TitouWhat's your most unpopular opinion about music ?
zindericOld bands such as Joy Division are amazing and most new music doesn’t even get close to that.
Not a “good ol’ time” advocate but yeah, music was way better in past.
Eric Clapton is wildly overrated
YES! He’s a massive idiot too.
Cocaine is his only good song.
Now this is an unpopular opinion, mostly about Cocaine being good in any capacity.
Cocaine is great! If it’s good cocaine. And as long as the person doing it is not a fiend.
ripcordI guess my unpopular opinion is that I don’t think that’s a very good song :)
JackFrostNColaLayla is also pretty good imo.
Schwim DandyWhen people complain about new music not living up to old, it just means they’ve quit exploring and form their prejudices on the pop genre they hear, which has always been the lowest hanging song on the tree.
Scrubblesabsolute truth right here. I used to be like that, “Brehh Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and Queen were the last good bands”. Looking back I was such a tool. First because it’s such a douche thing to belittle people for their music preference, and second because there is a ton of a great music. Now I can say I’m honestly a huge swiftie and I like a ton of music across several decades.
We have the most variety of music in history right now. To say “I don’t like new music” is absurd, and you’re exactly right, just means they just don’t even try.
AltoI think survivorship bias plays into it as well. Yeah, most the stuff on the radio today is kinda meh. Most the stuff on the radio in those days was kinda meh too. All the meh songs got forgotten, and you only remember the bangers. You've already seen it happen to 00s music and we're watching it happen with the 10s.
But yeah, it's wild how many people look at how accessible different types of music are now and just... don't go looking.
For so many artists, they’ll have a single hit that survived the test of time and most that didn’t. We hear the one song that not only topped the charts but continued to be remembered. I tried going back to the top 100 songs of the 50’s. Some of them are good (Hound Dog), but others frankly just aren’t very good. Contrast that with the modern day, I had a neighbor growing up who is a professional singer who has better original songs.
Then you just get the factor of time itself. Old includes all surviving music before the present day. When you have centuries of music (if not more),
As an unpopular opinion on the other end, it’s ok to stop participating in pop culture. Pop music, Blockbuster movies, and TV are all meant to sell consumerism to young people with disposable incomes. Not to people who are bogged down by kids and mortgages.
New media isn’t made for your tastes, so unless you make an effort to change your tastes to those of the current generation of young people, new media will never be seen as good enough by you
I think there’s an important difference between “there is no new good music” and “I don’t like any new music”.
The former is making a broad proclamation. The latter is keeping it limited to your personal experience, even if phrased a little sloppily.
Though I guess you could argue people saying the former really mean the latter and are just communicating kind of badly.
Doesn’t this usually refer to music on the radio? I think most people understand that there’s lots of good music if you look for it, but the problem is the “popular” music is getting more and more formulaic
The thing is, I don’t want to have to look for it. Growing up I could turn on the radio and hear amazing music on pretty much any popular channel. Depeche Mode, Billy Idol, David Bowie, REM, XTC, Goo Goo Dolls, En Vogue, Green Day, Alanis Morrissette, Boyz II Men, Sarah MacLachlan, and so many others. It was a preponderance of great music with some shitty stuff interspersed.
Growing up, everything you heard was new to you. An experience. People older than you was saying the same shit about the music you were enjoying at the time. That’s how it goes.
The vast majority of music without lyrics sucks.
Classical music would like a word with you.
Or do you mean removing voices from songs ?
Nah, classical music is one example. Another big one is techno/electronic stuff.
Contemplate Clair de Lune from Debussy, take a gander at Gwyn, Lord of Cinder’s theme from the Dark souls OST, let your mind wander at Time from the Inception OST. And that’s only the most mainstream I could think of.
Beautiful music is everywhere, from every media, in every genre, you just just have to listen.
I kind of agree with you, there is a lot of great soundtracks. However, for me a soundtrack is part of a larger medium, which it’s underscores or sublements. Most of them make medicore songs at best when listend to in isolation.
