Pink Floyd. What gives?

You need to listen to



Gentle Giant's greatest hits called Pretentious - For The Sake Of It

It has music from the first six albums:

• Gentle Giant
  
• Acquiring The Taste
  
• Three Friends
  
• Octopus
  
• In A Glass House
  
• The Power And The Glory
  

Magnificent stuff - I guess you just like it or you don't. Although there are exceptions, I find Rap. Hip Hop and most Soul music and Jazz mean very little to me - they either lack humour or the humour in the music is not apparent to me. I'm sure others find them interesting and get great enjoyment from listening to them.

I guees I grew up with Syd Barrett's music and it has an unequalled magic for me - very few artists give me more pleasure - probably only Shirley Collins and HMHB really.

I wish somebody could explain the appeal of Rap. Hip Hop and most Soul music to me, as I'm probably missing out, but I guess I'll go through life without ever understanding - oh well back to the wonderful world of Faust.

I guess musical preference really is a mysterious phenomenon. Part of the Pink Floyd appeal may simply be nostalgia or possibly the fact that this music go's well with mind altering substances that are no longer fashionable...As for me I'd take Aretha Franklin playing three chords on the piano over all of DSOTM any day...Regards..BB

I never have liked DSOTM or the albums after it. I like Pink Floyd's albums before it though.

You're right about Gentle Giant. Their albums are excellent, especially the early ones.

Scott

quote:

Originally posted by Big Brother:
.. I'd take Aretha Franklin playing three chords on the piano ...Regards..BB

I did say there would be exceptions to my general statement that I don't like soul music - Aretha is one of those exceptions.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ROTF:
I did say there would be exceptions to my general statement that I don't like soul music - Aretha is one of those exceptions.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

If Aretha truly floats your boat, there is nothing to stop you taking the plunge. Try pretty much anything on Stax, James Carr on Goldwax and early Joe Tex for starters. Any of those Dave Godin 'Deep Soul' compilations are superb too.

jcs - you would've been at home with most rock critics in the 70s-80's, who felt almost exactly as you do. While not knocking your feelings, back then there was a kind of rock critic snobbery emerging. Those urban critics who valued punk and its attendant "street cred" looked down on the younger, largely suburban & middle class kids who drove the sales of Led Zeppelin and the Prog bands. "Escapism" (which is evident from many Prog lyrics - SciFi and obscure poetry) was bad, alienated rage good. Also, there were real class differences which drove music consumption: those in the 'burbs could afford relatively expensive stereos (without which Dark Side, among others, doesn't come off as well); urban kids had boomboxes, from which Never Mind the Bollocks sounded great. Of course, there were suburban kids into punk, and inner-city ones who dug ELP; just not generally.

Isn't this just the same with all types of music?

I can't take Mahler and have almost as much problem with Wagner, but I adore Walton, Sibelius and Prokofiev in the rate romantic classical music. The lack of comprehension on my part is my loss, but I would never rain on someone else's parade about it! I am sure that Mahler fans could have a big problem with some of my favourite styles of classical music.

As it happens I dislike more classical music than pop, or rock, because I know the repertoire far better, but listen without any prejudice at all to rock and pop. I enjoy Dark Side Of The Moon [which is one of about half a dozen pop, rock, and jazz records in my collection which is nigh on 1000 strong], and did not realise, before now that there was any so called class issue with it. This sounds like the most forelorn style of snobbery creaping in to me! Dear Mr Smth, I am not of course accusing you of that. One branch of popular music I can find no use for is Rap or Hip-hop, where the aims seem anything but life enhancing to me, and that has nothing to do with snobbery! I actually find parallels with some classical music here!

One of the most frustrating issues with the classics for me is not just the snobbery involved in some quarters, but also the inverted snobbery in others, that sadly see it as a pose or elitist, which it distanctly is not! Mozart thought it marvelous that the Barrow Boys and the Grand Dukes could equally enjoy his music. Bach may not have had such a broad view, but there is something in his music for everyone even two and a half centuries on...

I have a feeling that there is a Thread in admitting to liking certain music not generally regarded as anything other than kitsch. I bet a few of my favourite non-classical Albums fall into that group!

All music is worth giving a chance to!

Fredrik

hi all,
quite simple really - one mans meat is another mans poison.
feed me floyd all day,i love it !!
scotty

quote:

And what is this about Syd Barrett? I’m totally mystified about the appeal there. Maybe it’s a generational thing

I guess what really amazes me is that people get stuck on one specefic genre rather than moving on to other stuff..Don't have any issue with people who like Pink Floyd or any other 60's or 70's band, some of Floyd's music is quite pleasant..Problem is, stuff like DSOTM has been so overexposed on 'classic' radio that hearing it fresh any more is a no go..Lots of good stuff from the 60's but they play the same 100 songs or just plain kitchy drivel that should have died a quiet death years ago..So many people who grew up in the 70's, would rather hear Syd Barrett cut a fart than anything really interested that is going on now..I can remember reading one thread in these forums on David Bowie's latest, again to each his own, but.. my god.. the man hasn't done anything relevant since 1976.....

perhaps people like me keep going back to "old stuff" ie floyd / zepp, reflects the state of modern music!!
i have a very wide range of musical tastes and listen to everything from classical to blues but always end up after a while turning to my favs. as stated before each to hes own dont expect everyone to like or understand the attraction but there it is......i cant understand the attraction to rap music but that was another thread.
stay cool, scotty

Yo... Scotty,..Chill...Don't even trip about it bro!! Peace Out.....BB

quote:

Originally posted by bhazen:
Those urban critics who valued punk and its attendant "street cred" looked down on the younger, largely suburban & middle class kids who drove the sales of Led Zeppelin and the Prog bands. "Escapism" (which is evident from many Prog lyrics - SciFi and obscure poetry) was bad, alienated rage good. Also, there were real class differences which drove music consumption: those in the 'burbs could afford relatively expensive stereos (without which Dark Side, among others, doesn't come off as well); urban kids had boomboxes, from which Never Mind the Bollocks sounded great. Of course, there were suburban kids into punk, and inner-city ones who dug ELP; just not generally.

Sorry I really can't see it as a class thing. When I was in the first form at school the sixth formers liked ELP, Genesis, etc. When I was in the 6th form most of us considered prog to be old fashioned crap. We would have as likely wanted to listen to Genesis as we would to have listened to Perry Como. It had no relevance to us and whereas I can listen to things now that I would never havce countenanced then there is something about prog that I can't fathom. It's like it's from another universe. I just don't understand it. And thbat uis what prompted my question. I'm baffled as to why Pink Floyd generates such adulation. When I was 15 it was common to be beaten up because of the types of music you liked or didn't like. It just seemed bizarre that some0one nearly tried toi do the same thing last week to me over Pink Floyd

quote:

I guess musical preference really is a mysterious phenomenon

And therein lies its enigmatic delight.

I and others were banging on about our love of Nick Drake's music in these parts a while back. A contributor was inspired enough to go out and buy some albums.

He came back saying "I don't get it - can you explain to me what's so wonderful about this music"?

Er........ No, not really. You either 'get it' or you don't.

John.

The type of music you like probably has a lot to do with the type of music you were exposed to in your childhood. When I was in my early teens I was in a boarding school dormitory with a couple of prog fans, and that's when prog became hard wired into my brain. Although I now listen to a wider range of music, prog has always been "comfort music" to me, just like the food I was brought up with is "comfort food".

So that explains why I like certain bands. But I don't think those bands are godlike and immune to criticism. That's just silly.

Steve

Dear jcs_smith,

So you were beaten up for not liking Perry Como? And they came after you again last week? Holy crap! What drama! Upon reflection, that WWII generation are a pretty tough lot!

DCT

Hello,

A couple of you have mentioned how radio over exposure has negatively impacted some music. I totally agree with that. Here in the states we have a genre called Classic Rock (mostly 60s & 70s) that has caused much of this. On paper it would seem to be a good thing to have a radio station that would feauture music by groups like the Beatles & Pink Floyd, among many others.

In practice Classic Rock stations play the same 5 or so songs from each Classic Rock group. For example you will hear The Steve Miller Band's song, Fly Like An Eagle a zillion times but never hear anything from the SMB's Your Saving Grace or Brave New World albums. Even if a group was wildly popular their non-hit material, even LPs in their entirety don't get played.

Pink Floyd have several songs that get played on the Classic Rock stations but only those songs and little else. As a result Pink Floyd and other acts who have a wealth of great music become hated due to people being over exposed to the same few songs while never hearing the non-hits.

Scott

quote:

Originally posted by David Tribe:
Dear jcs_smith,

So you were beaten up for not liking Perry Como? And they came after you again last week? Holy crap! What drama! Upon reflection, that WWII generation are a pretty tough lot!

DCT

Perry Como: king of grindcool or was that Andy Williams.

