Songs - I Don't Get It

[shivkala]

So you have a problem with modern musicians using universal themes?

There's only so much that can be said on the subjects .. and they are pretty poor subjects to begin with. All 'me' subjects. How in love 'I' am, how mean the world is 'to me', whatever. Please tell me there is music out there that can transcend the ego.

Ok, so that rules out anything where people sing.

You could extend the argument to poetry. I mean, really that Shakespeare douche just kept going on about how much in love he was, comparing girls to summer days and all that. Lame...

Every passing generation tends to crap on the next generations music, yet when time goes on that crap eventually becomes the classic. All that amazing music that you think is so great, when it was first created there was some curmudgeon complaining about how it all sounds the same and how he can't understand why anyone would like it. I'm guessing complaining about the lack of value in modern music started exactly one generation after the very first song was written.

Mostly, this.

Reminds me of The History of the World, Part I:

And here, in a cave about 2 million years ago, the first artist was born. [a drawing of a buffalo is shown, and a proud artist] And, of course, with the birth of the artist, came the inevitable after birth... The critic. [the critic urinates on the drawing]

 

[Australis]

Well...

Where to start?...


Okay. It's hard not to take this personally. That's what's got a lot of posters' backs up. Music is an integral part of my life. I have what I call a lifetrack, a soundtrack of my 50-odd years, certain songs important to certain years or certain people.

Listen to some of the songs listed above, like Imagine. You can't compare that song to say, Enter Sandman. Entirely different.

Try the lyrics to 'Court of the Crimson King' by King Crimson, you won't have seen much like that.

And look at the perfect albums thread in Misc. There's some good stuff there. Try 'Dark Side of the Moon', or 'Led Zep 4'

Maybe try some rock instrumental albums. Hell, try just the instrumentals from Rush, like 'The Mean Monkrey Business' or 'Malignant Narcissism'.

I'm a big Deep Purple fan. Their songs have immense variety in tone structure and lyrics. 'Machine Head's a pretty good album, but there's tracks off, say 'Bananas', like 'Haunted', which are pretty good. 'Highway Star'! What a rocker!

Kate Bush. Now there's a performer!

Without meaning to be insulting... is it possible you're tone deaf? Have you been tested for that?

 

[Deckerd]

That's the definition of classic as far as I'm concerned.

Well that's what I have issue with. The degradation of meaning through over-use. I'm sure you have some words that could be added. We all do.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

That's the definition of classic as far as I'm concerned.

Well that's what I have issue with. The degradation of meaning through over-use. I'm sure you have some words that could be added. We all do.

Using "classic" to mean "memorable, historically relevant, worthy of recognition, exemplary" is not some horrific case of language shift, it's one of the definitions of the word.

 

[Mistral]

I was going to hit multiquote over and over because so many addressed the sheer anger your post aroused in me but then I thought-fuck it. First-you don't want to get flamed, don't tread on people's hearts. Music in ANY genre is precious to someone and you sarcastically dismissed genres close to many of us here. SECOND-You can ignore the rest of this if you truly do need to have your hearing checked.

Third-You really want a place to start learning about what you term "pop" music?
Here's a sample list to keep you busy and your world expanding:

Heart of the Sunrise-YES
Imagine-John Lennon
Good Vibrations-The Beach Boys
Jacob's Ladder-RUSH
Stairway to Heaven-Led Zeppelin(you might also try Bron-y-aur)
Here Comes the Sun-The Beatles
In the Presence of the Lord-Blind Faith featuring Eric Clapton
here's a link to a live video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbRgSlIrJQ0
One-Metallica
Papa Was A Rolling Stone-The Temptations
25 or 6 To 4 by Chicago
Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
Classical Gas by Mason Williams
Life On Mars by David Bowie
You Are the Sunshine of My Life-Stevie Wonder

