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I will list two genres.

Country: Country music has an odd twang that just seems to grant on my nerves. This twang seems to be a common theme with all of it, making a great deal of it blend together, killing variety. Secondly, subject matter in the lyrics also tends to be the same, and usually of a depressing nature. Perhaps it's just me, but I listen to music to be uplifted. I find it somewhat troubling that country is popular at dances. People dance and party, having a good time, meanwhile ignoring the rather sour tone of what is being sung in the background. Why is this? I'm aware that newer country is far more upbeat, but it still contains that damned twangy sound, with the vocals having odd hiccups at the end of notes.

Rap: The first note of interest here are the lyrics. Frequently they are violent, derogatory to women, and glorify a negative lifestyle. I can appreciate that some rap is going to do this, as it is a method of story telling, and not everyone has a great past. But no one's life is complete s**t. These same artists that release negative song after negative song seem to neglect to mention the positive aspects. What good is telling a story or painting a picture if you aren't portraying the entire thing? Secondly, I am irritated with the vocals themselves on the basis that it isn't singing. It's just speaking and rhyming. It just doesn't come across as music to me. The musical element comes from the music itself, which is a third complaint. It is often not music at all, but rather a sample that is on loop. Very little the rap that is out there comes across to me as particularly talented, interesting, or varied. There are exceptions, and I do like the occasional song or artist, but what I've said here is true form on a broad basis.

Kan, darling, am I here because you wanted me to argue about music with you? :3

The only genre of music that I go out of my way not to hear is polka. Luckily, it's not very hard to avoid. I dislike polka simply because I can't take it seriously as a genre, which may be a bigoted opinion, but as a music student I feel entitled to make some sweeping statements. Polka is silly. The end.
I have also discovered that I have some trouble listening to psytrance. It's a subgenre of electronic music that I find rather abrasive, as it tends to have non-complementary layered time signatures, which throw me off every time I try to catch the beat.

I would also like to respond to Kan's reasons for disliking country and rap/ hip-hop.


This "twang" is the sound of some instruments almost exclusively used in country music: the banjo and the slide guitar. While that sound may not appeal to everyone, to some people it is what makes country music enjoyable. The reason why it seems a common theme is because that sound is simply not common in other styles of music, setting country music apart as being individualistic. As with any other string instrument, there are some who play the bare minimum to get by, and some who have genuine talent. It may take more of an ear to hear it, but it's there.

I find it a bit hypocritical that one who listens to such a wide variety of dark music has trouble listening to the darker side of country music. I think the fact that you dislike the sound accompanying the music prejudices you against the fact that more often than not, country music lyrics are quite accessible to everyone. There is a lot of overlapping subject matter with metal, rock, blues, and other genres. Breakups, heartache, unrequited love, mistakes made, regrets, all popular genres deal with these issues on a regular basis. Country music is no different. And while I wouldn't headbang to it, it is easier to dance to than metal.


There are two issues with this opinion that I'd like to address.
First: subject matter. Yes, it is true, rap can be extremely derogatory toward women, and it can portray violent and other negative lifestyles to be a regular and acceptable thing. However, when listening to rap, I tend to hear the lyrics with a sense of humor. Many women would be greatly offended at being called a whore or a b***h on a regular basis, but let's be real: some women are whores, and some women are bitches. It's unfortunate that they've only met these particular kinds of women, but I know that they are not addressing me personally, so I can find it rather amusing.
As for the negative lifestyles, "thug life" is part of what sells their music. Their reputation of having lived on the streets is a big part of why the famous artists became famous. It's what their fanbase wants to hear, that this person came out of the trap, stopped selling drugs, and made it big. It's actually a message of hope to young kids who grew up in the same environment. Even if you aren't perfect after it, you don't ever have to go back to the impoverished life you had before. You have a personal choice, which is more than many kids these days ever get.
Second: Why only make music about this? Again, it's why their music sells. If Metallica started singing about butterflies and daisies, I'd probably stop listening to them. We listen to artists for a certain reason, and if they change everything about themselves, we won't want to listen to them anymore.


You're correct. But isn't that true for any genre? You have mostly mediocre or poor representations of the genre, with a few gems that you have to work to find. I have heard some truly inspired rap songs, and I love them. I've also heard some god- awful ones, and I wonder why they exist at all.
Also, one thing about rap is it's a genre created to dance to, and also created partially so that they are easily accessible for sampling on a DJ's part. Rap is written to be changed and manipulated. It's a new way of thinking about music, but it makes sense.

TL;DR :I don't like polka, I'm skeptical of psytrance, country and rap are real music too, there's shitty music in every genre.

It would strongly depend on the type of music at that point

again, that would depend on the song, but that does sound interesting.

Most often? Country or Rock

Oh hell no, that's not why you were invited! I'm still aching from the last verbal lambasting you gave me other my musical preferences. *rubs his bum*


INSENSITIVE MUSIC HATER! How can you deny those festive beats? You made Al Yankovic a saaaaaaad panda.


Which is why I'm totally going to sneak it in as your ring tone when one of us visits the other.



But it's fun, and adaptable. You can do nearly any song in polka and ruin it in such a beautiful grating way. Sort of like the equivalent to a rendition of God Bless America performed by rusty nails upon a chalkboard.



I've never heard of it. No, that's not an invitation to link me a sample of it. I'm not clicking your links after that Glee debacle. Seriously, how can you think that girl is any good? Sounds like she is trying to yodel at the ends of sustained notes. Take her out of highscool and slap her on an irish mountainside.


