<p>I agree with most of the things that hookem168 said, but I suppose it's important to remember that there are multiple ways of enjoying music. There is music for thought, music for enjoyment, work-out music, music to laugh at, and brainless music for the sake of pleasing the more primitive parts of our discerning apparatus that do not wholly disapprove of simplistic, catchy albeit meaningless music. Is est: commercial music has it's role in the musical spectrum as well. I do not agree with the OP's premise that profit-oriented, processed, Britney Spears type stuff can be as "good" as , say, TV on the Radio (and that it is only a matter of opinion which is better), but that is because I am adding the artists' talent and the fact that I use music for inspiration and to gain a "connection" with some 'exterior force' ,if you will, into the equation. What it boils down to is that the purpose of these two categories of 'sound' are completely distinct. Hence, what the listener may hope to gain from the music is equally distinctive - so much so that the two types of music are not comparable.
( I am assuming the OP agrees with me and secretly realizes that the intrinsic value of Milli Vanilli's "Girl, You Know It's True" forms only an iota of the thought and "recherche" put into many a Radiohead or Djano Reinhardt song. Though both may be equally enjoyable to a given listener, they serve a different purpose and carry a different texture and subtlety that renders them diametrically different and, for the best or for the worst, incomparable).</p>
<p>Truly, some and most music is incomparable. The problem with our dear friend is that he is tying to do that comparison in a very wrong way. He is looking down on what the general public sees as entertainment. Who cares what the general public thinks? </p>
<p>Maybe I do.</p>
<p>And maybe that means that I will tolerate what someone else listens to and makes sure I do not belittle anyone because of the music that they listen to. I made a point about music form hinterlands of Mail (music that people dance to with a fire and smoke, let's say). Our dear friend just outright puts that type of music as "zero talent."</p>
<p>The issue here is, what you value is what you listen to. Like my fellow (red Devil, portugueseninja) from England said, Kenny could not compose classical music, and may not venture into pop. That does not mean he should dismiss those forms of music as nonsense or useless. That is wrong!</p>
<p>If Hanna Montana sings rubbish to 12 or 13 year olds, allow her. If someone plays country music and he is your floor mate, then allow him to play it. If I like my bags and pens and every other item of mine with a touch of blue, then that is not a reason to throw my views into the bin. </p>
<p>That is what our friend hookem is saying, and while I agree with IndiaRubber, we should also embrace the lovely variety that the world has brought and has. It is just the driving force behind anthropology, and the single most important thing which would unite the world. </p>
<p>thank you.
1. Hookem, if you still think that music is "has its betters and zeros", please do not use that as a channel to hate others. I detected that in your tone.
2. If Korean tunes do not appeal to you, please listen to it. It is worth your time, trust me.
3. Music is different, that is why they are put in genres. Country music appeals to some type of people, and if I choose to listen to it for a year, it is because I want establish a connection with them. It is an important part of life, and I think you should consider your thoughts on this. </p>
<p>4 (and most important). I hope we meet one day and talk over coffee or soda or whatever you want and I like. Seriously, I want that to happen. I hate to leave a discussion with a sour taste in my mouth or with either of us not agreeing. </p>
<p>Let us keep this disagreement cool and the thread running. I am VERY sure there is an agreement between the two of us and I trust we would discover it today or tomorrow. </p>
<p>The original issue; Rihanna and Spears have penetrated my ears.</p>
<p>The Hannah Montana issue is something completely different to the basis of judging on skill and talent. Very few of chart pop songs are written by the artist. But they're performed by the artist because the person who wrote the song is a middle aged man with a beard. But that argument is not about the talent of the artist, it's really about the evils of the major label music industry machine that churns out songs likes sausages in a sausage factory.</p>
<p>When I was 12 years old I didn't care about deep lyrical meaning or musical excellence. I wanted something to dance around to. And that's what Hannah Montana caters for. I think it's really, REALLY unfair to say that it's "wrong". You can say that you hate, despise and loathe it, but to say that others are wrong I think really is just uncalled for.</p>
<p>Portugueseninja, are you a Manchester United fan? I cannot help but ask.</p>
<p>You are right. I agree 100%. I have nothing else to say. Let us wait for our fellow to come and talk, and then we continue with our discussion of country vs pop vs what you like and what I like. </p>
<p>I guess age has an influence on what you like. I am not 60 years, but I like country music. lol</p>
<p>Interesting topic. As someone mentioned above, there are different purposes for art; some is to entertain, to laugh at, to cry to, etc. But, taking a postmodern view of music is also very limited. As hookem said, it is obviously impossible to say who is best, but one can at least use objective qualities to judge music. Saying that music shouldn't be judged is silly because people then lose a sense of quality control and interest. Music, as a form of art, cannot transcend the realm of criticism.</p>
<p>Read this article. It is about classical music, but it applies.
