What influences what music you listen to?

[DavidMn]

I was thinking about this the other day, and I thought it would make for interesting discussion. Myself, I have absolutely no idea about the technical aspect of music, so I go totally on feel. How the song or artist moves me. Sometimes I wish I knew more about the other side of it, because it makes for quite fascinating disscussion sometimes. WHat do y'all think?

[mylittledemon]

I'm a musician David, so sometimes I listen just purely to be subjective about it. I can appreciate an arrangement or a melody or a vocal even if it's something I wouldnt normally listen to.

But when I'm at home and just feel like kicking back, I usually listen to whatever I'm in the "mood" for. I think most people tend to pop certain artists in their player depending on the way they feel.

[GypsyNomad]

Well, i can think of a few things that influence the music i listen to.....

1. My Upbringing~ my mom listened to all the music i listen to when she was my age, i was basically raised on Stevie, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, etc....

2. My Heritage~ i'm Irish/Scottish/Welsh, i love all things Celtic, especially music. My grandpop would play the Black Watch all the time & my mom introduced me to Enya when i was little. i feel that listening to this music makes me feel closer to my ancestors

3. My personality~ my sister & i were raised in the same music, but we both don't like the same bands/singers... my sister loves to dance, so she likes all that disco music (which i can't stand, except maybe some BeeGee songs), i'm more of a moody person, so i like heavier, deeper music.

[all the same]

Lyrics are my number one. I can't tolerate bad lyrics no matter how good a song sounds.

A friend of mine recently taught me how to listen for good production and ever since he did, I am trying to listen for it. He said to listen to see if you can easily identify all the instruments used in the song. Crisp and clear. Muddy sound = bad production. So, I like listening for it.

Also, another friend said she always listens to the base line in a song 'cause it's the song's anchor. Hadn't really thought of that before either, but I really notice good base lines now.

Emotion is important in music for me too. If it makes me cry like a pussy then I'm gonna like it! Musicians who have a cry in their voices like Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Morrissey, Lhasa and of course Stevie Nicks (although she doesn't have too many weepy songs). I recently discovered an amazing Mexican singer named Chavela Vargas. If you wanna hear a cry in someone's voice, download (or buy, if you're nice but she's really hard to find and I haven't found her albums yet) the song Piensa En Mi.

And, this one has gotten me into trouble before, but the level of cuteness of a performer tends to draw me to them. If I'm not slightly or fully attracted to them, I just can't get into them. I know it's incredibly shallow of me, but I is what I is!

[Serendipity]

It really does depend on my mood. I like music to dance to, I like cheesy 80s rock music that makes me think of parties and beer bike rallies. If it makes me wanna shake my ass.....its good and I dont care if anyone thinks Warrant suck!

On the other hand, if I am in a "listening" mood....its always the lyrics. I like lyrics that make me want to quote them. Lyrics that seem to some up my mood in a way I could never articulate. Thats why I like Stevie Nicks, I guess. I like voices that are a bit "different". I dont care if a singer can hit a note perfectly or not, but I like a uniqueness in a voice that catches my attention.

Things like "good production" or "excellent bass line" just arent things I tend to think about....just the overall effect of the music and the lyrics. Music can and does dictate my emotions, and to me at least, thats what counts.

~Nicki