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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2010 9:12:09 GMT
I have noticed that at some point in life, just about everybody stops liking most of the "new stuff" and camps out in their own private musical era, which seems to be situated in most cases somewhere in early adulthood, although I have known people who remain musically in their teenage years forever. And some people appear to have two musical eras corresponding to different periods of their life.
Obviously, the fact that there are so many stations playing 'golden oldies' everywhere in the world seems to indicate that it is a totally cross cultural phenomenon.
I am wondering "why?" Is a certain musical period locked in because it was the happiest period of one's life? Or maybe it was a terrible time, but it was the music that helped you get through it? Then there is music linked to a certain place or a certain person...
Is there a certain period in your past when the music was the best ever, and nothing can compare to it now?
In my own life, I don't appear to be "stuck" because I still like to discover all sorts of new -- and old -- music. However the songs from certain precise periods do indeed trigger all sorts of emotions about the past, and certain songs can make me stop everything I'm doing because I am flooded with visions of bygone times. Two musical periods that have special significance for me are my first year in university and then the first year that I moved to France when my "playlist" changed completely.
Does anybody else have any thoughts on the subject?
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Post by onlymark on Oct 26, 2010 10:42:03 GMT
I'm going to reply in a minute, I'm just looking for a video.
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Post by onlymark on Oct 26, 2010 10:59:37 GMT
I'm not sure it's new stuff that is the problem, if the new stuff is similar to the old stuff. Being new in itself is different from being new but in an older style/genre. If you like say, soul music, it's likely that you enjoy it not only from the sixties, but every decade from then. But only if it hasn't been influenced too much by other genres like rap or R & B. No?
How I feel about it is that as I've gotten older some music from my past is only enjoyable because of the memories it invokes. But the majority of what I like could be from any decade as long as it stays fairly faithful to the style. Unfortunately styles change and fall out of favour but are then discovered anew. One example is a singer called Duffy.
She released in Feb 2008 a song called 'Mercy' to fairly worldwide critical acclaim. When I first heard it, it ‘struck a chord’ with me and I could’ve sworn blind it was an old recording I’d somehow missed in my youth. The reason is because the style is from a niche genre called Northern Soul that was prevalent in the area I lived. Many months or a couple of years ago this was mentioned on this or another forum, I don’t remember which. But mention was made of how the dancing of that era looked like a precursor to break dancing of many years later (but not so athletic) Anyway, then I saw the video and it could’ve easily fitted in to the 70’s. Not only did I like Northern Soul then, I still like it now even if the recording is new – but as long as it sounds like it should.
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Post by lola on Oct 26, 2010 15:01:51 GMT
I find the whole Golden Oldies radio station thing annoying. People should try to expand their musical taste.
I do look for a certain feeling from music. This old Solomon Burke song done pure retro style by Duffy does it for me.
Music with a lot of anger and discordance, heavy on the bass and drums, has never done it for me. The New Favorites thread is nice for discovering artists. I introduced my 18 yo (who loves Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Etta James) to Ke$ha's Tik Tok. But for relaxing I'm still going to listen to something with a feeling like that of world music, Django Rheinhardt, opera or Mozart.
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Post by Kimby on Oct 26, 2010 16:40:54 GMT
I must admit that I do listen to Oldies in the car. Until I start noticing that I'm hearing the same songs 2 days in a row. With all the great music that was produced from the mid 60's until disco era, and then in the 80's & 90's, there ought to be enough songs to avoid repeating for months, if not years. So I usually end up changing the station. To another oldies station ("album rock", whatever that is). I go back and forth between the two, always hunting for a good tune.
And yes, the associations with the music and its times are most of the pleasure. I love Sara Smile (Hall and Oates!) and Moondance (Van Morrison) from 1976-77, when I was just out of college and about to enter grad school, cocktail-waitressing in a bar and restaurant in a restored old hotel building in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, working with a bunch of fun people and meeting the future Mr. Kimby. The jukebox at the Fess Hotel restaurant had some great music on it, and these two were the musical backdrop of that summer.
However, IMO the old songs were just more "musical" than the new stuff I hear. My ear is not trained to like rap, hip hop, heavy metal, etc. The local symphony conductor advises me that audiences don't like new music because they haven't heard enough of it. If they listen to a piece that they know is on the program for an upcoming symphony concert ahead of time, he guarantees they will like it better when they hear it during the concert than they would if they had never heard it before. Your brain becomes trained to appreciate the new rhythms and harmonics, etc.. Or something like that.
I prefer not to train my brain to "like" much of the new music I have heard, however.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2010 20:26:31 GMT
If I had to choose one musical item to represent my university years, it would be either "Your Song" by Elton John or the entire "Tea for the Tillerman" album by Cat Stevens. A runner up might be "The Court of the Crimson King" by King Crimson.
