MUSIC: What is it?

[@rudolfbecker4313]

A life without music is possible, but senseless and a day without music is a lost day. Music can make you feel good, but it can also make you feel bad. If you "have" to listen to the wrong music it might put you in a bad mood ... at least it does it to me. I know people who only listen to the radio, which is ok ... if you got the right station(s). Public radio has become really bad in Germany, but even stations like Radio Bob or Rock Antenne play the same sh** day by day by day. So when I was in the car and listened to the radio I finally ended up listening to WDR Cosmo, a station which broadcasts music from all over the world ... interesting stuff from Africa or Eastern Europe or other continents ... only the fact hearing something you've never heard before was better than anything else. Good luck I'm going to work by train, so I can listen to my music ... or youtube even though I prefer to do that in front of my TV. You talked about the people, who only listen to one band ... for me it's already terrible, when people listen only to one genre . For me it's like eating the same everyday : Schnitzel with fries and salad. No, I want beef, lamb, fish ... potatoes, rice, noodles, pizza, soup 🤣🤣... and vegetables👍 I don't have to write about the "best band of the world" theme - you said everything which needed to be said. Another thing that I realize nowadays is, that the younger generation "consumes" music - they hear something, but they don't listen and if you ask about their music, they don't know bands or titles ... for them it's just music ... that's one of the consequences of Spotify and others ... just press play and something will be played ... I'm glad having grown up in another time ... not only because of the music theme but also for many other reasons. Time to sleep now - I end with a sentence, translated word by word from german "So far the holy words"😂 good night 🤘

[@paddyofurniture4681]

Very interesting take many good questions and possible answers. Music is where you find it, this 73 yr old prog rocker found what I consider the best band I have ever heard in Japan 2 year ago, what a surprise. Check them out of you like Band Maid, some of the most complex interesting rock compositions around.

[@gitterich]

The experience this week with enthusiastic fans has kept you very busy, as you can see. Aren't you surprised that this doesn't happen more often these days? In any case, thank you for this interesting opinion. A little joke at the end:😉 In any case, this week the biggest KZbin reactor of all time, made the best reaction video ever about the best band in the world. And we are looking forward to next week.😂 🤘🐺🤘

[@palantir135]

Great thoughts Jim. Yes, music is very personal but there are overlaps with other people so you can connect with these people. Hearing ‘music’ starts already in the womb. Babies hear the rhythms of its parents language. Pink Floyd is and probably will always be MY most favorite band but there are many of other favorites who come very close. I will never say that they’re the best band in the world. Is there a best band in the world; very likely not. The list of favorites has grown over the years, also thanks to Jim, despite bands falling of the favorites list. Sight is my most important sense. I need it for almost all my hobbies. Loosing that would kill me; I would loose the will to live. Loosing hearing would be heartbreakingly bad for me but it wouldn’t kill me. So funny when English speakers adopted German words in their language, they pronounce them wrong. Zeitgeist; the z is pronounced as a ts sound. Kindergarden is also wrong; it’s Kindergarten. A Garten is an area surrounded by a fence and not a garden.

[@threestringsomg]

Interesting take on losing hearing....I get what you mean but for me it is not same. I lost hearing in one ear partially in my right ear last year and now have tinnitus....and it amongst other stuff eventually triggered a nervous breakdown. Luckily it's balanced out and I can listen to music in almost the same way (but no longer loud)....but it did trigger not wanting to live feelings at the mere concept of losing music in my life. I realised more than ever music meant everything to me and had saved my life up til now in so many ways. I think it would be horrible (I'm also visual artist) but I'd be able to survive without sight but music and hearing. No way. Oh and thanks for the heads up on the ts....I've been pronouncing my artist pseudonym zzzzzeitghoul in my head. Gonna try hard to say tsssssseitghoul 👍👍👍

[@palantir135]

@@threestringsomg I have tinnitus too but it’s not that loud that it drives me crazy; I still can ignore it most of the time. Loosing sight would be enough for me to euthanize myself, loosing hearing not although it don’t want to think about it. I hope to keep both as long as possible. Age is kicking in and, although I’m highly sensitive, I still lost all frequencies above 12000 Hz which is normal by the way. I can hear very soft sounds, within my frequency range, better than most people. I can only stand (very) loud noises for a (very) limited amount of time. Certain raspy noises and voices drive me crazy, some even within seconds. I have to stop listening because they drive me crazy, make me feel sick. Growling is unbearable. The singers of Tool and Megadeath for example are a no go zone for me. I’m Dutch and like many Dutch people, I can speak multiple languages; German, Dutch, English, a little French.

[@threestringsomg]

Frequency. We are the receivers. The radios. But our dials each have their own settings.

[@kenl2091]

For me, music is any noise which exhibits rhythm, melody or harmony but not necessarily all three, so that can include a pneumatic drill, birdsong or plainsong. It is the variation in timbre and metre and choice of chords and intervals that make interesting music so that the three examples noted earlier are not music that I can listen to for any length of time. Lyrics are an added bonus but not strictly necessary in music. When labelling any band as 'the best in the world' it is, of course, only an opinion and is based on your own relationship with the band but the only acceptable answer is, and will always be, The Beatles (that's tongue in cheek but only partially so) My name is Ken and my musical guilty pleasure is The Nolan Sisters' I'm in the Mood for Dancing. It's been 47 days since I listened to it but I think I'll put it on again tonight. I need the rush of the modulation in the final chorus. I know it's bad for me but it just feels so gooood.

