starrynight

This thread is for the discussion of fanboyism. Do you like it / dislike it, do you think it is useful, relates to music mainly or just as much to image / being hip? Do you consider yourself a fanboy? Maybe you don't even want to call it fanboyism and prefer something else, give an alternative. Is there any point in saying someone is the best group / singer, or is it better just to enjoy listening to lots of different people than listening more in depth to just a few? Maybe it might narrow the musical focus of people, that could be seen as good or bad. Do people over-identify with musicians, people who they rarely actually know in person but only through some music they have done. Do people take musical criticism of their heroes too personally and does the internet with the small fan groups it fosters and brings together make it even stronger? Can it even adversely affect the music as artists may just keep in the style their fans are used to and whatever image relates to that?

djchameleon

Okay there are loads of questions in there but I'm only going to answer a few right now then come back and answer more later.

I feel like it's fine to say you have a favorite band. The decision to say that or make that claim doesn't mean that you are limited to only listening to that one genre just because you have a favorite band.

I don't like when I ask someone what's their favorite band/artist and they go off on a tangent saying "oh I listen to so many bands/artists and I can't pick just one because I listen to everything but country"

Man up and pick one! it's not a life or death choice. You can always change it later on when someone else asks you the same question.

There is nothing wrong with having a favorite band/artist at any given time.

Right now I would say my favorite artist is Wale. Will he stay that way forever, No but at the moment I enjoy listening to his songs and mixtapes.

Just because I have a favorite Artist does that mean I only listen to him and no other genres?

No.

__________________

Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.

Paedantic Basterd

I joke about fanaticism, but don't believe I can be said to fall under it in any way. When I was younger, the term definitely applied, and I find my behaviour rather embarrassing. I've grown out of it. I find it extremely irritating these days.

starrynight

But you don't have to pick a favourite one. If some do that's their choice, but I don't think it is compulsory. It's like me trying to decide who was greater - Mozart or Beethoven. They are both great, but in different ways. How do you compare things which are completely different and in different styles too? Things can be just good in different ways. Music isn't a sport. Of course people at different times will listen to more of some kind of music than another, will have a particular enthusiasm at different times in their life. Really in popular music I like listening to a wide variety of different music. The amount of stuff available out there means I don't feel like just exploring a few in depth I'd rather look at a wide variety of different musicians.

Anyway my main point was not simply about picking out a favourite, people have always done that. I mean when it goes beyond that into a kind of defending of an artist beyond their music almost. I can't be bothered promoting people and saying this artist is the best and if you don't like it we have problems. People will listen to what they want and may dislike some of what I like, it doesn't give me insecurity issues though I'm confident in what I like lol.

I think it is very easy when there is so much music out there to jump on board popular and hip groups of the time. It can take alot of time and effort to look through other stuff that isn't so well known and I understand many won't have the time. But to idly say someone is the greatest ever at whatever, or totally original or most influential without having heard many other things seems presumptious at best. Just leave it at saying that someone is your present favourite, that you like their style, that others may not like that style as much and so be more critical. The main thing is I think to give a style a chance, to find what you like in it, than to say it is all crap or all incredible. Otherwise it can just seem too over the top and not relating completely to the music.

Howard the Duck

i'm mostly a comics fanboy

DC only

i go gaga over Green Lantern, Batman, Superman, Doom Patrol and the Justice League of America

Scarlett O'Hara

I go gaga over Gaga. Lady Gaga that is. I am a fangirl of her. Hence, I have my own website dedicated to her: www.gagasgottalent.weebly.com

__________________

djchameleon

There is a difference between picking a favorite and trying to decide which is greater between two artists. When you pick your favorite, it's just a personal preference and you can like the two artists.

I agree with you but the whole fanboyism ties in with being elitist and looking down on others for liking the music that they like. I agree with you 100% that people will listen to whatever they want and may dislike some material that is deemed music of higher quality.

Some people are a bit too close minded when it comes to certain genres so they aren't going to be like most of us on MB that gives random genres a chance even if we don't like some of the artists we have heard.

ooo I see you have updated it

yeah four more days til her concert on HBO

__________________

Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.

captaincaptain

I think people overly identify with a band, when there is a name you call the fans. For instance, Jimmy Buffett - Parrotheads, Grateful Dead - Deadheads, and the always putrid Insane Clown Posse - Juggalos.

rah2000

As far as fanboyism goes, I've noticed that when someone is a fanboy of an artist, they start to break down their favorite generation of that band. For instance, I used to be a major fanboy of Pink Floyd, but mostly just their pre-Wall stuff, when they were more Psychedelic. Currently, I'd consider myself a fanboy of the original Alice Cooper Band, from 1969-1974. I don't know, I've noticed it with other people too, but perhaps the two aren't related.

Lisnaholic

^ That`s an interesting surprise, Vanilla ! I liked the quote of the week from Lady G.

I don`t think there`s anything wrong with having, or naming, a favourite artist.
Although it`s true, as starrynight suggests, that music is not a competion, choosing a favourite among dissimilar artists isn`t particularly difficult. I just ask myself, "Whose music do I listen to most often ?" - and that`s my favourite, even if, as dj says, the answer might change at a later date.

^ This is so true for me too ! I used to worship Ray Davies and all his works, but I have thankfully grown out of that kind of devotion.

These days, the only time I don`t care for excessive loyalty is when people let it override their usual critical faculties. For instance, I`ve heard people praising what I regard as really substandard material by VU, The Beatles, Dylan and The Dead and I have wondered, " If this wasn`t by somebody famous, I bet you`d be calling it rubbish."
Which is not to say that I, like most of us, am not guilty of making that same mistake once in a while.