It surprises you when someone dislikes this band/artist

[mac56]

All these good/bad band/artist threads made me wonder this. When someone mentions a specific band and/or artist, and says he or she can't stand them, are you completely surprised? Which band or artist cause that reaction?

For me the obvious choice is the Beatles. I'm genuinely, profoundly stunned when I meet someone who doesn't like them.

Beyond that, I'd have to say Bruce Springsteen. I like some of his stuff much more than the rest, but he's put out such an amazing array of music over the years that I can't fathom making a blanket statement of dislike. For better or worse, his heart's always been in it. I am sincerely baffled when people say they don't like the man.

Todd Rundgren falls into the same category, for many of the same reasons.

Of course, that's just me. YMMV. Are there bands/artists that leave you feeling that way? Discuss.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

1. Time to be surprised because ...

I don't like the Beatles either . I only like George Martin . Okay I like " Eleanor Rigby " and thats all . :: ducks from flying boots ::

[NashVegas]

2. For the Most Part, No

In many cases, it's not just about the music itself, but also cultural identification.

When radio became heavily formatted into separate niche groups - starting with the mid-70s explosion of FM and the anti-disco movement is when people started dividing into separate camps.

[mac56]

4. I think you're right

But I think it started well before the 70s. More like the late 60s and the advent of progressive/underground/freeform rock. There was, of course, an FM radio boom at that time too.

[NashVegas]

5. True, With a Qualifier

The FM stations were there, but they weren't hugely successful until a) they uber-tightened their formats and b) most baby boomers had jobs and disposable income. And although the boomers had rejected the likes of Frank Sinatra, it wasn't until Disco that there was ever an actual attack on a whole genre by that generation.

[mac56]

6. I think you nailed it with "b".

nm

[jpgray]

3. Beach boys

Like someone who says "the Beatles/Pink Floyd suck", they've only heard the overplayed, cliched bits of the catalogue and not the whole. There is something for *everyone* in the Beach Boys' music.

[Squeech]

7. If pressed, I dislike Springsteen

I liked the first two albums and the song "Born to Run," but nothing much after that. I haven't been as moved by the supposed soul searching and family stuff on records like Nebraska and The River as by the giddy exploratory word spew of the Asbury Park era, and I don't think he *rocks* so much as swims in retro tropes.

But that's just me; and, having been so disappointed in The River, I confess to not having heard any of his albums since then in depth.

I know why people don't like Todd Rundgren; he repeats himself, and his song topics are often well beyond most people's life experience or education (who else, other than maybe Andy Partridge, would have written a song about Lysistrata?). But I like him just fine. And I'd note that the same people who have a problem with Rundgren will likely have a problem with XTC.

Actually I'm always surprised and delighted when I meet anybody who *agrees* with me about the music I really like! One of the coolest things about DU is that it uses Frank Zappa as an avatar...

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Some of Yours, Mac

The whole "hate the Beatles" thing completely eludes me. Anyone who pays the least amount of attention to rock and pop music should be respectful of what they meant to the rest of the genre for 40 years. Hating them is not only surprising, it's stunning.

I really rarely hear anyone "dis" Todd. He may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's rare to hear anyone who actively dislikes him. If they did, then yes, i'd be surprised to hear that.

I'm actually one of the Springsteen detractors. I don't hate him, but his appeal escapes me. So, i'm not surprised when i hear someone dislikes him. It makes me feel less alone in my view.

In one of the threads, somebody mentioned The Cars. I found that surprising. They may not be someone's taste, but i have a hard time understanding what there is to dislike that much.

There are others, of course. But, with one exception i'll go with your examples and this most recent one.
The Professor

[jmowreader]

9. Springsteen is a Country Theme Rocker

Look at the themes Springsteen sings of. Getting drunk and shooting someone. Being poor and downtrodden. How many thousands of country songs are about one of, or both of, those two themes?

[mac56]

10. Really?

Recording 32 years? 17 or 18 albums? All about those themes? Can we possibly sweep a bigger generalization? Sheesh.:eyes:

[Philostopher]

11. Well, of course, when you deal with Todd Rundgren

You have to account for the fact that other than perhaps Philadelphia (from whence he came) and the West Coast (where he lived for at least twenty years), radio stations have pretty much ignored Rundgren other than the few singles off 'Something ... Anything?' for the past thirty years. If you heard Todd, mostly it was at the hands of a well-meaning friend. Of course, some of them (us) can be remarkably tenacious in attempting to sell people on the man, but even then I doubt many of us have driven our friends to hate Todd.

In my experience, though, there are few people who outright hate Todd's music -- and if they do, they're people who've only heard Love Is The Answer and Hello, It's Me thousands of times, somehow. And if that's all the Todd you ever heard, I'd understand how he'd wear thin. Most of the people I've known who didn't like him were simply ambivalent.

I agree with Mac that the esoterica may put some off, but I don't think people generally hear enough Todd over the course of their radio listening to hate him. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd -- another story entirely. While I don't hate Pink Floyd, I'll be happy if I die without ever hearing The Wall or anything on it again as long as I live. Same goes for the fourth Zeppelin album.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. I Buy That About Todd

Actually, though, WXRT here in Chicago played a LOT of Todd and Utopia throughout 80's and 90's. It's the only radio station on which i ever heard Caravan, Out of Control, or Crybaby. (Among others, but those are among my faves.)

But, i think you and i agree, that Todd's either a "love him or ignore him" guy, rather than love/hate.

Besides, mac and i get along quite well, so i had to criticize something in his post. I agreed with the sentiment and most of his examples. Didn't want him getting full of himself, so i found something to argue about. Just had to do it!
The Professor

[mac56]

17. hee hee!

High praise indeed, Prof.

:hi:

[kmla]

12. Yeah. The Butthole Surfers....

...doesn't that name give you a warm, fuzzy feelin'?

Just yokin'.

I don't understand people who don't like U2. Or the Beatles. Or REM. Or The Clash. Just because you sell lots of CD's doesn't mean you are a sellout. To me for the most part it means people have accepted your music and your message, and are happy to reward you by paying money to buy it and listen. And, conversely, just because you are on an independent label, that doesn't increase your talent level or likability. It just means you haven't caught a break.

THAT being said, EVERYONE has different reasons for liking what music they do. I don't hold anybody's tastes against them.

Just wanna get along...

[Kamika]

13. I kinda understand ppl that don't like U2

Ok first off I am the biggest U2 fan ever.

Ok

Now that I said that I want to say that it takes awhile to understand U2.. If you only hear their singles you will think they suck, and rigtly so since their singles since popmart has been crappy..


You have to listen like hell to their other osngs(edit: cool eh?) and lyrics to love them

[vi5]

14. Don't like the Beatles or Springsteen...

The appeal of both completely eludes me. I don't hate them, but I don't get the rabidness and insecurity of their fans that they have to be confrontation with people who don't like them "WHAT??!?!?! WHY DON"T YOU LIKE THEM!?!?!?!".

I can appreciate both from a cultural perspective in that they both took forms of music and popularized them (I say through watering them down and putting an attractive white face on them) and that is SOMETHING I guess.

But after many, many attempts to listen to and familiarize myself with both artists entire catalogs, I'm still left shrugging my shoulders and being thoroughly unmoved.

[jpgray]

18. I'd wager you like one Beatles song--maybe you just haven't heard it

What bands do you really like?

[grannylib]

15. Beatles, yeah...and early Fleetwood Mac (pre-1976) so many seem to

think the band started with the Fleetwood Mac album with Buckingham/Nicks debut.

[Rattlesnake]

19. Nope, doesn't suprise me one bit.

Everyone has his/her opinions. :)