Music Elitists
- Thread starter Stalkingpanda14
- Start date
Recommended Videos
I don't care for classic rock much, but I do enjoy Prog metal, among other sub-genres of metal. Maybe I can shed some light.
I wouldn't really consider myself an elitist, but I do enjoy some music more than others, for 2 reasons.
1. Technicality
I'm a musician and this is something I've learned to enjoy in music over a period of time. Bands like Periphery, In Flames, BTAM, HAARP Machine, etc. are particular favorites. So when I do hear a mainstream song, I don't really enjoy it because they tend to be catchy. There's nothing wrong with being catchy, but catchy doesn't always mean it's musically interesting, IMO.
2. Lyrical content
Mainstream music (at least, the stuff my friends constantly play or what I hear on the radio) tends to have some shallow lyrical content. Some of it I just don't appreciate (I.E., sex, drugs, women, alcohol, money) and some of I just don't "get". I like to be able to get behind what the artist intended with their lyrics. Bands like Hatebreed and Killswitch Engage (among others) have lyrics themed around, redemption, perserverence, etc.
With that being said, not all mainstream songs/artists fall within that category. But in my experience, most do.
So I guess I would agree with these so-called elitists, but I'm not going to bash other people's choice in music just because I don't understand the appeal. :/ (That being said, I'm not going to listen to it. Sorry.
)
EDIT: One last thing, their does seem to be a line between musicians and regular listeners.
I wouldn't really consider myself an elitist, but I do enjoy some music more than others, for 2 reasons.
1. Technicality
I'm a musician and this is something I've learned to enjoy in music over a period of time. Bands like Periphery, In Flames, BTAM, HAARP Machine, etc. are particular favorites. So when I do hear a mainstream song, I don't really enjoy it because they tend to be catchy. There's nothing wrong with being catchy, but catchy doesn't always mean it's musically interesting, IMO.
2. Lyrical content
Mainstream music (at least, the stuff my friends constantly play or what I hear on the radio) tends to have some shallow lyrical content. Some of it I just don't appreciate (I.E., sex, drugs, women, alcohol, money) and some of I just don't "get". I like to be able to get behind what the artist intended with their lyrics. Bands like Hatebreed and Killswitch Engage (among others) have lyrics themed around, redemption, perserverence, etc.
With that being said, not all mainstream songs/artists fall within that category. But in my experience, most do.
So I guess I would agree with these so-called elitists, but I'm not going to bash other people's choice in music just because I don't understand the appeal. :/ (That being said, I'm not going to listen to it. Sorry.
)EDIT: One last thing, their does seem to be a line between musicians and regular listeners.
Want anything specific? I'm pretty good at this.Vault101 said:
Here's a Classical comparison.
Here is the first movement of Beethoven's Pathetique.
<youtube=79gzdskOGu4>
It starts slow, but shows great range in dynamics (volume), with sudden runs and lots of self-resolving dissonance and a bit of counterpoint (but mostly harmony). Then, around the 1:50 mark, it enters the "OH LAWD MAH FINGERS" section, where the left hand is literally setting the pace and the right hand is simply meant to keep up. It has dozens of runs, trills, asserted chords, chord-runs (the thought of those make me wince), and LOTS of dynamic-and-tempo change.
Now, on the other hand, we have Muzio Clementi's training pieces.
<youtube=9es11bhipl4>
Dynamics are fairly static, with only a couple changes. Tempo never changes. An easy (almost solo) theme is easily picked out, and repeated and varied throughout the piece. At any given time, no more than two notes are played. It's excellent for learning basics of piano (I remember actually playing this one when I played piano).
Did you want something less drastic than that?
To the OP: It doesn't matter what type of music you like as long as you enjoy it. If you're young this rule sounds odd, but if you're in your thirties+ then go for the 10 year rule.
Basically that means: I can enjoy new music but for a song to last ten years means there must be something about it right? It's eye opening honestly! I find liking songs I hated earlier (on principle) and just generally not being so bothered about what's good or bad, just what I personally like.
An odd ramble from myself, and a badly explained point of view, but basically, if you like it, sod everyone else, as long as it's a good song.
Basically that means: I can enjoy new music but for a song to last ten years means there must be something about it right? It's eye opening honestly! I find liking songs I hated earlier (on principle) and just generally not being so bothered about what's good or bad, just what I personally like.
