People say there's no such thing as white music or black music, but all I really want to know is ... is the music really split? 2 me it seems like there is a problem here, with the choice of taste in music. If u in2 soul u don't like rock, if u in2 rock u don't like soul. Have I remind you that music is music, doesn't matter which you preffer 2 listen 2, because it all generates from one pausible cause. Music is universal period. Rather it's soul,funk, punk, rock, new wave or R&B,it all circles 2 gesture which is 2 touch a place inside ya spirit. In fact Muisc is so universal you can take a artist like Prince who is able 2 capture all elements and put it into one song. If someone like Prince can put it all in2 one song, then why aren't we able 2 listen 2 different types without it being sperated or segerated??? As far as I'm concered I love music period. I don't care what it is, but if it sounds good I can dig it. I never had any problem with any type of music before and I'm not going 2 let that change. Music is something I passionate about and I wish we could all stop comparing it, and just let the music be what it is... MUSIC...

DigitalLisa said:

I, unfortunately, believe there is a split in music. You 'can't' like one if you like another. My soul has been drenched with old soul music all my life, but i have a love for other kinds of music that confuses my friends and family to the point of ridicule.

Music from the 60's, Motown, adn the new Neo Soul that's the shit, but I also love Linkin Park, Nickelback, P.O.D., Kid Rock, Backstreet Boys.

People do not get it. If music moves you, it moves you, period.

Storm

It's purely an individual thang. Some people have narrow musical interests, others don't. This is a huge generalization,but I think Prince fans tend to have broad tastes partly because Prince is so broad.

Now up until the mid-80's or so, back when Billboard actually had the "black charts", there was defnitely more a split. I think MJ, Prince, George Michael and various other artists with alot of "crossover" appeal eroded that imaginary line significantly.

Still, music has different genres and people will always have their preferences. Popular rock and soul have evolved into very different animals and not everyone can make that leap.

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[This message was edited Wed Jul 2 10:46:14 PDT 2003 by Universaluv]

It only has a split because people say so. I bump NIN in my car and my family looks at me like I'm insane, but Closer is one of the greatest songs ever written. Music is music to me.

To me it seems like it's an American issue or phenomenon. If you look at music fans in Japan, they not only support their own, but they gravitate towards American music which encompasses all genres. I grew up on funk, R&B, disco, and gospel for the most part, but by middle and high school my interest broadened to new wave, pop, and rock of the 80's, and today I listen to whatever fits my mood. One day it could be Fleetwood Mac and Sade, the next day it's Duran Duran, Third Eye Blind, and Earth Wind & Fire. If it's good to my ears, I'm listening to it. If it's Van Morrison Res, or The Beatles, if it's strikes a chord, I don't care if it's "black" or "white" music, is it good is the real question? I got a lot of grief for being black and listening to new wave in high school, and it's so silly and narrow-minded, because they didn't know that I also listened to New Edition and other R&B acts, but the focus was on color of the artists. People need to broaden their horizons. You never know what you could be missing out on. This also reflects upon how we are and treat each other in socially and politically. Still comes down to ours vs. theirs instead of something for everybody to share and embrace.

First off props for starting a good discussion on this thread. On topic, I have always loved soul/r&b music and was never much of a fan of rock or country. That said, Prince has been a cat that has exposed me to some different sounds. For some reason I have always been able to dig some of his more "rock-heavy" songs but still can't get into it with other artists. I think it's due to the fact that much of the time, he is able to keep elements of soul or dance music fused tightly into these songs. When he departs totally from this (Chaos and Disorder is on example) I just don't feel it. So yea, music is split. I just wouldn't say it's split as much racially as it is sound wise.

I have always been into soul, funk and R&B. When I was younger I was heavily in2 rap music in my days. I loved Dr Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and all of them, but like in Jr. High my mother made me take piano lessons and I had 2 start listening to Beethoven and that ish. At first I didn't like it, and all my peeps made fun of me cuz I had to not only listen 2 it, but play it as well, little did I know it would pay off in the future and I would be playing classical music at local concerts and everything. You know I still like rap music, but I'm still into my classical music as well and no this is not Alicia keys , but it's the truth. I introduced alot of people to classical music who never would've paid much attentioned to it in the first place. So that why I say we should just have a open mind 2 different things... it doesn't matter what genre of music it is, if it's good it's good and if it's bad it's bad... all that matter is if you can make me dance

I think ideally people should have an open mind when it comes to music, but people have there own tastes and sometimes it can come down to genres.

For example, as much as I like Rock, R&B, Jazz, classical, hip-hop, etc. I know that country music is not my thing. I've given it a fair shot, listened to the best it has to offer over the years and it just ain't happenin. Not gonna be buyin any polka albums any time soon either. Doesn't mean I won't try to be fair and give stuff a listen but I know my tastes, and I can't like everything ya know?

DigitalLisa said: