I have never been able to figure out what makes different people like different types of music.

Why do niggers like hip hop? Why do sexually frustrated loners like death metal? Why do emos like pop punk?

What factors influence people's music taste?

:confused:

Good thread.

I like most genres of music. Really, the only genre I will not listen to by choice is rave (if you can class that as a genre, which you probably can't). I can give or take jazz too, it depends what mood I'm in.
I love most metal and its subgenres, excluding most "-core"s, but I'll give anything a listen. I love blues, country, reggae, "alternative", rock, folk, hip-hop, rap, classical, bluegrass, the list goes on.

I don't know if my personality influences the music I like, or if it's the other way round, but music means a lot to me. Listening to, playing, recording, the whole thing.

Edit - I think the reason most "emos" like pop punk or whatever is because they don't seem to have fully developed a musical taste of their own and have to rely on the media to tell them what to like, at least until they wander down their own path.

Humm.

I mean personally for me, I fit into the sexually frustrated loner who likes death metal, but I'm also into folk and stuff so I mean it's hard to say. As a rule of thumb though, the more someone is into music, the more eclectic their tastes will be (Which sounds obvious, but yeah). But that's where it gets confusing because you start getting people who defy the stereotypes.

Generally speaking however, it depends what stage of life they are in. When you are a kid you need to mark your place in society, something which is pretty much dictated to you by your peers - the cliques. Each one appeals most to a certain mindset, and each mindset has a particular sound that appeals (Although that is normally dictated to them by the media). Also your mindset - some people are rebellious, and some people are emulators. The rebels are more likely to listen to something that's generally looked down upon by normal society, like rock or metal, whereas the emulators tend to just feed off of the media and lap up whatever it pisses out.

Later on in life it's a little more difficult. I usually put it down to motive - some people use music as a means of relaxation, some to motivate them and some to dance to (The list goes on), which is (of the top of my head) classical, rock and electronic respectively. People tend to move away from outside influences as they move forward in life because in most cases people isolate themselves more and focus on things other than being social. Jobs, families etc. Less outside influences let you focus more on what you really like, and you see some really strange mixes.

I mean, if you really want specific answers you could go into psychographics, or you could stereotype a particular genre and psychoanalyse, but really you wont get any definitive answers with a question like that because it's so subjective. (Plus it would be a giant waste of time)

But that's just my take. Good thread.

good question, i don't really know. it'd make a good thesis paper or something.

Humm.

I mean personally for me, I fit into the sexually frustrated loner who likes death metal, but I'm also into folk and stuff so I mean it's hard to say. As a rule of thumb though, the more someone is into music, the more eclectic their tastes will be (Which sounds obvious, but yeah). But that's where it gets confusing because you start getting people who defy the stereotypes.

Generally speaking however, it depends what stage of life they are in. When you are a kid you need to mark your place in society, something which is pretty much dictated to you by your peers - the cliques. Each one appeals most to a certain mindset, and each mindset has a particular sound that appeals (Although that is normally dictated to them by the media). Also your mindset - some people are rebellious, and some people are emulators. The rebels are more likely to listen to something that's generally looked down upon by normal society, like rock or metal, whereas the emulators tend to just feed off of the media and lap up whatever it pisses out.

Later on in life it's a little more difficult. I usually put it down to motive - some people use music as a means of relaxation, some to motivate them and some to dance to (The list goes on), which is (of the top of my head) classical, rock and electronic respectively. People tend to move away from outside influences as they move forward in life because in most cases people isolate themselves more and focus on things other than being social. Jobs, families etc. Less outside influences let you focus more on what you really like, and you see some really strange mixes.

I mean, if you really want specific answers you could go into psychographics, or you could stereotype a particular genre and psychoanalyse, but really you wont get any definitive answers with a question like that because it's so subjective. (Plus it would be a giant waste of time)

But that's just my take. Good thread.

Oh fuck OFF.