An odd ramble from myself, and a badly explained point of view, but basically, if you like it, sod everyone else, as long as it's a good song.
Lyrics =/= music. If we're talking about poetry you could make the argument Black Dog is "bad art", but we're not talking about poetry. Black Dog's majesty is in its sound.Stalkingpanda14 said:
I like music that, while not necessarily that technical, is epic and layered. Listen to Ghost Love Score or Creek Mary's Blood by Nightwish. I don't know or care what they're singing about, it just sounds good.
Dude, how dare you steal my avatar! >:{ lolSushiJaguar said:
ah...so the backing beat of that song isnt very musically complex? (I mean aside form the fact that no one is physically playing it) I guess I can kind of see thatMonkeyGH said:
Not very technical --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0
Pretty technical --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJWuXfiXYI0
thats some fuckin piano playing 0_0.....lacktheknack said:
perhaps more mainstream/contemporay, when people talk about and point out bands they describe as technically complex (like dream theatre) I'm kind of wondering how it compares to the kind of stuff I generally like to listen too
Speaking as a musical elitist, I say that the main thing that I'm against is pre-fabricated bands/artists. Bands engineered not through their own artistic drives, but by corporations or other benefactors. When you are tailoring your look or music because it will sell more (note - not just to make it more enjoyable or to satisfy an artistic urge), you are now a prefab band/artist (at which point I stop caring about you).
A lot of people think of pop music when pre-fabrication or corporate music comes up. However, it's not exclusive to that genre. Example: often credited with being one of the greatest punk bands in history, the Sex Pistols were generated by a businessman/shop-owner named Malcolm McLaren, who convinced an existing band (the Strands, I think) to change their music and look to suit the style going on in the Manhattan punk scene that he had been exposed to. In fact, their last added member (the notorious Sid Vicious) was only picked because he looked the part (he had never previously played the instrument for which they filled the position). Every genre that has gained fame results in "THE INDUSTRY" (I wish I could add scary sound effects to that phrase) trying to turn a profit on it.
This phenomenon is not restricted to music, either. We are on a gaming website and we have all heard someone (most likely branded as an elitist) talk about how AAA developers are only releasing brown FPS games. Why? Because games like Call of Duty, at one time, filled a niche that resulted in it being extremely popular. Corporations get the scent of money and start driving themes/mechanics into the ground.
Now, in regards to being an elitist, I would say that the best thing you can do is avoid negativity. If you talk to a fan of a shitty artist you don't like and say that the stuff they like is shit and they're shitty for liking it, you won't change their opinion or the musical landscape. They'll just think you are an asshole.
If you focus on the positive and find artists that share commonalities, you may be able to convince the person to listen to some of your more "underground" choices. They'll be more enriched and you won't look like an elitist jerk.
A lot of people think of pop music when pre-fabrication or corporate music comes up. However, it's not exclusive to that genre. Example: often credited with being one of the greatest punk bands in history, the Sex Pistols were generated by a businessman/shop-owner named Malcolm McLaren, who convinced an existing band (the Strands, I think) to change their music and look to suit the style going on in the Manhattan punk scene that he had been exposed to. In fact, their last added member (the notorious Sid Vicious) was only picked because he looked the part (he had never previously played the instrument for which they filled the position). Every genre that has gained fame results in "THE INDUSTRY" (I wish I could add scary sound effects to that phrase) trying to turn a profit on it.
This phenomenon is not restricted to music, either. We are on a gaming website and we have all heard someone (most likely branded as an elitist) talk about how AAA developers are only releasing brown FPS games. Why? Because games like Call of Duty, at one time, filled a niche that resulted in it being extremely popular. Corporations get the scent of money and start driving themes/mechanics into the ground.
Now, in regards to being an elitist, I would say that the best thing you can do is avoid negativity. If you talk to a fan of a shitty artist you don't like and say that the stuff they like is shit and they're shitty for liking it, you won't change their opinion or the musical landscape. They'll just think you are an asshole.
If you focus on the positive and find artists that share commonalities, you may be able to convince the person to listen to some of your more "underground" choices. They'll be more enriched and you won't look like an elitist jerk.
Vault 101,
I'm a drummer, so yes, I would say that the drum parts in both songs are very different. However, maybe I constructed my example badly because one is made using a computer (or whatever) while one is played with instruments. The piano guy has an excellent example of technicality.
