What is good music

[Hiten]

Hiten, with all due respects to you, let's try not to use the words rock and kolavari di in the same sentence !

Bro,
I put my left hand on my ZZ top vinyl and speak truth that though being in same sentence I did put a slash punctuation mark used as a or between rock and kolaveri.

@ Paul : Interesting story paul. By the way these days some modern songs can put you to death you know

Some might tell me to stop over analyzing and just get on with listening to music that I find good and there might be a bit of logic to that too. :lol:

@ SSF buddy yeah you are analyzing. There is no harm to give it a listen to a critically appreciated music even if you don't like. Like Joshua said it will only broaden your horizon.
ZZ Top - Gimme All Your Lovin'. Subtitulado Espaol - YouTube
just enjoy this Pizza of a song
Regards

 

[square_wave]

Bro,
I put my left hand on my ZZ top vinyl and speak truth that though being in same sentence I did put a slash punctuation mark used as a or between rock and kolaveri.

Okay Bro, you are forgiven

For a moment I thought I could hear a faint rumble as all the gods of rock started rolling in their graves

 

[ssf]

I would like to think that most of our tastes are acquired. That our tastes are influenced by people around us. Music should not be any different. When one goes beyond the boundaries of popular music, when one goes beyond music that sounds good, that is when it gets interesting and that is the kind of music that I would like to focus on at this point in my life.(along with music that sounds good that is) Which is why my posts are always filled with questions more than answers.

It would, for me, make interesting reading if members took the time to think about and shared the factors (ugh, college talk, :lol that influenced them to arrive at what they think is good music.

Let me be the first to contribute.

When I was a lot younger, I only had this small radio on which I could listen to music. I have unfortunately forgotten the radio band which used to play english songs once a week, every thursday. The songs that they played invariably became good music for me. John Denver's Country Roads and Rocky Mountain high were the favorites.

And then in my college days, I was introduced to this gentleman whom I would like to think had the most influence on what I thought was good music. From REO Speedwagon to Scorpion ballads, he introduced me to them all. No Jazz, no Classical, no Hindustani, no carnatic, unfortunately.

I used to tell my cousin who is a good jazz musician that I can't understand his music and thus can't really appreciate it. And he used to humor me with a laugh. And this cousin of mine has played in most of the Jazz festivals all over the world.

I have grown a bit wiser over the years. I now don't dismiss music just because I don't understand them. I rather put in an effort to try and understand it knowing fully well that if I do, I have this whole new Genre that I could listen to and enjoy for the price of an internet connection.

What influenced me to like music the likes of 'Art of Fugue' ? I would like to think that it was the compulsory Church Attendance in my very younger days where a Church Service was filled with Choirs, Organs, violins and trumpets. This I think layed the platform for my liking Classical Music.

I do listen to Jazz now. Not the Miles Davis kind, by smooth jazz and jazz instrumentals and the kind. My cousin might just be surprised !!!

Next stop, Carnatic / Hindustani classical. I know from what I have heard so far that I will like it.

Good music ? Seems a pity if an attempt is not made to go beyond the comfort zone.

 

[ajay124]

This happened more than 15 years back. One of my acquaintance, while suffering a heart-attack, was declared clinically dead for a couple of minutes. After his recovery, he recalled the final moments of that day - before he passed out, he heard a familiar melody that transported him to a blissful state. Later he tried his best recollect that familiar melody but all his efforts were in vain. Subsequently, he gave up - in his words the melody was very familiar, yet unknown.

May be we all are searching for that elusive melody.

It is possible to discover that 'elusive melody' while one is still clinically alive For me that elusive melody comprises of:

The music of Gustav Mahler
The philosophy of Friedrich Neitzsche
The fiction of Franz Kafka
The poetry of Pablo Neruda
The paintings of Pablo Picasso
The cinema of Andrei Tarkovsky

The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness.
-Vladimir Nabokov

The purpose of music, literature and cinema is to widen that crack and let more 'light' pass through. The purpose of art is not 'entertainment'. Mere entertainment is a notion which devalues life and finally renders it meaningless.

