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Saturday, July 25, 2009

As We Digress: Music


Do you think music defines you, or do you define what music is to you?

Lately I have been experimenting with different genres of music, and I feel rather attracted to a specific genre that I never knew existed. And I think, would I have loved it more than my other favorite genre had I known it at the time? I didn't have an answer before.
And I didn't have to.
And I wouldn't have had to.
But it's just a question that dangles in front of you and it makes you wonder (if you will at all): How much time you are willing to spend wondering if you should answer, or not answer, wondering if there is an answer, or if there isn't is completely up to your busy or un-busy schedule, is up to how much time you are willing to spend on a question like this, and up to how seriously you take your taste in music and how highly (or un-highly) you think of this incredible form of art.

Is it the lyrics (if you listen to music with lyrics) that attract you? Or is it the actual formation of music that blows you away? Or is it both? If so, then which leads to the other? Is it the lyrics that would have a song blow you away? Or is it the composition of music that makes the lyrics divine to you?

Do you think music should come in themes or is it some sort of distorting the raw, beautiful material that's already there? How do you think music should be categorized: according to genre? Content? Lyrics? Loveability? Popularity? Unpopularity? Or should it be un-categorized?

Do you think there's unsuitable material for musical or lyrical incorporation? Musical, like adding unorthodox sounds, like frogs, flies, mosquitoes? Using rather normal objects to make sounds and incorporate them in music?
Are there any limits to what a song should or shouldn't talk about? And if so, then why there should be limits? After all, creation is infinite, and there is no stopping it, so why would you not listen to a song merely about pancakes? Pencils? Picture frames? And the more important question is, do you have an open mind to listen to it without labeling it or judging it by saying it's stupid, or meaningless? You know, this might actually hurt an artist. If you don't like it say so politely, and walk away...

In case you wonder whether or not I have answers to all of these questions, well, I do. And in case you didn't, then no problem.
I only have one more thing to say... I feel sorry for anyone who fails to be in love with music, the arts, and the universe.

And for art, even sky is not the limit.