Oh fuck OFF.

I'M BETTER THAN YOU

I'M BETTER THAN YOOOOOOUUUUUUUU :mad:

i'm better than you

i'm better than yoooooouuuuuuuu :mad:

Nevar!

Why do emos like pop punk?

Jawbreaker, J Church, Sewer Trout, Queers, Screeching Weasel, Crimpshrine etc.

:mad: not emo :mad:

To answer the question. It's all personal preference. Why do some people like anything over anything? Personal preference. We're all different to a certain degree.

I guess the reason I like deathcore/grindcore/mathcore/deathgrind/cybergrind (yeah, shut the fuck up.) is because I started listening to Cannibal Corpse when I was 13, and ever since then...Any music that isn't "extreme" just sounded dull to me.

I guess I couldn't really think of an epic philosophical reason.

:confused:

Why do sexually frustrated loners like death metal?

http://www.metal-archives.com/board/images/smiles/lol.gif

I'm afraid what you're gonna call all those deathcore scene kiddies next.
THAT IS GONNA BE HARSH!

i think it's based on where people are from and their personality. I grew up listening to classic rock from the 60's and 70's (both my parents were hippies). so that influenced my taste a lot and so did playing jazz. jazz is probably what really got me into music, i started playing and listening and from there i started listening to bands that had a sort of jazz influence like some jam bands. Also, the fact that i was alienated in school caused me to look outside of conventional music and seek different sounds.

so i guess it is what you want out of music, i want something stimulating with the freedom that allows for individual voice to be heard (like jazz or some jam that has improvised solos and other elements of improvisation) but still has a familiar sound (bluegrass). plus the doctrine of ethos states that music is the embodiment of emotion so music tastes probably reflect the listeners emotional status.

i think it's based on where people are from and their personality. I grew up listening to classic rock from the 60's and 70's (both my parents were hippies). so that influenced my taste a lot and so did playing jazz. jazz is probably what really got me into music, i started playing and listening and from there i started listening to bands that had a sort of jazz influence like some jam bands. Also, the fact that i was alienated in school caused me to look outside of conventional music and seek different sounds.

so i guess it is what you want out of music, i want something stimulating with the freedom that allows for individual voice to be heard (like jazz or some jam that has improvised solos and other elements of improvisation) but still has a familiar sound (bluegrass). plus the doctrine of ethos states that music is the embodiment of emotion so music tastes probably reflect the listeners emotional status.

Recommend me some jazz? I mentioned not liking jazz much in my post up there, but I'd like to get into it :D

As a young, autistic teenager, my taste was really conservative, for example, I'de like one song by one band, and it had to say, be a particular version of that song on youtube or wherever else.

Having broken through into a more openminded and relaxed state I find myself finding good in most music.

Unfortunately most of the music you hear around here is mainstream hiphop which I won't be able to get into no matter how hard I try.

Recommend me some jazz? I mentioned not liking jazz much in my post up there, but I'd like to get into it :D

Its quite the bitch to get into, but when you do its epic. If you like drum stuff, go look up Buddy Rich for starters. I could list you a million others-- but lets see how that floats your boat?

Its quite the bitch to get into, but when you do its epic. If you like drum stuff, go look up Buddy Rich for starters. I could list you a million others-- but lets see how that floats your boat?

Just checked out Buddy Rich, not that bad. I prefer more sax, vocal, or guitar based jazz from what I can gather. Most of the "jazz" stuff I like is fused with other genres.

I like (probably not specifically jazz but has jazz elements) -

Eva Cassidy, Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Peter Cincotti, Corinne Bailey Rae, Norah Jones, Etta James, Nat King Cole.

Any ideas to ease me into jazz? I know I'm awkward, my apologies.

Edit - I've just realised almost all the artists I listed are singers, heh.

I listen to mostly all good music, im pretty open minded.

