I don't see the appeal of music

[RaikuFA]

I don't know what it is, I cannot get into it. I feel nothing when I hear stuff I like. I rarely buy CD's. Last one was a few years ago. It dosen't help that what I like isn't on the radio anymore. Then theres gatekeepers that judge me for whatever I like/dislike.

So what is it that people like about music?

 

[Lufia Erim]

I'm with you. At least music with lyrics. While every so often I'll find the lyrics to a song inspirational or sweet. I prefer orchestral scores.

 

[Sleepy Sol]

Multiple layers of appeal. For some people (in fact I'd say most people), they listen to music to elicit some form of emotional response. Or as a medium to express emotion. Like for me, when I had just fallen out of a relationship years ago, for example, I would listen to Pearl Jam's "Black" because I felt like it was almost perfect representation of my situation. Just in...song form.

At times, it's a chance to admire someone's technical ability. Again, using myself as a personal example, I drum a little bit every now and then, and I'm pretty fucking terrible. But having a certain understanding of rhythm and technical drumming ability allows me to listen to a song, pick out the drum part, and think in my head "Holy fuck, that's pretty fucking awesome. Maybe one day I'll actually get the resolve to be that good."

Not understanding the appeal of music isn't really a bad thing, of course. Plenty of people watch Netflix series or movies, but I barely bother to take the effort to see either of them.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

That's a shame man, enjoying music is one of the three ways of transcending time and space according to Schopenhauer.

 

[BeeGeenie]

You might find Oliver Sacks' "Musicophilia" enlightening. The inability to appreciate music is more common than you might think.

It could be a mild form of amusia, which can affect the way your brain processes music, including it's emotional component.


But don't feel bad, you can still lead a normal, productive life without liking music.

 

[Artina89]

I can't fully explain why I love music as much as I do. I just find it rather soothing, and when I am at work, I can be regularly found to have my headphones on, regardless of whether I am working in the lab or processing data. It helps me concentrate and, even though I am very good at doing it without having music on, I use it to help me tune out the rest of the world.

 

[Yuuki]

I wasn't particularly into music when I was young. Then in my teens I heard a song from a band called Mudvayne (alternative metal?) and was addicted to all kinds of metal every since. It just sounds...so f**king awesome to my ears, I still have absolutely no idea why it appealed to me.

I feel nothing when I hear stuff I like.

What does that even mean? To like something is to feel.

There are most likely genres of music that may appeal to you and you just haven't heard them yet.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Well music are suppose to "stimulate" your brain in one way or another. I guessing you just haven't heard the right "music" yet.

 

[DeadProxy]

Your first problem is that music you listen to gets played on the radio, and everyone knows it's all shitty pop and party music nowadays.

Go diving into sub genres and see how much you enjoy music made by bands that don't have greedy labels behind them and you might find something that isn't tailored to be catchy by some writer not even part if the group.

Here's a legitimate question...do you have an active imagination? Because the main reason I listen to music is to have imaginary battlefields and stuff going on while syncing it up to the music. If the music you're listening to doesn't conjure up anything, maybe auditory stuff just isn't your thing.

 

[Guffe]

I love music, I keep myself to Rock and Metal mainly.
Buy CDs, go to concerts and have several random playlists on, doesn't really matter what I do, I often have music on in the background.

 

[McElroy]

There is the extremely rare chance that you are a non-musical person (one whose brain only interprets a cacophony of noise when hearing music), but I doubt it. But hey, I've *never* bought music. I've been to a small bar gig once and of course there are some indirect cases of me supporting music (like ads), but otherwise I don't see the appeal of trying to get into music. Also as a stereotypical man I cannot focus on two things at once which makes music often a distraction.

No wait, I bought a Bob Marley CD for a buck at a flea market three years ago.

 

[maninahat]

You don't have to. If you don't like it you don't. I hate dancing in clubs and can't comprehend why anyone else would like it.

Charles Babbage hated music too, and he was pretty swell. [http://sydneypadua.com/2dgoggles/lovelace-and-babbage-vs-the-organist-pt-1/]

 

[NoX 9]

I'm not sure how you can't see any appeal of music, even music you 'like'. If even that music doesn't appeal to you, how do you even know you like it? In any case I don't quite understand your predicament; I very much enjoy multiple styles and genres of music.

