I love music. My library is over 15,000 songs strong, and out of those 15,000 songs, I have hundreds of genres. I find it funny when people segregate themselves to a single 'scene' or 'genre'. I listen to music because I find it to be like art... well, music is art. So I guess I could say I listen to music for what it is. If I like it... I like it. If I don't like it... well, I don't like it. I don't care for lyrics. I don't care (that much) for the artists. These elements to me, are after the fact, and superfluous. If the music sounds good to my ears. I'll listen to it. Do I care about the 'pioneers' of the genre? Well, if it sounds good, of course I do. If it doesn't sound good to me... well, I don't listen to it. I don't dress based on the music I listen to, and I don't act like an elitist about my taste in music. Hey, you like listening to a bunch of guys who think they're scary clowns and rap about weird shit? More power to you. Sometimes the 'meaning' behind the song appeals to me, but most of the time it's psuedo-intellectual feel good bullshit. I don't particularly like all the 'accepted' artists that perform within a specific genre, either. I appreciate everything from Classical, Mo-town, Dubstep, Jazz, Country and Folk, to Punk, Ska and Black Metal. I don't let genres bother me, or get in the way, I use them as a way to give you a taste of what I listen to. I am opposed to genre-whoring and over-classifying music, because music is an art, and I don't think it can be correctly compartmentalized. Please someone tell me I'm not alone on music?
Same, I listen to just about everything (or atleast try to). No matter the genre, if it sounds good to my ears, I'll listen.
I hate all the bickering between fans of different genres it is the most ridiculous argument to have with someone.
I wouldnt say you're totally alone on some points. Hardcore and metal were always the primary forms of music I listened to growing up, and I was always big into going to shows, but I just love music in general. I could be at a Madball show going off and then get home and listen to Pink Floyd and Elliott Smith. Being narrow minded is never a good thing. Lyrics however play a big part for me, atleast with hardcore music. Not everyone has people they can turn to in times of trouble or emotional upheaval, so being able to relate to lyrics is important. Its good to know that the person you're listening to has faced similiar adversity in their life as well and it keeps you going. Weed is the other key to that, ha! And the "accepted" artists are jokers like Lil Wayne and Green Day. You wont catch me rockin that shit!
thanks for sharing these views, i very much agree. i hate people who try to look "conceptual" as accoring to their music. but in my case, music really helped me find my identity, which is basically why i don't stick to a certain genre but worse, to a very few musicians whom i kind of make life-long commitment to
I gave up trying to label any of my music as belonging to a particular genre a long long time ago, as an artist. And as a listener, I listen to pretty much every style of music all the time. I completely disagree about lyrics though. They are not superfluous or after the fact, that claim is definitely not "rational." In fact they're the key to most modern music. If you can't find music with good lyrics then you need to find better artists. Plain and simple.
I have to disagree, but agree. I agree with what you said in the way you meant. But there is music out there where lyrics are not what makes the music. So all in all songs without lyrics or where the lyrics aren't the point of the music. Idk nvm Dude I can't think right now
I don't see what's irrational about not caring about lyrics. Emotion has been expounded through prole and prose for thousands of years--I'm not discounting good lyrics, because they're definitely out there, my point is... music is a unique form of expression because it uses sound. Lyrics to me, are nothing more than support for the musical element. How is that irrational?
.................pretty sure singing uses sound too lmao. And, at least historically, music was first created to go with words, not the other way around. If you prefer instrumental music that's fine. That's all you've got to say. To toss notions of "rationality" around and make blanket statements about all lyrical music is just plain ridiculous and narrow-minded.
You're conflating vocals and lyrics. Of course a song with VOCALS that were completely non-sensical is contrary to the notion of art in 'music'. What I'm talking about are the stories and narratives that musicians imbue in their 'music'. I'm saying I don't care about the stories behind the music. There's a difference between LYRICS and VOCALS.
Here's some great words for you to ignore, oh so called rational listener. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwcKwGS7OSQ"]YouTube - Woody Guthrie~ All You Fascists Bound To Lose[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbulO_FB2ZI&NR=1"]YouTube - This Machine Kills fascists[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDS00Pnhkqk&feature=related"]YouTube - Jesus Christ - Woody Guthrie[/ame] The thing about lyrics, is that they are the point of the song, so to fail to care about them, is to be ignorant of the reason they are singing the song in the first place. Is that rationality, or pointlessness? Conflate that. And let some air out of that ego, it's weighing you down.
Not all music is about lyrics. Lyrics are just poetry in music, or spoken word. Sometimes the words are meant to invoke rage to let out anger. Like some screamo songs. Not everyone listens to every genre of music to gather knowledge. Sometimes they are just trying to get rid of their anger.. just let it all out. Some people want to relax, sleep. Some people want to dance to techno. There are so many different genres you can't honestly say if it doesn't have good lyrics then it's not music. Sound is vibration, Vibration is sound. Now who makes the sound, and who makes the music? I've noticed most of you have made a completely POINTLESS arguement in this topic that is WAY off topic. The point of the topic is that NO ONE should chain themselves down to certain genres of music. I can't stand it when I try to show someone a hip hop or metal song and they completely turn a deaf ear as soon as they recognize the genre, before even giving the song a chance. People miss out on a lot of good music because of that ignorance. If you wonder why mainstream music is whack, it's because people who choose to only identify with one genre feel the need to like what "everyone" or the mainstream media tells them is the new cool thing in that genre. Instead of people looking through all genres for the best music they like, they only look at what they hear on tv or the radio that's in their Genre. Then they go on limewire and download that one song, which affects music sales. Which leads to a chain of other problems which in the end leaves amazing indie artist high and dry and working 30 times as hard for less reward. And it leaves the world numb to music to relate and vibe to. Most of you people argueing don't understand that the topic is not saying everyone should listen to mainstream whack music. The part about no lyrics was started over INSTRUMENTAL music. Not music with horrible lyrics. But as I stated not all music is based on what the lyrics are, it's what they invoke inside of you. The topic is about being open minded to all forms of music.
I listen to tons of music as well, I have over 8000 songs on my computer and that is the number that my media library shows - it's what I listen to regularly. I'm very into music, been trying to create it for almost half of my life now. Genres don't really matter at all. I like music you can't place in a certain genre, but I like a lot of artists that stick with a genre as well. I like fun or well thought out lyrics, but I listen to a LOT of instrumental tracks... I like all sorts of things about music, there's an infinite number of ways it can turn out great.