What makes music cheesy?

~~MicShazam~~ · 10-20-2017, 02:38 PM

Due to it being mentioned in the "Best Albums of 2017 So Far" thread, I am listening to the Ayreon album The Source right now and it strikes me as a regular cheese-tornado. But what does it really mean, when we say something is cheesy?

People hate Nightwish because they're cheesy.

I hate Dream Theater because they're cheesy.

My new avatar is cheesy.

But what is it really that makes us dismiss something as being cheesy?
It's easy enough to look up a dictionary definition of the word, but I feel like people mean a lot more when they use the term in relation to music.

So what is it really all about?

Is this cheesy (video below), and why is that so?

Trollheart · 10-20-2017, 02:41 PM

rubber soul · 10-20-2017, 02:48 PM

I'm guessing by cheesy you're meaning pretentious. I would call Meat Loaf cheesy if it wasn't so intentional. As for these guys, I was liking the first track before it went into some Dio riff, only Dio was a lot better.

Then again what do I know? I'm a sixties rockaholic

**Frownland** · 10-20-2017, 02:48 PM

When you try so hard to be awesome that you accomplish nothing but looking like a dork.

Trollheart · 10-20-2017, 02:49 PM

In all honesty, cheese is probably in the eye of the beholder. But I would say what makes things appear cheesy is if they have been done before (usually to death) - Oh look! A spoken intro to a power metal album with a dark voice, or a wibbly keyboard solo in a prog song etc - seem lazy, make no attempt at breaking out of the mould, and go for the path of least resistance/most monetary compensation. Maybe.

~~MicShazam~~ · 10-20-2017, 02:53 PM

I personally get the impression that when people call music cheesy, it often has to do with the apparent earnestness of the music/vocals.

Not the only component by any means, but it seems to be part of the equation.

The Batlord · 10-20-2017, 02:53 PM

Basically when it should be a self-conscious joke but you take it seriously and the listener is just like, "Lol, that's funny... oh wait, I'm not supposed to laugh... oh ****." Well that's bad cheese I guess. As for cheese in general I suppose it's just when you're dorky.

The Batlord · 10-20-2017, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elphenor

hate dio goddamn he's supah cheeze

Get ****ed.

Trollheart · 10-20-2017, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elphenor

hate dio goddamn he's supah cheeze

**** you. Dio is a legend. Prepare to die.

**Frownland** · 10-20-2017, 02:59 PM

I'm with elph that Dio is super cheesy too.

10-20-2017, 02:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	What makes music cheesy? Due to it being mentioned in the "Best Albums of 2017 So Far" thread, I am listening to the Ayreon album The Source right now and it strikes me as a regular cheese-tornado. But what does it really mean, when we say something is cheesy? People hate Nightwish because they're cheesy. I hate Dream Theater because they're cheesy. My new avatar is cheesy. But what is it really that makes us dismiss something as being cheesy? It's easy enough to look up a dictionary definition of the word, but I feel like people mean a lot more when they use the term in relation to music. So what is it really all about? Is this cheesy (video below), and why is that so?

10-20-2017, 02:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	__________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-20-2017, 02:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	When you try so hard to be awesome that you accomplish nothing but looking like a dork. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

10-20-2017, 02:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	In all honesty, cheese is probably in the eye of the beholder. But I would say what makes things appear cheesy is if they have been done before (usually to death) - Oh look! A spoken intro to a power metal album with a dark voice, or a wibbly keyboard solo in a prog song etc - seem lazy, make no attempt at breaking out of the mould, and go for the path of least resistance/most monetary compensation. Maybe. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-20-2017, 02:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	I'm with elph that Dio is super cheesy too. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

10-20-2017, 02:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
rubber soul Call me Mustard Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Pepperland Posts: 2,642	I'm guessing by cheesy you're meaning pretentious. I would call Meat Loaf cheesy if it wasn't so intentional. As for these guys, I was liking the first track before it went into some Dio riff, only Dio was a lot better. Then again what do I know? I'm a sixties rockaholic

10-20-2017, 02:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
~~MicShazam~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Aalborg Posts: 7,634	I personally get the impression that when people call music cheesy, it often has to do with the apparent earnestness of the music/vocals. Not the only component by any means, but it seems to be part of the equation.