JOURNAL: Dragon Ladysupreme (Jessica Tatum)

  • Music Rant~ 2005-06-09 03:08:16 After looking through some potential RPer's history, I come across a few threads. Mainly, this is in the music or general discussion sub-forums in Gaia. First thing, I'd like to show off what this quiz shows on my musical influence towards things. Though, if they added some out of country artists, it'd change a little. I was wondering where the Mindless Self Indulgence was, and a few other people.

    90's Alternative: Highest Influence
    90's Hip Hop: Highest Influence
    90's Pop: Highest Influence
    R&B: Highest Influence
    80's Pop: High Influence
    90's R&B: High Influence
    90's Rock: High Influence
    Adult Alternative: High Influence
    Classic Rock: High Influence
    Hip Hop: High Influence
    Old School Hip Hop: High Influence
    80's Alternative: Medium Influence
    80's R&B: Medium Influence
    Country: Medium Influence
    Hair Bands: Medium Influence
    80's Rock: Low Influence
    Alternative Rock: Low Influence
    Dance: Low Influence
    Gangsta Rap: Low Influence
    Heavy Metal: Low Influence
    Progressive Rock: Low Influence
    Punk: Low Influence
    Ska: Low Influence


    With that said, I'd like to think that I have a general likeness for all sorts of music. So with so many people and so many multi-genre artists, why do people hate specific genres? More specifically, rap and emo and such. I don't love rap to death, or hate country to the point that I'd wish death on all those who listen to it. Most of the time, it's due to the generalizations and the way listeners dont give certain kinds of songs an actual chance. After a song or two, the CD is thrown down and hatred for all artists associated with the hated CD in genre forms.

    In forums and chats, things have to be made completely clear that certain subjects aren't to become sources of conversation. Among that, there was Religion, Politics, and Music. Why? It takes friends apart just because they realize that someone they liked likes something the other didn't. It forms into flame wars, and the people hating eachother for weeks before forgetting and repeating the episode. It'd be easier if everyone was able to at least say that they don't like a genre, but will respect it.

    Why wouldn't I like certain categories of music?
    It's not like I just wont. In my own mind, chords and sheets of music form that line up with the passing by music. Harmonization, syncopation, the simple flow of a song and how it sets itself up brings me to make a decision. It's not that hard, actually.
    Rap - Steady beat, and keeping in sync is important, but harmonizing with the intrumental part really doesn't matter.
    R&B, Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul, etc. - At times, they will set bad moods. Generally, though, it becomes a hit or miss business with this to me. You have to be able to feel the steady beat from the bass, but the sound of the melody along with the lyrics must be noticable. Chords need to make sense, and the lyrics really have to line up.
    Pop - They... Well, it's hard to really point a dot on this.
    Country - They have strong chords, but something about most of the songs just turn me off for a reason. Possibly from the singer's efforts to try and harmonize with the intrumental.
    Punk Rock, Metal, Grunge, etc. - Not all the same genre, but same issue. It just seems like the majority of these hold a more 'screaming lyrics over the guitar' rather than actual singing. I love the instrumental part, but when it comes to the actual singing... There just seems to be not that much. *shrug* Just lots of yelling. Not generally, I know there are exceptions, but yeah...
    Jazz - It's hard to learn, but this is one of the highest forms of music that I love. It's just really difficult to actually sing along the right chords.
    Emo - I really dont have much to say about this. In general? I don't listen to it enough to make an actual opinion. Some stuff I like, some stuff I dont.
    World - Being such a broad range, I can not put in an actual opinion. Some stuff I like, some stuff I don't care for.
    Techno - I don't get many hits on this section. Mainly, that's due to how hard it seems for people to line up the music together and make it... Enjoyable to me.
    (Remember these are personal opinions, and should be taken as such. Opinions, not what I think are facts.)


    Currently, I'm listening to "Desert Rose," by Sting, but what's next is "I think I'm a Clone Now" by Wierd Al, and then "Waterfalls" by TLC. After that, there's some Tupac, Fantasia, Mindless Self Indulgence, Gary Jules, Tears for Fears, Evanescence... You get the idea.

    Someday, and I will be wishing for this, I want people to know that hate can never be used towards a genre; Especially when your reason, and is most likely, a widely used generalization. In every section, you'll be able to find at least 1 artist, or song, that they could enjoy on occasion. There is no such thing as a 'fad' in music; New brands are developed through that which exists today. That's where Soul, R&B, Hip-Hop, and other forms of genres come from. Those mentioned just used to be considered fads a lot more. Well, guess what? 30 years later, Hip-Hop is as strong as before, and Soul has many sub-genre's under it's belt.

    So next time when you feel like dissing a certain genre, do this:
    Go through some site that allows you to preview a bit of time of music and collect about 50 songs from different artist. Go through the subgenres and try and actually keep an open mind, instead of constantly convincing yourself it's all crap. Do a little research, and for the gods sake...

    Keep an open mind.

    'Keep an open mind' is a phrase that this Gaian urges readers and the like to always stick to, no matter the subject. This doesn't mean that the Gaian is trying to force anyones opinions to favoring a certain way. The opinions in this and all entries are exclusively expressed by and for the writer alone, and not Gaia itself. Thank you and have a nice day. 
Current server time: Jul 19, 2025 13:45:02