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06 sep 06 "What is good music?" Bob Dylan that was a smart-assed thing to do. i could have left this as is (i was going to, mainly because i'm lazy), but i'll ellaborate in a (hopefully) limited way. your asking this question implies a rejection of relativism and subjectivism, so i won't go there, even though that would be an easy way out ("good music is whatever you think is good music, man....man"). here's how pop music works: music is created that appeals to as many people as possible, and then it's heavily marketed. this is the way to maximise profits: even if people don't really like it, they don't have to go hunting around in the underbrush for something they really do like, not to mention think about what they really do like in the first place. instead, they passively consume the stuff they're fed, and perhaps even convince themselves that they really do like it best. of course, there are some people who do, indeed, like pop best -- that's what pop producers are hoping (so as to maintain some illusion of artistry), and what amounts to their fantasy: "everybody loves the billboard #1 hit, and that's why it's #1!" it's true, in some cases, perhaps obviously: as depeche mode says, "people are basically the same". most of us like intervals based on the harmonic series, and most of us like songs about love. but the genuine pop-fan is the exception. in most cases, someone's consumption of pop music amounts to a rejection of aesthetics in favor of convenience -- something that demonstrates intellectual and aesthetic laziness or underdevelopment, or just a sheep-like nature. basically, pop music appeals to "the lowest common denominator", or the appreciated element that's going to be shared by the greatest number of people. the result of this is music that's very bland, but certainly consumable -- musical chicken mcnuggets. it should be noted that some pop-consumers just don't care about or appreciate music all that much, and when told to enjoy and consume it they're going to put on the record within the most convenient reach -- that's fine. i don't care about or appreciate cars all that much, even though i do have my preferences (el caminos, late 80s japanese models, late 60s american models, and ancient filthy falling-apart pickup trucks). but i'm certainly not going to shell out thousands of dollars for one, just like someone might not want to invest hours researching bands on the internet or plough through bins at the sound garden or amoeba music. so, we can decisively eliminate the presumption that "good music is what the greatest number of people consume". we're left with heart, originality, and thought. when all of these are present, you have yourself some good music -- a product which features every ounce of the artist's emotions and mind, poured into something no-one has ever heard before. after that, we can return to the twin teats of relativism and subjectivity, and say "good music is whatever you think is good music, man....man". |
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