why do iNTPs love mainstream music?

[cerebedlam]

Is this thread being ironical, or what? I would think that the majority of INTPs would absolutely detest mainstream music...I would also think that those who who currently proclaim a proclivity for POP music would quickly change their listening tastes if turned onto something a little deeper than the superficial drivle pouring out over the airwaves...I think that it's merely a question of 'exposure' and 'deprivation'...What deeply thinking/feeling INTP would consciously choose 'box wine' when fine some fine bottles of sauvignon blanc are available with just a little work...

 

[Solitaire U.]

Heh, I hate wine.

What is pop music, damnit!? Is it a sound, a fashion statement, a Billboard rating, the line dividing YouTube and Vevo?

Is it this? (96,887,368 views)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzU9OrZlKb8

I hate it!

Is it this? (23,484,787 views)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P4A1K4lXDo

I like it.

Is it this? (3,644,446 views)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOO4VZeH4-g

Pretty good.

Is it this? (5,591,945 views)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUXBCdt5IPg

I love it.

 

[intpz]

I hate mainstream music. I can't handle any piece of shit that anybody around me listens to. But hey, maybe I'm wrong, maybe it IS good music? However I can dismiss this statement with the following word: Gaga.

 

[downsowf]

Is this thread being ironical, or what? I would think that the majority of INTPs would absolutely detest mainstream music...I would also think that those who who currently proclaim a proclivity for POP music would quickly change their listening tastes if turned onto something a little deeper than the superficial drivle pouring out over the airwaves...I think that it's merely a question of 'exposure' and 'deprivation'...What deeply thinking/feeling INTP would consciously choose 'box wine' when fine some fine bottles of sauvignon blanc are available with just a little work...

Mainstream music/popular music of the 1960s:

Rolling Stones
Beatles
Bob Dylan
Cream
Aretha Franklin

To dismiss any group because they are part of the "mainstream" seems rather limiting and is also a nonsensical way to determine the validity or significance that a song might have to offer. Choosing a song based on the merit of the song regardless of its label seems the best of all possible options. Nirvana turned into "mainstream music," but I would hardly dismiss them as superficial drivel if one of their songs played on the radio; Radiohead is played on the airwaves as well and has basked in commercial success. Point is: "Mainstream music" doesn't necessarily equate to "bad music." Michael Jackson, the "king of pop," put out some pretty good shit. I like all types of music, whether this means listening to some Monk while enjoying a nice scotch, or putting on some Stones and breaking out that boxed wine.

 

[psion]

Hip as fuck.

I actually like this album and listen to it regularly.. I feel somewhat guilty about it for whatever reason.

 

[cerebedlam]

Mainstream music/popular music of the 1960s:

Rolling Stones
Beatles
Bob Dylan
Cream
Aretha Franklin

To dismiss any group because they are part of the "mainstream" seems rather limiting and is also a nonsensical way to determine the validity or significance that a song might have to offer. Choosing a song based on the merit of the song regardless of its label seems the best of all possible options. Nirvana turned into "mainstream music," but I would hardly dismiss them as superficial drivel if one of their songs played on the radio; Radiohead is played on the airwaves as well and has basked in commercial success. Point is: "Mainstream music" doesn't necessarily equate to "bad music." Michael Jackson, the "king of pop," put out some pretty good shit. I like all types of music, whether this means listening to some Monk while enjoying a nice scotch, or putting on some Stones and breaking out that boxed wine.

Yes, you are correct...That's WAY before 'POP' became a dirty word...The era of Clive Davis and Phil Spector, and all the others in the biz who facilitated musical innovation and maturity...The creative cutting edge was literally synonymous with 'mainstream' during the second half of the 60's...That led to the unsurpassed musical accomplishments of the first half of the 1970's...

But, sometime after that era, 'POP' sloowwly and surely became a filthy word, synonymous with disposable cheese. At least, from my end of the table...The delicate balance between 'music' and 'commerce' tilted way too far to the 'commerce' end of the spectrum, and artists were forced to learn some harsh realities about keeping their careers alive. There's still plenty of actual musical 'artists' out there in internetland, far far far away from the mainstream.