Here it comes, that's why I already bothered getting my licks in.





AKA, "a**"



Slide guitars would be better put to use in building houses for the needy out of them. Dog got run over by a reindeer? Tear that damned twangy guitar apart and make a splint for your pooch.


For a good damned reason. wink


Individualistic like that kid that sits in the back of the class room with snot hanging out of his nose, making annoying farting noises with his armpits all day.


Regardless of talent level, hearing it makes me wish I didn't have ears at all. Some people, especially around country music, underestimate the serene beauty of silence. I know I for one certainly long for it's sweet embrace when it starts.




You have me here, and this deserves a certain degree of explanation on my part. I've said elsewhere, that when I listen to music, I don't pay attention to the lyrics. For some reason, I can't do this with country. I actually hear the lyrics. I would like to point out though, that there is an additional factor. Country music's negativity is about whining. Metal for example, is about anger, and letting it out. It's more constructive, at least from my perspective.


Agreed there. Everyone likes to b***h and whine. wink


Music has obviously been around since nearly the dawn of man. Of course there is overlap. But different musical styles do tend to have specialty areas. Pop is about unrequited love or love songs, or sex. Metal is about anger, vengence, getting it done, the darkside. Country stands out to me because it's specialty is bitchin' and moping.



By the way, you're really pretty. Just thought I should slip something nice in somewhere in case I manage to piss you off with my replies. We've gotten heated with this s**t before. You folks reading better be enjoying.


I do as well with certain artists. It is those that can put a light spin on things, or make a mockery of the negativity that I can appreciate.


I'm starting to get a little annoyed at how common and acceptable phrases like 'chick' are beginning to come. I respect a lot of the opinions of Cenk Uyger of the young turks, but whenever a subject comes up regarding women, he really comes off as a misogynist p***k. One of these days Ana is gonna reach across the desk and deck him.


Yes, let's be real. Some are. But the majority of rap is incapable of even using the word women. All women have to be bitches in it. Why is that socially acceptable? As a society, we've become desensitized to harsh language thanks to s**t like this being 'cool'.


I'm going to beg to disagree with you here. I think these types of guys that put this s**t out there would call you a b***h as well, and mean it. You aren't of course. But the fact that they have that kind of mentality pisses me off.

There are those of course that use the terms lightly or in jest, look at the video game tunes of Duane and the Amazing Brando. They slip in a lot of bitches or ********, but its light hearted, and some of their songs even have a girl putting them in their place.


Which is absolutely something that should not be presented as a positive. I'm with Bill Cosby on this one. You want to change societies perception of you, begin with how you live your own life.


The role model argument. And yet so many of them glorify the lifestyle, and even still engage in it. You make it, you get rich and successful, then you screw it all away by never actually leaving the negativity. Look at Biggie and Tupac. The hate won't stop until the music and attitudes adjust.


The streets are full of violence, pop a cap in this ***** wearing red, cuz that homeboy made my b***h dead, etc is supposed to be a message of hope? The fact that these guys get successful, but just continue the same s**t on a larger stage is a message of hope? Forgive the look of incredulity I'm wearing right now.


And by glorifying the negative, it creates an atmosphere where the personal choice may be there, but the cool thing to do is keep up with the same s**t, cept, now your "ballin' wit tha bling bling and money money bitches!"


Half true. I think more positive stuff can sell too. Wasn't Gangster's paradise pretty successful? Doesn't Eminem do pretty well for himself? Perhaps he started off as rough as anyone, but his lyrics have morphed over time to be at times funny, at times moving, and at times positive and motivational. I think that's part of why he has remained so successful. He doesn't narrow himself down to just the hatred and negativity, the glorification of the lifestyle of old.



Haha, I probably wouldn't notice unless someone pointed it out to me. The lyrics in metal are largely meaningless to me.



True, but it's WAAAAAY more prevalent in the rap industry than elsewhere. Not much to it to put a track together. Find a five second sample, add a generic beat, and rhythmically b***h about something. Could be a flop, could be a huge hit. Depends on how established you are in some cases. Puff Daddy comes to mind. Untalented hack, but somehow people buy into the s**t. Points to him for being above the hate though and trying a few different things out, even if he is lazy.


I understand everything you say here and agree. But since this thread is about personal opinion, it's worth noting that I hate dancing. So it having roots in dance isn't going to motivate me to like it any more.


TL;DRKan and Tink rehash old battles over music. In reality they love each other and any appearance of anger is in jest.

It's true, I am a sadist. I think I freaked my friend out the other day. He had a amtgard weapon that wasn't legal. Entirely too heavy, not enough padding. Weighty enough to break bones if you hit a joint in the right spot. I had him hit me with it multiple times, just out of curiousity about how much damage it could do. We might come up with a betting game at meetings where I will take a hit from it, then others can get or lose some gold depending on if they can take it like me without wincing or crying out. I'm a freak. I laughed. Especially the shot to my left quad. I felt that one down to the bone. It was so .... pleasant. >,>;


Polka does suck, I was just being contrary. <3


Nuuu, that was purely my thoughts on that girls vocal talents. Besides the fact that I didn't like the tone of her voice (It just seemed oddly high pitched for her style), she went way overboard on the free styles at the ends of notes.

I want to put it inside of your Irish heritage, not make fun of it. twisted


Does that mean I have to throw away my celtic albums? crying



And yet the word b***h is constantly used. Are that many women bitches? I don't think so. And I think society is regressing in terms of women's lib as a result of such attitudes.