There always seems to be some music that everyone is listening to, and you just don’t understand why. The reason for their popularity escapes you.
Who is that for you?
Share why if you wish.
Asking — and answering — life's interesting questions
There always seems to be some music that everyone is listening to, and you just don’t understand why. The reason for their popularity escapes you.
Who is that for you?
Share why if you wish.
I am not a fan of rap. Though I know it isn’t true for every rap song, I don’t like the foul language, glorification of drug use, disrespect for law enforcement and sexualization of women that many rap songs promote.
I’m with you for a different reason as well–usually, the absence of a melody. But, the lyrics have offered social commentary that doesn’t come from anywhere else. Even though it’s not my favorite, I can see why some love it.
Okay, so I know they mean a lot to rock ‘n roll, but I just can’t get into the Beatles. John Lennon, sure, he was great. But Paul McCartney, other than a song or two, no way! And as for Ringo Starr and George Harrison, I really can’t say anything about either of them. And again, as a foursome, I like a handful of songs. But that’s it.
Wowzers! You’re entitled to your musical opinion, of course, but the absolute range of their work is stunning. Clear and admitted fanboy followers of R&B giants, arguably the cleanest pop of the century—I Want to Hold Your Hand is pretty flawless as a young love anthem —adopting folk music because they liked Dylan —dabbling in country and sitar music —borderline grunge in Revolution— ambitious mini-suites of songs—wonderfully composed soft ballads…I always wonder when someone says they don’t like the Beatles how deep they dove. More than any other group or musical act that I know of, you listen to their breakthrough stuff and then their later output—there really are several different eras of Beatles music in less than a decade. It’s easy not to like a song or several, but they cross so many genres that there should be something to like. How good are they? Deep Beatles fans have legitimate arguments about the best/most influential Beatles records and there are at least 5 reasonable candidates in their catalog. Plus, I think it’s practically un-American to dislike the Beatles, despite their country of origin. As far as their influence….it’s seriously difficult to listen to any music from the 1970’s on and not hear their fingerprint.
A response will follow. Not likely tonight. But it will follow.
My favorite description of the Beatles: John was the brain, Paul was the heart, George was the soul, and Ringo was the drummer.
George didn’t come into his own until later, but his best songs (Here Comes the Sun, While My Guitar Gently Weeps) hold up as well as John’s or Paul’s. People associate Paul with ballads, but forget he could also rock (Got to Get You Into My Life).
But this also all comes down to taste. I’m trying to think of any late-’60s rock that you actually like. I’m the same way with the early ’60s.
Again, I know they mean(t) a lot to rock ‘n roll. And, yes, I can hear their influence in many songs … some songs I might even like. But this is a case of to-may-to / to-mah-to. It comes down to taste, and I have little taste for the The Fab Four. Since you brought it up, Ben. I can’t stand the song “Got to Get You Into My Life” or Paul McCartney.
Omg, me too! Sure I like a song here and there but for the most part I’d rather listen to something else.
I draw the line between singing and screaming. Screaming is not for me. I might upset someone, but I don’t care for Aretha Franklin Also, I like to be able to hear and understand the lyrics, without having to go to You tube to find out what they’re singing about.
I draw the line between singing and screaming. Screaming is not for me. I might upset someone, but I don’t care for Aretha Franklin. Also, I like to be able to hear and understand the lyrics, without having to go to You tube to find out what they’re singing about.
I can’t listen to James Taylor (all the mush of folk music with none of the edge), Neil Young (love his songs when other people sing them, but those vocals!), or Elvis Costello (same as Neil). I respect Public Enemy’s lyrics, but their production is too harsh for me.
There are quite a few different artists that I simply don’t “get” — I know they are popular, their albums sell tons, their concerts sell out, but I just don’t understand the appeal. The music simply doesn’t speak to me. Some examples: Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana, and (please Michael forgive me) U2. I own more than 1500 CDs, and I don’t have a single album by any of these artists in my collection.
It doesn’t have anything to do with the relative merits or musical ability. That’s why I feel for Michael when it comes to the Beatles. I like the Beatles just fine, thank you, but it must be frustrating to have to hear, ad nauseum, about how important they are to music, how influential, to hear them on the radio all the time, etc. And it doesn’t change the fact that you don’t like them.
For me, there’s one artist that stands out from all the rest, however. With the others I mentioned, I don’t actively dislike them. If a song comes on the radio, I’ll listen to it. I might even sing along if it happens to be a song I know. I just don’t understand why someone would go out of their way to listen to it.
But there’s one artist that I can’t stand: Tom Petty. By all accounts, he was a stand-up guy that other musicians enjoyed working with. People clearly love his music. There was quite an outpouring of emotion when he recently passed. But there’s something about his music that grates on my nerves.
In trying to describe why I don’t like him, I usually say something about his nasally voice, but I know that isn’t the whole story. I like Bob Dylan just fine, and his voice is even more nasally. There just something about the way Petty sings, the way he carries himself, the tone and rhythm of his words that I don’t like. I’ll change the station if he comes on the radio, and I’ll even leave a store if one of his songs comes over the speakers.
By the way, I am aware that most of the music I like isn’t particularly popular, or at least has limited appeal.
Most people, for example, don’t enjoy accordion music, but I own six albums by a band called “Those Darn Accordions!” that features a half-dozen people playing squeezebox and a drummer.