Music: Can it have a universal understanding?

OccultHawk · 02-22-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Huh? Why are you bringing this strange, poorly-informed, and very racist sounding comparison into this thread?

'N' word alert

cue sirens!!!

**Janszoon** · 02-22-2011, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

'N' word alert

cue sirens!!!

I wasn't even talking about that to be honest.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra · 02-22-2011, 11:47 AM

If any song does it, it has to be Hendrix. Not everyone loves Hendrix but it's very very hard to find people who don't at least like him.

Neapolitan · 02-22-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I would say no and I don't think it's just restricted to culture. One example that springs to mind is The Church. On several occasions I've heard people refer to them as "depressing" which is unfathomable to me as I find their music to be beautiful, mellow and atmospheric, but certainly not depressing. Granted that example is a band not a specific song but I think it makes the point. Another example is the numerous times that I've heard punk songs that I find energetic and upbeat described as "angry" by other people.

Depressing might not be the most accurate description of The Church or their music, then again one to think about how much does that person know about the band, if their only experience of The Church (for example) is "Under The Milky Way" then they are basing their opinion of The Church's music on the one song. Now if they said The Church is a favorite of theirs and their music is depressing, of all the ways to describe the band's music why would they say "depressing?" What intrigues me isn't what people say is why they say it. Anyway calling a band "depressing" is not the same as dismissing a band. Sometimes it good to feel sad, and some bands I'm into because they are just that, they're depressing.

Music: Can it have a universal understanding?
Music could be considered to have an universal understanding, in that it transcends borders and cultural differences and regardless of language difference music speaks to the soul, but it still up to the person who listening to it whether they like it or not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

Quote:

Is it possible for 18 people to listen to the same song, who've never met, who don't come from the same regions or life experiences, and get the same meaning, or at least gist, from a song?

No, they might not get the same meaning (for example) what if they came from the same country with the same background there are no guarantees they'll like the same music, all for various reasons. Yet in the case of the 18 people with different backgrounds out them if you could find out a few who had some emotional connection to the song, it would be for different personal reasons, I would think.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

Why I ask: Perhaps this defines me as certifiable, but every now and then I'll listen to a track and it will paint a scenario for me. I apply it to places I've been in my life, but regardless of locale, its the same situation. And it doesn't change even if its 14 years after the first time I've heard the song. So to come to the radical root of the question: Do musical notes, or arrangements, or some form of counterpuntal interplay draw a certain perspective inherently, if only within a cultural grouping (i.e. Does it draw the same distinction in, say, The West).

Thanks.

TheBig3,
There are different points, some are general and some are more on the personal level of listener's experience. I understand the part where you explain your emotional connection to a song, but I don't fully understand the radical root question.

PurpleWolf · 02-22-2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Everything from the blanket assumptions about "how it is" in the entire continent of Africa to the erroneous notion that calling black people black is some kind of insult in America.

..... dude ... seriously.
If that is how you think then I seriously am not going to argue with you. You may proceed to live in your own little world there.
Besides, you missed the entire point of what I said. I just agreed with what you said and you jump down my throat like I just blasphemed against everything logical. I might not live in America but I know enough about it to know that you are brought up being 'politically correct'. However, I have lived in Africa most of my life and the general attitude of it is as I said. Really in the end you are making a fuss out of nothing.

Stone Birds · 02-22-2011, 05:11 PM

everybody is their own person no matter what anyone says or thinks everybody's different, no matter how similar they may seem, nothing is ever the same precisely, if you're talking about a "gist" meaning i'd say possibly but there would be atleast slight differences

Neapolitan · 02-22-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleWolf

I might not live in America but I know enough about it to know that you are brought up being 'politically correct'.

Yes I think I can tell you don't live in the US, we no longer differentiate ourselves through "color" anymore, (well at least in some respects) people really don't say "blue" collared or "white" collared jobs to differentiate social status anymore. There isn't that distinction of color in America like maybe that happens in Africa in respects with regards to colour stratifying one's social position through "blue" and "white" epithets. In America the blue colored collar work shirt has been replaced by the "golf shirt", and now their called "service sector jobs" not "blue" collar jobs or sometimes if its a real crappy job it's called "McJob" (NB the word McJob is a portmanteau of "Mc Donalds" and "Job" and it has nothing with the way Irish were treated in America.) Well not to backpedal, but in some cases, color does play a role like in America like in politics, it is heavy divide among the color line, there is the "Red" and "Blue," the former pertains to the Republican Party and the latter pertains to the Democratic Party.

And since you lived in Africa, what are your thought of artists and bands blending African music with Pop music, like Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, or some African hip-hop? I would say I a fan of Peter Gabriel and I like the band Extra Golden, back to the subject what is your emotional reaction to those bands?

GuitarBizarre · 02-22-2011, 05:34 PM

The simple answer is no, it isn't. Academic studies regarding this exact subject have been performed and peer reviewed adequately enough to form a basis of evidence.

The only consistent cross-cultural reaction to music is that slow music and fast music provoke calm and agitated reactions respectively. There has been absolutely no evidence uncovered of any kind that other styles of music evoke similar feeligns on a broadly cross-cultural level.

And to be honest, we can end the thread here. I'm sure you'll all want to discuss it further, but the fact is, people with far more money, time, resources, and experience than any of us have successfully proven this theory to be incorrect.

**Janszoon** · 02-22-2011, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleWolf

..... dude ... seriously.
If that is how you think then I seriously am not going to argue with you. You may proceed to live in your own little world there.
Besides, you missed the entire point of what I said. I just agreed with what you said and you jump down my throat like I just blasphemed against everything logical. I might not live in America but I know enough about it to know that you are brought up being 'politically correct'. However, I have lived in Africa most of my life and the general attitude of it is as I said. Really in the end you are making a fuss out of nothing.

You made a totally bizarre post and I commented on it. You asked me a question and I answered it. Not sure how that's "making a fuss" or being "politically correct". Seems like you're making a much bigger fuss than I am to be honest.

Engine · 02-22-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleWolf

..... dude ... seriously.
If that is how you think then I seriously am not going to argue with you. You may proceed to live in your own little world there.
Besides, you missed the entire point of what I said. I just agreed with what you said and you jump down my throat like I just blasphemed against everything logical. I might not live in America but I know enough about it to know that you are brought up being 'politically correct'. However, I have lived in Africa most of my life and the general attitude of it is as I said. Really in the end you are making a fuss out of nothing.

02-22-2011, 05:11 PM	#16 (permalink)
Stone Birds myspace.com/stonebirdies Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conor Oberst Was/is Here Posts: 1,401	everybody is their own person no matter what anyone says or thinks everybody's different, no matter how similar they may seem, nothing is ever the same precisely, if you're talking about a "gist" meaning i'd say possibly but there would be atleast slight differences __________________ Silk & Tree Records //\\//\\/\\/\/\/\\\\\\\\///\/\/\/\/\\////\/\\\\\///\V //\\//\\/\\/\/\/\\\\\\\\///\/\/\/\/\\////\/\\\\\///\V soundcloud.com/stonebirds [Link removed by mod, no advertising] ... Damn those mods are always gettin ya :)