Music Snobism

I'm seeing a growing trend of music snobism, maybe i'm just getting to that age when people are deciding to impose their views on others or something (i'm 17 by the way).

I personally hate it when somebody says "That's not real music, this is ..." - whether it be in retalliation to Rock, Metal, Rap, Techno or whatever. How can you define music with such a narrow concept. Clapping your hands is music. And how can you say there's good music and bad music? The beauty of music is that it all makes us feel different things, and we all have our own individual experiences with it. The only perhaps judgement that u can EVER make on music - is whether it is becoming too commercialised and loosing its heart. But even purely commercial music may mean something to someone. Britney Spears might be the world to a 12year old girl - does that make her pathetic and have no taste. I mean personally i dislike Britney Spears - but instead of trying to force the world to have my opinion (which most of it does anyway :)) i simply choose not to listen to her.

Think about the way music makes others feel instead of just what you feel. RAP has taken me through many dark times of my life - simply because it is full of wit and energy (well at least it was, don't know about now). The Offspring were the first band i ever liked and i continue to be a massive fan of them today - not because they are particularly impressive on the technical side - but because their songs make me feel high, and offspring albums are cheaper then hippy crack and weed. I enjoy System of a Down because of all the raw energy they put into it inspires me to put more raw energy into my own life. And so on. I don't feel inspired by bands like Metalicca or Black Sabbath - but i'm sure many of you do - and it's not up to me to judge whether you have the right to or not - everyone has the right to enjoy whatever music they wish...

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MUSICAL TASTE.

Sometimes a hamburger (a simple, and non technical band) can taste just as good as a crazy 10 course meal at a $100 p.p. restaurant. With that said i think some hamburgers, namely the ones made at Fast food joints (ie the bands that are very commercial) are whipping out too many hamburgers and not puting the care and effort into it as they used to - they just want the money.

Well there's my analogy, sorry for the HUGE post.

You don't need to say sorry...I'm so happy that someone has put that out there and people need to stop telling people what to listen to.

Originally Posted by: suicidalmoosedoes that make her pathetic and have no taste.[/QUOTE]

No,its lack of exposure.Its more true to say "that IMAGE is the world to her"...remember people follow music for different reasons.Ive met so many who just don't really care about the music,but rather the fringe effects it allows.Do some actually enjoy the music?Sure,but I wouldn't keep eating an overdone burger full well knowing theres better food..but if I was young or immature enough,I might stick around since my friends are there eating the same kind of burger and its popular.

[QUOTE=suicidalmoose]THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MUSICAL TASTE.

There isn't?Then whats this talk about hamburgers and food then?People have different tastes.Ive caught whifs of different burgers and I think i'll stick to my original recipe...

what i meant to say with the musical taste. is THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS GOOD MUSICAL TASTE - i was kinda writing in a hurry. ppl shouldnt be classed into good and bad musical taste.

But yer i get ure point with the whole music image. All i'm saying is that there's no reason to judge those people - they use music for a different reason. maybe music for them is just about image - but who cares, they're just enjoying music at a different level, maybe a shallower level, but who are we to judge?

The more extreme cases of music snobism occur when some people i know say that System of a Down or Offspring isn't real music, and that good music has to fit the criteria of at least a 10 minute song with a 5 minute solo. But that's extreme cases. But when i think of it - maybe they're the ones using music as a statement to their image... maybe they just wanna be seen as real appreciators of Rock and so they are anti anything that tries to be different and new.

Originally Posted by: suicidalmooseTHERE'S NO SUCH THING AS GOOD MUSICAL TASTE -

Yeah there is. I have it.

The real hostility towards mainstream music is how its marketed,shoved on every piece of merchandise/magazine and eaten up by anyone who runs with the crowd.

Theres no law saying a band can't be good,well off and respected musicians...its the blatant "sign here,your life here,your soul there" kind of crap.When people bash bands,they usually have left any traits that made them so good or prescribe to a dulled mainstream sound/cliche/lyrics to appeal to the unsuspecting listener/consumer.

Theres a point when music becomes a product.Were a fan becomes a consumer.Where a band becomes a brand.

and that tastes like crap.

As far as judging people...If it looks,feels and acts like a sheep..then its probably a sheep.If proven wrong,then one can apologize.

well then i would ask. do you think that System of a Down, The Offspring, and Red Hot Chili Peppers - which are my favourite bands mainly because i really enjoy political lyrics and am more of a singer then a guitarist - are bad bands? They are very successful but i believe that, for example, System of a Down really makes an effort to try something new in every album, there hit songs are generally their weaker songs - leaving the rest of their album songs as really great ones. And The Offspring are just a great band because they are new but are also old, they enjoy rock music and play consistantly. And Red Hot chili peppers is great because they are so melodic but passionate, with great lyrics and cool guitar riffs.

When i mean favourite bands i mean i have a complete discography of each one of them and listen to ALL their songs, not just the easily digestible stuff.

The last thing I wanna hear is System of a Down's thoughts on the way the world works. Shut up and sing or play and whatever the f you do. These gay little mtv bands think their opinions hold water in the real world, while in reality the only people who take them seriously are teenage girls and people who cant think for themselves.

I had to do a project for choir that kind of altered my opinion about "bad music." Each student had to write about a song, and why its important to them and what not. Then you present the class and your paper to the class. It was just very interesting to see why certain people like music, even though I might not.

There were some in the Industry who signed did their time made money then broke off their label to start thier own. I wouldn't mind being on TV. as for listening tastes...

I don't care what people listen to. Just dont push it on me and I wont push mine on you.

Just like religion and politics.

Dude,i'm not going to bash what you like.I think you might have taken someones comments about your favorite bands/music too seriously(correct me if otherwise).

Its up to you to decide the validity of your music.For some thats not even a concern.

I found growing as a guitarist left me wanting more musically.There is still great satisfaction in simplistic genius though.

Just enjoy the music.

Originally Posted by: suicidalmoosewell then i would ask. do you think that System of a Down, The Offspring, and Red Hot Chili Peppers - which are my favourite bands mainly because i really enjoy political lyrics and am more of a singer then a guitarist - are bad bands? They are very successful but i believe that, for example, System of a Down really makes an effort to try something new in every album, there hit songs are generally their weaker songs - leaving the rest of their album songs as really great ones. And The Offspring are just a great band because they are new but are also old, they enjoy rock music and play consistantly. And Red Hot chili peppers is great because they are so melodic but passionate, with great lyrics and cool guitar riffs.

When i mean favourite bands i mean i have a complete discography of each one of them and listen to ALL their songs, not just the easily digestible stuff.

I don't think much of SOAD, but I enjoy the early work of the other two.

Originally Posted by: suicidalmooseClapping your hands is music.

Clapping your hands is actually rhythm. Watch out though, you may stray dangerously close to the Bjork theory of music. Her or Charles Ives...yikes. :D

Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonYeah there is. I have it.

mine's better. i like mine a little bit better than yours...but yours is pretty damned good.

Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonClapping your hands is actually rhythm. Watch out though, you may stray dangerously close to the Bjork theory of music. Her or Charles Ives...yikes. :D

don't make me break out the steve reich....we both know he has clapping songs.

Originally Posted by: tehplatypusdon't make me break out the steve reich....we both know he has clapping songs.

Ah, but we also both know they suck.