Music for the masses

[Ron Green]

My view is that music is popular not because of something good in it, but because of something marketable in it. Music is judged as "good" because of a quality that stands critical acclaim and the test of time, and rarely has to do with how well it sells. Any time good music has been popular (and there have been several examples throughout history), it's been because of some extra-musical factor, not because of the quality of the music. Agree? Disagree? 'Splain it to me.

[sundog]

1. IIII'm taking a riiiide with my best friend

:7

[Coventina]

11. IIIIII hope he neeeever lets me down again....

:D

[Touchdown]

12. Promises me I'm as safe as houses...

:D

[Coventina]

13. As long as I remember who's wearing the trousers...

:party:

[Touchdown]

16. IIII... hope...he never let's me down again...

:crazy:

[DeepGreen]

2. You got it !!!!

No question!
It has been that way for a long time. I remember
in the 60s, I never listened to the "popular" stations -
rarely any good music there. Now the underground FM stations
were great!

[Ron Green]

5. I remember AM radio in the 60's was playing very diverse kinds of popular

music: On one station, during one program, I heard Buffalo Springfield, Jimi Hendrix and Small Faces. That would never happen now, since different genres are carefully put into categories and marketed separately.

[DeepGreen]

14. I don't remember that kind of mix in central Ohio

Where did you live in the 60s?

[Ron Green]

15. This was in southern Louisiana, probably a Lake Charles or

Lafayette station. 1968.

[SKKY]

3. I agree to a certain point, but popular songs always have that...

...one good "hook" that gets me. Take Third Eye Blind for example. Crap songs, crap singer, but man, they have some catch-ass hooks in their songs.

[Ron Green]

4. Is Third Eye Blind "pop" because they are popular? I mean, do they sell

lots of records? I've heard of them, but they don't seem to be in the same league with Britney Spears. Or are you referring to "pop" as a style of music rather than as popular?

[SKKY]

6. Kinda both I suppose Ron...

...I've never understood the difference between Pop music, and Popular music.

[Ron Green]

8. I think that's what I'm exploring here. There was a thread about "pop"

music, and I started thinking maybe it's a genre, rather than simply music that sells lots of records (or downloads, or whatever). But I think it's important for people to know that certain music that has been very popular throughout history has also had the quality that has stood the test of time. Were the Beatles popular because of the quality of their songwriting and playing, or was it because the teenagers of America were ready for their presentation and marketing?

[SKKY]

10. I guess I equate Pop music with what I hear on the Radio...

...and occasionally see on TRL when I surf past it. But, you make a good point. Some very un-pop music groups (R.E.M, Nine Inch Nails, Modest Mouse, etc) have been Pop at one point or another because they were so Popular. It's an interesting catch 22.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. I've listened to some spectacular pieces of music

that very few people have heard because it isn't considered 'marketable' or 'mainstream'. All of it was as good as any of the tripe on the radio, and much of it was better. Thank Goodness for the internet where you can find these gems!

[Ron Green]

9. And you also bring up the issue of the quality of stuff played on the

radio. I think we have established a point at which people like music they understand, and they understand whatever is played over and over in the media. This has been happening, I guess, since the early days of radio.