Music, Music Genres, And Which Is "Superior"?

[KT Samurai]

Music is apart of everyone's life in some way, shape or form. We use it to tell stories, share ideas, make a statement, further a cause, profess our love, calm our souls, or any number of things. Music is one of those things we can all agree and disagree on at the same time. I don't think anyone on this forum or anywhere else would try to downplay the importance of music and how it affects us. But when we begin to speak with enthusiasts it becomes a complex and murky issue rather than a beloved past time.

At it's core, music is an expression, an extension of some part of our being that needs to be amplified somehow and shared with others. Sometimes music is sad, sometimes it's uplifting; music can magnify an emotion or feeling and a beautiful or aggressive way. The possibilities are endless. And I believe this can lead to a grave misunderstanding of what music is and how it should be judged.

There are those who subscribe to only specific types or genres of music, seeing others as inferior in some way. Because an individual may identify with their respective genre more than others they may become strangely aggressive towards them. They may not only shun them from their own listening patterns but pursue others to do the same as well! People can harbor such unbridled hatred for some genres that it defies reason. That one particular style is superior to another is merely a matter of opinion, yet too often it is stated as solid fact. Such-and-such genre is fine, one might say, but it isn't as good as the one I listen to because <reasoning here>. It is this kind of thinking that can lead to some fairly outrageous statements and behavior.

What makes one genre better than the others? What sounds does a genre produce that makes it what it is anyway? What makes the blues so distinguishable from jazz when many a person these days cannot even tell the difference? Why do so many swear by old school rock, shunning new material as dry and uninspired? Why do punk rockers become so adamently hateful of other genres when their beloved genre borrows heavily from others? Why is electronica not "real" music if a computer is involved in creating the sound? These are all common arguements that have no real answer because the questions are all wrong. Genres exist solely to help us organize the vast supply of music we have access to. Why build an inpregnable wall around one genre and attack anything else that tries to sneak in? What justifies this?

Please discuss and share your own views on the subject of music and it's many variations of zealots. My own opinion should be clear as day: I believe all genres have their strengths, their weaknesses, their uses, and their value. I listen to all kinds of music, from classical to death metal, from punk rock to country. I don't play favorites and I think I'm a happier person for it. What about you? Do you listen to one or two specific genres and nothing else? If so, why? Share your reasoning.

[Delta]

I think people listen to music based on a few different things, for entertainment, to feel like a part of something larger then themselves, or to amplify or relieve an emotion they already have.


First, the obvious reason, or what I think most people can agree we listen to music for, entertainment. You'll be hard pressed to find someone who doesnt enjoy listening to some type of music or another, it seems to shorten road trips and give you something to do with minimal effort, you dont even have to have you eyes open.

Some people might also listen to music partially because it gives them something in common with other people. I doubt this is the main reason, but talking about music you like with friends and going to concerts is fun.

Music can also be used amplify or relive to relieve emotions, such as stress sadness, excitment, ect.

All of these things add up to music being very important to some people, you may spend alot of time listening to it, talking about it ect., and if you only listen to a certain genre of music, that could make you not understand why anyone would listen to anything else. Also, some people, for whatever reason, dont like certain types of music, mby they're not used to it or for whatever reason they just cant enjoy it. Personally I'm with you KT, I like most music and can listen to almost anything.

[MHFalcon]

To me, music is about expression. It's also about how it makes you feel, how it makes you think, and most importantly, how it moves you.

Strangely enough, I feel most moved when I listen to one kind of music. The one that average people kinda don't like: The Techno/House/Trance genre.

For me, techno is just...indescribable. As few words are used to carry it out, few words are needed to describe it. For me, techno's pulsing beats are incredibly infectious. Like other music, there is a wave to it all, but techno has a massive wave/surge to it. It starts in anyway, from a shallow wave, all the way to a big wave. The wave of the music increases to a climax then to a release. And then it repeats itself to end the cycle.

I guess Techno is just great to me because it uses few words to work, similar to how I operate.

[Chrono Detector]

As you can see my signature and title name, I'm a huge fan of trance and hardstyle. I also prefer house, acid, drum & bass, techno, and any electronic music that sounds good.

I prefer trance because I love the uplifting melody and some of the melodies can be relaxing and emotional.

I also like hardstyle, which is not everybody's style of music, due to the loud and rough baseline. Can't really describe why, but I find it interesting and entertaining.

Alright we have another trance fan here. Welcome to the board, MHFalcon.

[MHFalcon]

"I prefer trance because I love the uplifting melody and some of the melodies can be relaxing and emotional."

Yes, that's a great way to describe trance. As the name implies, it entrances you, using beats and the melody.

[Ios]

Trance and hardstyle are music genres I can't really enjoy. Of course there are some exceptions like daft punk or the bomfunk MC's or something. I don't really know why, if I'd say that it's just some noisy bonking, then I'd be lying cause I know that's not true.

