What Do You Consider "Real Music?"

[MistressofRaven]

Originally Posted by InnyBinny

Anything with the intention of being music is real music. Goodness, what an awful term.

Under this heading of 'real music', more commonly known as 'music', there would be good and bad music. Most would consider something like modulating white noise to be a rather distasteful example of music, but for some incomprehensible reason there are a select few that do find meaningful messages amongst it - because that is what music is. An art form using the medium of sound. Art. That is the definition. Melody and rhythm are merely common elements, not at all ubiquitous in all music.

Every other definition of 'real music' is too narrow. That is what other nouns are for - the word 'song' is used to define music that contains lyrics, for example. But of course music can be something other than a subset of itself.

I don't actively listen to pop music. It's in the background, on the radio, but I don't listen to it. Most of the stuff today I don't find to be very good. Why do some people say that pop music is not real music? Because they don't like it. Because they are confusing 'bad music' with 'not music'.

The term 'real music' shouldn't exist. The first word is entirely redundant. Having 'real music' implies that there is 'fake music', which is completely ludicrous.

I agree with everything you said. I actually like quite a few dissonant sounding pieces of music.

[Fawkesfan1]

Originally Posted by InnyBinny

Anything with the intention of being music is real music. Goodness, what an awful term.

Under this heading of 'real music', more commonly known as 'music', there would be good and bad music. Most would consider something like modulating white noise to be a rather distasteful example of music, but for some incomprehensible reason there are a select few that do find meaningful messages amongst it - because that is what music is. An art form using the medium of sound. Art. That is the definition. Melody and rhythm are merely common elements, not at all ubiquitous in all music.

Every other definition of 'real music' is too narrow. That is what other nouns are for - the word 'song' is used to define music that contains lyrics, for example. But of course music can be something other than a subset of itself.

I don't actively listen to pop music. It's in the background, on the radio, but I don't listen to it. Most of the stuff today I don't find to be very good. Why do some people say that pop music is not real music? Because they don't like it. Because they are confusing 'bad music' with 'not music'.

The term 'real music' shouldn't exist. The first word is entirely redundant. Having 'real music' implies that there is 'fake music', which is completely ludicrous.

I agree with every thing that you've just said there. I haven't really listened to anything persay on the radio for quite some time, just some oldie stations and rock stations that tend to play music that I can tolerate. Most mainsteam stations... just play pop music and the like. And that stuff tends to give me a head ache .

[HPnerdproud95]

I think that the term "Real Music" is really the opinoin of whoever is talking. LIke for example i don't think that Rap is real music...but i do think Classical and Country are.
Now there many people who are going to disagree with me, again that's their opinion.

[FutureAuthor13]

In my opinion, the term "real music" can't really be applied to the different tastes and sounds of music out there: they're all real music, according to the people who like them and listen to them.

Personally, I try to keep my options open concerning music and try to listen to a variety of different styles of music often. I never say that something is not "real music", because, to someone else, it certainly will be.

[Hysteria]

Not sure about 'real music' but to me a band is only a 'real band' if they play musical instruments. It may be picky, but if a 'band' just sings, they can call themselves a group or whatever, but not a band.

[seikialice88]

Originally Posted by PureBloodGirl

I listen to pop music because a lot of my friends listen to it and it's just fun to listen to. I don't really consider it to be real music, though, because it's mainly sound effects and stuff being used to create the beat and all that. I will tell you one thing, though. Today's pop music is mostly garbage, but the older pop stuff is awesome. That's why I love pop music. Classic rocks!

IMO, real music is when you're using musical instruments, not sound effects and stuff.

Hip-Hop and Rap are not real music at all. No one is singing and it's filled with the sound effects as music and all that.

People consider pop music to be real music because it's the kind of music that's popular nowadays.

Thanks you for the post.

[Dobson]

1. What is real music in your opinion?

Music is songs (or any grouping of notes, rhythms, etc.) that have emotion. If you want to talk "songs", the kind you'd hear on the radio, then I'd say emotion has a lot to do with it...lyrics that mean something, music that is played on instruments, and vocals that don't need editing.

So if I wanted to sepereate and expand on each of those--lyrics that mean something are words that are put together that cohesively create a general message through experiences, statements, stories, etc. OR leave you with a strong, kind of unexplainable feeling.