Music is perfect for setting the mood for me; be it a dramatic, intense, sad or happy moment in a movie or videogame, just the right rock tune on the radio when I'm on a long drive in my car, or just pleasant and relaxing tunes for sitting around in a bar or at someones place chatting with my friends. Thy to watch some of the famously dramatic or actionpacked events of various movies and videogames without music; they come off as incredibly strange! If you don't really apreciate music on its own, then maybe at least you see the appeal when it is in the right context?

You don't have to. If you don't like it you don't. I hate dancing in clubs and can't comprehend why anyone else would like it.

Of course you do, only crazy people enjoy dancing in clubs. Or dancing period. I never danced of my own free will in my whole life, I'm way to awkward for that shit!

 

[Odbarc]

I listen to what's on the radio. I never understood the appeal of going to a concert. I have a total of three CDs I bought in my life. I got a few as gifts too though.

 

[Tsun Tzu]

It's primal and simplistic, conjuring images of dancing around ancient tribal bonfires.

It's complex and indicative of civilization's potential majesty.

It...uh...sounds good?

Seriously, I'm not sure how you can't find a measure of enjoyment from some type of music. The sheer variety available to you, at the press of a button, is astounding in and of itself. Hell, something as simple as making a beat with your tongue or patting on a table while you wait for the waiter to come back- it's cathartic.

Singing in the shower too! Embarrassing as fuck? Sure! Genuinely entertaining to me personally? Sure!

Don't think I'd still be alive without music, if I'm being honest.

Just hunt around until ya find something that strikes your fancy. Like what you want to like and fuck everybody else. You're the one listening to it, after all, so if it's enjoyable for you, then it's good.

I don't care if it takes the form of belting out Shake it Off while scrubbing yer bits or if it's humming Moonlight Sonata while you jog.

Up to you entirely.

Letting "gatekeepers" get ya down when it comes to music is just...c'mon, man. Own your shit.

 

[RedRockRun]

I don't know what it is, I cannot get into it. I feel nothing when I hear stuff I like. I rarely buy CD's. Last one was a few years ago. It dosen't help that what I like isn't on the radio anymore. Then theres gatekeepers that judge me for whatever I like/dislike.

So what is it that people like about music?

You just haven't found what you like yet! What music have you listened to so far?

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

Multiple layers of appeal. For some people (in fact I'd say most people), they listen to music to elicit some form of emotional response. Or as a medium to express emotion. Like for me, when I had just fallen out of a relationship years ago, for example, I would listen to Pearl Jam's "Black" because I felt like it was almost perfect representation of my situation. Just in...song form.

That is coincidentally my personal favourite of Pearl Jam's music! More specifically the Live on two legs version, it gives me goosebumbs when the solo and vocals start building. Damn, even thinking about it now is making hairs stand on end. Unfortunately, I heard that live version before the original and the original doesn't have the same emotional kick or soul because of that.

OT: there is a hell of a lof good music and musicians out there. You just need to find them either by accident (usually how it happens) or by actively seeking it. Do not rely on radio, god help those that do. You have no chance of finding what you desire there. British and American mainstream music is terrible from my experience. Learning instruments can help appreciation so much, but if one does not have the passion, it may be much more difficult to commit. Even electronica (now the most vaguest of genres i'd imagine) has a lot of dedicated, talented musicians and composers behind them. Gah, i'm losing focus, it's too early and only halfway through coffee. What about video-game music? I remember liking many as a kid, before I knew I liked music at all.

 

[FalloutJack]

I like it. The right kind of music helps me think while writing.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Music is a hard thing to explain. It's so deeply rooted in humanity's shared consciousness, unique in its level of engagement with our entire being. Better philosophers than I have written about it and you'd be better off reading their work to find out what's the appeal of music. Like Shopenhauer, as Johnny below me points out.

That's a shame man, enjoying music is one of the three ways of transcending time and space according to Schopenhauer.

And amen to that. Music can be the epitome of the sublime (well depending on whom you read).