Why I Hate Talking About Music

[Kpt._Rob]

Now, let me note here, to start, I don't mind a forum asking for musical suggestions. That's not what I'm talking about here. What I'm talking about here is having a casual conversation with someone (usually some hipster who has already judged me poorly because I don't drink my coffee black and while I occassionally smoke a cheap cigar I don't smoke cigarettes). My point though, is that I hate talking about music.

Why, you ask? Well, let me briefly outline how the conversation ends up being every time, I can't be the only one who has ever had one of these conversations either, it seems like I've had a million of these fucking conversations. Anyways, it's like this...

Person: What kinds of music do you listen to?
Me: Well, lots of different kinds I guess ([thinking] How the McHell am I supposed to summarize a lifetime of musical tastes in a couple of sentances? Do people sit around thinking about these things, figuring out "well, I only like this genre, this genre, and this genre. So that's all I'll listen to. EVER!!!")
Person: Hey, so do you ever listen to -insert obscure band I've never heard of here-?
Me: Uhm, they sound familiar ([thinking] No they don't)
Person: Damn, well you should really listen to them, they're really good.
Me: Yeah, maybe sometime. ([thinking] Wow, really, you think they're good? Well I'm glad you mentioned a good band to me... why does no one ever mention bad bands? Don't you think I'd have assumed that you thought they were good the second you suggested them? Not to mention, their name makes me inclined to think they're just another douchey indy band that thinks they're too cool for cool, or oxygen.)
Person: Oh, what about -insert another band here, I've heard one of their songs, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't good-
Me: Yeah, I think I heard one of their songs ([thinking] I wish I hadn't)
Person: Yeah, their lyrics are so deep.
Me: Yeah... ([thinking] Are you sure you haven't confused "deep" and "stupid"? I remember something in there about "crying purple butterflies out of the cuts under my eyes".)
Person: Well, what about -insert band I actually do listen to here-?
Me: Yeah, I like them. That song -insert song I like here- was good.
Person: Yeah, I absolutely loved -insert five or six titles here, none of which was a single, not because the single was bad, but because they're too cool to like to the single-.

Anyways, that conversation goes on for a while. The point I'm getting to though, is that it's boring, shallow, and pointless. Not once has a conversation like this ever lead me to a band I decided I liked. Even when we find a band we both like, that's the extent of the conversation, it's just some random "oh, we have this thing in common that no one really cares about anyways." There's no depth to it either, I mean, I've never actually talked with someone about what a song means, mostly there's just some vague descriptions that could apply to any song depending on your opinions. The worst part is when they reach into their pocket, and pull out their iPod and a pair of headphones that look like they've been around since Washington was crossing the fucking Delaware, and make me listen to some song, and I just have to sit there, looking awkwardly at them, and fake nodding my head with the music, and pretending I like it, even though I'm thinking, "man, I thought I came here to talk to someone, not to listen to music... I can do that at home... and in the car... and while I'm doing my grocery shopping... and pretty much anytime that I'm NOT trying to have a conversation with someone." And it always feels like it's just another "my dick is bigger contest" only this time it's an "I know more obscure bands than you" contest. I can't be the only one tired of feeling like he's being judged by his tastes in music, and who wishes these damn conversations would go back to hell... where they belong.

 

[Frankydee]

I sort of have the same problem mainly with people who enjoy my type of music. But for the most part I just hate talking about my tastes only because most people just don't enjoy metal around here and often tell me unfounded claims about how horrible metal is.

so for the most part I don't really bother.

 

[SageRuffin]

For all that, why bother? Also, if you don't want to talk about music and have that conversation eventually lead to someone suggesting some "new" bands or artists, don't bring up such a conversation. Makes sense, right?

Just saying.

 

[kalakashi]

I used to be a bit like that, kinda musically elitist, until I realised not even that long ago that I love a bunch of classic songs, not even in a funny way.

When's the last time you listened to Livin la vie de Loca? Way too long. If you listen to it enough, it stops being funny, and starts being a brilliantly catchy tune.
Beating Hearts Baby - Head Automatica. Fantastic song, most people know it.

I used to be all "oh yeah I listen to Dashboard Confessional" (when he wasn't so famous) and stuff like that. Then I met people like me, and I hated them, and I saw what I was. Never go back.

 

[Matt_LRR]

Not gonna lie - for someone complaining about what judgemental, douchey music snobs hipsters are, you sound an awful lot like a judgemental, douchey music snob in this thread.


-m

 

[Radeonx]

Not gonna lie - for someone complaining about how judgemental and douchey hipsters are, you sound an awful lot like a judgemental, douchey music snob in this thread.


-m

Indeed.
In all of your "thoughts", you are just acting like a dick, as Matt pointed out. You're complaining, when you are pretty much just as bad as the hipster.

 

[Ham_authority95]

I sort of have the same problem mainly with people who enjoy my type of music. But for the most part I just hate talking about my tastes only because most people just don't enjoy metal around here and often tell me unfounded claims about how horrible metal is.

Are you kidding? I thought metal fans where a majority on these forums...

EDIT: By the way, whats up with all the shitty music threads today?

 

[Kpt._Rob]

Not gonna lie - for someone complaining about what judgemental, douchey music snobs hipsters are, you sound an awful lot like a judgemental, douchey music snob in this thread.


-m

I was hoping it'd come off a bit more as my generally cynical sense of humor. Damn you lack of tone created by the internet!