Jazz, Prog. rock, death metal, black metal, grindcore, Blues, Electronica, if its good i listen to it. So BASICALLY IM A FAN OF GOOD MUSIC

i think it's based on where people are from and their personality. I grew up listening to classic rock from the 60's and 70's (both my parents were hippies). so that influenced my taste a lot and so did playing jazz. jazz is probably what really got me into music, i started playing and listening and from there i started listening to bands that had a sort of jazz influence like some jam bands. Also, the fact that i was alienated in school caused me to look outside of conventional music and seek different sounds.

so i guess it is what you want out of music, i want something stimulating with the freedom that allows for individual voice to be heard (like jazz or some jam that has improvised solos and other elements of improvisation) but still has a familiar sound (bluegrass). plus the doctrine of ethos states that music is the embodiment of emotion so music tastes probably reflect the listeners emotional status.


You and i have very similar tastes. If you haven't heard them already i would recommend that you check out the bands Gong, Soft Machine, gentle giant, and Medeski, Martin and Wood.

Recommend me some jazz? I mentioned not liking jazz much in my post up there, but I'd like to get into it :D

here's some artists you should check out. keep in mind though a lot of jazz musicians go through different periods of playing styles like miles you never played the same genre twice.

so yeah, the list:
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Charles Mingus
Thelonious Monk
Charlie Parker
Sonny Rollins
Ornette Coleman
Wes Montgomery
Wayne Shorter
Freddy Hubbard
Cannonball Adderly
Art Blakely
Horace Silver
Michael Brecker
Lionel Hampton
Jan Garbarek
Avishai Cohen
Eric Alexander
James Carter

just to name a few

Niggas gotta be representin' their fellow rapper Gs because if they don't then they be d1sre$pectin'.

country/oldies-because the country i listen to reminds me of traditional white values

black metal-because i hate christianity, and i hate jews even more ;)

I am a somewhat artistically minded, arrogent, budding drug addict and I like the Velvet Undergound, Bob Dylan, The Stooges, Rolling Stones and so on. Generally I like garage, alternative, Jazz and rock in general. I would think that I initially was attracted to certain music because of my personality but my personality and value's were in turn refined by music. Personally I would go fucking nut's if not for music.


In that vain of thaught... Does music shape peoples cultural identity? Particually if they are not a conservative, mainstream type? Almost all the interesting and socially deviant people I know also live for music, and almost all the "normal" people I know either don't listen to music or they like boring, generic rock or mainstream pop...

So would music be the most important thing to a persons cultural identity?

The reason I like music is because it's one of the few things that I can actually say make me feel.

It's usually because the people can relate to the artists. Blacks like rap because, well look at most rappers, they are black. Country people like country because most Country artists lived in the country or some small town. Then you have people that like music from all genres and they like all music because they have been brought up to be open-minded.

does this help any?

and almost all the "normal" people I know either don't listen to music or they like boring, generic rock or mainstream pop...

So would music be the most important thing to a persons cultural identity?

You have heard of people that don't like music? That is surprising, I have never met anyone that doesn't like music, most people I know like music more than T.V. or something else like that.

I like mainstream music (it's more than just pop and is actually dominated by both rap and pop now) but like much more than the mainstream stuff. I don't see why a lot of people don't like the mainstream stuff. I also don't see why some of the music that isn't mainstream doesn't become mainstream.

Music is good, no matter what ... well sometimes it's not. But I als don't see how anyone can stick to listening to just one genre. That's the true bad music taste and is so boring. My favorite music is rap but I couldn't imagine listening to only rap and not hearing pop, r&b, rock, country, and all the other genres I love.

Well they either give the excuse that they "don't listen to music" which I always found hard to believe, or they riff of bands like Nickleback, Greenday and Foo Fighters which I look at as mainstream, generic rock. I'm not saying its bad nessisarily, although those bands are, I mean generic in the sence that they are tightly structured, with safe non offencive lyrics and the "verse - chorus - verse - chorus - token guitar sole- chorus - chorus" layout I hear the few times I listen to radio.

