Thread: The Philosophy of Music

Where did our capacity to enjoy music come from?

Music and humor are the two things I associate closest to what I view as being "divine"; those things that stimulate us ghosts in the machines. Music, especially pieces without vocals, feel like affirmations of our existence, our being in the universe. They say "I am here. I am alive."

[Do not confuse my interpretation of the word 'divine' as having to be religious in origin.]

music? you've made such a broad topic... I think for me music has to be able to make someone feel something. Obviously doesn't matter what emotion comes from it, but if I feel nothing I can't call it music. I like what invader said, music is really something special.

I think the factor I place most importance upon is melody.

I listen to the bands I do because they have good melodic talents; so, the Beatles, the Stone Roses, My Bloody Valentine...

Yes the melody, and if the composer can put something together so real; then u feel moved. Music is art, and is used for different purposes. "Marines in Iraq get pumped up for battle when they hear, let the bodies hit the floor!"
Music is inspirational as well.

Music is so stupid nowadays . Lyrics really suck like hell, as if imbeciles were writing them. There are some exceptions, but mostly they're far from something that I'd call worth listening to.

Melodies are a different matter, they're good for relaxing. But I find that most of the time it's hard to disconnect from awful words.

Recent insanity that ensued after Michael Jackson's death showed that music has a huge influence on people. Nobody knew him, and yet they became frustrated that he died, they cried, etc. Some even commited suicide as I heard, although those guys were very likely mentally ill. Anyway, it was all over the news, as if somebody of unimaginable magnitude and importance died. But he was merely a singer! If you think about it, it really is absolutely ridiculous...

I think music has such power that it can be used very well to push ideas, however, it isn't seriously used for that because of dumb, nonsensical, trite, or too personal lyrics.

There's a danger of confusing popular music with all of music.

Most popular music is rubbish, but there are still good bands out there; you just won't have heard of them.

The three bands I mentioned are the three I have the most respect for, I think, and one of them is currently active (MBV recently reformed, started touring, and finishing off an old album); however they are totally unknown to the general public and their songs never air on the radio. I think that's fairly consistent with what I said above; there's not really a decline as such.

I think music is incredible. I love how it is one of those things that you can really lose yourself to.

My 'philosophy' towards it is that music is music... I listen to absolutely everything with an open ear, and unless there is a specific reason that I do not like the tune I will enjoy it. Every genre has its good and its bad.

Personally, I find it amazing how people can be musically inclined... instruments that just become an extension of being - it's incredible. Like Invader said, it seems like an affirmation of our existence, that we really are here.

I believe music (specifically music and not song) is always trying to alter your state of awareness. Project you into a state of being. Or project you into a certain emotional state. The lyrics can reinforce it. Especially when the human voice becomes musical. But lyrics don't always reinforce the musical state of being. They can contradict the music entirely.

Whether or not we enjoy a piece of music, has less to do with whether or not we like the music itself. And I think it has more to do with whether we want to be in that particular state of awareness the music is trying to project us to.

Some music is just shallow. And would project you into this very narrow view of life, that all there is to life is boyfriends and girlfriends. Adults who know there is so much more to love than just boyfriends and girlfriends find this music retarded and annoying.

Some music makes you want to celebrate the moment. Forget all your responsibilities, and just feel free. Live life and love. If you're a miserable person, or find the dreams of hippies willfull ignorance, this music makes you feel sick.

Some music makes you want to rebel against everything. The music of youth. If you don't have a me vs. the world mentality, this music just sounds self-centered and annoying.

Some music is expansive. And starts to make you feel and think of the bigger picture. Or take you to strange worlds you've never imagined. If you like feeling 'normal', you don't like this music. New Age music has made some people uncomfortable.

Another example of how music tries to project you into a state of being, is our choices of music depending if we want to relax. Or wake up.

Either way, I don't think any music is neutral. Neutral music at best is apathetic music. I can think of a few 90s beats that capture apathy.

To really understand how diverse the different states of music can project you to, turn off the shitty free radio!! Most of the music on it simply reinforces the status quo. Even the angsty emo attitude of me vs. the world is status quo. That soooooo teenager like. Our socieity is apathetic. And were finally growing tired of apathy. So were craving something new from our music than same old same old.

