Music and intelligence

[Nickolai77]

The reason they published SAT scores instead of IQ scores is because they couldn't determine a trend when they used IQ scores.

Taste in music is more dependent on someone's personality type than on their intelligence. Introverts might be more inclined to listen to classical or jazz or metal, but that doesn't make them smarter.

Being introverts is what makes them smarter.

I knew the assertion that fans of metal/rock music are smarter than pop rap fans had a flaw somewhere...yet i was thinking its barking up the right tree in part and i think you got the connection. Introverts are by nature more reflectful and thoughtful, and are thus drawn to music which mirrors that aspect in their personality.

That said, extroverts are not stupid either, its just their their intelligences lie elsewhere (e.g- social intelligence, leadership and other areas depending on the individual).

If you trace the geneaology of music, you'll find that metal is the direct descendant and heir to the throne of classical.

What the hell? Metal derives from experimentation within psychedelic rock, which is just blues-rock + drugs. Then both rock and the blues stem from a combination of hillbilly country music and post-african folk music. Where does classical composition come into it?

No, i heard of this connection on a documentry about metal music, though its important to note though that metal is connected to a specific sub-genre of classical music, and not classical music as a whole. I carn't remember what exactly the connection is, its probably something to do with music theory. Themeatically, metal could be quite easily connected to Wagner's classical music-Der Ring des Nibelungen could have come straight out of a power metal album. Instumentally...there is small connection, but its important not to over state this- metal owes more to rock and by consiquent blues music.

 

[The Hairminator]

I listen to everything ranging from classical music to death metal, jazz and pop. And I'm more intelligent than most, if I may so

 

[Flames66]

No. Its not right, its an evidence-less assertion thinly veiling a strait up attack on the mental state of people who listen to music she doesn't like.

You must listen to classical to use all those big words.

OT I agree with this. I don't think that what kind of music you listen to determines your intelligence level.

 

[SMILEYkyle21]

well thats interesting... score one for the metal heads i suppose

 

[Mr. GameBrain]

I listen to Metal, Rock, and Videogame music, (classical?) mainly, (with Deep Purple and Iron Maiden consuming most of my listening time!), but I do like other types of music, if its sounds nice, but more importantly, has a "soul" behind it, (you know? genuine effort! (which a lot of musicians seem to be lacking these days).

Am I intelligent? I got Bs and a few As for my GCSE's, 3 C's at A level, and currently have first semester grades at uni of: F1 (because I didn't do the work), B1,A2 and A1.
So I'm pretty decent, but that still doesn't prove this is right though.

Some people who are thought to be "stupid", aren't actually, they just learn differently, and communicate thier understanding differently.

My older brother is fairly smart, but he acts like a typical idiot, listening to hip-hop, rap, R&B, and Techno (genres I'm not too keen on!) and he's doing fine at Uni as well.
(when he's not being lazy that is!).

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Metal does tend to be a little more complex musically than a lot of pop music, but I can't imagine it has any effect on your brain apart from making you feel DAMN GOOD! (mosh mosh)

Now gaming, on the other hand...

 

[Dys]

It may be statistically true, but that doesn't mean there's a connection.

Quoted for truth. Any genre of music that isn't heavily marketed has a higher share of intelligent fans than those that are constantly given airtime and billboard space. It doesn't really reflect that people who listen to x are more intelligent.

 

[Steagony]

For every intelligent metalhead who actually knows something about music theres 5 thick bastards in slayer shirts.....

What's wrong with Slayer? They're premier thrash metal icons, I don't know how you can diss them, bro.

 

[Ytmh]

Metal/Classical: As has already been stated in the thread, metal and classical are often put in a similar zone because of the complexity of their rhythms and general composition.

I LOL'd rather hard at this thread but this in particular. I take it that when people talk "classical" they mean BEETHOVEN, not the entire history of the western musical canon, right?? I mean sure as hell not talking about John Cage, Ligeti or Machaut, right? With the absurdly large differences in style and aesthetics that all this implies.

As for metal having anything to do with, erm, "classical music" (whatever that may be) yeah they share the same notes. I guess. But really now, anyone who actually knows anything about both of these genres in any detail would never make the comparison. I mean what does "general composition" even imply? Even if we're comparing it with Beethoven his music forms and so on are of ridiculous complexity compared to practically ANY modern genre because the focus is simply different, lol.

The hypothesis itself is just pure speculation, since you'd rather think that someone intelligent may find aspects in ANY music that are interesting to them beyond what "not as intelligent" people hear. Someone who is clever and listens to even the simplest bubblegum pop may actually discover stuff in it that at first glance nobody pays attention to. That sort of thing can make ANY type of music appealing, depending on how much they want to get out of it. Clearly listening to music is not a simple mental process and everyone approaches it differently, and this could be the actual key difference to notice here rather than what type of music it is.

 

[Mr. GameBrain]

For every intelligent metalhead who actually knows something about music theres 5 thick bastards in slayer shirts.....

What's wrong with Slayer? They're premier thrash metal icons, I don't know how you can diss them, bro.

I can see why people don't like Slayer. They tend to be a bit samey.
But World Painted Blood is a great album in my opinion, (I love listening to it all in one go, it has a pretty good flow to it!).
Then again, its a bit like AC/DC. I love 'em, but a lot of songs sound similar. Black Ice, though, I thought, was quite refreshing, (and catchy! ).

