I'd say I'm not just a music fan, but a music addict, perhaps to a fault, because I have an insatiable appetite for a variety of music, and I'm constantly searching for more. When I was younger, the bulk of what I listened to was R&B and funk, because that's what I was exposed to, but I've branched out much more in the last decade thanks to the internet. I'm still limited geographically, though, as I rarely explore beyond American and British artists, and that's something I want to work on.

PDogz said:

vainandy said:

I never had any country in my collection until recent years also. A few years ago, after I brought a gay hillbilly home...oh, I'm not lying honey, this motherfucker come straight outta Greenville, Mississippi in the Delta and was a catfish farmer of all things .....I'm sitting there playing my seduction slow jams, Heatwave, Switch, The Stylistics, Blue Magic, etc. and I tell him if there's anything he'd like to hear, just let me know and he says country and I'm like .

That motherfucker gave the best night of sexy hot fun I've EVER had, oh he was a hairy Tom Selleck type hairy fucker, and when I got the internet, I downloaded LOADS of country that I remember when I was growing up. If I ever run into another one like him, I'm gonna be prepared this time. We'll be a throwing a hoopin' and a'hollerin' wang dang doodle all night long listening to John Anderson with his dick....just a'swanginnnnn'.

Learning to appreciate music outside your usual genres is a lot easier when someone you're interested in helps to introduce you to it.

When I lived in North Carolina in the late 70's, I learned to appreciate Blue Grass & Country music by hanging out with co-workers at the local Honky-tonks. I mean, they had sawdust on the floor, live bands, and the whole-9. Them cowboys would be jumping up on tables, playing them fiddles, and stompin' them boots! I can honestly say, I had good times, despite the fact I'd be the only Black guy in the whole joint, lol.

One time, I went to this one Honky-tonk to meet some friends after work. Well, when I got there, my friends hadn't arrived yet. So here I was, this ONE Black guy, in this bar surrounded by about a hundred rednecks, lol. There was a group over by the bar that just kept eye-balling me for like 20 minutes or so. Then next thing I know, one of them started walking over toward me. I was thinking "Oh boy, here we go!".

Then he walked up to me and said "Hey, me and my buddies noticed you over here standing by yourself, why not come over here with us and have a beer!" I was like "Aw man, thanks a lot! But I'm waiting for some friends, and they should be here shortly". Then he was like "Well alright, but if they're not here soon, just come on over and party with us!". At that point, I was SOLD on the whole Honky-tonk idea. About 20 more minutes later, my work-buddies showed up, and I went on to have one of the best times of my life! Boots, fiddles & all!

Just proves that you can't judge books by their cover. Ever since then, I've always challenged myself in situations like that, and I've learned a lot about the world.

That's a great story ! I love hearing stuff like that...sometimes , music does actually bring people together.

An interesting aside...back in the 80s and 90s , I lived in a predominately Caribbean area of Brooklyn, NY. Many times, I used the "illegal" cabs (basically guys earning up a few bucks by picking up passengers along the bus routes) . All the drivers were West Indians- either Jamaicans, Trinidadians, Bajans, Guyanese, or Haitians. You would figure that the music playing would be reggae, dancehall, calypso, soca, something like that. But about half the time, the drivers would be playing COUNTRY !! It just seemed a little odd...but that's cool.

A heard an interesting statement once years ago from a critic named Scott Poulson-Bryant. He said that when you're young, you listen to music that you feel "represents" you in some way. Look at hard-core rap fans, or goth kids, or heavy metal addicts, or even emo kids. They feel that the music "speaks to them", and defines them in some way . However, as you get older, you can start to appreciate other types of music as JUST music- the artistry of it,or the beauty, or the expression. It doesn't have to "symbolize" anything in your life- just something to enjoy and appreciate. And if you're willing to open your mind and ears, there's a lot to appreciate, from different styles and eras.

So, in the past, I was more of a "genre" fan, now I'm a "music" fan

[Edited 8/1/11 7:20am]

jjhunsecker said:

PDogz said:

Learning to appreciate music outside your usual genres is a lot easier when someone you're interested in helps to introduce you to it.

When I lived in North Carolina in the late 70's, I learned to appreciate Blue Grass & Country music by hanging out with co-workers at the local Honky-tonks. I mean, they had sawdust on the floor, live bands, and the whole-9. Them cowboys would be jumping up on tables, playing them fiddles, and stompin' them boots! I can honestly say, I had good times, despite the fact I'd be the only Black guy in the whole joint, lol.