You may feel neutral to pop, but this is because it's everywhere. Were so used to it. Weve gotten very good at ignoring it.

But if you were coming from a different culture, (or heck a different planet) pop is not neutral! It's intrusive! It's invasive! It's hypnotic. Pop repeats its refrains or musical stanzas again and again and again. Until you either have to submit to the pop music hypnotisim or your blood pressure raises.

But at the same time, contrary to New Age claims, there is no magical peice of music that can project you to an otherwordly state of being. Our free will to choose how we want to feel is much stronger than musics attempt to project us anywhere. And how magical a piece of music is largely depends on whether it offers us a new experience.

Music has the greatest influence on emotions.

My philosophy of music...

Music is a form of art. Like a painting, it projects a certain tone, emotion, vibe, mood, atmosphere, etc.

This projection comes from the lyrics, as well as the music itself. We connect with the lyrics like a story. We connect with the music in a respect that is less defined and more open to interpretation and application of your own perspective about its meaning.

Music will always be there for everyone and to give expression a home.

Music is nothing short of magic. It's the greatest of all arts, most easily shared, most accessible without training, and most natural to humans to produce. Nothing is greater or more holy to me than a celebration of music, which to me right now is best expressed at a Phish show or a bluegrass concert. The best small-scale experience is probably a jazz club.

About the whole melody: To say that melody is the basis for enjoying music can only be true on a personal level. Take, for example, African traditional music, which is very rhythmically driven, or noise, which is sonically driven. Music confounds me. It is.

I like the music. I could care less about the words. It's about the syncing for me.

Music has an incredible influence on people. Becoming completely immersed in it is one of my life's joys, when the difference between the music (object) and myself (subject) become a singularity, and the music is simply an expression of the moment. Bliss.

However, I disagree that any type of music is "crap" or "bad". The pop scene may be bloody repetitive, but you can appreciate any type of music, with or without lyrics if you are open enough to accept the atmosphere that it is trying to replicate. Lyrics are really just another layer of music, a person's voice can contribute greatly to a song. I've found if I don't focus on what the lyrics are trying to conceptualise and simply look at them as another part of the melody, they hold much more meaning.

Sometimes if you are bored of reading something, all it takes to be able to stand reading it is some music. Let the music in, then as it puts you into a different state of mind reading that thing makes you think "how was i bored of reading this?, it's so simple".

Originally Posted by Xei

There's a danger of confusing popular music with all of music.

Most popular music is rubbish, but there are still good bands out there; you just won't have heard of them.

The three bands I mentioned are the three I have the most respect for, I think, and one of them is currently active (MBV recently reformed, started touring, and finishing off an old album); however they are totally unknown to the general public and their songs never air on the radio. I think that's fairly consistent with what I said above; there's not really a decline as such.

I listened to a few songs from the bands you mentioned and didn't like them at all . Well, tastes differ. Not sure about their lyrics, I just couldn't bear listening long enough, lol.

But after some thinking I remembered two other bands that have sensible lyrics, more or less, Offspring and Clawfinger.

:0

Stone Roses are very accessible, for a representative song I'd suggest you try Waterfall (hook is incredible and lyrics are the best I've ever heard - think of it as a transition from Earth to Water), for MBV try Only Shallow, Soon, or Blown a Wish (the lyrics have no meaning, the entire thing is supposed to be instrumental and the melodies are amazing), and the Beatles... well, if you don't like the Beatles the only explanation can be that you have no taste.

Regarding good lyrics, Jarvis Cocker's Pulp was always among the best. Most lyrics I feel are there for decoration, but Cocker's actually mean something.

From Waterafall:

Stands on shifting sands
The scales held in her hands
The wind it just whips her away
And fills up her brigantine sails

First she was sailing, now she's standing on shifting sands (?), with scales (?) in her hands, then the wind whips her away so far that she gets to the sea or an ocean... And then she's claimed to be a waterfall, although it's metaphorical, but I still can't see why she's compared to a waterfall.

All that doesn't sound very sensible to me.

As for songs, I listened to those very songs that you offer MBV is too slow for my taste, and with a "weak" voice, Stone Roses not much better, to be honest. But background music is great.