That’s your opinion and I respect it
Can’t you say that of everything though ? Take rap for example, doesn’t it fit in a larger medium that is the rapper’s life ? You cant have a piece of art existing in a vacuum. If I listen to Gwyn’s theme, am I liking it because I played the game or because it’s intrinsically beautiful ? Does it matter ?
Take rap for example, doesn’t it fit in a larger medium that is the rapper’s life ?
Maybe. I don’t really care about artists and usually know nothing about them, so that aspect is usually irrelevant to me.
I didn’t mean that the life of the artist is relevant, but lyrics are the reflection of an artist’s existence, so even if you don’t care about the artist themselves you’re still listening to their lyrics.
I mean you’re right, they don’t exist in a vaccum. But for me they might as well.
All I care is the song. Like if a specific pattern of sound waves makes my brain go “I enjoy that” then I like it. I really don’t think any additional consideration are necessary or relevant.
Agreed. Which is also why I enjoy both instrumental and songs :P
Of course, that’s valid.
But I think your initial point was that songs, like soundtracks, are part of a bigger medium. And I don’t really agree with that. A good song is a good song on it’s own but a good soundtrack in context may make a lousy song on it’s own.
That wasn’t my point at all (maybe quote me the part that sounded like it was) :P on the contrary. I’m an avid and holistic enjoyer of good sound.
Can’t you say that of everything though ? Take rap for example, doesn’t it fit in a larger medium that is the rapper’s life ?
It was that part.
Adding an epic soundtrack to a movie scene transforms both medium into a new expirence. I just don’t see how adding the context of an artists life to a song is comparable.
Well in both cases it is the context. One is the movie, the other is the socio economical context of the rapper’s life that people might relate to.
That’s all
the other is the socio economical context of the rapper’s life that people might relate to.
Interessting, you talking more about relating to the artist directly. I guess in rap it’s very common for many songs to tell very personal stories, so people related to the broader story that spans the entire artists work. I haven’t really consider that. Good point.
Yeah, at the end of the day, music like any form of art (and some other form of craft that might not be considered art) is there to provoke some kind of emotion in the recipient.
Yeah, at the end of the day, music like any form of art (and some other form of craft that might not be considered art) is there to provoke some kind of emotion in the recipient.
For example there’s one piece of classical music that especially touched me last year called “Prince Igor”. I have no clue who made it, who interpreted it, what it’s about or when or where it was written. All I know is that this particular melody resonates with me and I ended up listening to it on a loop for hours on end because it evoked a feeling of peace and joyful curiosity.
Just quoting one of my comments I made elsewhere in this thread:
There is definitely exceptions. Though guitar instrumentals don’t do it for me, even though I generally listen to the rock/metal genre.
But for example I really like violin covers by this one artist/youtuber of movie and game soundtracks (especially the Zelda games). But that’s some of the only instrumental music I listen to and only when I’m in a specific mood.
And even there I think nostalgia is doing most of the heavy lifting for me enjoying the songs.
Fair enough :)
For me it’s the opposite. The song start and the music is a banger but as soon as the lyrics comes, it’s ruined.
Snot FlickermanTrash lyrics fucking up an otherwise good song. It happens far too often.
That’s why I’m just a bit of a fan of Thom Yorke’s whole “using my voice as an instrument, the words don’t mean anything” vibe because at least he purposefully isn’t trying to make meaningful lyrics and instead is just trying to add another instrument to the music.
I’m with you on this one. There are lyrics on almost every single track for crying out loud. Throw us instrumental lovers a bone won’t you? Songs that are lyrically driven but are otherwise super-repetitive instrumentally tend to put me to sleep.
What I love about concerts is when the band goes of script and just starts jamming. Even a 5-minute drum solo will have me grinning ear to ear, and that’s what I’ll be remembering on the way home.
