The truth about modern music

brisksurfer12 said:I find this entire thread rather amusing, even the title itself. It carries a certain level of arrogance, claiming to be the "truth about modern music," as if we’re all world-renowned theorists instead of just folks with a bit too much downtime on our hands. 🤣

I have to

The only real truth regarding music is that its purpose is to bring people joy—at least, that’s what it does for me.
Which decade holds the most magic is entirely subjective; there has always been a mix of brilliant masterpieces and absolute garbage, regardless of the era.

As far as I can tell, the advancement of technology has simply paved the way for electronic music to flourish.
Fashion and stage presence will always fluctuate in their impact.
Back in the day, those rock icons from the 60s and 70s often dressed and behaved more like monks than rebels. 🤣

If I had to offer an observation, it would be that today's aesthetic has become somewhat exaggerated due to the heavy influence of music videos and visual media. But it is what it is; society tends to be quite superficial these days, placing a premium on outward appearances, which has naturally turned music into something much more visual. 🤔

Gary James88 said:Look, we can all just pretend you didn't actually say that. 🙏

Man, cut it out—I hate it when people don't take me seriously, like I don't actually mean what I'm saying.

granitecyclist said:Thanks, really... for this totally unnecessary and completely wrong rant.🤣

Your whole diagnosis is off from the jump—you're smart enough to know there's a massive difference between "some women are like this" and "all women are like this."

Henry Barrett said:At least 90% of everything is garbage, music included. Honestly, I haven't touched a TV or listened to the radio in maybe five or seven years, so I have no clue what’s trending right now. But even looking back at the top charts from the 80s or 90s, there was plenty of crap in there too. You can go check for yourselves, but I guarantee there are plenty of songs—or even artists who once sat in the top 10—that you’ve never heard of, and quite frankly, for good reason. All that junk that was only relevant for the moment it was released has been rightfully forgotten, while the stuff that actually holds up is still known today.

The only sensible take on this dreary thread. And that first sentence... is that a Theodore Sturgeon quote, or just a coincidence? 🙂

Look, listening to "Plima" from Index back in 1972—and I've played it a million times—it feels timeless. Something crafted 50 years ago can still hold more weight and quality than the massive flood of garbage released ten or even twenty years ago. That’s the fundamental truth about music. What people are churning out today isn't actually music; it's just a commodity designed with an expiration date and a price tag. Real music, the kind created with actual soul, doesn't have a shelf life or a market value. As the lyrics say, "The 21st century is coming, dear, but there's no sign of happiness in sight"...

Personally, I’d much rather catch a concert by Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga than sit through another one of those endless cooking shows clogging up the TV lately.

So you're just someone waiting to be entertained. Superficial and primitive. That’s exactly what a Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift show is. Music isn't meant to be mere distraction; if that's all you want, then you're strictly sticking to "pop" music—which is essentially just entertainment masquerading as sound, not music as an art form. Real music is much more than that. Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift just recycle melodies and lyrics, but that isn't true music, even if it technically falls under the genre. Do you follow me? Music is raw emotion, not some commercial product designed to chase fame, attention, or a paycheck...

stormygull22 said:So you're basically just someone waiting to be entertained—shallow and basic—because that’s exactly what Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift represent. Music can't just be about keeping you amused; if that's your standard, then you're strictly into "party music," which is just entertainment disguised as sound, not actual music as an art form. Real music is much more than that... Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift just use melodies and lyrics as tools, but that isn't true music, even if it technically falls under the genre. You know? Music is emotion, not just some product used to chase fame, attention, or cash...

Both of them are the biggest pop stars in America.

urbanorca8 said:Those two are easily the biggest pop stars in America right now.

Total queens of the US—nobody can touch them. Honestly, the haters can just go shove it up their unknown. 👍

Popularity doesn't equal quality. Take Mišo, for example—he’s more famous than someone like Arsen Dedić or even Vuco, yet neither of them can be called a real musician by any standard.
Queen of what? Bad taste, nudity, or some other nonsense? What they put out isn't music. Just like there are people living on a higher plane of consciousness, there are trashy types like you who find it acceptable to listen to Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift and actually treat them like queens. I'm not being hateful here; I'm just stating facts. 😵

What on earth are you talking about, my friend? Higher or lower levels of consciousness and music? I honestly think you're demonstrating your own level of awareness by insulting others and failing to grasp that music is entirely subjective. At the end of the day, the only thing that truly matters is how much an artist can move a person. One person might get chills listening to Burzum, another to Carl Cox, someone else to Rihanna, and yet another to Taylor Swift. That’s just how it has always been, and I highly doubt it will ever change.

