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Do genres kill music or do people kill music?

#41
I think the overall problem is what WE deem as sh***y music, (lazily written in our view, or produced with what we would consider no soul or talent) and translating that to music "being dead" or "dying".

The reality is, there is always going to be terrible music available and there will always be good music available too. Genres exist, wear out, become lazy, and then there are bands that break the mold in a sense, or consistently try to grow. In truth it may be disheartening because it seems that the easy way has more of a chance at monetary success, because it appeals to the masses.

The truth is, that not all people are artists or art consumers with distinct opinions about things. Some people enjoy easy. Is easy terrible? That is in the ear of the beholder.
 
#42
MarkMgibson said:
Yeah, Metal cops the most labels for sure, but that's the problem. Although much of it isn't my cup of tea either, I've heard stuff that's been labelled as "metal" which to me is just really good rock music. That's the problem with genres - who exactly is deciding what is what?

You're quite right though, musicians often label themselves, and often limit their potential audience in the process.
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Really? Metal has a lot of genres? How about the categories of "effortless" electronic?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_electronic_music_genres
 
#45
Music is not being killed. If music is art, and I would say most of it is, then there is no bad music. There are only different subjective tastes and sensibilities. Don't like mainstream pop? Don't like metal? Get over yourself and listen to whatever you want. There is endless variety available to us.
 
#46
NightTripper said:
Music is not being killed. If music is art, and I would say most of it is, then there is no bad music. There are only different subjective tastes and sensibilities. Don't like mainstream pop? Don't like metal? Get over yourself and listen to whatever you want. There is endless variety available to us.
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Falls under #3.


3. "There is no poop. You can find what you want."


Why does "taste" exist? "Art" was created as "open", first and foremost before people ever thought of it as a "product". Taste is such a stupid concept to me. But then again maybe I'm blessed with musical ADD.
 
#47
scorpionldr said:
For me, here's how I see it. People get tired of the new sound. Then somebody makes something truly new. Then another person goes "this is total ****!!". Then another person takes a piece of it, but modifies it so its closer to x. Then everybody shuts up for a while, and then the hating begins.
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this has been going on since the beginning of tonal music. when bach was young he was a well known virtuoso, and was well-received by other musicians. by the end of his life, his peers saw his music as tired old ideas that were from generations past. to quote glenn gould on this, "fugues were out, and minuets were in"
 
#48
scorpionldr said:
To be completely honest.....I can't think of a ton of mainstream tracks I completely hate these days.

Granted there are songs that clearly showing the limit of talent, or songs that are "much better", but the way things are today.....it actually doesn't bother me much.
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So you should be thrilled when someone gets you the latest Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, or Taylor Swift record.
 
#49
scorpionldr said:
Falls under #3.


3. "There is no poop. You can find what you want."


Why does "taste" exist? "Art" was created as "open", first and foremost before people ever thought of it as a "product". Taste is such a stupid concept to me. But then again maybe I'm blessed with musical ADD.
Click to expand...

I see what you're saying. I like all kinds of music, but generally there are certain types of sounds that I usually prefer to listen to over others. That's what I mean by "taste."
 
#50
JimmyM said:
Nothing kills music. Music will move right along. People can only kill music for themselves. Genres and sub-genres of sub-genres come and go, but the notes all sit there and wait for people to do something with them and they always will. I will say, though, that this silly inventing new genres every day gets old real quick. Calling it something different doesn't mean you're doing anything different.
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+1
 
#51
There's talent, applied in performance or composition, and then there's beauty contests.

Or in the case of deadmau5, the thrill of seeing a guy wearing a mouse head perform.

And then there's guys like Otto Von Schirach making sounds completely unheard of, yet washed of any real fame in the real world.
 
#52
scorpionldr said:
But I guess the real question I'm asking is....why do we gravitate towards familiar ground in art?
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For familiarity's sake. But I wouldnt use the word "we", because its not the case for all peoples.
A lot of people like what they are accustomed to/comfortable with, and arent too keen on exploring unfamiliar territory. "Is it safe?"

Ric5 said:
Write your senator and ask him to pass "Genre control" legislation

:hiding:
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:D

spade2you said:
I tend to agree that the music industry tends to be the final dagger. Within any genre, there are the original and underground acts. Some might become mainstream. Once it starts making money, it's only a matter of time before the industry starts assembling bands and tunes. Eventually you have 3rd rate copies of the "real thing" and people get bored until the next thing comes around.
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I have had this exact conversation with someone regarding music before. It wasnt you, was it?

MarkMgibson said:
I always hated all these genres and sub-genres, and sub-sub-genres. When people ask me what I play, I just say "Rock & Roll" - that's a good enough description for most types of popular music, I reckon.
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No, rock and roll is out. Most types of "popular" music these days fall under the hip-hop/dance spectrum.
There is nothing rockin or rollin about contemporary popular music.

scorpionldr said:
Really? Metal has a lot of genres? How about the categories of "effortless" electronic?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_electronic_music_genres
Click to expand...

Yeah, metal has a lot of subgenres.
From that list, so does electronic music. However, I dont think people who listen to electronic music really use all of those subdivisions. Ive only heard of a handful of those terms actually used.
 
#59
After reading this thread I feel like I should be getting off of somebody's lawn. Music isn't killed, there are thousands of good bands out there in every style, and a few of them are even good. People argue that there wasn't soulless music back in the day but I disagree, we've had formulaic 1-6-4-5 songs in the 50s and early 60s with whatever lyrics appealed to the young crowds. In the 60s it branched out to the 1-5-6-4 trick. The 70s brought punk rock which lead to a lot of 1-4-5, some of which was great, some of which was a mess and a charade. In the 1980s, electronic instruments made it easier to create a variety of sounds with a button press, so we had that. In the 90s that expanded even further and a lot of the techno and dance craze happened. I've seen people get down to music from every one of those decades and sounded great. I've seen bands that could sell out arenas who shouldn't have been allowed to touch instruments. I've also seen bands sell out arenas who rocked so hard and grooved so nicely it made me euphoric. On that same token I've seen bands in smoky bars that probably shouldn't be allowed outside and bands in smoky bars that changed my opinion of the range of effect music could have on a person. I could list ten bands that I think aren't worthwhile today but it would be different for everyone, and I'm sure someone would disagree with me no matter who I named.
 

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