I have a personal pet peeve I need to share. It's when people decide that they hate an entire genre of music. "I hate country music. I can't stand it. All of it is terrible." Oh, that's good, and do you also hate black people?
Ooh, the sarcasm is so thick I can't see.
Admit it. You do it. Almost everyone does. What's your hated genre? Country? Rap? R&B? (yes, they're different) Dance? 80's? Oldies? Or for the uber-pretentious, do you hate all mainstream music as a whole?
Have you heard all the songs in the genre? Or have you painted the entire genre by what companies decide is crap enough to go on the radio? There could be some quality artists and songs out there that suit your taste, but you just don't know about them. Songs, regardless of the genre, became popular because millions of people could identify with them. You're such an individual that you can't identify with the masses in any situation at any time? Not to be blunt, but... Get over yourself.
I used to say I hated country music, partially due to brainwashing by certain sisters. (Love You!) But guess what? I don't hate it at all! I don't particularly like the majority of the new popular stuff, but the Dixie Chicks are great! And most of the classic country songs are just that - classic. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry is a really emotional song and I don't think you could even begin to count the number of people who derive their own music from the influence of Hank Williams. Patsy Cline is awesome! And it's now completely unhip to say that you don't like Johnny Cash.
I found my way to like a genre. I challenge you to the same. Need some suggestions? Ask anyone who their favorite artists are in the genre and then check them out. If someone found worth in that music, it's possible for you to find it as well. I'm not trying to say that you should force yourself to like a genre, but step out of your box. Cross the line that is the boundary to your proverbial comfort zone. You just might find some music that really inspires you.
P.S. This was inspired because I bought a new Dixie Chicks album today and it's great!
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6 comments:
While I agree that not all songs in a particular genre are worthy of the trash heap, part of the reason we have a diversity of musical styles is because everyone has a different taste. It's like artwork: you can't judge it as good or bad. It is what it is and you can have your personal likes or dislikes, but its merit is not based on your opinion alone.
That said, I still don't like most country music. But you can't say I haven't listened to enough of it, because I've spent the greater part of my life in a household dedicated to it.
Ok. Done.
Thanks for the rant, loves ya.
K
Of course we all have different tastes. you might love a genre that I sometimes like. I just get annoyed when people refuse to listen to a particular song or know before they hear it that they won't like it because of the genre it belongs to. Close-mindedness doesn't make lots of sense to me.
And my rant wasn't directed at the singular 'you', but the collective 'you'. Just trying to spread open-mindedness to the collective!
from (one of)the brainwashing sister- So the Dixies Chicks last album "Taking the Long Way" came with critical acclaim and a large rejection from Middle American radio stations. They had to cancel or postpone shows in many middle/southern american cities because of poor ticket sales. The CD did much better in Canada as well as on the American east coast(non-traditional country markets). I have heard a few songs off the album and it sounded good.
And ya know what lil' sister...I don't think these days that I hate all of a genre. But there are a few genres that to this point have yet to make a seriously positive impression on me.
I have definitely learnt that all genres have their astoundingly good and devastatingly bad artists.
For intance the best impersonator I ever heard was Elvez. He has at least 5 cds's. He is the Mexican Elvis. check him out.
And I have to disagree with miss fitz, there is such a thing as bad art. there is alot of it. I have studied it. Thomas Kincaid is a good place to start in terms of bad art. Black Velvet paintings. etc.
Hi Camille!
There is actually a whole aesthetic philosophy line of argument surrounding 'bad art'. There is an entire school of thought that argues that if art is 'bad' then it is not art at all. The velvet paintings (of elvis, for example) may be paint on a canvas...but few would argue that the medium is sufficient to propel something into the catagory of 'art'. When or how does a 2 year old's finger painting (or lucy the elephant's trunk painting), become art, for instance? And how can the merit of art, or even its existence, be measured?
Philosophers have a thousand conflicting answers for these questions, of course. Well, philosophers have thousands of conflicting answers for pretty much any question about anything anyone could ask. I mean, you don't even know that I exist, or that this post isn't just a dream you're having...right now!!!
Ok Mandy. Wow. I don't know what to say to that other than wow.
I do know that love it or hate it if you spend enough time where I live you'll eventually know what a honky tonk bedonka donk is. :) You'll also eventually learn to love it.
there is an interesting essay on good vs. bad art at http://www.paulgraham.com/goodart.html. I will say that sometimes the experts are wrong and longevity doesn't in and of itself make an art work viable, as some works are made to be ephemeral and destructable.Political/spiritual social/philisophical theories at time of production can effect the way a work is viewed.
And the debate will continue to rage on in art schools for centuries to come I'm sure. as it is really a major in all 4 years of an undergrad BFA. I know with 100% confidence that I have seen and made bad art.
but hey this is way off topic from the dixie chicks, but I had to respond somehow
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