To be honest, I don't quite see the point of this entire thread... The reality is that throughout this whole discussion, so many people here are belittling everyone else's tastes while elevating their own, likely stemming from some complex I can't quite wrap my head around. Just enjoy what you love and let everyone else do the same.

stormygull22 said:Popularity doesn't mean squat when it comes to actual talent... I mean, look at someone like Mišo—he’s way more famous than Arsen Dedić or Vuco, but let’s be real, neither of them can even claim to be actual musicians if you ask me.
Queens of what exactly? Bad taste, nudity, and... well, other things? Maybe. But whatever they’re putting out there has absolutely nothing to do with actual music. It's like—look, some people just operate on a higher level of consciousness, you know?—but then there are people like you guys who live in this gutter of trash culture where listening to Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift and treating them like royalty is somehow normal. I’m not being hateful here, I’m just stating facts. 😵

Is that little snippet in your signature actually supposed to be better than Lady Gaga? 😁

The Queen of Unknown and Unknown 🙏🙏🙏 🤣

It’s a waste of my time even letting you listen to my playlist in my signature when you clearly don't understand what music actually is. To you, music is just background noise for entertainment. People like you are the reason why cheap pop hits are written just to fade away in a month...
And as for you, old man, it's obvious you fail to grasp that there are different tiers—in life and in music. Look, someone like Arsen Dedić represents a high level of composition, melody, and true artistry. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and those other pop singers are nothing more than entertainers for the mindless masses. There is a massive gulf between real music and the shallow jingles clogging up the mainstream charts. But hey, everyone listens to whatever they want; it’s your life, go ahead and jump around, wave your hands, smash your glasses, tra-la-la-la... 😵

Honestly, nothing gets under my skin more than people who think their "refined" musical taste is somehow superior. They act like they’re sitting at a gourmet steakhouse while everyone else is eating a cheap McDonald's burger, constantly whining that they're somehow deeper or smarter because they spend their time listening to... what was it? Pink Floyd? They look down on anyone else enjoying actual musical junk. Look, music is for everyone. Obviously. So please, go ahead and live your life—just don't bring that elitist attitude into my house.

I find it quite curious that you both jumped to the conclusion that just because I disagree with you, I must be an automatic fan of Lady Gaga or whoever. Honestly, it’s far too easy to lecture about musical "quality" when you use Pink Floyd as your benchmark to compare against the heaviest commercial pop. But what happens when we shift the conversation to metal, punk, reggae, electronic, or classical music? How would one even determine superiority then? Is there truly some universal set of criteria we all follow?

Well, different genres serve entirely different purposes. A designer might look down on a gutter, but without those gutters, the streets would be filthy. Besides, "fun" music—which, believe it or not, actually aims to provide entertainment for the masses without getting bogged down in pretentious, "deep" nonsense—does its job perfectly well. If you're looking for psychedelia or something to headbang to, of course, this won't hit the mark. It’s just like how Pink Floyd isn't exactly going to get you pumped up at the gym or whatever.

I've rambled on quite a bit, but the short version is this: you simply can't compare apples to oranges. And if you prefer apples, nobody is forcing you to eat pears (praise YouTube), so I fail to see the need to constantly belittle them...

Since we’re talking about Pink Floyd, I listen to them, along with a few others. Sure, if there's a party going on, I might put on some Vuco or maybe some Bebek, but let's be real—there is a massive gap between where Vuco sits and where Pink Floyd stands. I'm not trying to brag about my taste or bash anyone else's, but it's a plain fact: music today has become nothing more than a consumer product. Real music is becoming a rarity. You can't even compare a guitarist like BB King to some random hack; they aren't in the same universe, regardless of where they come from. There are artists who play from the soul because they were born with actual talent, and then there are the trashy types like Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift, or whoever else, who will never reach that level of artistry. When music stops being art and starts being just a tool for profit, fame, and self-promotion, it becomes garbage. My love for Pink Floyd or certain classic singers isn't about ego. Enough said.
I think I'll go ahead and click the link in my signature just to remind myself what actual music sounds like and why I don't waste my time on mainstream trash. 😛

It feels like almost nobody makes music from the soul anymore; it’s all just about the bottom line and chasing a paycheck.👎
Most of what you hear is absolute garbage—you might stumble upon a catchy tune that sticks in your head for a second, but it vanishes just as quickly.
Sure, you can still find some decent bands out there if you're willing to put in the work, but man, you have to dig deep to find anything worth your sanity.

