I’m way overdue for another principle, so I’d better get to work.
The next few principles are closely related and will seem like variations on a musical theme. As a matter of fact, this first point is going to seem kind of weak. But, once all of them are together they’ll make sense because they need each other for support. Each individual one will have weak points that could be easy to undermine. In fact, this one may be the weakest of the three. But, together they should provide a cohesive and strong argument as to why they should be stated.
Principle #2: Just Because a Song Is New Doesn’t Automatically Make It “Good”
This one, to me, is the most obvious of the three. After all, we are already preconditioned and programmed to think that new is always better. I’m also not going to disagree with that viewpoint – which is a direct contradiction of this principle itself. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a reason to make any new music if that were the case.
The interesting point that is never discussed is the fact that we are also, as part of the human condition, reflexively opposed to change. As much as we say we like “new” when music is involved, more often than not, we have a tendency to automatically reject new music, at least initially, unless we are already familiar with the artist or the genre.
In other words, we like what we like and are usually more than willing to hear more of the same. That’s what makes it easy to narrow-cast on satellite and mass market radio. It, of course, is one of the theories behind Pandora’s success. If you like one artist, you’ll probably like another in the same genre. There’s usually not much thinking or analysis involved on the part of the listener – at least on the surface. A lifetime of condition and response went into those subconscious preferences. (I’m drawing on my own experiences for this information as well as observing and speaking about music with other people.)
The choices that listeners make about the music they like is often hard to change. In fact, if you ask someone why they listen to a certain type of music, you may get a series of comments about what they dislike first and then what they like – if you can get someone to actually voice their preferences. But I’m also sure that you know someone who is stuck in a musical timeframe and not crazy about today’s sounds. Although they don’t and probably can’t say it, they’re stuck waiting for some style of music to return (50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s….). Of course, it can’t. But, for the most part, it’s still there. Most music is built on the “shoulders” of prior music. Musical artists often identify influences from the past.
I’ll pick it up from here next time.
Until then, take care of yourself, and take care of each other!
Peace,
Q
