The truth about the music you're listening to.
November 10, 2009
You know what my personal opinion on music is? No matter what the style, I find that when it comes to music, either you like it or you don't. Music is just one of those completely natural joys. The instant it hits your ears, you're either interested and captivated, or bored and perhaps even repulsed. But the reason you'll never hear anyone say they don't like music is because it's one of the few things in the world that is all encompassing, as in there's something out there for everyone. Discovering new music and different styles is, to me, one of the most important parts of a composer's creative process.
Keeping all of this in mind, I stand by my opinion that there is no "good" or "bad" music (with the exclusion of Nickelback), there is just different music that caters to a specific taste. Sure, your taste can change and grow, but the essence of what you like about music will follow you no matter what you're listening to.
Let me give you one of the most ridiculous examples. I've just heard two new songs. They are literally completely different, but I have to say I am equally obsessed.
Here's the first...
Leo Ornstein-"Suicide on an Airplane"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS0x3u6pH3w
There are so many inspiring and fantastic things about this piece, despite it's incredibly depressing subject. The music is expressive, interesting, powerful, and captivating. This is an example of a piece that would, in my brain at least, be considered "good," and I like it, which makes sense.
Here's a song a like, but I can't really understand why...at all.
Leighton Meester (feat. Robin Thicke)-"Somebody to Love"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOo_pVRx3KE
I guess what I like about this song is that it combines a lot of my guilty pleasures into one song: Gossip Girl, cheesy pop music, and really attractive men.
There's a ton of fundamental issues that I have with song. Leighton Meester doesn't really sing as much as she just talks, it's repetitive, simplistic in the worst way, and the lyrics pretty much suck. But this is a perfect example of why music is such an innate and natural thing.
Even though as a musician I wouldn't wipe my a** with this song if it was toilet paper, it's now my ringtone and the number one played song on my iTunes at the moment, which is something I was embarrassed about, but I've learned to embrace it. Because you can't help the music you like, and sometimes you can't explain it. It just makes you feel good.
So unless you own all of Nickelback's albums, hold your music choices in high regard. Because they are yours and yours alone, so embrace it.
Keeping all of this in mind, I stand by my opinion that there is no "good" or "bad" music (with the exclusion of Nickelback), there is just different music that caters to a specific taste. Sure, your taste can change and grow, but the essence of what you like about music will follow you no matter what you're listening to.
Let me give you one of the most ridiculous examples. I've just heard two new songs. They are literally completely different, but I have to say I am equally obsessed.
Here's the first...
Leo Ornstein-"Suicide on an Airplane"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS0x3u6pH3w
There are so many inspiring and fantastic things about this piece, despite it's incredibly depressing subject. The music is expressive, interesting, powerful, and captivating. This is an example of a piece that would, in my brain at least, be considered "good," and I like it, which makes sense.
Here's a song a like, but I can't really understand why...at all.
Leighton Meester (feat. Robin Thicke)-"Somebody to Love"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOo_pVRx3KE
I guess what I like about this song is that it combines a lot of my guilty pleasures into one song: Gossip Girl, cheesy pop music, and really attractive men.
There's a ton of fundamental issues that I have with song. Leighton Meester doesn't really sing as much as she just talks, it's repetitive, simplistic in the worst way, and the lyrics pretty much suck. But this is a perfect example of why music is such an innate and natural thing.
Even though as a musician I wouldn't wipe my a** with this song if it was toilet paper, it's now my ringtone and the number one played song on my iTunes at the moment, which is something I was embarrassed about, but I've learned to embrace it. Because you can't help the music you like, and sometimes you can't explain it. It just makes you feel good.
So unless you own all of Nickelback's albums, hold your music choices in high regard. Because they are yours and yours alone, so embrace it.
Posted by C.J. Darnieder.