Repetitive instrumental pattern is my #1 skip reason xD that “Aight I’m bored” moment when you realize the song has nothing more to give is a sad waste of time.
I love 21 pilots and Foo fighters for their great instrumental + vocal balance
Imo it depend what the instrumental is.If it’s some aggresive guitar riffs that bands like Mayhem or Siculicidium could drop, i will love it. It’s just some weird noises made by a computer i will find it boring.
There is definitely exceptions. Though guitar instrumentals don’t do it for me, even though I generally listen to the rock/metal genre.
But for example I really like violin covers by this one artist/youtuber of movie and game soundtracks (especially the Zelda games). But that’s some of the only instrumental music I listen to and only when I’m in a specific mood.
And even there I think nostalgia is doing most of the heavy lifting for me enjoying the songs.
kurcatoviumWhat about some post rock? I find it very nice relaxing music and being without lyrics is also part of that. Bands like God Is an Astronaut, Explosions in the Sky, Mono, Mogwai, etc. Even Sigur Ros which technically include singing, but it’s just gibberish to have “another instrument”.
I’ll save this comment, because I’m not going to check those suggestions out right now.
Maybe in a few weeks you’ll get a random reply to this comment. I’ve done it before, but no promise.
Sure, no problem. I discovered the genre at uni and it really helped me to focus on studying. It’s probably not for everyone (what is), but I really got into it. Love the soundscapes people are making there. Close the eyes and let your mind go…
federalreverse-oldBomfunk MC’s Freestyler is the peak of musical creation. (Ok, prolly no but I love coming back to it.)
(Fwiw, initially I read “triple !” (i.e. !!! or ChkChkChk) in your op comment and thought why?, that’s a great band.)
Separating the artist from the art is fine.
You can like music by someone who doesn’t share your social, political, or religious beliefs with.
You can like music by someone who doesn’t share your social, political, or religious beliefs with.
My mind is telling me nooooo
breadsmasherUpvoted because this is the one I most strongly disagree with.
Hitlers art but ignore the holocaust?
Lost Prophets but ignore the lead singers horrifying SA of children?
Kanye West and his anti semitism insanity?
Chris Brown and beating the shit out of women?
R. Kelly and SA a child?
Rowling and her hatred of trans children?
Michael Jackson and his … weird child obsession?
Gary Glitter and his SA?
the examples you gave
Yes, that’s what separating the art from the artist means.
Well aware. I am listing examples of why I cant separate. Hence my “disagree” comment
🤨
Then apparently for a person who can separate them, there are zero examples. Or null
It depends: if you only listen to music (or view artwork) to feel “good” or enjoy “basking” in the emotions it evokes, then it makes sense to steer clear of artwork you disagree with or makes you uncomfortable.
But if you find value in viewing artwork that illicits a multitude of emotions, evokes introspection, throws you off balance, and forces you to consider concepts you wouldn’t otherwise, then taking a moment to peak into the mind of someone you fundamentally disagree with is a great way to do that.
As Werner Herzog put it, “the poet must not avert his eyes”.
Separating the artist from the art is fine for me as long as you don’t support them. There is nothing inherently wrong with consuming media you like from a controversial figure.
Of course it’s hard to separate the artist and the art if you actively give them money for it.
I like some of Kanye West’s music but I would never spend a single cent on one of his albums, watch an ad on Youtube for his music videos or listen to his song on streaming services.
I cant stand listening to someone singing, knowing full well they rape children 🤷♀️
each to their own I suppose
The Pianist is one of the best war movies I’ve ever seen… even though Polanski.
I’ll go a step further:
You have to separate the art from the artist because there is not a single artist I’ve ever encountered who wasn’t some kind of fucking trashhole of a person.
Artists spent their lives on being artists, not developing good interpersonal skills or understanding politics or philosophy.
Beleiving an artist is a “good person” is just setting yourself up for disappointment. Start out assuming they suck dogshit and you usually end up being right.