I've kept the music list mellow since you seem to be into classical and some touches of folk. My suggestion is to pour a glass of wine, sit somewhere comfortable with this list loaded on a disc or MP3 player, and listen to it as the sun makes its way into the afternoon sky. If you get to the end and still don't get it, the yellow pages still exist. You'll want the section labeled PSYCHIATRISTS. I say this in all seriousness, as anyone who can't appreciate even one of those songs has something fundamental broken within them and needs help before they go climb into a bell tower with a rifle or begin eating children for breakfast. I personally think, upon reflection, that you posted just to rile things up but if not...
For the record, I listen to and love Handel, Brahms, Bach, Mozart, etc. I also love my rock n roll, mainly the stuff that derives from those and similar composers. Seriously, I can't see how you could listen to that stuff and not "get" ELO, or Emerson, Lake and Palmer, or the ALAN PARSON's Project. Not to mention The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, RUSH, and Metallica, all groups that base their work on classical orientations.

As others have posted, open your ears and your mind and you might discover that there is more beauty in the world than you ever previously suspected.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I can't get into opera. I've tried and some arias and choruses are marvellous but as an artistic experience I just can't get into it.

That's a good point, I gotta say I would need a massive indoctrination to appreciate it and to be able to distinguish one opera song from another. I thought maybe it was the language barrier but I've heard operas in English and it wasn't any better. Maybe it's like that for the OP.

 

[Mistral]

I can't get into opera. I've tried and some arias and choruses are marvellous but as an artistic experience I just can't get into it.

That's a good point, I gotta say I would need a massive indoctrination to appreciate it and to be able to distinguish one opera song from another. I thought maybe it was the language barrier but I've heard operas in English and it wasn't any better. Maybe it's like that for the OP.

See, I can appreciate opera from an artistic point of view but I don't put arias on my cd player when I'm cleaning the house...

 

[Mr. Adventure]

^^ I can appreciate the talent it takes to sing like that and hold the notes but I can't even appreciate it artistically.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

So, you basically call everything that everyone likes shit but expect not to get slammed in return? What a ridiculous thread. I "fill my head with such nonsense" because it does something for me and I get enjoyment out of it.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

Guns n Roses sound like Queen sound like Metallica sound like whatever bands you listen to. How on earth can you possibly tell them apart??

Honestly, have you had your hearing checked recently?

He's got a point there. I myself am always getting "Bicycle Race" confused with "Damage Inc." They're pretty much exactly the same. I also have a hard time distinguishing between Cannibal Corpse and The Cure.

 

[CaseNumber825]

Wait.... seriously.... you actually don't get why people listen to non-classical music?

Perhaps it's, you know, because people are different and like different things?

And also, that thing you were saying about the Australian oboist who likes Guns 'n' Roses... see, there's this thing called not being an elitist snob... she's able to do this quite well, you have to work on it a bit.

Also, where do you get off saying that popular music is not 'real' music. I'm not a big fan of classical music, operas, symphonies etc etc, but I don't dismiss it off hand.
So, you know, I think I'll stay in my diverse corner (albeit rather foreign as I don't listen to much American or English music)

See I have the ability to listen to multiple genres... I can quite happily go from listening to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twLdFB01Td0
^^^ FREAKY - Koda Kumi

to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWJGg4uNS9c
^^^ Ashita e no Sanka - alan (Live)

to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vloAeUsG38I
^^^ Mirrorcle World - Ayumi Hamasaki

to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPS4I5pf4UU
^^^ COLORS - Utada Hikaru

to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPS4I5pf4UU
^^^ NU ABO - f(x)

to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7mPqycQ0tQ
^^^ Gee - SNSD

to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vayrNtQ4ubo
^^^ HuH - 4minute

to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP1FoZpdNtM
^^^ Alive - Sa Dingding

to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-_eR48cHes
^^^ There is no love - Gummy


So..... I'm happy ^_^

 

[trekkiedane]

is like someone else saying that all classical music sounds the same.

But it does! -The contemporaries of Bach sound like Bach and the contemporaries of Beethoven sound like Beethoven -it's all just pop music -be it of a different age.
Opera, it's all just about love and hate, the good life versus the bad life, war and peace, not in any way different from what the Orwellian music-machine pop of today is.

You just have to find a genre that you like.

Indeed, it's all genres, some of 'em you might like some of 'em you won't. I dislike genres such as metal and rap, but kinda like early rock 'n' roll and seventies orchestral pop (sure, it's showing my age but it's just what I like, not how I identify myself).