One time, I went to this one Honky-tonk to meet some friends after work. Well, when I got there, my friends hadn't arrived yet. So here I was, this ONE Black guy, in this bar surrounded by about a hundred rednecks, lol. There was a group over by the bar that just kept eye-balling me for like 20 minutes or so. Then next thing I know, one of them started walking over toward me. I was thinking "Oh boy, here we go!".

Then he walked up to me and said "Hey, me and my buddies noticed you over here standing by yourself, why not come over here with us and have a beer!" I was like "Aw man, thanks a lot! But I'm waiting for some friends, and they should be here shortly". Then he was like "Well alright, but if they're not here soon, just come on over and party with us!". At that point, I was SOLD on the whole Honky-tonk idea. About 20 more minutes later, my work-buddies showed up, and I went on to have one of the best times of my life! Boots, fiddles & all!

Just proves that you can't judge books by their cover. Ever since then, I've always challenged myself in situations like that, and I've learned a lot about the world.

That's a great story ! I love hearing stuff like that...sometimes , music does actually bring people together.

An interesting aside...back in the 80s and 90s , I lived in a predominately Caribbean area of Brooklyn, NY.

That's the EXACT area I live in now, lol. And the assumption of many people on the street is that I'm Caribbean too, until I speak, lol. Then they realize; I was born & raised in New York, lol.

PDogz said:

jjhunsecker said:

That's a great story ! I love hearing stuff like that...sometimes , music does actually bring people together.

An interesting aside...back in the 80s and 90s , I lived in a predominately Caribbean area of Brooklyn, NY.

That's the EXACT area I live in now, lol. And the assumption of many people on the street is that I'm Caribbean too, until I speak, lol. Then they realize; I was born & raised in New York, lol.

It's was in the "illegal" cabs and vans on Church Avenue, where they'd be playing Alabama and Dolly along with Marley and Mighty Sparrow....

jjhunsecker said:

PDogz said:

That's the EXACT area I live in now, lol. And the assumption of many people on the street is that I'm Caribbean too, until I speak, lol. Then they realize; I was born & raised in New York, lol.

It's was in the "illegal" cabs and vans on Church Avenue, where they'd be playing Alabama and Dolly along with Marley and Mighty Sparrow....

Small world. I'm currently less than one block from that area, lol. If you haven't lived here since the 80's/90's, you'd be surprised how much the Mexican population has grown here in recent years, as well as other groups that may surprise you are filtering back in as well. I've seen a lot of changes in the 13 or so years I've lived in this location.

PDogz said:

jjhunsecker said:

It's was in the "illegal" cabs and vans on Church Avenue, where they'd be playing Alabama and Dolly along with Marley and Mighty Sparrow....

Small world. I'm currently less than one block from that area, lol. If you haven't lived here since the 80's/90's, you'd be surprised how much the Mexican population has grown here in recent years, as well as other groups that may surprise you are filtering back in as well. I've seen a lot of changes in the 13 or so years I've lived in this location.

Even though I haven't actaully lived in tha area since the new millenium, I am there all the time to visit family, so I've seen some of the changes. Nothing stays the same- I remember when Williamsburg and Fort Greene were places to avoid- now they're the most fashionable areas ...LOL

Kara said:

I'd say I'm not just a music fan, but a music addict, perhaps to a fault, because I have an insatiable appetite for a variety of music, and I'm constantly searching for more. When I was younger, the bulk of what I listened to was R&B and funk, because that's what I was exposed to, but I've branched out much more in the last decade thanks to the internet. I'm still limited geographically, though, as I rarely explore beyond American and British artists, and that's something I want to work on.

Do it anyway you can. I'm like at a new world with the music I'm listening to that I don't even bother listening to the R&B/funk that I do have. It's almost like an afterthought.

I am a music fan, I can listen to and appreciate anything (so far) that i have heard.

But I am clearly a bigger fan of certain types of music.

There may be divisions in my appreciation of music. One is my appreciation of the craft and the skill that goes into making any kind of music. This comes from being a musician as well as challenging myself to understand music as a whole.

There is an appreciation of different cultures and different people and the different music they make. This comes from trying to understand and appreciate people as a whole.

There is also the appreciation of the kind of music that appeals to my own personal life experience. I think this is how most people hear music, as part of their immediate surroundings, and it is the music they appreciate the most. It is more about culture, nostalgia, etc. It's the cliched "soundtrack to their lives," and it makes an emotional impact that is not just about the art of music. And this is not always about liking the best music.

Yes, I'm a music fan.

However.......