I never could forgive Andy, firstly he wouldn't give that bear any cookies and secondly he intoduced us to the Osmonds - and I don't mean Ozzy and Sharon. There again Andy recorded some good pops songs in his time.

Anyway - although I prefer a less easy listening style, I don't think people should be beaten up for liking Perry (or Andy) that should be reserved for Phil Collins.

quote:

Originally posted by David Tribe:
Dear jcs_smith,

So you were beaten up for not liking Perry Como? And they came after you again last week? Holy crap! What drama! Upon reflection, that WWII generation are a pretty tough lot!

DCT

I promise you, no-one has ever beaten me up. A few have tried though

No one has ever tried to beat me up either, but no one even atempted to start to. I try not to discuss my musical tastes with complete strangers, which may the reason why. Or not...

Fredrik

quote:

Originally posted by Fredrik_Fiske:
No one has ever tried to beat me up either, but no one even atempted to start to. I try not to discuss my musical tastes with complete strangers, which may the reason why. Or not...

Fredrik

Fredrik

I'm still far more surprised that you don't enjoy Gustav Mahler than I am that there are some folk who don't like Pink Floyd

Rotf

Just one more thought on this subject. Having made slightly derisive comments about Floyd and been attacked in these forums makes me realize that for better or worse, the music we love is the music we love and these emotional bonds are not broken by critical thought, nor should they be. I have been on the other side too, and reacted out of character when "my" music was attacked. I hope the Floyd Heads will stay away (ie. bugger off ) when I post about music they find offensive. I will do the same for them. Personally, I think I(and we) need to lighten up a little bit ....Big Brother

All in all, it's just another brick in the wall.

quote:

When I was 15 it was common to be beaten up because of the types of music you liked or didn't like. It just seemed bizarre that some0one nearly tried toi do the same thing last week to me over Pink Floyd

could it be that it's not the music at all, and is merely a facet of your personality that enrages people in the way that the red flag aparrently excites the bull? or at least, that music is simply a convenient vehicle to express their dislike or contempt (verbally or physically).

just a thought.

quote:

Originally posted by jcs_smith:

quote:

Originally posted by bhazen:
Those urban critics who valued punk and its attendant "street cred" looked down on the younger, largely suburban & middle class kids who drove the sales of Led Zeppelin and the Prog bands. "Escapism" (which is evident from many Prog lyrics - SciFi and obscure poetry) was bad, alienated rage good. Also, there were real class differences which drove music consumption: those in the 'burbs could afford relatively expensive stereos (without which Dark Side, among others, doesn't come off as well); urban kids had boomboxes, from which Never Mind the Bollocks sounded great. Of course, there were suburban kids into punk, and inner-city ones who dug ELP; just not generally.

Sorry I really can't see it as a class thing. When I was in the first form at school the sixth formers liked ELP, Genesis, etc. When I was in the 6th form most of us considered prog to be old fashioned crap. We would have as likely wanted to listen to Genesis as we would to have listened to Perry Como. It had no relevance to us and whereas I can listen to things now that I would never havce countenanced then there is something about prog that I can't fathom. It's like it's from another universe. I just don't understand it. And thbat uis what prompted my question. I'm baffled as to why Pink Floyd generates such adulation. When I was 15 it was common to be beaten up because of the types of music you liked or didn't like. It just seemed bizarre that some0one nearly tried toi do the same thing last week to me over Pink Floyd

What I was pointing out was as much an age thing as a class one; similar to your experience, just that I'm older than you. Here in the U.S. (which is in denial about its increasingly Brazil-like class arrangement) class, age and geography are startlingly accurate in assigning likely music tastes; we're so programmed by TV and advertising here. I love the (pre-Wall) Floyd myself, but whoever assaulted you about not liking them was an unthinking wretch. Whatever happened to good manners...

quote:

Originally posted by Rico:
[QUOTE]

could it be that it's not the music at all, and is merely a facet of your personality that enrages people in the way that the red flag aparrently excites the bull? or at least, that music is simply a convenient vehicle to express their dislike or contempt (verbally or physically).

just a thought.

I kinda doubt this! Imagine if someone called your mamma a ho'!.... Imagine this is music that, from an early age meant a great deal on levels emotional and levels you don't even know exist. Now realize people go to great lengths and expense to get concert tickets not to mention dosh spent on records and tee-shirts ect. Now imagine you may identify yourself with said band. Then someone comes along and tells you it's all CRAP. Now how would you feel ?, Regards BB