But those tunes are so anchored in 1969-1970 that I'm pretty sure than someone just one year younger or one year older than me would have a different list.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2010 10:40:56 GMT
I appreciate music from the different decades. But lately, like Kimby I guess, I'm finding that the older songs seem kind of repetitive and well ....boring. Songs that I used to like and have heard many times, just don't hold the same interest for me anymore. I'm happily surprised at just how good the newer music is nowadays, and in many ways better than the older songs of years gone by. If I can choose, I'd rather listen to music from this year anytime. I think a lot of it probably has that what it means to you personally. Maybe it's just that I'm in a good spot in my life right now, and the newer stuff sounds just great to me. Or at least hold my interest. I have imec to thank for introducing to some songs that I had never heard of before also.
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Post by lola on Oct 27, 2010 20:41:51 GMT
If I'm driving long distance and run out of CD's I'd listen to oldies radio, oldier the better.
I'd prefer a kind of radio show where they'd slip the new ones in with Top 40 and really old ones, instead of niche programming.
We have a local listener supported station, KDHX, where volunteers will bring in stacks of their favorites. Sometimes it's a nice mix, similar to 8 Song Game, but more typically all-Irish or Rockabilly etc. I like a format that will expose you to something different.
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Post by Kimby on Oct 27, 2010 21:34:20 GMT
I think, deyana, that because you have sons in the main music listening demographic, you are exposed to more new music, and your brain has learned to like it. With no kids, I NEVER hear new music around the house, so when I do hear it on the radio, my brain rejects it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2010 10:38:13 GMT
Kimby, yeah, that could be it. I've always like a variety of music. The newer stuff just adds to it. Some of it is really good. Refreshing even.
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 28, 2010 16:24:12 GMT
This really made me think. The '60's was my most influential time but I've got pretty bored with it although I still return the Beatles, Stones, The Who, Doors. Don't get tired of them. Next main period was the '80's when my children were growing up and I kept up with it all until about 2000 but the last couple of years have been good (Kings of Leon).
My wife has always been a big country and western fan and i've got to seriously love that too.
However, I've got more interested in pre'50's music of recent times, particularly the '30's. Also early blues and folk. Ska gets a good look in to.
My grandsons (11 and 9) only have a passing interest in music , probably because there are so many alternatives.
I think that you can have a hit with good music and poor words, a bigger hit with good music and good words, a flop with good words and poor music.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Oct 28, 2010 18:41:23 GMT
I grew up in the 60s & 70s...my parents adored 'Classical' so that was on the gramaphone all the time at home.
I remember tuning in to Radio Caroline on the wireless and listening with my big sisters to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones...Bob Dylan and Jimmi Hendrix....but as a young woman I spose I was mad for James Taylor, Carole King, The Moody Blues...Free, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd etc (even listened to YES altho they were rather complicated for a simple girl like me) Loved Crosby, Stills Nash & Young...The Eagles...Steve Miller Band, Genesis etc....
Nowadays it's mostly newer artists that I listen to tho...people like David Gray, Newton Faulkner, Pearl Jam (rule)....I do like single albums that artists have produced, like Fat of the Land by Prodigy, Mezzanine by Massive Attack....Wish You Were Here by Incubus....I was influenced by my sons when they were teenagers...but youngest likes 'Hard House' now and I can't cope with that...makes my head hurt....
I think that as I get older I 'like what I like'.....I don't care if it's naff or popular......old fashioned or teeny-bopper material...if I enjoy it...that's all that counts.
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Post by myrt on Oct 28, 2010 20:10:14 GMT
I think the music you listened to when an angst ridden teenager always has a place in your heart - it's Marvin Gaye for me. But I don't care if I never hear 'Alright Now' ever again now - played it to death and am reallyreally bored with it now..... I like loads of different sorts of music and always have but these days I drive my girls mad when, every time they play something new, I start telling them it sounds like somebody from years ago! I can't help myself though... ;D For instance my youngest (11) is obsessed with Florence and the Machine atm. I do like it a lot but she's really Souixie, from Souixie and the Banshees, surely? Isn't she? I surprised myself by really enjoying the music and dancing from the film 'Street Dance' this week (it's half term here). Normally that type of stuff leaves me totally cold but I was forced to sit down and watch it with youngest and it was much better than I was expecting. I try and find new stuff to listen to although I can't afford much these days. I was delighted when I discovered the wonderful Rodrigo Y Gabriella a couple of years ago. I even managed to see them play and they were brilliant. The old stuff keeps coming back though, doesn't it? I went to see the Fun Lovin' Criminals recently with four under 25's - only one of them had heard of them. They agreed they were fabulous though...
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Post by Kimby on Oct 29, 2010 3:39:12 GMT
During my junior and senior year of college I lived off-campus in a wonderful old Craftsman style bungalow that had been converted to two apartments. There were 10 of us in all, and we merged our record collections - and the best components of our stereo systems - into one listening room, the living room of the girls' apartment. (The guys upstairs had the TV room, where we gathered to watch Monty Python.)
After two years of listening to the favorite albums of my 9 housemates, I knew exactly which albums I wanted to add to my own record collection, and went out and bought about 40 albums at once around graduation time. I still love listening to most of that stuff....
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Oct 29, 2010 5:44:58 GMT
Music can lift the spirits, and it has a power to transport you to 'that place' in your life when you first heard it. I'm always astonished at the way some things sort of insinuate themselves into your consciousness...so that, altho you maybe didn't particularly like a song when you heard it...you know all the words...