1. I can NOT for the life in me listen to Hank William Sr.-type of traditional country OR bluegrass any longer than necessary. That country/hillbilly accent on those high singing notes are freaking irritating!

2. I'm not into Death Metal.

vainandy said:

Both. I listen to many types of music but funk is what I listen to 80% of the time so you could say that I'm a genre fan. However, whatever genre I'm listening to, the music is what catches my ear before anything else. The feel of the bass and the drums and a good groove. The way someone sings comes second, and the actual lyrics come last. But a person can be an excellent singer or even have excellent lyrics but if the music behind it sounds like shit, then the song isn't even worth listening to because it sounds horrible. That's why today's music is a bunch of bullshit. No good music behind it. Just a damn weak ass drum machine that barely taps at a slow ass opera tempo. Hell, that ain't music, no matter how good the singing may be.

That sounds like Beyonce's music. She can sing. But most of the time, her choice of producers, beatmakers, AND musicians for her studio albums are so subpar.

I'm definitely a music fan. It's one of the things I grew up with. Not just a genre. My parents introduced me to all types, through travel and other artistic events. Or it was my dad bringing home music for me to dub for him.

So, I grew up loving all different types. I could get just as lost in some Mancini as I can some Richard Smallwood or Primus or Duran Duran or Gorecki.

It's a beautiful thing, music. I thank God for it.

ThreadBare said:

I'm definitely a music fan. It's one of the things I grew up with. Not just a genre. My parents introduced me to all types, through travel and other artistic events. Or it was my dad bringing home music for me to dub for him.

So, I grew up loving all different types. I could get just as lost in some Mancini as I can some Richard Smallwood or Primus or Duran Duran or Gorecki.

It's a beautiful thing, music. I thank God for it.

Speaking of Mancini I heard "Sunflower" today and forgot what I was doing. Beautiful music.

PDogz said:

jjhunsecker said:

It's was in the "illegal" cabs and vans on Church Avenue, where they'd be playing Alabama and Dolly along with Marley and Mighty Sparrow....

Small world. I'm currently less than one block from that area, lol. If you haven't lived here since the 80's/90's, you'd be surprised how much the Mexican population has grown here in recent years, as well as other groups that may surprise you are filtering back in as well. I've seen a lot of changes in the 13 or so years I've lived in this location.

I've noticed a lot of the Mexicans over there. I even seen some Hasidics around the neighborhood. Who else has come in ?

I am definately a music fan. I love all kinds of music. Pop,rock,classical,opera,R&B,country..

I am picky on my country though,so it's not really my favorite genre,but there are a few artist that like,and I can't stand Heavy Metal,I was never interested in that type of music. lol

Basically if it sounds good to me,I will listen to it no matter what genre it is from(except for metal).

[Edited 8/2/11 0:24am]

jjhunsecker said:

PDogz said:

Small world. I'm currently less than one block from that area, lol. If you haven't lived here since the 80's/90's, you'd be surprised how much the Mexican population has grown here in recent years, as well as other groups that may surprise you are filtering back in as well. I've seen a lot of changes in the 13 or so years I've lived in this location.

I've noticed a lot of the Mexicans over there. I even seen some Hasidics around the neighborhood. Who else has come in ?

Young White Folks.

SquirrelMeat said:

You just have to look at the front page of non prince forum to realise that the vast majority of people on here have a very narrow musical pallet.

Its about 90% R&B tinged and 95% U.S. based.

You might have a valid point there.

Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

sosgemini said:

I don't agree. I think some people *think* they are music fans but are subconsciously using that as a conduit for their celebrity obsession.

Ooooo.

St. Nick gets off a Police reference...a humiliating kick in the crotch

...Synchronicity II

Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

As a teenager, I was a lover of anything with black music but as an adult, I simply love good music from lyrics to harmony to production. Vocals are a must for me. My 4 favorite artists listed in my signature pretty much sums me up.

jjhunsecker said:

PDogz said:

Small world. I'm currently less than one block from that area, lol. If you haven't lived here since the 80's/90's, you'd be surprised how much the Mexican population has grown here in recent years, as well as other groups that may surprise you are filtering back in as well. I've seen a lot of changes in the 13 or so years I've lived in this location.

Even though I haven't actaully lived in tha area since the new millenium, I am there all the time to visit family, so I've seen some of the changes. Nothing stays the same- I remember when Williamsburg and Fort Greene were places to avoid- now they're the most fashionable areas ...LOL

Some more B'klyn brothers in the house.

In the 50s/60s, I grew up in Bed-Stuy originally (Herkimer bet. Ralph & Howard), E. Flatbush later (E.26th & bet. Ave D & Clarendon).