When</a> music critics attack. - By Jan Swafford - Slate Magazine</p>
<p>You don't have to be 60 to enjoy country, I'm only 21 and I do :)</p>
<p>Haha no I am not a Manchester United fan. I don't care for football (unless it's a World Cup game or something in which case I'll support England). If I had to choose a team it would be Aston Villa or perhaps Manchester City, as I currently live in Manchester.</p>
<p>wow in one day this thread has gotten crazy...
my take on it (if any of u care lol)
the music of britney spears and rihanna (and even though i hate them the jonas brothers and hannah montana) accomplishes what they set out to do. u dont hear britney spears talking about how she is a great lyricist or rihanna talking about how versatile her vocals are. there music in essence is just pleasing to the ears for 3min. then ur done with it.
but still...britney spears and rihanna music is still the shiznit.
and dont judge me cuz i like it. i also like bands like vampire weekend, mgmt, muse, radiohead, travis, explosions in the sky, and carolina liar.
and a lot more bands and i also am a fan of rap, hiphop, world music, and rnb.
i just really enjoy some bubble gum pop everyonce in a while</p>
<p>Oh cool. You live in Manchester!
Well, with music, everyone thinks a particular genre is for a certain age bracket.
All the pop stars do what they have to and get the money that they deserve</p>
<p>Totally agree with hdada91. Good talk guys. Keep the spirit up</p>
<p>Well that's extremely debatable that they get the money they deserve! The pop stars get most money from the promotional work they do, money for appearances and whatnot. Very little of it is from record sales in comparison to what the record label earns. The most common average an artist earns from record sales is 8% and quite often it's less than that. Even a huge star won't earn more than 15% from record sales. Which is ridiculous really. Which is why more people are releasing independently.. it costs more for the artist personally but then they get to keep pretty much all the profit. I'd be happy just making enough money from CD/tshirt sales to pay the bills, same as any other job.</p>
<p>Yep I live in Manchester but not for much longer! I can't afford to rent anymore so I'm having to let my room and go back to live with my dad in a little city in the south west called Gloucester that no Americans have heard of or can pronounce the name of ;)</p>
<p>I can, or will try. Glouster... dun worry.
I think you are right in saying that they do not deserve it.
Let us leave them alone. For the most part, which I just overlooked, music stars make money from promo work and so much more. I get to drain my parent's money to go to school.</p>
<p>You were right to leave out the 'ces' part in the middle but not quite. Glosster. <em>nods</em> no Americans can ever do it, it's amusing.</p>
<p>oh, lol. I thought I was so right, I could not wait to laugh</p>
<p>i suggest a few albums to bring you back on the right path:</p>
<p>808s & heartbreak -- kanye west
futuresex/lovesounds -- jt
all eyez on me -- tupac shakur
II -- boyz ii men
the stranger -- billy joel
leaving through the window -- something corporate
whatever goddamn album blink 182 comes up with next. it will be orgasmic.</p>
<p>trust me, my friend. this will truly help you become more than just an average joe -- and will better your understanding, cure your craziness, and turn you into a renaissance man. the breadth of these five -- and hopefully six -- classical albums will lift your spirits and complete you.</p>
<p>if not, you're lost like coldplay and crazy like gnarls barkley.</p>
<p>808s and heartbreak and futuresex/lovesounds???
dont get me wrong i enjoy both....robocop and see you in my nightmares from 808s and quite a few songs from futuresex are outstanding.
but "will better your understanding, cure your craziness, and turn you into a renaissance man"????? i dont think so</p>
<p>lol. you may be right -- maybe i took it too far. but still. the rest are classics.</p>
<p>808s and Heartbreak was a huge disappointment.</p>
<p>Actually I haven't heard it, but I believe everything Pitchfork tells me to believe.</p>
<p>808s and Heartbreak was disappointing to me. I really like the College Dropout and Late Registration. I get that he was trying something a bit new and funky. But personally I didn't like it much.</p>
<p>it was somewhat of a disappointment. i hate how kanye thinks he is gods gift to music.
hes a great artist....but hes not anything amazing.
but seriously i didnt really like 808s for the most part...i hate love lockdown and heartless.
but everyone go listen to see you in my nightmares...it pleasantly surprised me. and for once lil waynes voice, which he needs to clear every once in a while, actually matches a song. u wont be disappointed.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbjNJ3Ogqlw%5B/url%5D">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbjNJ3Ogqlw</a></p>
<p>oh and so i feel like venting.
how stupid is it that i have to be at school 45min early because i have to go to a disciplinary review meeting for student council. all because i didnt bring in a 2liter bottle of soda for a council party. it wasnt even like they were running low.</p>
<p>That song was really good. And I think prof. pointed this out, but Amazing on that album was pretty awesome, too.</p>
<p>Graduation was wayyyyyy better, though.</p>