stormygull22 said:It’s honestly a waste of my breath even letting you listen to my playlist in my signature when you clearly don't have a clue what actual music is—I mean, seriously. To you, music is just some background noise meant to keep you entertained for five minutes, right? That's why people like you only care about those manufactured radio hits that fade into total obscurity after about a month. Total waste of time.
Look, man, it’s pretty obvious to me that there are different levels to everything—whether we're talking about life in general or the music we listen to. You see, someone like Arsen Dedić represents a high level of actual musicality, melody, and true artistry—real substance. Then you've got people like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, or those pop singers who are basically just entertainers for the masses. There is a massive gulf between legitimate music and the mindless little jingles that clog up the mainstream charts today. But hey, whatever—everyone listens to what they want. It's your life, right? People can go ahead and chase that cheap euphoria, throwing their hands in the air and smashing glasses on the floor while singing "traila la la la" all night long if that's what they need. 😵

Your signature's little joke is basically on the level of Lady Gaga. 😉
It’s mostly just masked—sort of hidden behind the scenes—but honestly, it’s definitely there somewhere.
So you’re calling me thick-headed? Honestly, you aren't even reading what I actually write. I never once said I was out here obsessing over Lady Gaga or anyone else in that circle—so maybe catch up before you start judging my intellect.

Amanda Scott63 said:Honestly, I find it hilarious how people who think their musical taste is some elite tier—basically claiming a GMO burger from McDonald's is a gourmet meal—love to act all high and mighty. They spend their time whining about how everything is "top tier," while the folks listening to... what was it? Pink Floyd? They just sit there moping around, acting like they’re somehow geniuses compared to everyone else consuming pure musical junk food. At the end of the day, music is for everyone. Obviously. So please, just go ahead and do your thing—just not in my house.

Man, this English just completely nuked your already explosive post. Look, you can't seriously claim someone's musical taste is on par with a McDonald's burger and then turn around in the same breath and worship Pink Floyd like they're gods. Don't get me wrong—they definitely have some absolute gems in their catalog—but if you look at their entire body of work, they produced way more garbage than actual listenable music. I mean, seriously, why does everyone treat Pink Floyd like they're divine beings? Someone please explain this to me, because I genuinely don't get it.

stormygull22 said:Since we’re already talking about Pink Floyd—yeah, I listen to them, along with a bunch of others—I’ll be the first to admit I can crank some Vuco if I'm at a party, or maybe some Bebek if the mood strikes. But let's be real here—there is a massive, daylight-clear gap between where Vuco sits and where Pink Floyd lives. Now, don't get it twisted—I'm not trying to brag about my taste or kick anyone else's for what they like. It’s just a fact. Music nowadays has basically turned into a disposable consumer product; there's just so much less "real" music left out there. I mean, you look at guitarists—you've got legends like BB King versus... well, whoever else. Can you even put them in the same conversation? It doesn't matter who they are or where they come from. There are certain artists and bands who play music straight from the soul because they were actually born to be musicians. Then you have the trashy stuff—like Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift, or honestly, who knows who else—who will never, ever reach that level of artistry. When music stops being about the sound and starts being nothing more than a tool for profit, fame, and self-promotion, that’s when it becomes garbage. My love for Pink Floyd, or even someone like... well, you know, doesn't change the reality of the industry. Enough of the nonsense.
Honestly, I’m about two seconds away from clicking the link in my signature just to remind myself what actual music sounds like—you know, so I don't accidentally end up listening to whatever mainstream garbage is clogging up the airwaves right now. 😛

So, let me get this straight—you take a swing at Zoran Vučić and Bebek, and then you have the nerve to try and lecture me on Arsen Dedić? 🤣
Your taste is "impeccable," by the way... if your idea of perfection is mixing Pink Floyd with Vuco. But hey, clearly you’re operating on some much higher plane of consciousness than the rest of us, so I guess I shouldn't even bother trying to argue with someone on your level. 👍

Richard Brown51 said:Why does everyone treat Pink Floyd like they're absolute gods? I honestly don't get it... help me out here.

I think you pretty much answered your own question... ☕

Look, comparing Floyd to psychedelic rock is a lot like saying Jeff Mills is to electronic music—it’s not an exact science, but you get the gist of what I mean. If you don't care for electronic beats, you aren't going to grasp why people treat Jeff Mills like a god. It's the same deal with rock; if you aren't into the genre, you'll never understand why people worship Floyd or The Doors.

Come on, people. Tastes vary. Why is it so hard to just accept that? Why the constant need to pedestalize your own favorites while tearing down everyone else's? Are we really all this insecure about our own playlists? 🤣