I just don't see it as a unique and evolved musical taste, and in my expirience the "squarer" the person is the less defined their interest in music is. Other people may see it differently.

Greenday, which I look at as mainstream, generic rock. I'm not saying its bad nessisarily, although those bands are, I mean generic in the sence that they are tightly structured, with safe non offencive lyrics and the "verse - chorus - verse - chorus - token guitar sole- chorus - chorus" layout I hear the few times I listen to radio.

I just don't see it as a unique and evolved musical taste, and in my expirience the "squarer" the person is the less defined their interest in music is. Other people may see it differently.

I really like the stuff they released on (and later pulled from) Lookout! Records. Basically everything up to, and including, Dookie. It's pretty good poppunk. Then they begin their journey from East Bay punk band who had Pansy Division (gay band) open for them to mainstream generic punk band.

Well they either give the excuse that they "don't listen to music" which I always found hard to believe, or they riff of bands like Nickleback, Greenday and Foo Fighters which I look at as mainstream, generic rock. I'm not saying its bad nessisarily, although those bands are, I mean generic in the sence that they are tightly structured, with safe non offencive lyrics and the "verse - chorus - verse - chorus - token guitar sole- chorus - chorus" layout I hear the few times I listen to radio.

I just don't see it as a unique and evolved musical taste, and in my expirience the "squarer" the person is the less defined their interest in music is. Other people may see it differently.


I know what you mean. They are basically the same structure and you have heard the point of the song tons of times before in other songs. But I mostly judge on the overall sound and whether I like how it sounds. That is why I have such a wide music taste I guess.

I mean I listen to a lot of people like:
Nickelback
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwod
MIMS
Eminem
50 Cent
Rascal Flatts
Gym Class Heroes
Black Eyed Peas
Fergie
Will.i.am
Theory of a Dead man
Kid Rock
Seether
T.I.
Nelly
Tim McGraw
Pussy Cat Dolls
P.Diddy
Flo Rida
Timbaland
Justin Timberlake
Kanye West
Katy Perry
Mariah Carey
Madonna
Lil' Wayne
Ludachris
Lupe Fiasco
MIA
Nelly Furtado
and many more...

The point is I listen to some artists that are on totally different ends of the spectrum.

^ that are all complete shit apparently

^ that are all complete shit apparently

except for mia and lil wayne. those are the only two worth listening to on that list.

except for mia and lil wayne. those are the only two worth listening to on that list.

i beg to differ

In my experience,the more willing an individual is to think and postulate for themselves,the more varied and "left of center" their tastes tend to be.This is probably because as a person develops their own ethos and ideologies(especially during adolescence) they look more and more for sources that reinforce their beliefs.

There are several key factors which dictate this,Intelligence(ability to reason so on so forth),Upbringing(open-mindedness,acception or rejection of parents beliefs) and personality(belief system).For instance,imagine you are a slightly below average intelligence teen,with strongly christian parents and reasonably dull personality.You aren't liable to be a huge Rage Against The Machine fan solely because you don't connect with the idea's or beliefs they embody.Sure,you might vaguely find comfort in the music and "appreciate" it,but it isn't going to help define who you are.As this person you are much more likely to enjoy mainstream pop and likewise mindless drivell.

I have a drummer friend who is insanely skilled at what he does and yet eats that chris brown shit for breakfast because he isn't willing to think for himself(pastor father,absurdly religous himself).

I can't remember who said it in this thread,but they said that the most interesting and socially-deviated people tend to have the most eclectic tastes in music,I'd hazard a guess and say that It's because the further away people get from the mainstream consensus,the further they have to look for confirmation of their beliefs.


Tl/Dr:In my experience,the more willing an individual is to think and postulate for themselves,the more varied and "left of center" their tastes tend to be.

Sorry if this an incomprehensible ramble and little of topic.

I said that :)

You make a good point about mucisian's as well. Some of them are talented but they dont dig particually abstract or experimental music. They are a damn sight better than the squares but at the same time if they base their entire musical direction on "Old school Rolling Stones" they are never going to become more than another typical band. Not that there is anything wrong with Rolling Stones, but you need to develope your own sound by taking from multiple sorces, not just emulating one.

except for mia and lil wayne. those are the only two worth listening to on that list.

I think that those are a good list of musicians, but I was the one who posted that list. I also added something at the bottom that said and many more.

I don't have enough time to list all of the artists I listen to and I can't think of all of them from the top of my head to list them.

I think that those are a good list of musicians, but I was the one who posted that list. I also added something at the bottom that said and many more.

I don't have enough time to list all of the artists I listen to and I can't think of all of them from the top of my head to list them.

you still have a shallow taste

In my experience,the more willing an individual is to think and postulate for themselves,the more varied and "left of center" their tastes tend to be.This is probably because as a person develops their own ethos and ideologies(especially during adolescence) they look more and more for sources that reinforce their beliefs.

There are several key factors which dictate this,Intelligence(ability to reason so on so forth),Upbringing(open-mindedness,acception or rejection of parents beliefs) and personality(belief system).For instance,imagine you are a slightly below average intelligence teen,with strongly christian parents and reasonably dull personality.You aren't liable to be a huge Rage Against The Machine fan solely because you don't connect with the idea's or beliefs they embody.Sure,you might vaguely find comfort in the music and "appreciate" it,but it isn't going to help define who you are.As this person you are much more likely to enjoy mainstream pop and likewise mindless drivell.

I have a drummer friend who is insanely skilled at what he does and yet eats that chris brown shit for breakfast because he isn't willing to think for himself(pastor father,absurdly religous himself).

I can't remember who said it in this thread,but they said that the most interesting and socially-deviated people tend to have the most eclectic tastes in music,I'd hazard a guess and say that It's because the further away people get from the mainstream consensus,the further they have to look for confirmation of their beliefs.


Tl/Dr:In my experience,the more willing an individual is to think and postulate for themselves,the more varied and "left of center" their tastes tend to be.

Sorry if this an incomprehensible ramble and little of topic.

This.

I also think that the open-mindedness you mentioned could expand your music taste to be much bigger. For example. Say someone loves mainstream music (again not just pop) but also like hardcore rock. They are very open-minded because those seem very distant from each other. Let's say this person also loves the non-mainstream rap, pop, r&b, and loves country. Now you have someone who has a great music taste and can relate with most people. Now let's say that this person has such a wide music taste that you can't seem to find a music genre or song they don't like. These people that like all music are very rare and have the best music taste of anyone else in the world.

I guess the point of my post was to say that open-mindedness brings you wider than the typical music taste of someone with characteristics like yours. and another point is that a really good music taste is not set by what type of music you listen to, but how much music you listen to.

The mainstream music now is much wider in taste and by my definition of a good music taste it is a much better music taste than the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's which concerned a big majority on one genre, rock. There were a few hits that weren't rock thanks to artists like Elvis Presley who did both rock and country, and a random few songs of different genres.

Today's mainstream music is narrow-minded but not as narrow-minded as back then. Today mainstream music includes pop, rock, rap/hip-hop, alternative, and sometimes country. There are a few songs here and there that aren't part of typical mainstream music that become mainstream such as "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga and "Paper Planes" by MIA.

Medeski, Martin and Wood.

this is who i think when i have sex with my girlfriend. this is what people should be listening to. when your musical tastes coincides with that of the rest of society it means you are a closed minded individual. listening to music that pushes the boundaries stimulates your brain thus giving you a more anti-establishment mentality. plus how many of the people mind is lost mentioned to you think will be remembered 60 years after their peak?