Church & Flatbush (Erasmus HS) was a popular hangout.

At that time, other neighborhoods to avoid that I remember were Brownsville & Red Hook.



Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

theAudience said:

jjhunsecker said:

Even though I haven't actaully lived in tha area since the new millenium, I am there all the time to visit family, so I've seen some of the changes. Nothing stays the same- I remember when Williamsburg and Fort Greene were places to avoid- now they're the most fashionable areas ...LOL

Some more B'klyn brothers in the house.

In the 50s/60s, I grew up in Bed-Stuy originally (Herkimer bet. Ralph & Howard), E. Flatbush later (E.26th & bet. Ave D & Clarendon).

Church & Flatbush (Erasmus HS) was a popular hangout.

At that time, other neighborhoods to avoid that I remember were Brownsville & Red Hook.

I pass that school several times a week, it's still there. But the movie theater that was around the corner on Church Avenue, across from that old church & graveyard, is now a Models Sporting Goods store.

As I've mentioned, I've lived in this area for about 13 years now, but prior to that I've been all over the map, lol. So there's still a lot about this part of Brooklyn that I'm learning about. I was born & spent my childhood in Mount Vernon, NY - which is in Westchester County, just above the Bronx (Money Earnin' Mt. Vernon - Where Puffy, Heavy D, Denzel Washington, Dick Clark, Art Carney and a ton of other folks are from). Much of Brooklyn's history just blows me away sometimes, especially how the census has evolved through the years.

And much respect Brother, I think you have a year or two on me (I was not even a twinkle in my Dad's eye at any point in the 1950's - I was born in '61). So, much respect indeed.

A sincere thanks to all the participants for their insightful contributions to this civil discussion on the subject.



Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

^^ It was a good topic. It allowed for sensible discussion.

theAudience said:

SquirrelMeat said:

You just have to look at the front page of non prince forum to realise that the vast majority of people on here have a very narrow musical pallet.

Its about 90% R&B tinged and 95% U.S. based.

You might have a valid point there.

Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

Because Prince is R&B tinged and U.S. based.

I'm not arguing SquirrelMeat's statement, just saying it isn't surprising being on a Prince fan site.

[Edited 8/5/11 14:21pm]

What's with the labels? I don't care if someone only enjoys one or two types of genre's. As long as they love it and feel a connection then to me that is a music fan because regardless of the genre it is still music at the end of the day. Some people on this site seem to look down on those who enjoy mainstream music or don't have a particularly eclectic taste, but I say who cares?

I don't have to listen to Brazilan Jazz and everything under the sun to be considered a TRUE music fan. Music for me is something I take seriously. It is a very personal thing for me. Music is as much a part of me as breathing or eating is. I have a deep love for music and can appreciate all types although I do favor some genre's over others.

I think at the end of the day, it's about the connection and how it affects you. I know people who enjoy music but feel no connection to it. To me, that is not someone who is a real music fan. That's someone who is just a casual fan of music and can take it or leave it.

It's not like that for someone like me and i'm sure many on this site. I love music. I live for going to concerts and I spend hours listening to music,playing piano and watching videos. It's something that is deeply personal for me. There's nothing in this world I think I enjoy more than music (Not even sex ) so yes i'd say I AM a fan of music.

Timmy84 said:

ThreadBare said:

I'm definitely a music fan. It's one of the things I grew up with. Not just a genre. My parents introduced me to all types, through travel and other artistic events. Or it was my dad bringing home music for me to dub for him.

So, I grew up loving all different types. I could get just as lost in some Mancini as I can some Richard Smallwood or Primus or Duran Duran or Gorecki.

It's a beautiful thing, music. I thank God for it.

Speaking of Mancini I heard "Sunflower" today and forgot what I was doing. Beautiful music.

One of my favorites, that dude.

Well.... I love Funk, R&B, Soul, Disco, Hip-Hop, Rock, Alternative, Country, Jazz, Pop, Bhangra, Folk, Trance, Electronica, Metal, Goth, New Wave, House, Industrial, New Age, Psychedelic, Reggae, Dancehall, Breakbeats, World Music....... and a lot more besides!

So... yeah, I'd consider myself a music fan! Opera and Classical don't do much for me, but I appreciate them nonetheless.

I listen to pretty much every style apart from classical and country (the new shit, not the proper Johnny Cash style stuff) and ragga. My most listened to cd this year has been Lady Ga Ga by a country mile and i've just pre ordered the new Trivium album, so my tastes are pretty wide.