 

[ajay124]

Ajay,

good music=phil ochs.

"Why do you think that Phil Ochs is good music. What were the factors that influenced you into liking music such as Phil Ochs ?"

There are very few (no?) songs written and recorded in the past five decades which can rival his songs. Phil stands alone. He has a hauntingly sweet voice. An innocent, angelic face. A finely honed, fiery and ironical intellect. The songs that he wrote are a tower built to celebrate the shared aspirations and dreams of his idealistic generation. Where as the words of most other song smiths are merely a tower of babel.

The Scorpion Departs But Never Returns - Phil Ochs - YouTube

 

[Hari Iyer]

First of all, my apologies to HiFiVision for starting a new thread on the very same subject that has already started. My line of thought is a bit different from the existing thread and I don't want to corrupt that thread with my ramblings. This thread can be conveniently ignored or taken as ramblings of an old tipsy gent who is basically indulging himself.

What is good music ?

I am watching 'Eric Claption and Co guitar festival, courtesy Reliance Digital iConcerts recorded last night.

Clapton, BB King, John Mayer, Buddy guy, Sheryl Crow, Jeff Beck and Tal Wilkenfeld , to name a few.

I have on more than a few occasions blurted out without any fear of repercussions that good music is that very music which one likes (Pardon the grammar, spelling and irrational thought. It comes as a package. Pick one, get 10 free)

A couple of decades plus a decade ago, I thought that Heavy Metal was great music, thought that it was the best music and that I would listen to it till, well, till my last dying breath.

Well, it has been a while since I have consciously tuned to Heavy Metal. So, what changed ? Has Heavy Metal as of late become um, bad music or did I just grow older, gotten (insert good grammar here) a lot more boring and a bit more senile ?

I was reading something that someone in this forum had stated, someone whom I wish would post more that he normally does, that the drummer was considered as a time keeper. This got me thinking. Not easy for some one who is blessed with a very little grey cells. I was always under the impression that the drums introduced the rhythm. But then on a closer listen, I realised that the rhythm was in the music and not in the drums.

As usual, I have more questions than answers. Does good music change with time and/or our age ? Or is good music that such music which transcidents time and um, our age ? And if so, what music is that one, one that one which um, transcidents, etc etc ? One wonders under the influence.

And for everything else, there is always Kolaveri di which puts a simile on my face which it comes on FM when I am driving

With average music score probably your body will dance. With good music score your soul will dance. Look at my thread where I have clearly touched upon some key parameters that should constitute a good music.
Cheers, Hari

 

[ssf]

Hari,

I have read your thread where you have listed out what should constitute good music. Gave me the impression that you know your music from a technical point of view too.

My view of what is good music is purely from an amateurs point of view. I have very little understanding of the intricacies of music like Raga, Rhythm or Melody. Although knowledgeable members have contributed to this thread which is of course more than welcome, I am also interested in knowing what good music is from an amateurs point of view. From one who does not understand music but has a passion for it.

I sometimes wonder if knowing and understanding music which while gives one the power to analyse does take away a bit of the pleasure of listening. Something akin to an audiophile who can make out the differences between different amplifiers / speakers / cables to someone like me who is happy listening to music on Youtube on my Altec Lansing speakers. Maybe both has its advantages and disadvantages but with music it might not be as expensive.

Am wandering. :lol:

 

[ssf]

I am listening to the first music in the thread 'Sachal Jazz -Interpretations of Jazz standards....' by Rajiv, the first song, Take Five. I like it. As usual, I ask myself why. :lol: I love the sound the the Sitar. The tabla makes one want to shake a leg but is relaxing at the same time, maybe because it is accompanied by the wonderful Sitar. And then comes in the Violin and some other instruments, some of which I cannot recognize, giving it a touch of fusion. Interestingly, if I had heard it elsewhere, I never would have thought of it as Jazz Fusion as I cannot recognise the Jazz in it !!!

Amateur interpretations anyone ?


Sachal Studios' Take Five Official Video - YouTube

The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five (1961) - YouTube

PS: Members who know their music are once again most welcome to analyze this piece of music. Am sure it will make for a very interesting read.