What would be a decent place to start?

Baroque opera

Please tell me there is music out there that can transcend the ego.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okd3hLlvvLw[/yt]​

___________
ETA:
I waited too long, two more pages of this happened while I was 'away' - among that was this:

Heart of the Sunrise-YES
Imagine-John Lennon
Good Vibrations-The Beach Boys
Jacob's Ladder-RUSH
Stairway to Heaven-Led Zeppelin(you might also try Bron-y-aur)
Here Comes the Sun-The Beatles
In the Presence of the Lord-Blind Faith featuring Eric Clapton
here's a link to a live video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbRgSlIrJQ0
One-Metallica
Papa Was A Rolling Stone-The Temptations
25 or 6 To 4 by Chicago
Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
Classical Gas by Mason Williams
Life On Mars by David Bowie
You Are the Sunshine of My Life-Stevie Wonder

And now I'll have to put on some of that -thinking I'll start with some Beach Boys. Strange that though, I didn't appreciate their special kind of pop music before I was in my fourties...

 

[iguana_tonante]

See, I can appreciate opera from an artistic point of view but I don't put arias on my cd player when I'm cleaning the house...

Personally, I love opera. I confess, I'm rarely in the mood to listen to the entire Le Nozze di Figaro, but I have many arias in my mp3 compilation, and there is something intrinsically awesome in singing Vesti la Giubba at the top of your lungs while driving on the highway. Maybe, as Mr Adventure suggested, it's a matter of language, but I find many operas very singable, as in "fun to sing along".

It doesn't mean I don't fucking love my Metallica CDs.

 

[Captain_Nick]

Oh dear. I think I've pissed a few people off. I regret that - sometimes my posting style can appear a little confrontational. It's not intentional, it's just the way I express myself.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will have a go and see if I can find what my taste in music is.

 

[Nowhere Man]

To answer the question of where to begin, honestly I started off at the beggining. Elvis, Chuck Berry, Temptations, Supremes, Buddy Holly. Then go from 1955-1995 that's when it begins to taper off. The beggining of the end. So the major players are:

60s: The Beatles, The Doors, The Yardbirds, The Beach Boys, CSNY., THe Grateful Dead ect.

70s: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, Boston, Aerosmith,The Eagle, ect.

80s: Dire Straits,U2, Michael Jackson, GNR., Motley Crue, Poision, Metallica, ect.

90s: Nirvana, Alice in Chains, RHCP, STP., Tool, Pearl Jam, Phish,ect.

00s: Jack Johnson, Linkin Park, ? not really sure who else

10s: Now i'm really lost.

Rap: NWA, Dr. Dre, Snoop, 2Pac, Eminem, 50 Cent, Biggie, Beastie Boys, ect

Throw in a dash of Funk and a Pinch and I do mean a pinch of Disco and there you go, the most pouplar musuc in the past 60 years. I even would throw in some Bluegrass and a bit of Country: Johnny Cash Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings.

Now for my smart ass answer. It works better if you smoke some weed man. You'll get it.

 

[Australis]

I like Mozart, you can't overrate him. But the local classical radio station (ABC ClassicFM) had a '100 Best Symphonies' a couple of months ago, and I tuned in every now and then but man, it was tedious and all sounded the same. I tired, I realsie I must be missing something, but wow, the ones between the 80s and 30s were incredibly meh. I do like Beethoven's 5th, 6th and 9th, but they seem to have more distinct melody than the others. Love baroque music and the old style pianos. And Gregorian chants, done well, are glorious! (But not those crap ones where they use modern songs - urgh!)

And that is one of my great pleasures, that I can appreciate music not just from different genres but different times.

 

[trekkiedane]

Oh dear. I think I've pissed a few people off. I regret that - sometimes my posting style can appear a little confrontational. It's not intentional, it's just the way I express myself.

It's merely because you haven't found out that there is a difference in language from when you express yourself vocally to when you express yourself in writing.

