Music I would succumb to under torture
What rabbitholedigger said. Spot on. I’m a musician/teacher and too perform professionally in bands for about 40 years. Additionally I’m a sound and recording engineer. It definitely gives a unique perspective on the art of making music. What makes me turn the radio knob instantly? Bad music. Mostly music where heavy anger, vanity and egos are involved. Not to be confused with rebellion of strong opinions. (Anthrax vs. Lennon). Can be some rap, hip-hop, screaming metal (is: rebels without a clue). I also don’t like much ABBA, Mamas and The Papas or highly compressed modern radio pop. Btw... when I hear Sade, Sinatra or Diana Krall I ALWAYS turn it up. 😉 |
You have opened this up to a time zone variation! I agree with your feelings about those you tube videos and music. My wife is Ukrainian and I spend quite a bit of time in Ukraine "enduring" this stuff which dominates the music playing on television and radio in Ukraine. I complain to my wife about the lack of any music sophistication, and she shrugs her shoulders and says "what can I do?". Indeed, what can we do? |
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Gentlmen, aldo I do not prefer much music that is recorded in present time, or even in recent past, I will not comment some of here expressed views or someones personal taste, simply because I am about to post some of the worst possible kind of 'music' that is created, at least that I am aware of. Consider yourself lucky that you are not exposed to it. Than, take a look, at your own risk and you may declare me as a winner, because, I am quite sure that this is the music that everyone here would consider as torture. Still, there are millions of people who actually like it...why, it is beyond my imagination... https://youtu.be/9vNoEEv8JdU https://youtu.be/o20g5Sac7U4 I know that you will not understand the word, but in this case that is a good thing. By the way, these are the most popular (15mil clicks and 30mil clicks!?) and not even the worst examples that I could post. So, now you all can send the flowers to your favourite hatred artist...for sure you must agree that they sound much better to you now... |
Garth Brooks, literally like nails on a chalk board to me. Physical discomfort. Would succumb before they even pressed play on the machine. I am actually a big fan of the Beastie Boys, NWA, and some of the early (and I would argue, 'real') hip-hop but any of the drivel that started with Bone Thugs and Harmony and everything since has been unlistenable. I don't get how people enjoy it?? |
@bsimpson : Political leanings and Trump bashing really aren't necessary, especially in regard to the national anthem or a thread about music preferences. (And trust me, I'm no Trump fan.) @bsimpson : Any racially intense, hatre-provoking music came as third. Agreed. Gary Clark Jr who I admire greatly as a musician recently released a new album. He may be the most talented young artist out there right now. One of the first songs released on the album throws out the 'n' word repeatedly. He might be well meaning and it might even be socially appropriate and meaningful. It seems that the 'n' word is fine for black artists to use to express themselves and make money.....but I don't like it no matter who is saying it. And sadly, the album just isn't very good. |
Lately, the national anthem made me sick when Trump's picture was on the tube at the same time. The anthem is all good otherwise (including the Roseanne Barr version) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls1YVhcLD2c Any Diana Krall came as distant second. Any racially intense, hatre-provoking music came as third. |
What makes Pop Country popular is that it is really just Pop music---melodies, chord structure, high-gloss production---with just a hint of Country, via the cynically-calculated and contrived lyrics sung with a deliberately-hick "twang". The Country music industry has chosen to push this brand of Country, as performers/entertainers are easier to control and manipulate than are artists. EmmyLou Harris is going to do what she wants, not what she is told. It's a shame, because the audience that buys Pop Country would like real Country just as much, and in fact does when exposed to it. Jim Lauderdale's songs feature strong chord progressions and melodies, as do the songs of other Americana writers. And with quality lyrics, as well as accompaniment from some of the finest musicians in the world. For Rocks fans, do ya'll know that Chad Smith of The Red Hot Chili Peppers is the drummer on The Dixie Chicks Taking The Long Way album? And that Mike Campbell of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers plays guitar on the album? Get hip, man! |
@bdp24 : Agreed. And while I don't listen to it a lot, I appreciate older, traditional country, Hank Williams, Patsy Kline, even Dolly. I like bands like Blue Mountain, Wilco, Son Volt, etc that were heavily influenced by country. It just the last 10-15 years of the kitschy pop stuff that I don't like. One of my failings as a parent is that my (adult) daughter, who largely likes what I like....also has an ear for pop country...I don't know where I went wrong....but the kids these days....... |
@n80, "Pop" Country drives me out of the room. After being exposed to it even briefly, I need to cleanse my soul by listening to some real Country (referred to as Americana by some, though many so-considered artists are not what I myself consider Country). Thankfully there is quite a bit of it being made these days---real good songs, singing, and musicianship. For the Americana-curious, check out The Americana Awards Show (hosted annually by Jim Lauderdale) on You Tube, and the No Depression website. I know a lot of younger (than I, anyway ;-) Rock music lovers have a "problem" with Country, but remember, Elvis was called The Hillbilly Cat when he first appeared. Country/Hillbilly is a large element in "real" Rock 'n' Roll; it was removed from the music when Rock 'n' Roll became Rock, Blues remaining as the major element. Country made a reappearance in Rock in the late-60's with the emergence of The Band, Gram Parsons and Chris Hillmans The Flying Burrito Brothers, Dylan of course (who had been recording in Nashville since '65) in his John Wesley Harding and Nashville Skyline albums, and many others (I won't further bore the uninterested). |