 

[downsowf]

Yes, you are correct...That's WAY before 'POP' became a dirty word...The era of Clive Davis and Phil Spector, and all the others in the biz who facilitated musical innovation and maturity...The creative cutting edge was literally synonymous with 'mainstream' during the second half of the 60's...That led to the unsurpassed musical accomplishments of the first half of the 1970's...

But, sometime after that era, 'POP' sloowwly and surely became a filthy word, synonymous with disposable cheese. At least, from my end of the table...The delicate balance between 'music' and 'commerce' tilted way too far to the 'commerce' end of the spectrum, and artists were forced to learn some harsh realities about keeping their careers alive. There's still plenty of actual musical 'artists' out there in internetland, far far far away from the mainstream.

Yeah, I figured that's where you were coming from. Admittedly, I used to have the same attitude as you and probably just recently changed my position. I am now of the opinion that manufactured cheese (or disposable cheese like you said) can be enjoyed for what it is sometimes. I prefer my music raw, dirty, and untamed like a Robert Johnson song, but I'd be lying if I said I sometimes don't succumb to the catchiness inherent in contemporary pop. Like a piece of bubble gum I'll chew it, spit it out, and throw it away, and always resort back to the type of music that no matter what era it was produced, it retains those timeless qualities that I consider "music worthwhile."

 

[PartyPoison]

I do not hate music because it is Mainstream or pop (my primary musical taste is Alternative rock and punk) and I don't love music because it's Indie. Some indie is rubbish but most Mainstrem music is too.


If it sounds good and means something to me I tend to like it. Pop music tends to be mostly about conforming to social rules, sex, and drugs so it kind of gets boring five seconds in. I am also straight edge so hearing about one night stands, drugs, and drinking excessively is a bit annoying.

 

[cerebedlam]

Yeah, I figured that's where you were coming from. Admittedly, I used to have the same attitude as you and probably just recently changed my position. I am now of the opinion that manufactured cheese (or disposable cheese like you said) can be enjoyed for what it is sometimes. I prefer my music raw, dirty, and untamed like a Robert Johnson song, but I'd be lying if I said I sometimes don't succumb to the catchiness inherent in contemporary pop. Like a piece of bubble gum I'll chew it, spit it out, and throw it away, and always resort back to the type of music that no matter what era it was produced, it retains those timeless qualities that I consider "music worthwhile."

The last song in the mainstream that I cared for at all was that 'New York' song, with Alicia Keys and Jay Z...Probably was back somewhere around 1998 before I'd find another...There's plenty catchy melody lines in the music of indie-style bands like Black Mountain, Progressive Rock like Porcupine Tree, or even Power Metal like Brainstorm...One does not need to go to radio for a melodic fix.

 

[redbaron]

I care for rhythm and the groove of a song more than anything else. Listening to a drum machine (or drummer) go boom-boom-BAP boom-boom-BAP in 4/4 is mind-numbing.

Listening to or playing in and out of the music being created. Playing and hearing in time signatures that stretch the imagination and push the boundaries of physical and mental ability...that is what music is about to me.

I can listen to some songs every single day and never get tired of them. Because the song is not just a song, it's a collaboration of musicians who can feel the groove. The result is a song with it's own feeling. The MUSIC creates the feeling. Some people might get off on a sexy drop or a catchy hook, but ask them about those songs in a year or two. It gets called, 'overplayed' or, 'outdated'.

Outdated because the latest fad the song was a part of has now faded, so the song is no longer interesting to them.

All I can say is, I hate musical genres and I hate the 'dead' sound of not just mainstream, but most music I hear.

 

[opheliaesque]

I SEE WHAT YOU DID THARE, OP.

Don't mind either way. I tend to listen to less mainstream music, but occasionally I don't mind
Lady Gaga or -- uh, that call me maybe song.

 

[oprah winfrey]

Because it can be so simple and stupid that it's refreshing. Sometimes I get tired of listening to obscure crap.

 

[Vidi]

I like past mainstream music from 20th century till approx. 13th century if that counts. This millennium's mainstream doesn't do much for me; although to be fair, I don't listen to it often enough even by chance... but what I heard of it around, makes me compulsively search for some wooden surface to knock thrice not to jinx my luck

 

[Meer]

You don't get a medal at the end of your life for being super indie.