Ok, you need instruments to make music. There's no debate here: A guitar is a musical instrument, a computer is not. If there aren't any instruments in a song, then it's not music, it's as simple as that. An instrument is something you can hold and make pleasant noise with if used correctly. Not a computer.

Vocals that have auto tune placed upon them hint to me that the artist is trying to go beyond what they can do and/or can't do much with their voice. It doesn't sound natural and it's usually rough. Same with extreme voice enhancement.

^So, there's the 3 components that define music for me. Good/bad lyrics, Real/fake music, and Edited/unedited vocals. If a song has the 'bad' side of all three, I don't consider it music. If it has one 'good' side, it is music. If it has 3 'good's then it's definitely real, solid music.

I have a strong bias against pop. Just saying.

EDIT: I forgot to add that I also don't consider most screamo/emo/death metal to be music either--that is, if you can't seperate the notes and chords and it sounds blurred on top of screaming.

2. If music isn't considered "real" what is it then?

Noise or sound that has rhythm and a beat.

3. Do you listen to pop music? Why or why not?

I do not. At all. I've never liked it. I don't find it catchy, I find it annoying. I think some heavy metal is catchier to me than pop. Though I've never "followed the crowd" in terms of music, I just don't like what is really popular (artists that everyone knows and will mention when it comes to the biggest names of the day.)

4. Why do you think many people do not consider pop music to be "real music?'

Not ALL pop music is fake. And I must also make the distinction: Popular music IS NOT necessarily POP music.

Pop is usually upbeat, simple, repetetive, etc. Like Rihanna. Now, Pink Floyd is popular but they are in no way 'pop'. So, what I'm talking about here is the genre of Pop, not popular music, because there is a difference!

Anyway, Pop music varies. Some of it is terrible. Other songs are kind of decent.

I'm going to use my 3 component-classification again:

Some have 'ok' lyrics and some are awful. But I've never thought the lyrics to Pop music are supposed to be good. Pop is just meant to be something for you to listen to that is easy to sing along to/dance-y, the message doesn't matter as much. Some people, like me, aren't satisfied with that. I don't like lyrics that don't hold very much. I'm not saying everyone who doesn't like Pop has the same opinion as me, either. But this is how I see it.

It depends on your background, listening to mostly real instruments before computer-generated ones were common or not listening to Pop that much at all and then hearing something that doesn't sound natural is unsettling.

Finally, I'm used to vocals that sound 'light' and like the singer is standing right next to you. I don't like to be able to hear how overproduced something is. Pretty general summary for everything, if you give me an individual song I can do better with the analyzation.

Pop just isn't my thing, I don't like sitting through exact repeats or lyrics I can't relate to or music that I just feel is wasting my time. So that is my opinion on what music is, hopefully not too long.

[ILuvDarkMarks]

As a singer, I'm very critical of music. For me, "real" music is music that has emotion and moves me in some way and (this is going to make me sound SO snobby, but I'm not!) takes talent. It can be sad, romantic, longing, fun, happy, whatever. For instance, real music is Renee Fleming singing "Porgi amor" or Darren Criss singing "Not Alone". Rap music, or, talking to background music as I say, is not music. But that is NOT to say that it is not entertaining because some of it I don't mind, but I'm saying that it is not music.

[Queen of Wise]

I consider real music to be music made with actual instruments, not sound machines. So pop and a lot of rap/hip hop is not real music to me. I am an old fashioned girl raised on rock n roll. Anything from the 50's and up.

[FastDebrid]

Real music for me are the ones wherein the voice of the singer is NOT altered. hahahah

[No_Name]

1. What is real music in your opinion?
Any sound can be music, as long as there are people who enjoy it. If someone enjoys listening to Justin Bieber, it is real music to them. Real music can be both electronic or 'real instruments'. Creating electronic music takes skill as well, and not all electronic music is pop music. And a good example of music that very few people find enjoyable, but is still real music: ever heard of the Residents? You will probably not enjoy their work, as it's highly experimental and generally just weird (I happen to really like it, though). They stretch what is considered 'music' to its limits, even beyond its limits. You may think their work is just a some random distorted generally annoying sounds, but it's still creative. Anyone could do it, but it's creative because no-one has ever done it before. And if I do exactly what they're doing, it will probably not be as well known (okay, in certain circles) and revolutionary as their work. What I'm trying to say, real music can be anything an individual finds enjoyable, and even when it's downright horrific on purpose, it can be real music because it's different, a different view on music. Everyone has a different view on what music is, that means that every sound can be music, even if just a single person in the universe likes it. Because it will be music to them. Who are you to judge what is and what isn't music?

