What is it keeping us interested in a particular artists years later as opposed to giving up on some months or weeks later on some others, or the instant you hear their track? Is it only the music or more?

I find myself having to like the vocalist as a major part of it (doesn't apply to instrumentals, obviously). If I don't like the vocals, or the attitude coming across in the vocals, I find it very hard to like the track or similar work by the artist, even though it might be musically interesting and unique. The music probably comes in equally as important. It has to be non-predictable and keep me interested. Or sometimes it can be predictable with good and/or interesting attitude/vocals.

But I have to say the artist(s) themselves play a role too; I sometimes have to like the artist and what they're about to follow their work years later, or follow them past an 'experimental' or crap album or single.

1) What draws you in and (more importantly) keeps you interested in an artist years after you first discovered them? Is it just the music, or is it the artist, their life and attitude just as much, with the music taking a less important role as time goes on?

2) Have you sometimes read about an artist's life and subsequently discovered you love their MUSIC as a result of their life and/or activities falling in line with your thoughts/beliefs/desires? Or is it just the music, with no accessories, so to speak, that keeps you interested and glued to an artist for years?

Discuss

great question cynical.

Personally, I like when an artist grows. The music changes, they're look changes, their views change etc. The reason is because that's the reality of being a human being.

People relate to other people and music is our language. - edit
[This message was edited Fri Oct 24 13:01:17 PDT 2003 by Slave2daGroove]

4 me its simply all about the music !

i kno p has a great image though !

and the white stripes have a terrific look !

but its really the music which grabs/keeps my attention !

danielboon said:

HAS 2 b a combination of both. Dont come out lookin like a garbage bin. Sexy looks draw u in, THEN when u have the freedom, then u can look bummy and no one will care anymore. Just like how Erykah Badu was lookin good on "On & On" but kinda raggedy when "Other Side Of The Game" video came out. The song was fuckin awesum and no one cared if she shaved her head or anything anymore.

paisleypark4 said:

i disagree , i xplained b4 in another thread how the 1st time i saw prince i pissed myself laughing it was 84 wdc video i just thought "is this freak serious "i am now a major fan been following the wee man for 19 years and it's b cos of the MUSIC i thought he looked like an asshole !!!
funny now i think he's kinda cool !!!

cynicalbastard said:

som3tim3s th3 gr3atn3ss of th3 artist

ov3rshadows th3 music

princ3 knocks my socks off

without singing a not3

his vib3

his styl3

his strong will

and his innovativ3 music

all com3 2g3th3r as 1 pow3rful

combination that has k3pt

m3 in th3 lav3nd3r light

for ov3r 2 d3cad3s

I find myself easily, seriously, and serially tied to Prince and his life. For the past two years, I have done a "Prince cleanse" -- a period where I eliminate Prince's music, his life, and everything from my life. It's a great practice, because invariably I find that is the music that brings me back. So I'm hooked to the Artist AND the music, but it is the music that keeps me -- it's crack 2 me!!!

I saw Prince before I ever heard his music and I was smitten. *swoon* But, then I got into his music, and it became all about the music.

UptownDeb said:

Same here lol how groupie-ish we were? I mean really

nice answers
Anyone else wanna add their 2 cents?