Options
Can you like a song without liking the artist?
pi r squared
Posts: 4,272 Forum Member
✭✭✭
A few months back I played a trick on one of my more 'music snob' friends. He was a big Dum Dums fan in their day and the first time I heard McFly's Obviously it reminded me for some reasons of Can't Get You Out of My Thoughts (a great tune). So, I started raving to him about the "brand new Dum Dums single" that was on its way, and gave him the MP3 of Obviously to 'check it out'. He couldn't get enough of it, it was played in his car, straight in his MP3 player, and off he went to tell others about the Dum Dums' return.
Obviously, I had to end the trick sometime, so I broke the news to him a few days later that he had infact been listening to McFly, the 'mini-Busted losers with no talent' he'd been slagging off just days before. Oddly enough, he now hates the song, but I don't get how people can be so fickle. The song hasn't changed, all that has is my friend's knowledge of who sings it - so how can he go from love to hate?
I guess what I'm trying to ask is - even though you hate, say, Busted (the most popular band to hate at the mo!), does that mean you will never like a Busted song? Even if, if that same song were sung by someone different, you would lap[ it up?
Obviously, I had to end the trick sometime, so I broke the news to him a few days later that he had infact been listening to McFly, the 'mini-Busted losers with no talent' he'd been slagging off just days before. Oddly enough, he now hates the song, but I don't get how people can be so fickle. The song hasn't changed, all that has is my friend's knowledge of who sings it - so how can he go from love to hate?
I guess what I'm trying to ask is - even though you hate, say, Busted (the most popular band to hate at the mo!), does that mean you will never like a Busted song? Even if, if that same song were sung by someone different, you would lap[ it up?
0
Comments
I don't think I could ever like a Busted or McFly song.
I like Cry me a river by Justin Timberlake but I don't like him or any of his other songs.
A few years ago, he was the biggest pop music (Kylie in particular) fan, until I introduced him to some of Metallica's slower numbers (Orion, and Nothing Else Matters) one night, during a maraton gaming (well, drinking and pizza) session.
When he asked who it was, he didn't believe me until I showed him the CD covers.
Within a week, he had borrowed everything I had by them, as he "Couldn't get that bloody tune (Orion)" out of his head.
He now owns the entire back catalogue, and the 'S&M' DVD is rarely out of his DVD player.
He still can't get me to listen to Kylie though.
It's amazing how he loved it while he thought it was somebody else - I mean, that isn't just slight music cynicism, that smacks of complete music snobbery.
but i love the song
roll with it
However I love the song 'Baby Can I Hold You'
Of course, it's the Tracy Chapman original that I love - NOT Boyzone's Travesty!
I won't deny I've gone through my own musical snobbery phase too in the past but really that's just like cutting off your own nose to spite your face.
I cant be bothered with this not liking a song just because of who it is. Ultimately its the music that matters, the artist should be second.
I disagree. Its a complete no brainer suddenly changing your mind and is total snobbery. It also makes the person look daft.
Right, sorry. Aaaaaanyway. It's amazing how if you don't know the name of the artist behind a song, but then find out it's Savage Garden or something, it completely puts you off.
There's two different issues here - people who don't give credit where it's due to certain songs because they are performed by artists who have no credibility, and those who cannot look beyond a certain genre. Both are completely wrong.
Obviously by McFly is a great song - there, I've said it. The worst artists in the world have come up with great records (Don't Let Go by David Sneddon, Toxic by Britney Spears, and the odd song here and there by S Club 7 and Steps being great examples). A good song is a good song is a good song, basically. I take the point about buying into an artist, almost a 'brand' as such, but if we only liked songs written by people whose public persona we like, then we'd be stuck, because I suspect if we met the vast majority of celebrities, we'd be highly disappointed. Listen without prejudice. Or try to, anyway, I know it's difficult.
And loser indie kids (or those who are only into one genre) who refuse to acknowledge pop are just as bad. Sure, Franz Ferdinand, Mull Historical Society and Ash are producing great tracks, and the likes of Boards of Canada are wonderfully obscure. But manufactured pop like Avril Lavigne can be just as good. I'll never be able to understand people who can only like one type of music.
Gary Glitter will be comforted by that sentiment.
Arguments against bands like Busted tend to range from the bizarre to the banal. "They're shit" - constructive criticism or what! "They're manufactured" - not too sure how this affects the end result; surely it makes it more refined? "Their songs sound the same" - please show me how Sleeping With the Light On and Air Hostess sound the same... "They're full of themselves" - yep, we all hate the Beatles after their 'bigger than Jesus' claim(!); "They don't write their own songs" - if the end result is good, does it matter who wrote it?
It is worrying that people are so wrapped up in street cred and appearing cool that they overlook some truly brilliant songs simply 'cos of who they're sung by!
But if the reason for not liking the artist is because of something they've done/said that I found distressing, I could never enjoy listening to one of their songs. Just as an example, I couldn't enjoy listening to a Gary Glitter song no matter how much I liked it. I wouldn't say it's the SONG I dislike though, just that it would remind me of things I prefer not to have to think about...if that makes sense?
It works the opposite way too - I can admire an artist but not like every single one of their songs.
But before you knew that did you like their songs ?
I guess I can see a logic in not buying (and therefore financially supporting) someone because of these sorts of reasons (well - the IRA bit anyway).
On the whole I have found that especially as I get older, I am less and less aware of who the hell is performing any particular song, and even less aware of their politics etc, so I tend to judge a song on whether or not I like the actual song itself.
If I sit and think about it there are loads of bands/artists that I don't like as people - but to me a good ditty is a good ditty.
(PS - in case you are wondering I am 102 and my real name is C Montgomery Burns
Personally, I tend to dislike most 'artists', mainly because they spout middle-of-the-road opinions on issues which they know nothing about, other than that they have been taught by 'The Sun' or 'Telegraph' (depending on whether they are pop puppets or indie gods).
However, if I like a track then I like a track and if I don't then I don't. Case in point? Britney's 'Toxic' is the best example that comes to mind; can't stand the girl or her 'music', yet 'Toxic' has an addictive quality that I love!
I think we do tend to forget that it is rarely the artists that actually write the songs, or compose the music or even perform on the tracks (thanks to digital manipulation and talented producers
But if you heard a song (say a mate played it to you) and you had no idea who it was by but really really liked it - would you then go off it (and never listen to it again) just because you found out it was by an artist you don't like ?
If you really enjoyed listening to it before you knew, isn't that cutting off your nose to spite your face ?
(By the way - I am not arguing or saying you are wrong - just interested
It can be a real shock when you hear a new tune and like it only to find out it's by somebody you consider manufactured or tacky.
Case in point, couldn't stand Robbie Williams or Take That but adored Angels for weeks before I found out it was him.
I often wonder sometimes if its possible the other way round. Ie to like an artist ,but to hate their music?. It always seems to me that if someone doesnt like the music, then they also dislike the artist as well. Ive often wondered why this is.
Anyway, I didnt like Robbie Williams, never have done much, but have liked most of his solo work. especially his 'angels, millenium' period.
Conversly, I dont like the cheeky girls music much at all, but quite like them as people, I find them funny and endearing.
eg on popworld
Simon 'Monica, what would you like to find in your xmas stocking'
Monica.. 'Pens, I'd like some pens'.
(You had to be there, surreally funny)