live twice as well.

[probedb]

Obviously down to the individual. I have music on at the gym, on the way to/from work, at work, at home in the background. I very rarely sit down and listen to music any more. But I listen to music far more than I ever have done before, I couldn't cope without it.

[MitchT]

Obviously there are exceptions, but in my experience women want music that can sing along with or dance to. Men want music they can listen to. That said, I always have really emotionally stimulating music on when painting or drawing.

[BorkFactor]

I listen to music pretty much all the time, first thing I do when I get up in the morning is fire up the computer and stick some music on!

My favourite way to listen is similar to others on here, a nice quiet room with a good sound system / headphones and a good glass of beer / single malt.

Have to say, I really enjoy listening to it in the car as well when I am on my own. Turn it up loud and sit back

[davegreg]

I hate having the radio on in the workshop at work, and I never use the car hi fi (it has a nice sounding V8 under the bonnet), but I do listen to a lot of music at home through decent quality headphones, and on my ipod when in the gym. I never play full albums though - I like to flit from one artiste to another as well as one genre to another....mainly Punk and Metal though.