[@runciblemoon1194]

You've made a lot of great, nuanced, well reasoned points here, Jim. Lots to think about... By the way, the greatest band of all time is Cardiacs. Hope that helps. Bye! 😉

[@threestringsomg]

No it's not! It's God Speed You! Black Emperor!!!😂😂😂😊👍👀

[@thomasrotweiler]

Some very sage words. I listen to quite a range of genres. I dabble in metal, hard rock, post-rock, shoegaze, prog, indie, hard rock, punk, jazz, classical etc. Some tracks I like a lot others are OK, some meh and some I find annoying, irritating, boring etc. I totally agree about fans hyping their current fave band, I can understand enthusiasm, and passion but some of it is just silly. Hyperbole barely covers some of it. (BTW did you read Alan Moore's take on comic book fandom in the Guardian on 26 Oct 2024. Much of what he was saying applies to music fandoms.) Just recently I've been revisiting music from my younger days (1968-74) and even bought some King Crimson to listen to on CD (I have the vinyl). But also some new stuff from Japan. There's so much music out there, makes no sense to me to become obsessive about a particular band or genre. Sample widely, you may be pleasantly surprised what you can like and enjoy if you allow yourself to listen.

[@rudolfbecker4313]

Exactly my opinion - enjoy your "old" music but always be curious for new music. Gruß aus NRW Rudi

[@lactodorum-13]

Some of your final thoughts sound just like me. I find the thought of not being able to hear music is too scary. I have mild tinnitus and I am 71 years old so it makes me anxious. Think the damage was done at my first ever concert, Budgie at Northampton County Cricket Club. Couldn't hear properly for a week. Lots of interesting comments from people. I am always initially attracted to music by an emotional voice so I do love listening to a good opera aria and having a good cry. My non classical favourites are Jeff Buckley, Ian Gillan, Layne Staley, Beth Hart, Mikko Von Hertzen, Chris Cornell. Bit of a mixture there. I have music playing in my head all of the time. I'm sure our brains play music in our sleep as I always wake up with a song in my head. Not sure if this is common amongst music lovers. One thing not mentioned is dementia and how music is such a help. My late father died from Alzheimers disease. Just before Covid I took him to an Alzheimers singing group. I was expecting all those war time songs I'd heard far too many times. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw a lady with a guitar wearing an AC/DC t shirt. She was great and the music was really varied. The happy faces on the those people, both dementia sufferers and their carers singing at the top of their voices. Best thing I ever did. Sadly I was never able to take him there again due to the pandemic but at home he listened to his cd's with his headphones on and a very contented look on his face. So if anyone has a dementia sufferer in their family, do take them to a singing group. The music is a powerful medicine. Rambling on a bit. Music is such a life saver. Keeps me sane although some people might disagree with that 😂. I often wonder if any 2 people hear exactly the same thing when listening to a song. Keep up the good work Jim 😊

[@rudolfbecker4313]

I've had the same experience with my mother during her last years with dementia. She didn't remember what she ate 10 minutes ago, but when we sang with her, she remembered the lyrics of songs of the 50s,60s,70s. I also think your thought, if 2 people hear the same, when they listen to a song, is very interesting. To find out, you have to get 2 people together ... maybe I should try this next time with Jim, the only question is, do you interrupt, when you want to say something ... otherwise you'd had to write down all your thoughts and feelings, and knowing me, it might be a long list ... especially when you listen to 10 - 20 minute epics😆

[@lactodorum-13]

It would probably require simultaneous brain scans to truly answer that question.

[@threestringsomg]

If you listen to my music/way I play guitar and my style of eclectic lofi mixing anytime you will probably agree with the poor fellow that once came up to me in my studio and said what i was doing was not music. Left me speechless. Hurt. Then i realised he was just not tuned in the same way as i was then - thats all. I was not wrong to love what i was doing in any way - it feels so personal to me like my own body does- it was and still is just a part of my self expression and i cant just expect others to like it.

[@KnightlyTruth]

Let me when you get sometime available good sir! I’ve got an extremely zesty 70’s hard rock mixtape compiled, that is gonna rock your socks off, and might even impress Rudy 😂. These are some serious gems, and with the exception of 2 or 3 I think you’re going to discover a lot of new bands to venture into!

[@rudolfbecker4313]

I'll be excitedly waiting 😆 I think there's so much "undiscovered" stuff of the 70s and it's great, if people like you or me bring it back to daylight🤘

[@KnightlyTruth]

@@rudolfbecker4313I submitted it to Jim just now! Get ready for some Scorpions, Budgie, Dust, UFO, and much much more.

[@tdog5035]

Music is whatever you want it to be. Existed long before humans and will survive beyond. Just listen to recordings of outer space. Like a sound Philip Glass wishes he could come up with. The best band in the world is the one that means most personally - its not a demonstrable fact. Should never criticise any ones choice really (despite it being fun sometimes)😊

[@palantir135]

Brian Eno probably already has made that sound 😅.

[@WooBino.]

Lovebites to me seem like a contrived girl band plays speed metal....almost like KISS was for rock n roll. Sorry but this sixty year old man will give it all a pass....same a Ren he is in the same category lots of views, but will I listen to it? ...no. I'd rather listen to some music with heart and soul. (My version of it)

[@rudolfbecker4313]

talking about Heart and Soul ... do you like Modern Talking ? 🤣 they are one of my nightmares 😵‍💫

[@WooBino.]

@@rudolfbecker4313 I never heard of them, seen one of Renaissance final shows last week, and Rick Wakeman this Sunday. That rounds out my shows this year.