PS. Even if you are going to go after me for my own hypocrisy, I never expected to see one of the guys from LoadingReadyRun in my post. I do love your guys show. You're all fantastic. I watch every week! The "Reduce Your Footprint" video was an absolute classic. Now that you've attacked my reputation I may have to go cry purple butterflies from the cuts under my eyes.

 

[TehCookie]

You might have a better conversation if your say your opinion, in a more polite way of course.

 

[Matt_LRR]

Not gonna lie - for someone complaining about what judgemental, douchey music snobs hipsters are, you sound an awful lot like a judgemental, douchey music snob in this thread.


-m

I was hoping it'd come off a bit more as my generally cynical sense of humor. Damn you lack of tone created by the internet!

PS. Even if you are going to go after me for my own hypocrisy, I never expected to see one of the guys from LoadingReadyRun in my post. I do love your guys show. You're all fantastic. I watch every week! The "Reduce Your Footprint" video was an absolute classic. Now that you've attacked my reputation I may have to go cry purple butterflies from the cuts under my eyes.

Heh. Well, thanks! Cry not, I was merely pointing out the questionable tone!

-m

 

[Daveman]

All I know for certain is that all Indy bands are annoying as fuck. The only ones that aren't are pretty much rock or pop anyway.

OT: I do know what you mean. I don't like talking about music with people. I think that's mostly because I'm a classic rock/metal guy who also loves some rap music but also loves funk and soul music too and most people in my age group are Indy fans. As I made clear, I dislike that. I feel that people tie themselves down too much to whats in at the moment.

 

[unoleian]

I hate the question "What do you listen to?"

It's far too vague and tough to answer. Standard reply has pretty much always been "What do you got?" Which is just as vague and tough to answer for that person.

Many awkward, indecisive moments ensue, heh.

 

[Lisolet]

That kind of conversation usually takes place when someone's trying to impress the other instead of having a real conversation about likes and dislikes. Isn't it diffrent when you talk with a friend about music (or anything you're interested in)? That's when you learn about new bands or whatevers and get to share your discoveries without it being a contest.

 

[Rarhnor]

Just be truthful. You'll get 67% less annoyed by people that converse music when you tell them just how clichéd or fanboyish their music is.

67% less music conversations and 85% less freinds later, you'll be thanking me.

 

[Eumersian]

When people initiate conversations like this they are almost always ready to "show you the light" or "fix the error of your ways". At least, that's what happens to me. I'm usually rather blunt, and tell them whether or not I enjoy this or that, or why I prefer this song to that song, but they're the ones asking me what I like and it makes no sense that they try to tell me I'm wrong.

For example, I was driving one of my friends somewhere in my car a while back, and one of the songs on my CDs (yes I still use those ancient technologies) moved to a song he had never heard before. He asked me who it was, and pointed out his opinions about the song very honestly and innocently like "It's interesting, but it seems a little guitar heavy to be jazz?"

Then another song comes on, one that he knows, and he knows he hates it too. He exclaimed: "Oh God, not this song! Really? You like this song?" I replied that I did, and why didn't he just calm down, it's my car, and that's what came on, relax.

That turned into a short conversation about me liking the song, him hating it, and I was an idiot, etc.

Don't you think it's kind of arrogant to talk about music like that, even though it's all art and is up to a person's individual interpretation anyway?

 

[zen5887]

Not gonna lie - for someone complaining about what judgemental, douchey music snobs hipsters are, you sound an awful lot like a judgemental, douchey music snob in this thread.


-m

I like to call that "The Hipster Paradox"

Anyways. Most of the people i talk to about music are people from uni (I study music), so I manage to avoid all that.

 

[Guffe]

When I mainly happen to drop into a discussion about music I often try to leave as soon as possible because it's a thing called "taste" which has a lot to do with the fact that you can't have a proper conversation unless both like it.
Since I am a huge fan of the Metal and Rock genre which never has been mainstream in the lifetime of mankind, you can think that as soon as it's either a girl or someone of the 95% of boys in the same house as me our taste in music differs a lot.

 

[El Poncho]

I don't talk about music a lot, I generally tell people I don't listen to a lot of music, if i'm online talking to them I don't mind them linking me songs they think I will like, but irl talking about music leads to no where.

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

I have deduced your problem: You spend more time than is recommended (any time at all) conversing with hipsters.

Seriously though, my conversations about music are nothing like that, because my goal is always to sound out what my conversation partner listens to now, challenge any preconceptions they might have about musical genres I'm likely to talk about, and then recommend/give/play them some music I think they might love based on what they've told me - essentially I'm a musical evangelist, interested in expanding the musical frontiers of the world around me and completely unconcerned with how my own personal taste in music is perceived; I know I'm awesome, I don't need an elaborate verbal pissing match to confirm or deny it.

I consequently rather enjoy conversing about music, as every conversation is an opportunity to make somebody's bloody day, and I'm very good at it.

 

[Phuctifyno]

Yeah, it really sounds like your just not that much into music. I mean, how much can you appreciate it if you're listening to it while grocery shopping? Your point rings true to anybody who regards music as backround noise, or a convenient commodity. To those who really appreciate it artistically, the topic could potentially springboard a really interesting and in depth conversation, and perhaps your indifference/annoyance is causing you to perceive a pursuit of that as a pissing contest.
I have friendships that are based almost solely around trading music, but we're musicians, so we find a lot more to talk about than shitty lyrics or obscurity.

It seems your real beef is with indy scenester douches. Leave the music out of it.