What determines the songs that people like?

bob_32_116 · 04-17-2016, 12:54 PM

I have no data to back this up, but my impression is it's not so much particular chord sequences or things like that that people like. Rather, people are attracted to a certain degree of simplicity or complexity, Some people like songs that repeat a particular chord patter over and over in a fairly predictable fashion - for others, that's a total turnoff and they want the music to surprise them more.

RJDG14 · 04-17-2016, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob_32_116

I have no data to back this up, but my impression is it's not so much particular chord sequences or things like that that people like. Rather, people are attracted to a certain degree of simplicity or complexity, Some people like songs that repeat a particular chord patter over and over in a fairly predictable fashion - for others, that's a total turnoff and they want the music to surprise them more.

To see if there is a pattern with me, these are a list of songs that I currently like:

That's When I Reach For My Revolver - Mission of Burma
She Floated Away - Husker Du
Good Grief - Foo Fighters
We Go Down Slowly Rising - Primal Scream
Driver 8 - R.E.M.
Waterfall - The Stone Roses
Come Home - Placebo

The list goes on and on... These are just the sort of song that I like. Would you say there is a pattern in terms of how they sound (you can look up any that you haven't heard), and do they meet the "predictable" standard or the "suprise" standard?

bob_32_116 · 04-17-2016, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJDG14

To see if there is a pattern with me, these are a list of songs that I currently like:

That's When I Reach For My Revolver - Mission of Burma
She Floated Away - Husker Du
Good Grief - Foo Fighters
We Go Down Slowly Rising - Primal Scream
Driver 8 - R.E.M.
Waterfall - The Stone Roses
Come Home - Placebo

The list goes on and on... These are just the sort of song that I like. Would you say there is a pattern in terms of how they sound (you can look up any that you haven't heard), and do they meet the "predictable" standard or the "suprise" standard?

I'll check those out when I have time.

My earlier post was a bit of an over-simplification. Of course there are other factors whether someone likes a recording or not. Some people like songs with lots of heavy drumming and growling vocals and Satanic themes etc, and aren't too fussed about melody or the lack of it; others like gentle soothing sounds and don't care for much dynamic range; and so on. My earlier comment was really about TUNES rather than the manner in which they are delivered.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Francis

Idk what determines this preference but i think it's cause i got accustomed to pixies song format, they made very short songs that were very raw and creative and i like bands that use that same type of structure.

You like The Pixies? We learn something new every day.

04-17-2016, 12:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
bob_32_116 Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: 32S 116E Posts: 324	I have no data to back this up, but my impression is it's not so much particular chord sequences or things like that that people like. Rather, people are attracted to a certain degree of simplicity or complexity, Some people like songs that repeat a particular chord patter over and over in a fairly predictable fashion - for others, that's a total turnoff and they want the music to surprise them more.