Well well - who's looking down on other people now?

It's not looking down. He makes a fair point, one I understand. I just disagree with Gem from a practical point of view. Music of 'higher quality' isn't always desirable in every context. Every genre and type of music can have a purpose. Most of us here know meditation is conducive to spiritual growth, and superior to many mental exercises to 'cleanse' one's self, but that doesn't make the other ones irrelevant or meaningless, nor does it mean we can't say meditation is of higher quality..

I'm just arguing for a bit of pragmatism here..:D

What an understanding and equanimitable attitude.

I appreciate that.

You may make it into the arrogant flaws of Gem, and maybe you are not looking down, but trying to cut down, but if you have nothing significant to say about the aesthetics and merit of modern music, or the lack thereof, then it is indeed you who intends to denigrate a personal subject.

I'm so glad that you recognise that.






I have never seen anything appreciable about EDM, but as you can see I am a music snob. My father listened to classical music and I was brought up with all the great symphonies, which have intricacy and depth. I was a preteen-tween during the disco era and a teen during the 80's, so I have seen the necessity for musical finess gradually replaced by gadgets. Of course, with EDM, the sound continues to play even when the 'performer' isn't touching the equipment, so pre-recorded sound is used rather than the moment and instrument is touched. Because my ear is attuned to nuance of timber dynamics and the deft subtlety of the human touch, EDM, lacking all that, sounds like a crude parody of music.




If G&R 'Sweet child of mine' was a fine Italian pasta made with loving care, the techno version would be a TV dinner.






As a comparison, there has always been a genre for dancing, and these songs rarely have meaningful lyrics, but when the music is 'played' (as opposed to being 100% produced) it still requires finesse. For example, the jazz genre Swing was only dance music, but required skilled musicians, and the genre can't be denegrated to utter triviality by clever technical production techniques. That Genre could only be enhanced by modern technology by bands such as Caravan Palace because you can't pass it off without a soul.

Gem,

I think a lot of electronic music allows people to let go & forget about there worries & stresses.

As you mention classical, I have to say that that to me is almost completely inane. I find little of value in it, it does nothing for me generally. The exception is film sound tracks.

That answers that.

And I have a lot to say about modern music, and music in general. I just thought it interesting when you made it about the listener, especially considering your views on other topics. Sorry about my pointing it out - what else did I expect.

And frankly, I don't think every song needs to be some soul-searching epic exploration of the depths of human meaning. Isn't that, by definition, a rather narrow inquiry?

Being human IS being many things - and I think ALL our expressions are a direct reflection of that (yes, even yours), to be celebrated or denigrated as appropriate - which in all times and all places will not be the same thing - but always worthy of examination, and appreciated for what it is.

Atman - Spirit

It's simple and easy on the ears, that's why it's popular. No one wants to listen to Mozart whilst window shopping for some new trainers.

I don't kick back to Tchaikovsky with a copita of sherry either, but it is objective virtuosity.

They only play music in malls to drive sales by inciting consumer mania. No one is actually listening to the music because that would mean people are aware. They need us to be mindless consumers and near enough everything media is part of that.