F'rinstance...I know all the words to Korn's Freak on a Leash...but not voluntarily.... ;D
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Post by myrt on Oct 29, 2010 6:36:25 GMT
I consider myself fortunate to have never heard of that, Cheery! I lived on the 13th floor on our campus in a block where all the rooms were wedge shaped around a central corridor. We used to try and synchronize our tinny little stereos from all the rooms.....many times the glorious sounds of Santana's 'Caravanserai' would float out above the people below - just slightly out usually..... That still remains one of my most favourite pieces of music ever......it has the same power and majesty as the Saint Saens Organ Symphony No 3, and just about anything by Vivaldi - all of them never fail to cheer and uplift me.
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Post by imec on Oct 29, 2010 13:03:16 GMT
I'll get back to you - having trouble sorting through my thoughts on this.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2010 13:08:57 GMT
Please do, imec. I'm really interested to see what you take is on this.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2010 19:30:26 GMT
I can appreciate just about every style when it is well done, including rap and techno.
However, there is one style that seem to me to produce 98% crap : "sexy" black female singers with those "come hither, shake my booty" videos. At the same time, I am pretty sure that there is a public that finds them sensationally wonderful.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2010 21:01:06 GMT
I am finding that even the newer artists,Duffy being one of them,although, she has been around what,5,6years now...much of their style and material is,or at least seems to be drawn from older,prerecorded artists. Duffy's newest Cd due out later this year,is incredibly reminescent of Madonna.Her newest video,her dancing and song material immediately called Madonna to my mind. So,is it us,or them who are stuck? Duffy is only about 28 years old...
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Post by lola on Oct 30, 2010 15:59:45 GMT
Myrt, I love the idea of Caravanserai floating out from tinny stereos in many wedge shaped rooms.
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Post by Kimby on Nov 30, 2010 20:35:37 GMT
The car we rented in Florida had SiriusXM radio, so I explored all the different types of music. And found myself returning over and over to just 2 channels, the Sixties-Seventies channel and the Seventies-Eighties channel. When one played a song I didn't like, I'd switch to the other.
Music from that time period just makes me happy.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 1, 2010 0:42:07 GMT
I think a lot of the music we like is stuck there from when we were much younger and our little brains were malleable. That may be why it gives us a feeling of well-being -- no strain as it travels the grooves already made for it.
This may or may not be the right place for this but ......
There is a song that's been popular here for at least a year. I heard it again today while stuck in the back seat of a colectivo.
Depending on your age group, & regardless of whether or not you even liked the song, I defy you not to start singing along with "I love Him, I love Him, I love him, And where He goes, I'll follow, I'll follow, I'll follow. He'll always be my true love, my true love, my true love, from now until forever, forever, forever ......... at @ the 1:00 mark:
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Post by lagatta on Dec 6, 2010 19:10:51 GMT
Oh, that was fun!
I guess there is a current of "country and western" music running the entire length of the North American continent...
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 16, 2013 4:30:39 GMT
I was looking for a place to put a link I just found and came across this thread, which I've really enjoyed reading again. Lately I've been trying to open myself up to all kinds of music I either didn't/don't know or didn't appreciate before. How do you all find new music? I do things like google "best new female singers of 2012" or some such to get me started looking in a particular direction. Then, when I look up the recommended artist/group/musical style on youtube, I also click on any interesting-looking related options that come up in the sidebar. I also read reviews on releases on stuff I've never heard of, on the theory that at least I might learn something that will eventually come in handy. I think what Kimby said really sums up why we're so likely to reject music that winds up appealing to us if given a chance: The local symphony conductor advises me that audiences don't like new music because they haven't heard enough of it. If they listen to a piece that they know is on the program for an upcoming symphony concert ahead of time, he guarantees they will like it better when they hear it during the concert than they would if they had never heard it before. Your brain becomes trained to appreciate the new rhythms and harmonics, etc.. Or something like that. Oh yeah ~~ the link I wanted to post is: myfreemp3.eu/ -- a good place to look for things you might not find on youtube.
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Post by mickthecactus on Dec 30, 2018 21:21:45 GMT
This makes interesting reading again.
I was just watching Coldplay in Sao Paulo in front of tens of thousands but to me their music was desperately dull. How big would the crowd have been fir Beatles, Stones, Led Zep etc?
Or am I just being old again....
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 30, 2018 22:47:17 GMT
Oh, that's showing tomorrow here. I was thinking of watching it.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Dec 31, 2018 22:44:00 GMT
I like Coldplay...and Snow Patrol altho I find their sound very similar. I think a new artist needs to reach me immediately for me bother tuning my ear in.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 1, 2019 0:54:19 GMT
Just been watching Chic play Le Freak.
How good is that song?!
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 1, 2019 5:54:34 GMT
Okay, I watched the Coldplay concert. I quite liked it. I have always felt that Chris Martin has a better personality than the vast majority of lead singers of rock bands. Naturally, when you just listen to an album, that makes a lot less difference.
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