On topic: But the point is, different people have different tastes, thats all.
If your going to try to group people on one basis alone, you are only going to get a very vague result.

 

[Zac_Dai]

In this thread, 16 year old metalheads who have an extremely limited knowledge of music.

Also lol at using "techno" to describe the entirety of electronic music.

Basically if you think theres a link in intelligence and music you aren't very intelligent.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

For every intelligent metalhead who actually knows something about music theres 5 thick bastards in slayer shirts.....

What's wrong with Slayer? They're premier thrash metal icons, I don't know how you can diss them, bro.

I love Slayer, but having been at thier gigs I can vouch for him... they have some truly idiotic fans.

I say this having been elbowed in the face by a skinhead with a swastica tattoo in his little group's self made circle pit.

 

[Steagony]

I love Slayer, but having been at thier gigs I can vouch for him... they have some truly idiotic fans.

I say this having been elbowed in the face by a skinhead with a swastica tattoo in his little group's self made circle pit.

Oh, right, he was talking about the fans. My mistake.

 

[Aeriath]

I'd say that people with more intelligence prefer music which has more texture, and experimentation.
Not a genre thing, an artist by artist thing.

Generalization

Scientific? The one that dismissed a particular hypothesis after sample data showed a particular style was not conducive to an enjoyable listening experience.

(the latter).

Hypocrisy

You will never meet enough people in your life to be able to get away with generalizing like that.

I don't believe there is actually a correlation, and the study posted on the first page doesn't do anything to sell the idea to me.

 

[__Anarchy__]

Then what about people who listen to Punk and Alternative are they in the middle?

OT: my mate is a smart kid and hes into R&B and Techno like its going out of fashion (which it unfortunately isn't )

 

[Rararaz]

This is a baseless and stupid argument. (although kudos on the debating side of things).

Even more so than ever there are blurred lines between the musical genres and individuals have wider music tastes than even ten years ago due to the accessibility of music. Therefore even if this idea was true in the past it is less likely to be so now. I have close friends who listen to metal and are idiots just as I have a one friend who listens to metal and is very clever.

Well, let's look at simple trend:


First, [a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.105419-Poll-Favourite-Music-Genre#1695584"]the Escapist's favourite music genre[/a].

Now let's look at [a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.88498-Poll-Do-you-know-your-IQ-What-is-it#1358131"]the 'what is your IQ' thread[/a].

I know IQ isn't a very good measurement of intelligence, but it works for this example.

Works for what? To show that there is not trend? On top of the reasons that this isn't reliable anyways you have to take into account the demographic that is on the escapist.

...Metal?

Yes, metal. In terms of the rhythms and chords used, classical and metal are highly similar. it's unsurprising, really. If you trace the geneaology of music, you'll find that metal is the direct descendant and heir to the throne of classical. Which is probably why this works so well.

How musical are you? Metal in terms of "rhythms and chords" is equally similar to most other musical genres (it will always vary in every genre). Just becasue there has been a trend in metal to cover classical songs does not mean that it is any more similar to classical music than other genres. Thousands of songs follow the same progressions as classical music becasue calssical music is older and more familiar. The most famous classical songs use natural chord/note changes and therefore these are copied/reused/rediscovered in all music. Flamenco shares more with classical in actual musical terms than metal.

 

[Ytmh]

I wish actual examples were named rather than just "classical" or "metal," since this means absolutely nothing. Are we talking about Mozart? Couperin? Bach? Hindemith? Which is it??

Also what are these "chords" I keep hearing about? You mean cadence harmony? Baroque affects? No matter where you look it's retarded to even compare Mahler to Mozart, or Liszt and Bach, and they're all "classical." Nevermind the entire 20th century.

I know also that the differences between bands, while perhaps less than within the "classical" music canon, are substantial enough to make generalizations sort of dumb. Yeah sure if you know how to play guitar you can practically see how most groups put together their songs, but that doesn't mean anything (since the same can be said to knowing music theory allowing you to see how everyone else put their songs together.)

In this thread, 16 year old metalheads who have an extremely limited knowledge of music.

No kidding...

 

[Phoenixlight]

No, stupid people listen to both metal and classical music aswell :/

 

[Arcticflame]

I'd say that people with more intelligence prefer music which has more texture, and experimentation.
Not a genre thing, an artist by artist thing.

Besides, most people who listen to pop and techno are willing to listen to metal or classical, but most people who listen to classical and metal won't even bother with pop or techno, so which "group" is showing the more scientific mindset?

Scientific? The one that dismissed a particular hypothesis after sample data showed a particular style was not conducive to an enjoyable listening experience.

(the latter).

But, as you said, music must be taken on an artist by artist basis. Someone who listens to 50 Cent and decides they hate Rap misses out on Tupac and early Eminem. Going back to the scientific point, metalheads will usually take a small sample size and judge an entire genre on it, while people who listen to pop* usually give bands a try, without judging an entire type of music off of one band.

*Also, how the hell do you judge "pop" music? Technically Metallica and Led Zepplin is "popular" with teenage morons, so does that make them pop?

I realise this entirely. My post was merely me trying to be a smart arse.

Although I do say, people who listen to vacuous pop music. Are without a doubt more stupid.

 

[Serge A. Storms]

I noticed where pre-punk, punk, folk, blues and Motown aren't even part of this clearly sophisticated study, despite their popularity and widely recognized status as "intelligent" music of the 20th century. I guess people that listen to anything other than the specific genres mentioned just fall somewhere in the middle.