I prefer rock or Indy. I think it's mainly because I'm a mucisian myself (I play drums and guitar for the ones who don't know) and I think rack and indy have some challenges for me and I can really go through the roof sometimes when I'm totally into it.

I'm the kind of person that really LISTENS to music (not saying yuo guys don't, just read on), I listen in the way that I concentrate on the music and after a while I know exactly how the drumming line is, I've eard every sound there is to hear. To go short I really analize music.

This is also a reason why I totally HATE bubbeling. The definition of bubbeling is that it always has the same beat (I could be wrong, but as far as I know it, it's true). I think that's completely boring and lacks some sort of creativity. This is also what annoys me with drumm & bass. I don't really know it but as far as I know the beats are mostly almost the same, but I can imagine why you could really rock on it.

[KT Samurai]

"I prefer trance because I love the uplifting melody and some of the melodies can be relaxing and emotional."

Yes, that's a great way to describe trance. As the name implies, it entrances you, using beats and the melody.

Why is it that only trance can do this for you and nothing else? Have you bothered to look? Do you write off music based on its genre before you decide it is uplifting or relaxing or emotional? I want to understand why you feel the need to say, "I listen to this..." when there are plenty of songs outside the genres you mention that can have the very same effect using a very different approach. To draw from personal experience, I find "Believe" by Yellowcard to be as uplifting as "Without You" by Silverchair or "World Without An End" by Five Iron Frenzy, among many others. I couldn't restrict this feeling to a single genre since so many artists out there can achieve the same goal by using a different sound.

In short, why search for a particular emotion or feel from only one or a few genres?

[SLVR]

What makes one genre better than the others?
Blues is the best genere cause its people playing good sounds and great music. No screaming no impropper rythms. Blues flow.
What sounds does a genre produce that makes it what it is anyway?
The harmonica makes the melodies and rythms sound so much more unique and in sync.
What makes the blues so distinguishable from jazz when many a person these days cannot even tell the difference?
The rawness of blues and sounds and melodies makes it distinguishable to me.
Why do so many swear by old school rock, shunning new material as dry and uninspired?
Because new material is being used over and over go conventional and stop singing about emoness and problems and being nerdy and uncool and dad beat you.
Why do punk rockers become so adamently hateful of other genres when their beloved genre borrows heavily from others?
Because thier Emo's and only like to listen to thier punks rockers sing about about how stupid the president is.
Why is electronica not "real" music if a computer is involved in creating the sound?
I have no idea anything that make noise and has rythm can be music IMO
Why build an inpregnable wall around one genre and attack anything else that tries to sneak in? What justifies this? Nothing justifies it. People use music to explain what thier going through and when another genere bashes it they have to protect their respected music and what they identfy with
What about you? Do you listen to one or two specific genres and nothing else? If so, why? Share your reasoning.
Yes I do play favorites but I dont discriminate. I listen to everything but mostly techno and blues but I listen to alot of classic rock and country as well. I listen to techno cause it has to do with work. I listen to blues cause it sounds raw and natural to me. I listen to classic rock because my dad listends to it and I picked it up from him. And I listen to country cause Im a Southern boy who spent alot of time in a Southern neighbor hood and I love NASCAR

[MHFalcon]

Why is it that only trance can do this for you and nothing else? Have you bothered to look? Do you write off music based on its genre before you decide it is uplifting or relaxing or emotional? I want to understand why you feel the need to say, "I listen to this..." when there are plenty of songs outside the genres you mention that can have the very same effect using a very different approach. To draw from personal experience, I find "Believe" by Yellowcard to be as uplifting as "Without You" by Silverchair or "World Without An End" by Five Iron Frenzy, among many others. I couldn't restrict this feeling to a single genre since so many artists out there can achieve the same goal by using a different sound.
In short, why search for a particular emotion or feel from only one or a few genres?

I actually don't totally restrict myself to trance/techno at all. I'm actually a D.J., so I'm actually into rap, hip-hop, R&B, etc. Don't get me wrong, I also listen to Yellowcard too, specifically, I frequently listen to "Only One". I guess the reason why I frequent techno so much is because there are too many words in other genres for me. I usually use techno for clearing up my mind and because there are less words for me to catch in my head and to start thinking again, it seems to work best for me.

I can't answer that last sentence completely. I guess a simple improv answer would be that I'm a bit lazy. So when I find that one feel, I stick with it. The one song I frequent, ATB's "Ecstasy" just never gets old for me. I figure, why move around? I mean, I do use other music at times, like R&B, but it just never fails for me. I guess that's why I don't really have any other songs that are outside of the techno genre that can provide the same emotions/feelings.

[Chrono Detector]

Whats what with restricting yourself to one genre? Not everybody has other tastes in music really. I also listen to mainstream stuff as well, of course, I listen to electronic music frequently.