I'm a drummer, so yes, I would say that the drum parts in both songs are very different. However, maybe I constructed my example badly because one is made using a computer (or whatever) while one is played with instruments. The piano guy has an excellent example of technicality.
I am okay with people liking whatever they like, regardless of what it is. The only half-exception is mainstream pop...but that is not necessarily a problem with its sound, but rather the fact that the media generally pushes, shoves, and throws it at people, (us), at every possible turn, making it hard for people to explore and find other things that they might like, if they only knew about it. But that's really nothing to do with people's taste, but rather the industry as a whole, so hence why it's only a half-exception.
People can like Justin Bieber...but it's hard for me to not take that opinion with a whole lot of grains of salt when he and similar artists are the only music they really know about. *shrug*
People can like Justin Bieber...but it's hard for me to not take that opinion with a whole lot of grains of salt when he and similar artists are the only music they really know about. *shrug*
Couldn't agree more. I really don't understand mainstream music simply because it seems...bland? But yes, it is really tailored to the lowest common denominator.el_kabong said:
Being a musician...I'm selfish and only want to play the kind of music I actually enjoy playing.
This thread is fun:
- OP creates thread to oppose music elitism
- OP him/herself sounds vaguely elitist in post
- Lots of people are openly elitist in thread
Also, saying that music is "superior" due to it being technically more complex (something lots of people seem to be saying or implying in this thread) is akin to saying that a game is superior because it has better graphics.
- OP creates thread to oppose music elitism
- OP him/herself sounds vaguely elitist in post
- Lots of people are openly elitist in thread
Also, saying that music is "superior" due to it being technically more complex (something lots of people seem to be saying or implying in this thread) is akin to saying that a game is superior because it has better graphics.
yeah...I supose I ment more musically as "technically complex" can also refer to phsically playing itMonkeyGH said:Vault 101,
I'm a drummer, so yes, I would say that the drum parts in both songs are very different. However, maybe I constructed my example badly because one is made using a computer (or whatever) while one is played with instruments. The piano guy has an excellent example of technicality.
I like music elitists. I like to pick them apart by making fun of their shit .
You like death metal? Really? I think all their lead singers sound like the cookie monster: "graaarrr! mwarrrr! CISFORCOOKIEGOODENOUGHFORME!"
Speed Metal? Oh, you mean polka-metal! Love that stuff, man!
You like emo? Naw, too easy
Myself, I like most music. I'll listen to most things except rap and country, but even then there are a few songs/artists from those genres I like (seriously, who doesn't like Johnny Cash)
.You like death metal? Really? I think all their lead singers sound like the cookie monster: "graaarrr! mwarrrr! CISFORCOOKIEGOODENOUGHFORME!"
Speed Metal? Oh, you mean polka-metal! Love that stuff, man!
You like emo? Naw, too easy
Myself, I like most music. I'll listen to most things except rap and country, but even then there are a few songs/artists from those genres I like (seriously, who doesn't like Johnny Cash)
Most definitely.Vault101 said:yeah...I supose I ment more musically as "technically complex" can also refer to phsically playing itMonkeyGH said:Vault 101,
I'm a drummer, so yes, I would say that the drum parts in both songs are very different. However, maybe I constructed my example badly because one is made using a computer (or whatever) while one is played with instruments. The piano guy has an excellent example of technicality.
Can you give a specific example maybe? I'm really curious now, haha.CrunkParty said:You've never met a music elitist in your life. Just as a little experiment, take that to /mu/ and see how it works out for you.Grottnikk said:I like music elitists. I like to pick them apart by making fun of their shit
You like death metal? Really? I think all their lead singers sound like the cookie monster: "graaarrr! mwarrrr! CISFORCOOKIEGOODENOUGHFORME!"
Speed Metal? Oh, you mean polka-metal! Love that stuff, man!
You like emo? Naw, too easy
People in this thread seriously underestimating what these people are capable of. Nothing sways them. They're like autistic rocks.
I guess, I called them elitist because they believe their music is teh best ever and everything else is trash...but perhaps "ignorance" is a better term (because its not like AC/DC and guns roses is the epitome of musical brilliance)CrunkParty said:
and whats the deal with metal heads hating on Justin beiber? its like "dude....what did he do to you?"