First you hate it then you don't
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One of the interesting things about new songs that get posted on MOG is the 'first listen' activity that forces us to look past the innate musical appreciation trait in which 'first listens' don't tell us whether or not we really like the song. For example, in my case first listens are often unappreciated, or I find myself fidgeting and wanting to put something on that I know I enjoy. Music I enjoy stirs something deep deep down, and as with the desire for anything that meets a need, I'm unwilling to allow the new upstart into that sacred area of my brain occupied by music that has already earned its ability to meet that need.
And so as we tour the halls of MOG, opening this door and that, we obligingly make approving comments because perhaps a piece or two really can be appreciated, if not wholly then certainly on a surface level. But sometimes the initial play just doesn't make the grade. In such cases maybe we avoid comment, or we assume the role of critic. That's all good and part of the MOG experience.
What's ironic is that some time later in a completely different circumstance and different context, that same unappreciated tune will show up and we go ape over it.
These scenarios end up having me getting more confused while at the same time gaining more understanding about what music is in the first place. The question of what is music is a life long quest for me. Some tunes I start to like because they get played over and over like an incessant FM playlist, beating me into submission. In other cases perhaps there was enough of an initial draw from the song in the first place to motivate me to keep trying. Then one day I realize it's one of my favorite songs.
Somewhat related to this is the bizarre notion that music need not be melodic to be liked. For example:
Leon Russel
Bob Dylan
Janis Joplin
Peter Hammel (Van Der Graff Generator)
Of the above list, I'm a huge fan of Leon Russell; can't handle Dylan at all even now that he's icon status; am so so on Janis; but love the works of Peter Hammel.
Such are the mysteries of the human mind and its ability to interpret as pleasurable that which initially fails to evoke a pleasurable response. Such is the mystery of music and its ability through sheer tenacity and repetition, to mold and shape our very world view as we give into not just the music, but also the beliefs, characteristics, and even the creative senses of its creator.
I'm starting to believe that most music is good and that the initial experience is just a door we enter to new experiences far beyond the music itself. There is a type of music I don't even allow myself to explore, but perhaps that's another post. (hint: guttural) I didn't used to think this way, but then MOG happened, and after two years of it am finally becoming more open to the offerings much less compatible to those that I offer.
As Martha Stewart says, it's a good thing.
Comments (5)
The best example of what you're speaking of is the song posted. When my son first played PT for me, I thought he was insane for "listening to that crap" ... a couple months later, I walked by his room where he had PT blaring and I asked him "who created that awesome music". He gave me "the look" and said, "you said this was crap". UGH!!
Some times, with me, it's a matter of hearing something a few times.
Some times, however, it's a matter of my mood or my drama level at the time.
Good post ... brings out a lot of thought! :)
Uhhhm, some very profound musings there, professor, er, Capn ... tell me, do you moonlight as a shrink, or a stand-up philosopher? Perhaps music is to the ear what a Rorschach ink blot is to the eye.
I happen to think the human mind is far too complex to be whittled down to the interpretation of a Rorschach ink blot. I'm definitely not of that ilk and pop psychology just bugs me.
Besides, you can get real, flowing meaning from music, whereas the ink blot remains static and eventually fades.
But there I go again. "Stand up philosopher" indeed! I love it!
I agree with you about listening to Dylan but there is no doubt of his songwriting genius. Most of his work that I really like is when performed by other artist (ex. The Byrds, Hendrix). Seen you brought up first listen any opinion on the new U2. I have heard two songs from it and have not been impressed. Usually for me continually hearing a song on the radio kills my like of it unless it was one that I found so enjoyable right of the bat that I have already played it to death myself. One of these days I must get some PT.
Timing is very important with music, as it is with everything else. What I usually reject on first listen, I reject on the second one as well, so I do tend to go with my first impression, but even like that, timing plays a big role.