2. If music isn't considered "real" what is it then?
Simply something an individual does not enjoy, is in his 'world' not music. Therefor, what music is is a highly personal opinion.

3. Do you listen to pop music? Why or why not?
I listen to pop music because it is a different view on music. And some of you may disagree, but there are still some artists who are creative, or have very creative writers. I think music is always evolving, and by not listening to pop music you'll miss a lot of development in what's happening to music right now.

4. Why do you think many people do not consider pop music to be "real music?'
Because people tend to think the things they like are the only good things. It's just basic human nature.

[Tonks_Animagus]

1. What is real music in your opinion?

I think it's anything that is pleasant to hear, and gives something to the listener. Whether it is pretty playing of actual instruments without all those electronics, beautiful voice without autotune or meaningful lyrics I mean, art is something deeper than just listening to the latest catchy hit of some not-so-talented celebrity.

2. If music isn't considered "real" what is it then?

Lame music? I don't know, just commercialised tunes :/

3. Do you listen to pop music? Why or why not?

Of course, though I admit most pop in our days is at its worst :/ There is some pop I don't like at all, Lady Gaga, Ke$ha... (yeah I know Gaga is supposed to be dance but for some reason seems pop to me)

4. Why do you think many people do not consider pop music to be "real music?'

Nowadays pop is mostly about sacrifising lyrics and quality for the shake of catchy tunes. Music loses its real purpose and most pointless cheesy songs are forgotten after one or two months.

[NitaFrost]

Real music is a combination of catchy, inspiring, touching sounds and meaningful lyrics, it is all about taste, quality and impressiveness.

[Westyane]

1. What is real music in your opinion?

Meaningful lyrics, good instrumentals and nice, followable melodies. The singer should have a nice or interesting voice, but if the instrumentals are amazing that doesn't really matter as much (Sopor Aeternus for instance).

Even better is if the band has a lot of energy, action and maybe good scenery on stage. Good musicians should love what they're doing and respect their fans, or they are not actual artists in my opinion.


2. If music isn't considered "real" what is it then?

Bad lyrics, entire albums that are only about how much money they have, how cool they are, partying, lovesongs and "lovesongs". It makes our society dumb to have that stuff going on the radio all the time. I don't mind media spreading this music, as long as they put some intelligent music in the spotlight as well and just as much. At least that is my opinion.

Oh, and I'm starting to get tired of all these discosounds and random dubstep bridges... Same there, having them in some songs? Sure. Having them in every song that ever is well promoted? No thanks.


3. Do you listen to pop music? Why or why not?

I listen some pop music. Every now and then I find a nice song from a pop star. Examples are "Hurt" by Christina Aguilera and "Because Of You" by Kelly Clarkson.

Every now and then I'm in the mood for some Lady Gaga as well. But that's about it. If a sound suits my likes, I may listen it sometimes, but the reason to that I rarely listen pop music is that I need nice lyrics or I won't get very attached to the song.


4. Why do you think many people do not consider pop music to be "real music?'

Reasons mentioned above. Bad lyrics, it's a lot about the companies making money off of the young people who want to be famous...

Apart from that, it all sounds about the same and there are a lot of artists who are artists because they're good-looking, not really because they actually can sing.

[asdfasdf17]

1. What is real music in your opinion?

I think music is both the instruments playing and the lyrics. So to me, it has to be appealing to my ears (I don't mind loud-ish music as long as its good) but the lyrics have to be good too. I don't like lyrics that make no sense (unless its supposed to be funny) or non-family-friendly type lyrics.

2. If music isn't considered "real" what is it then?

I think it's only music if people consider it music. So even if I don't like the way something sounds, there would be a group of people who do think it's music and so it is "real" music. People can have different opinions about if they like it or not and they can debate if it is "real" music or not but I think that would be pointless because no matter what there would be that group of people who listen to that kind of music and consider it music. Saying it's not music doesn't make it not music for everyone, you know?

3. Do you listen to pop music? Why or why not?

If I think it is a decent, fun and appealing song!

4. Why do you think many people do not consider pop music to be "real music?''

I didn't know people didn't consider it to be real music! I think it's because they don't like it and it's not similar to the music they listen to so they don't think it should be classified as music.