I used to be convinced that MTV caters to people of lesser intellect. Nobody with half a brain can listen to the same thing repeated as often as music on that channel repeats. I won't even get into the content, my niece has that covered more than well enough.
So now that I've established that only simpletons are able to listen to the same thing over and over, why is it that I can listen to Tegan And Sara, Pinback, Muse, or Ani DiFranco on eternal repeat? It gets to the point that I have to force myself to make a new selection in WinAmp or on my iPods. Am I just now getting to some point, musically, that these MTV kids are already at? Is their music actually good and I just don't have the ability to grasp that? Is most of my music of minimal quality? Are there multiple places where repeating music doesn't drive you crazy (crappy music with low intellect vs. incredible music with higher intellect)?
I have a lot of music, hundreds of CD's, I've been buying them since 1987. Out of my entire collection, I would say that there are only 50 or so that I could play on repeat more than twice. And probably only 10 that I could play on repeat more than 5 times.
So I guess my question is (please comment): Have I changed, or has music changed?
5 comments:
I agree that MTV is pretty lame. I NEVER see music videos in the genres of music that I like. It's always the same old rap/r&b/pop crap over and over again. Is this music good and we just can't grasp it? I think not. I think of MTV music a lot like a fashion trend. Even though it may be the ugliest shirt/pants/dress, if the most famous person/place/thing is wearing or promoting it, everyone wants it, regardless of actual style and class.
Perhaps we shouldn't be so harsh though? I know that a lot of people think my musical favorites (Cold, Deftones, A Perfect Circle, etc) are pretty poor examples of good music. While I agree that this type of music is hard, and sounds rather aggressive and obnoxious at times, I find these artists to be rather talented and dynamic. If someone were to take the time to REALLY listen to this music, they may have a different appreciation. So, with that being said, maybe I shouldn't be so judgemental. Nevermind, I just had a flashback of the "Laffy Taffy" song that is oh-so-trendy right now on MTV. If you haven't heard it, please do so. Even though it is pretty cute when Jordan dances and slaps the TV when it comes on, this song is freaking ridiculous. The chorus has a total of 4 different words - "Shake that Laffy Taffy"
Mainstream music, in order to be appealing to the masses, must serve the lowest common denominator. The less mentally demanding it is, the more people can be on board.
But if your mind works a little faster and deeper than the average person (yours does) it becomes impatient with anything that does not stimulate it. Therefore, crap music is only tolerable for a few seconds to people like you. It's like chocolate mousse: the first bite is ok, but any time after that you can't stand it. Marianne knows a person like that. :)
WAIT WAIT...I don't think it's the repetition that we need to be pulling apart...The purpose of repetition is different in each of these cases. Pinback is intricate. Ani Di Franco is a poetic genius with layers and layers musically and instrumentally infused in her songs. Gwen Stefani's Holla Back Girl is McDonalds to Tegan and Sarah's aloo gobi. They are both repeatable. One because the grease ignites a sick poor white trash addiction and the other because the spices are so deep you HAVE to have it again to figure out what you just ate. So to make a blanket statement that repetitive listening is for losers is like saying the man in the guiness book of world records for big mac consumption and a restaurant critic for the NY times are the same man. NO NO NO.
And the old 97's Too Far Too Care is my repeatable love.
Its one thing when you listen to an album on repeat, but some of the songs out there right now feel as though the artist said about 10 words total and then put those on repeat, and somehow MTV and a lot of the radio stations here in town then put those repeating 10 words in the coveted "high rotation" status, which results in those 10 words being repeated nearly ad infinitum.
Meanwhile, a good album probably has a whole slew of repeatable songs so when you play them on repeat its still not as bad as the 10 words^infinity plan of attack.
BTW, my personal favs to set on repeat are the Counting Crows. Especially when I'm feeling down. They always sound so depressed that I can't help but feel better by comparison.
Those are all great points.
I agree with Ryan in that genius can exist in any genre, but lots of people ignore hard rock (and after 80's hair metal I can't really blame them, though I love a lot of hair metal - guilty pleasure). I think Lo-Pro is a perfect example of this. Classical music snobs often will not even give other genre's a chance, while at the same time demand that you listen to this symphony 15 times to give it a fair chance.
Ryan, Kir, NB and J, you are spot on with the notion that simplicity grows weary on the mind. A strong "flavor" will be delightfull for a short while, but if you are looking for something long term, a subtle flavor with intricate, distinct components will leave you with more to enjoy and new insights after each listening. Ani DiFranco is a great example of this. Sure she has her 'simple' songs, but some are quite amazing. I swear her current basist is payment for winning some bet with God.
Remember "Tubthumping"? I swear that song has only 15 distinct words. A perfect example of a flash in the pan. Very popular for a very short time.
So I guess the conclusion is that simple music is fine if you are willing to change favorite bands every season. But this kind of music is not the kind that would be worth buying the album for.
J, I love Counting Crows, but I cannot listen to mournful music when I'm down. I figured this out one day as I was driving to school listening to The Cure's Disintegration. Absolutely an incredible album, but it put me in a mood I just couldn't get out of. Well, I did get out of it with my #1 remedy: Rush. "The Spirit Of Radio" will always cheer me up.
And for the record, "the grease ignites a sick poor white trash addiction" is my new phrase of the month. I eagerly await the times I get to use it.
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