Shifting sands... I picture sand dunes blowing in the wind in wave-like forms, a vivid transition between Earth and Water.

I don't know if scales mean fish scales or scales for weighing, but the first is obvious and the second represents a shift from one thing to another.

The whole thing is a metaphor for liberation from the filth and the scum of an Americanised urban landscape.

I see what you mean by MBV being slow, all songs on that album are of an average speed. It's very 'heavy', active stuff though; draining to listen to almost. (Maybe check out their earlier work, such as You Made Me Realise). Although I've always thought the lead singer had the best voice I've ever heard.

What sort of things do you listen to?

Hmm but see, this confusing kind of lyrics is what I've always thought to be bad... It's almost like Marilyn Manson or Nirvana, you get the feeling that somebody is trying to say something, but most of the time it comes out incomprehensible. I've seen reactions to such lyrics as "cool", however. But I just think that it's bad if somebody can't voice thoughts clearly. And in some cases I think they didn't really have any thoughts and instead just put together a few words from their subconsciousness without knowing what it's all about.

I'll look for the song that you mentioned, thanx.

As for what I listen to, I'm not an avid music-fan and mostly I like a few songs from here and a few from there, so usually it's not about the whole band either. As a whole band I could mention Offspring again and Clawfinger. Prodigy used to be great, too. And if we're talking only about music and not lyrics, then I like Korn, Coal Chamber, Methods of Mayhem, to some extent Linkin Park. And even Nirvana and Marilyn Manson. Sounds like it's pretty different from the kind of music you like

I agree that most lyrics have no overall coherency. They are just picked because they have the correct syllables.

It's not normally a bad thing, but it does add to the song when they actually make sense (I disagree that Waterfall is such a song though. I've always felt it was the exact opposite).

The only bad thing when is when bands start saying 'oh well we meant it to be a metaphor for blah blah blah...' and they make shit up to try and justify it.

If you are into trance type of music, try this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ph_0AB-rcI


Only song i have listened to them, i'll have to try out others.

Originally Posted by LucidFlanders

If you are into trance type of music, try this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ph_0AB-rcI


Only song i have listened to them, i'll have to try out others.

Nice song. If you like that, you'd probably like Halcyon & On & On by Orbital. It's my favourite song. I heard it over 10 years ago, loved it, and still love it today.

It's thread like these when I really wish I had an option to "thumbs up" replies

I agree with everything Juroara said.

Melody is most important for me though. I can remember a melody for an entire lifetime yet forget the lyrics.
A perfect example of this a song by Celine Dion ??? I forget the name but it came from a kids movie about Peanut Butter, hair loss, and mystery lol. I only caught a tiny fragment of the movie, but it was during a song which has stayed in my head for over a couple decades. I REALLY wish I had that song. It has a very "haunting" melody.

Melodies are "magical" to me. Sometimes, if the lyrics are just so, the combination is explosively brilliant.
The first songs that pop into my mind are most from the mysical "Jekyll and Hyde" (Who am I; Good and Evil; The feeling of being alive (?); Bring on the men (hilarious!); Transformation etc etc). I also love "How's it gonna be"; "Caught a Light sneeze"; "Hate me"; "Rooster"; "Piggy (clean version); "It can't rain all the time (?)"

Then some songs with no lyrics blow me away. Primarily the bonus music CD from the game Chrono Cross. I also use to love Yanni.

There's a recent song I love. I don't know who sings it or the words/title but it could very well be "Please don't leave me". The melody contridicts itself but it's pulled off perfectly.

I think musicians should be paid and credited for their work.

Personally, if I write a religious song, I don't attribute it to myself because I want the focus to be on the message and not the writer (but what does it matter, lol, when no one even reads or hears my stuff which is more than fine by me )

But for people who do it for a living, they need to eat too...

Certain music will put me into certain moods without my trying to influence it. Yanni, Chrono Cross and Jekyll & Hyde put me in a "spacey" more receptively creative, somewhat spiritistic mood.
"How's it gonna be" almost makes me angry/depressed, but I do have bad memories associated with that song.
Other songs help me block out stress or simply make me smile.