What is 'good' music?

Originally posted by Punkyhermy
I am honestly sickened by those who make a point to stick their little noses up in the air when musicians whom they don't take so favorably are mentioned, going so far as to labeling them without hesitation, "bad music."

Fact of the matter is this. just because the sound of something doesn't appeal to you, doesn't mean its necessarily inferior. Music is versatile. But then so are the tastes of many fellow people inhabiting this earth. The quality of music goes above and beyond a simple, "rock is better than pop" argument. 🙄

I generally dont judge a song based on its genre, or even who perfroms it, what makes a song "good" for me, is that it resonates to something Im feeling at that time, or even just something I feel in general.
There can be no definitive "good" song, because no song will ever mean a lot to everyone, and, by the same token, so song will ever not reach someone, in some way, even the most random, stupid song will be amusing to some people, and so will mean something to them.
Music is the expression of everything and anything a person can go through, so for every song, there are people who can relate to it, and understand it better than others.

Originally posted by Xirius
I generally dont judge a song based on its genre, or even who perfroms it, what makes a song "good" for me, is that it resonates to something Im feeling at that time, or even just something I feel in general.
There can be no definitive "good" song, because no song will ever mean a lot to everyone, and, by the same token, so song will ever not reach someone, in some way, even the most random, stupid song will be amusing to some people, and so will mean something to them.
Music is the expression of everything and anything a person can go through, so for every song, there are people who can relate to it, and understand it better than others.

but there is a difference between a good song and good music...

i can go out and have a few drinks...be in the mood for partying and think any old drivel is a good song if it makes me want to party....doesn't mean its good music though

Originally posted by Bardock42
For the lyrics thing, I believe the lyrics are an important part of a song, but not because of the message but just because the words use create their own sounds. Meaning, if you have different or no lyrics the Song will be different.

Then you are referring to vocals, not lyrics. Vocals are a sound, an instrument. Lyrics are words, the two are different.

-AC

Originally posted by jaden101
but there is a difference between a good song and good music...

i can go out and have a few drinks...be in the mood for partying and think any old drivel is a good song if it makes me want to party....doesn't mean its good music though

Originally posted by Xirius
Why doesnt it?
If that song gets a positive reaction from you, to me, that means it's good music.
True, you're drunk while you enjoy it, but there is always some factor which determines your mood at any time, and thus the type of music you'd enjoy.
The fact that you're drunk while enjoying the song, doesnt mean that your opinion of the song while sober is more correct, it only means that its a good song for you when your drunk, whereas other songs would be preferable while sober.
Neither is necessarily more correct, it just shows that different music reaches you while in different states of mind.

you're missing my point...musically many of them aren't good because they take very little musical talent to create...

you need to be good at something to do it well...that goes for anything in life...you need to be talented to create good music...so when a band or solo musician creates absolutely talentless music...you have to presume they have little or no talent

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
Yes, all you've said here is true (for some people). However, that isn't even opposed to the original point, so I'm not sure you're understanding the point in the first place.

Originally posted by Phat J
i understand the point, i just feel differently about it. your saying it wouldnt make a difference if a rapper was rapping about murdering someone or saying something meaningful and thats cool. i think it does change the music, you dont. whatever.

It factually doesn't change the music though. It's not opinion, Phat. It might change how you react to it or feel about it, but not the music itself.

If I rhymed over an instrumental beat directly taken from a Jurassic 5 song, I'm not changing the beat. The beat is exactly the same as it was when they used it.

-AC

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Then you are referring to vocals, not lyrics. Vocals are a sound, an instrument. Lyrics are words, the two are different.

-AC

But the lyrics put the vocals in a direction. You can't do the same vocals with different lyrics.

Originally posted by jaden101
you're missing my point...musically many of them aren't good because they take very little musical talent to create...

you need to be good at something to do it well...that goes for anything in life...you need to be talented to create good music...so when a band or solo musician creates absolutely talentless music...you have to presume they have little or no talent

Good music to me is simply music that inspires thought and feelings while listening while making want to keep listening because it sounds so good.

Originally posted by Bardock42
But the lyrics put the vocals in a direction. You can't do the same vocals with different lyrics.

You miss the point again, that still doesn't mean they affect or change the music. Just the way you perceive it.

-AC

Originally posted by Phat J
i understand the point, i just feel differently about it. your saying it wouldnt make a difference if a rapper was rapping about murdering someone or saying something meaningful and thats cool. i think it does change the music, you dont. whatever.

I think you are thinking too widely about the term 'music'.

Music- sounds.

Lyrics- words.

Song- both.

Originally posted by Xirius
If something doesnt take a lot of talent to make, that doesnt mean it isnt good.
Just because it doesnt take a really good musician to play a certain song doesnt mean it isnt good.
Sometimes the most simple or basic songs are the most powerful.

we're debating what "good music" is...not what makes a song good or not

hence for music to be good...it has to be good musically...

alot of beatles fans argue that their songs are good for numerous reasons...but their music was actually poor and extremely basic from a musical talent perspective

perhaps they were better musicians than their simple songs suggest but then thats a matter of being poor song writers

i know alot of extremely talented musicians but they will only ever play in pub bands and do jimi hendrix covers til the end of their days because they dont have a song writing bone in their body

now when song writing talent and musical talent combine into one person...then truely great music and great songs are born and this will tend to shine more than corporate marketing ever could

actually...something related to this debate really gets on my ****

when you see peoples online profiles ala myspace, bebo etc and under the "music" section they put "i like anything"

no you dont...stop lying...infact without you even typing another word i will name everyone you like

coldplay, kanye west, the kooks, kelly clarkson...generally whatever i'm ****ing told cause i have absolutely no opinions of my own about anything ever and never will and my future husband will probably smack me about a bit...the end

Originally posted by BackFire
Good music to me is simply music that inspires thought and feelings while listening while making want to keep listening because it sounds so good.

*nods*

haha.I know the feeling.

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
It factually doesn't change the music though. It's not opinion, Phat. It might change how you react to it or feel about it, but not the music itself.

If I rhymed over an instrumental beat directly taken from a Jurassic 5 song, I'm not changing the beat. The beat is exactly the same as it was when they used it.

-AC

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
I think you are thinking too widely about the term 'music'.

Music- sounds.

Lyrics- words.

Song- both.

music - sounds (everything thats in the song, including the lyrics and the beat)

I think that it matters less what the lyrics are and more how they are delivered. This delves into the "Vocals" range of it, where are you are looking at someone's voice like its an instrument.
But poor word choice can detract from songs, as can poor vocals. But when done correctly they can add a great deal.
But too say lyrics are most important, or a nessesity is ignorant.

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
You miss the point again, that still doesn't mean they affect or change the music. Just the way you perceive it.

-AC

If we talk about the meaning of the words then I agree.

But the vocals are part of the music, aren't they? And they depend on the choice of words to an extend.

Then if you want to travel that road, change the lyrics and the vocal SOUND may change because the singer is saying different words. The SOUND would be changing the music, not the words.

It's not a difficult point to grasp.

-AC

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Then if you want to travel that road, change the lyrics and the vocal SOUND may change because the singer is saying different words. The SOUND would be changing the music, not the words.

It's not a difficult point to grasp.

-AC

exactly...example being guns n roses dont cry...there are 2 different versions with only the lyrics changed...they are played the same and sung the same and thus dont change the song

they may change how people percieve and feel about the song...but not the song itself