Friday, September 11, 2009

Introducing... ELPHABA!

Hey everyone, I"m the newest author here at Reoganworks. My regular post is going to be a basic commentary on life as I see it. Whether or not you agree with it is entirely up to you.

This week: music, and people's opinions on it. (I know, fairly safe, but hey--it's my first one.)

Why is it that people constantly fight over what kind of music is "good"? At least, that's how it seems to me. I mean, I have my own opinions on what I think is good music (show tunes, Christian contemporary, and classical mostly), but someone else may think those genres are boring or uncreative. He or she may see rap or hip-hop as creative, "good" music
. Another person might think that jazz is "good" music.

But really, what makes music good or bad? Is it basic factors like being in tune or hitting/playing the right notes? Or is it what makes the music interesting? There, again, we run into another question: what makes it interesting? Or who decides what's interesting?

The truth is, different people have different ideas/opinions on what genre of music is "good". And I can hear some of you now, "no duh, Elphaba". And yes, it's a sentiment that's commonly agreed upon: we're all different, and there's nothing wrong with that.

So why fight over what makes something "good" music? I looked up the word "music" at dictionary.com, and it said, "
an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color". It doesn't name specific kinds of music, it just describes what music is. Ultimately, isn't that why we listen in the first place--to find a piece of music that will express OUR ideas and emotions in significant forms? I know that's why I do it--you could enjoy it for an entirely different reason; I sure don't know.

So yeah... I don't really have a last paragraph to tie it all together--not very good writing, I know. Just a few paragraphs to make you think.

8 comments:

Elphaba said...

Wow, I hadn't realized how small that font would be. Sorry, everyone!

Reogan said...

Best not to tamper with the default.

Well, of course, I'm madly in love with JoCo, TMBG, and the Barenaked Ladies, but most interweb geeks are ;)

Music reflects interests. I like the geeky things these artists include. Some like the room for interpretation some music leaves, and others love religious chant. Some people like showtunes because they like meaning or story behind the words. Anyway, remember that you can listen to every one of JoCo's songs on his website (www.jonathancoulton.com) for free. Check the lyrics before listening in public places, and avoid 'First of May.'

Or don't.







And if you don't know about Pandora.com, look it up.

Met said...

I cannot believe I did not comment on this when it was written.


http://ocremix.org/

'nuff said

Reogan said...

I miss these posts. Your fiction was often good, but these were... thoughtful. I liked the semi-sprawling format, wherein each interrogative led into the next. More please?

Elphaba said...

We'll see. Maybe.

Reogan said...

Soon, please?

Elphaba said...

Possibly this Friday.

Reogan said...

Yay!