Pop country makes me sick. Old country I can listen to. alt-country is often pretty good. But take the standard fare at any televised country music award show (I think they have one every second Tuesday) and there you have my list of unlistenables. Next is standard pop. It is on the radio at my office all day, fortunately at very low volume. Literally the same 10-15 songs played over and over, sometimes 4 times during business hours. All bad. All sounds the same. But I guess, since I have endured it all these years.....it cannot break me under torture.............maybe I'm tougher than I think I am........ When it comes to stuff like rap I'm perfectly willing to say that I've just never given it a chance. And from what little I've heard, I don't like it...but it does not make me cringe the way intentionally mediocre pop and pop country do. |
This is a very Interesting version of 'Us and Them' by Anne Bisson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj0DeArcxTQ haha...... |
shtinkydog said: I wanna play, I wanna play!!! I do get this thread. Every single day as i shower before I leave for work, I turned on the radio for "background music", to K-earth 101, for those who are in L.A. or otherwise familiar with the station. I’m in the shower from about 515 or so to about 530ish. I am GUARANTEED a dose of Queen or Elton John, or both during that time. It hasn’t failed in at least 8 years. If you don’t believe me, try it. It WILL happen. It is for that reason only that I cant stand either. Why they can’t flip the switch and play "Radio Gaga" or "That’s why they call it the blues" is beyond my comprehension, both being excellent songs. I’m not saying those artists aren’t any good. But try having anything shoved down your throat for that long and you’ll understand. So, there." .......which is exactly why I can not stomach Boston. What was once good is now intolerable. |
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Look up a singer by the name of Teresa Teng. Hailed in Asia as the all-time queen of "contemporary" vocals. High-end audio snobs would spend big dollars on vintage Western Electric, Tannoy, and JBL gear to play her poorly recorded cacaphony. Cheap South Asia cabaret music that makes me reach for ear plugs. Fans enjoy her material reminiscing the days of going to tacky night clubs with PA boosted with echo and reverb to the max, and these poor sounding masters happen to mate well with electronics producing unusual amounts of 2nd harmonics. |
I think I understand the OP’s point, there is such a thing as abiding mediocrity. Many popular artists are popular because they are not great, just good enough to appeal to lots of people. The bell curve has far ranging implications in all human endeavors. I will leave the room if I hear the Violent Femmes, Radiohead, Cold Play, cruise ship reggae covers of bad pop songs, or any of the many showboating egomaniacs who call themselves RnB singers today. Technology has made music production far too easy, to the point that bands are no longer necessary and anything is possible, including lots of wacky musical ideas that would never have gotten off the ground if these “artists” didn’t have all these sophisticated production tools which obviate the need for bands, and the musical chemistry that goes along with them. As a guy who has led bands for 40 years, it’s actually quite hard to get a group of people to play poorly conceived musical ideas, or music which is highly ego based. Not anymore. Music is now wall paper and a lifestyle accessory, and it’s not going to get any better if people don’t expect more, or are simply unaware of how great people playing together in a room can be... |
Its funny, but I have never been a fan of country music, but since I upgraded my system some of the young women country artists sound pretty good (Margo Price & Ashley Monroe). BUT, of course, the exceptionally classic music sounds superb (e.g. Miles, Art Blakey, etc.). My Audio Consultant has a Diana Krall track that he uses to audition equipment, but beyond that, I'll leave that recording in the jacket. |
The op has a point. I noticed that a vast majority of present audiophile reviewers (from mostly the 'western' world) love to listen to this 'Diana Krall' to talk about the sound of the component. She is so often used in reviews that I am getting a bit pissed off at the frequency she pops up. Its like reviewers have this secret conspirital agreement to use her all the time. Maybe her stuff is well recorded, a bit like Dire Straits were used often in the 70's to show off new systems. With that group I can well understand, they will sound good on a poor system! I am most probably well biased and I am sticking to my guns, please in future lose this Diana Krall and play something different and even dare I say it musically interesting...! |
I wanna play, I wanna play!!! I do get this thread. Every single day as i shower before I leave for work, I turned on the radio for "background music", to K-earth 101, for those who are in L.A. or otherwise familiar with the station. I'm in the shower from about 515 or so to about 530ish. I am GUARANTEED a dose of Queen or Elton John, or both during that time. It hasn't failed in at least 8 years. If you don't believe me, try it. It WILL happen. It is for that reason only that I cant stand either. Why they can't flip the switch and play "Radio Gaga" or "That's why they call it the blues" is beyond my comprehension, both being excellent songs. I'm not saying those artists aren't any good. But try having anything shoved down your throat for that long and you'll understand. So, there. |
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music that would be sheer torture to listen to. almost any music played on a car audio system which puts all of its emphasis on the bass with numerous sub woofers played so loudly it rattles your car, your teeth, and your sanity! especially when it is Rap, Hip Hop, or what is considered today’s Pop. the relentless boom, boom, oom, would likely get to me eventually. probably somewhere around the tenth or eleventh boom. depending on the size of the boom, of course. |