Some of it is okay. Most is just fun to listen to for the arrangements n stuff.

I'm looking forward to being old and hearing some carly rae whatsherface song in a grocery store.

 

[Hadoblado]

I don't have any numbers to back my claim, but isn't hating mainstream music a mainstream or semi-mainstream position? Anywhere on the internet you go, people go to great lengths to point out just how much they hate the Beibster or gaga or w/e. I'd understand if it were a meme, but people aren't even being clever in their declaration of hate for these pop icons.

If it is the concept of blind adherence to a social norm that so frustrates people, wouldn't a better measure of this be people listening to music that they are exposed to, as opposed to listening to particular successful artists?

 

[walfin]

I like bagpipes, Esperanto songs and easy listening music.

Not sure if the former 2 are what you'd consider mainstream.

 

[cerebedlam]

I don't have any numbers to back my claim, but isn't hating mainstream music a mainstream or semi-mainstream position? Anywhere on the internet you go, people go to great lengths to point out just how much they hate the Beibster or gaga or w/e. I'd understand if it were a meme, but people aren't even being clever in their declaration of hate for these pop icons.

If it is the concept of blind adherence to a social norm that so frustrates people, wouldn't a better measure of this be people listening to music that they are exposed to, as opposed to listening to particular successful artists?

It isn't any specific knowledge of the artists' 'mainstream status' which repels and offends the taste of musical 'elitists' or 'snobs', like myself...It's the sound of the music itself which is so offensive to our sense of artistic integrity and intelligence...For us, it has NOTHING to do with rebelling against the mainstream, and EVERYTHING to do with disrespecting cheap 'commerce' subtly disguising itself as 'art'...

I personally have no idea what songs are currently on the Top 40 list of national hits...But, you could play me any of the tunes from that list, without me knowing who the band or singer of that song is, and I would detest the vast majority of those selections...The simplistic, safe, trite, pedantic, formulaic nature of the music is ultimately what's the turn off for me...And, I can count on the 'mainstream' to fail me this way, unequivocally...each and every time.

 

[Vidi]

I don't have any numbers to back my claim, but isn't hating mainstream music a mainstream or semi-mainstream position?

Interesting, and what does it say about mainstream music then? Nothing complimentary I believe.

On the other hand there should be, I imagine, good songs and music produced to the higher standard, but they do not necessarily happen to be on the same wavelengh with every listener.

 

[Drokens]

For me, it's mostly a question of lyrical content and variety of sounds. These are the two qualities I find most lacking in "mainstream" or pop music.

Some indie bands are doing something interesting. They're taking the catchy (addictive) qualities of pop music but using more psychedelic and varying sounds. The repetitive, electronic sound of artists such as Lady Gaga and Kesha really grate on my short attention span. Thirty seconds pass and I tire of it.

However, lack of technical talent or musicianship has never bothered me. I don't care for a lot of classical music because I still experience a singularity of sound. Sure, there's lots of instruments and the composition is complex, but the overall aesthetic content of the music can often remain unchanged (and go on for a long time!). There's a certain refinement and blending of sounds that I find superior to the one-noted quality of a lot of music, especially the electronic variety. This of coarse is subjective (disclaimer, as if we didn't know). I offer this up as an example of catchy music with varying sounds (And St. Vincent may very well be mainstream):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw7UeOxTGuM

Notice the entrance of flutes and string instruments mid song, then the smacking sounds of saxophones (I think), then the piercing guitar solo ending in chaotic dissonance. THIS keeps my attention. Shit, her lyrics even hit on potentially sexual topics. "I spent the summer on my back" It just remains ambiguous rather than giving you a giant, lyrical sex slap.

Of coarse, this is hardly a problem confined only to pop music. If you sample many of the artists on an "indie" site such as pitchfork, you'll soon discover a large amount of bands who are just as unvarying in sound as typical mainstream music. Yet somehow this is more hip?

I think many of us have already summed it up. INTPs don't typically care about popularity of music, but content, whatever that preferred content may be. I'm in this camp, although I may be INFP (probably not).