Why do niggers like hip hop? Why do sexually frustrated loners like death metal? Why do emos like pop punk?

What factors influence people's music taste?

:confused:

I guess upbringing, friends.

WHat do you listen to?

this is who i think when i have sex with my girlfriend. this is what people should be listening to. when your musical tastes coincides with that of the rest of society it means you are a closed minded individual. listening to music that pushes the boundaries stimulates your brain thus giving you a more anti-establishment mentality. plus how many of the people mind is lost mentioned to you think will be remembered 60 years after their peak?

Some of them will be remembered because some of them have made amazing chart feats, had massive airplay, and had a massive amount of digital sales for multiple singles and didn't do too shabby on the album charts either. However most won't even if they do well on the charts. It's kind of like the deal of which artists in the 50's and 60's are remembered today. When I think of music in the 50's the first artist I think of is Elvis Presley. You ask me what old rock band comes to my head and I think the Beatles, and I didn't even live through that era of music. But I am sure there are hundreds of music artists that did well and went to number one that aren't remembered.

The reason most of the artists I listed were mainstream is because those are the artists I hear more about so they were on the very top of my mind.

A perfect mainstream song that I am sure will be remembered years from now is "Low" by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain. That is one of the most successful hip-hop songs and if it doesn't get remembered by everyone, it will at least be remembered in hip-hop music.

Also some mainstream artists may be remembered by the fact that they are extremely terrible like Soulja Boy. No one that likes hip-hop music will ever forget "Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)" just for the simple fact that it is one of the most ridiculed song by hip-hop fans and Soulja Boy is one of the most ridiculed artists in hip-hop music. Although I think Soulja Boy has one or two worth listening songs, it's not worth it to buy his CD's and isn't really that good.

Here is an example of bad music being remembered, Vanilla Ice is remembered but hip-hop people hate him and his stupid song.

Another one Billy Ray Cyrus with "Achy Breaky" many people hate that song and hate his music.

However both artists had one big hit, their songs are considered crap by most.

^ i said 60 years, and i have never even heard of that "low" song you mentioned. usually the music that stands the test of time is music with at least some artistic quality. the problem now is that people dont listen to art music, the just accept the commercialized dribble the is forced down their throat. so honestly i dont know if all that shit you listen to will be remembered in 60 years. i hope to god it isnt, and if it is im finding out who you are and killing you. then im going to compose a concerto for orchestra and turntables about your shitty taste in music.

I guess upbringing, friends.

WHat do you listen to?

Anything that ends with "core"

Except hardcore/post-hardcore.

I know what you mean. They are basically the same structure and you have heard the point of the song tons of times before in other songs. But I mostly judge on the overall sound and whether I like how it sounds. That is why I have such a wide music taste I guess.

I mean I listen to a lot of people like:
Nickelback
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwod
MIMS
Eminem
50 Cent
Rascal Flatts
Gym Class Heroes
Black Eyed Peas
Fergie
Will.i.am
Theory of a Dead man
Kid Rock
Seether
T.I.
Nelly
Tim McGraw
Pussy Cat Dolls
P.Diddy
Flo Rida
Timbaland
Justin Timberlake
Kanye West
Katy Perry
Mariah Carey
Madonna
Lil' Wayne
Ludachris
Lupe Fiasco
MIA
Nelly Furtado
and many more...

The point is I listen to some artists that are on totally different ends of the spectrum.

I'd hardly call half of the people you listed "artists".

The reason I like music is because it's one of the few things that I can actually say make me feel.

lol emo.

I listen to all kinds of music, for no particular reason. I like rap, but not whiny bullshit like the stuff they play on the radio. I like Techno/Electronica/whatever you get the idea, but not stupid bullshit that sounds the same. I like grindcore/cybergrind/whatever, but not if it doesn't sound just right.

I like Heavy metal and screamo am I sexually frustrated loner? Also I think most mainstream music is boring shit.