How different of a person would you be without music?

BTown · 03-21-2011, 01:57 AM

How would your life be different if you weren't ever into some of the artists you have been into?

For me, I don't think I would have gone through phases where I wanted to be things I surely wasn't and probably be more of a snob.

~~The Virgin~~ · 03-21-2011, 02:20 AM

i grew up listening to Britney Spears. I honestly believe she contributed something to my homosexuality. But had I idolized Aerosmith or Nirvana than her, I think i would be the exact opposite of what I am right now.

Howard the Duck · 03-21-2011, 02:37 AM

if I hadn't listened to the John Peel Show on the BBC World Service when I was a teenager, I probably wouldn't listen to half of the music I do today

ThePhanastasio · 03-21-2011, 02:44 AM

If it weren't for my first loves in music that weren't at all influenced by my parents' listening habits - Jewel, Savage Garden, and Blues Traveler - I really don't know where I'd be today. I went through phases of awful music, but these were the bands I most loved when all of my other peers were mad for Hanson, Backstreet Boys, and all of that.

Jewel has definitely evolved my taste into a lot of the more acoustic singer-songwriter-y stuff I like now, a la The Mountain Goats, Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, and things of that nature.

Savage Garden led me to artists like Radiohead, which has in turn led me to be turned onto a lot of indie and alternative stuff.

And Blues Traveler really helped me gradually get into improvisational music and superb instrumentation; if I'd never loved Blues Traveler as a kid, I can almost guarantee I'd not be into bands like Phish...

And without Jewel AND Blues Traveler, I doubt I would have really gotten into The Grateful Dead.

So really, I can trace most of the music (if not all) that I listen to today back to those three acts. Without them, God knows what I'd be listening to.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 03-21-2011, 03:04 AM

Savage Garden are awesome!

Thom Yorke · 03-21-2011, 03:05 AM

I'm not sure. I consider music my main hobby and not a definition of who I am. Then again I do listen to it to relax, to help me study, as a common bond with many friends, etc. so maybe it has had a huge effect on me. Guess I'll never really know, and I don't want to know.

Howard the Duck · 03-21-2011, 03:05 AM

i wouldn't even be listening to English music if my dad weren't blasting the Beatles and the Rolling Stones when I was a baby

TockTockTock · 03-21-2011, 05:54 AM

Good question... No idea. I guess I would be into books more (I'm already an avid reader as it is). I'd be pretty much the same, except I wouldn't annoy people with my excessive talking about music.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 03-21-2011, 05:56 AM

In all seriousness, I'd be dead. Music got me through some dark times. Without it I wouldn't of made it through. It's what keeps me alive and passionate today. Even if I can only fantasize about being a singer it's still enough to keep me ticking.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra · 03-21-2011, 09:11 AM

videogames would be my life... then again, if they didn't have music...

Suicide.

03-21-2011, 01:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
BTown super cool Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 806	How different of a person would you be without music? How would your life be different if you weren't ever into some of the artists you have been into? For me, I don't think I would have gone through phases where I wanted to be things I surely wasn't and probably be more of a snob. __________________

03-21-2011, 02:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	If it weren't for my first loves in music that weren't at all influenced by my parents' listening habits - Jewel, Savage Garden, and Blues Traveler - I really don't know where I'd be today. I went through phases of awful music, but these were the bands I most loved when all of my other peers were mad for Hanson, Backstreet Boys, and all of that. Jewel has definitely evolved my taste into a lot of the more acoustic singer-songwriter-y stuff I like now, a la The Mountain Goats, Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, and things of that nature. Savage Garden led me to artists like Radiohead, which has in turn led me to be turned onto a lot of indie and alternative stuff. And Blues Traveler really helped me gradually get into improvisational music and superb instrumentation; if I'd never loved Blues Traveler as a kid, I can almost guarantee I'd not be into bands like Phish... And without Jewel AND Blues Traveler, I doubt I would have really gotten into The Grateful Dead. So really, I can trace most of the music (if not all) that I listen to today back to those three acts. Without them, God knows what I'd be listening to. __________________ Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend My last.fm It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they're better left unsung

03-21-2011, 03:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,181	Savage Garden are awesome! __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots

03-21-2011, 05:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,181	In all seriousness, I'd be dead. Music got me through some dark times. Without it I wouldn't of made it through. It's what keeps me alive and passionate today. Even if I can only fantasize about being a singer it's still enough to keep me ticking. __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots

03-21-2011, 02:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
~~The Virgin~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cebu, Philippines Posts: 677	i grew up listening to Britney Spears. I honestly believe she contributed something to my homosexuality. But had I idolized Aerosmith or Nirvana than her, I think i would be the exact opposite of what I am right now.

03-21-2011, 02:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Howard the Duck Live by the Sword Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 9,075	if I hadn't listened to the John Peel Show on the BBC World Service when I was a teenager, I probably wouldn't listen to half of the music I do today

03-21-2011, 03:05 AM	#6 (permalink)
Thom Yorke Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,848	I'm not sure. I consider music my main hobby and not a definition of who I am. Then again I do listen to it to relax, to help me study, as a common bond with many friends, etc. so maybe it has had a huge effect on me. Guess I'll never really know, and I don't want to know.

03-21-2011, 03:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
Howard the Duck Live by the Sword Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 9,075	i wouldn't even be listening to English music if my dad weren't blasting the Beatles and the Rolling Stones when I was a baby

03-21-2011, 05:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
TockTockTock They/Them Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,914	Good question... No idea. I guess I would be into books more (I'm already an avid reader as it is). I'd be pretty much the same, except I wouldn't annoy people with my excessive talking about music.