You really should look into it.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

Oh dear. I think I've pissed a few people off. I regret that - sometimes my posting style can appear a little confrontational. It's not intentional, it's just the way I express myself.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will have a go and see if I can find what my taste in music is.

You're backtracking now. You acted like an ass and when you got called on it you said, "Hey, just kidding!"

 

[Rincewiend]

90s: Nirvana, Alice in Chains, RHCP, STP., Tool, Pearl Jam, Phish,ect.

00s: Jack Johnson, Linkin Park, ? not really sure who else

10s: Now i'm really lost.

Let's see...

90s:
They Might Be Giants, Crash Test Dummies, Enigma, Live, Queen(also 70s&80s), En Vogue, Stone Temple Pilots, Barenaked Ladies, The Cranberries, Jamiroquai, Sheryl Crow, Utah Saints, Ace Of Base, The Brand New Heavies, Counting Crows, Green Day, M People, Radiohead, Sophie B. Hawkins, Tool, Weezer, Alanis Morissette, The Beautiful South, The Bloodhound Gang, The Chemical Brothers, Foo Fighters, Garbage, Hootie & the Blowfish, Living Colour, Moby, Moloko, No Doubt, The Presidents Of The United States Of America, Smashing Pumpkins, Bush, Cake, Eels, Faithless, Kula Shaker, Manic Street Preachers, Reef, Republica, Super Furry Animals, Terrorvision, Aqua, Catatonia, Destiny's Child, Imani Coppola, The Lightning Seeds, Robbie Williams, Smash Mouth, Stereophonics, Sugar Ray, Supergrass, Within Temptation, All Saints, Eagle Eye Cherry, Everlast, Fatboy Slim, K's Choice, Massive Attack, David Gray, Dido, Groove Armada, Kelis, Muse, Savage Garden, Wilson Phillips, The Corrs, Feeder

00s:
Anastacia, Badly Drawn Boy, Coldplay, The Dandy Warhols, Erykah Badu, Jack Johnson, Linkin Park, Melanie C, Morcheeba, Nelly Furtado, Pink, Queens Of The Stone Age, Sugababes, Texas, Toploader, Wheatus, 3 Doors Down, Alien Ant Farm, The Calling, Daft Punk, Dave Matthews Band, Gorillaz, Heather Nova, India.Arie, John Mayer, Michelle Branch, Nerina Pallot, Nickelback, Röyksopp, Semisonic, Shakira, Snow Patrol, Sophie Elis-Baxtor, Starsailor, Tenacious D, Train, Turin Brakes, The All-American Rejects, Evanescence, Hoobastank, Jason Mraz, Jive Jones, Maroon 5, N*E*R*D, The Darkness, Fountains Of Wayne, Gabriël Rios, Girls Aloud, Goldfrapp, Joss Stone, Katie Melua, KT Tunstall, Kelly Clarkson, Kings Of Leon, The Rasmus, Dogs Die In Hot Cars, Five For Fighting, Franz Ferdinand, Gwen Stefani, Keane, Kelly Clarkson, The Killers, Lucie Silvas, Maria Mena, Mêlée, Razorlight, Scissor Sisters, The Zutons, Basement Jaxx, Black Eyed Peas, The Fray, Kaiser Chiefs, Ok Go, Paramore, Pussycat Dolls, Rihanna, Róisín Murphy, Wolfmother, Corinne Bailey Rae, Duke Special, The Feeling, Flyleaf, Lacuna Coil, The Fratellis, Gnarls Barkley, Infadels, James Morrison, Lily Allen, Mika, Skin, Skunk Anansi, Skye, Alicia Keys, Bang Camaro, Colbie Caillat, Fiction Plane, Duffy, Justice, Kate Nash, MGMT, Mutya Buena, Sara Bareilles, Alphabeat, Dream Theater, Gabriella Cilmi, The Script, Vampire Weekend, Mando Diao, Orianthi, Owl City, Them Crooked Vultures

Just copy-paste the names of these bands/artists in youtube...

 

[Spot's Meow]

^I agree with you, there are a lot of awesome 90s and 00s bands there. My personal favorites are Foo Fighters, Maroon 5, Alanis Morissette, Garbage, No Doubt, and Linkin Park.