so, just what is it about music?

[mooominmama]

maybe i'm being a bit thick, but i'd love to hear other peoples thoughts... just what is it about music that gets people so excited? its clearly important to the people that comment on these pages, is it as important to everyone? is it important? is it important to people that their [potential] partner be into the same music, or any but with the same passion? whats it all about then, eh?

its kinda of easy to guess when ive done too many night dutys, my mind gets a bit wandersome..

[stuhuggett]

Dunno about the answer to this one: the circumstances of my various living arrangements have meant that the large majority of my time spent listening to recorded music has been in my own room or flat on my own. But I think everyone really enjoys sharing the music they like with their friends and partners. There's been different amounts of crossover areas between the music I like and the music my various exes have liked, but that's always come well below secondary in terms of the reasons why I like someone.
Live music is, of course, largely a social activity anyway.

I think music just affects part of the brain in a pleasurable way (even if it's unwelcoming or abrasive music) that we don't really know about (I mean we as in us lot, I'm sure psychologists have a better understanding); and that this ties in with the pleasures we get from socialising, being with our partners etc.

I'm shortly due to go to Camber and over-saturate my brain with The Noisy Music again anyway. I definitely wish I was going with a partner too, so there's some kind of link there.

Get some sleep now Paula!

[stuhuggett]

Re: aforementioned nurse dream - I was actually telepathically channelling someone else (not Paula)! How bizarre!

[mooominmama]

thank you stu for yr words of wisdom... dunno that it helped, sorry... doesnt alter the fact that there are times when the music [plus other stuff of course] you like says something about you that someone else might not like and vice-versa, yes/no? i guess sometimes it illustrates yr kind of mindset or summat... ....
oh and im not allowed to sleep, it seems im covering all the night dutys for all the people in the world at the mo, also never live above a hospital, very noisy!

[stuhuggett]

Sounds to me that you've got something more specific to you in mind here, but anyway:
I agree that the music you like does say something about what you're like as a person (or what you'd like to be though of as being like), but I don't think it's that useful for judging a friend or partner's personality or emotional build.
I've been quite happy to sit through music I don't like in the company of a person I really like 'cos it's just nice to be spending time with them. I wouldn't lie and pretend I liked that particular music, but I wouldn't make them change it, or criticise what it means to them personally.
By the same token, I'd find it upsetting if someone decided they didn't want to hang round/go out with me, just 'cos they saw a Spice Girls or Throbbing Gristle record in my room, or didn't understand why I like The Field Mice or The Fall.
I think music will only say a great deal about you if it's something that largely deals with subjects that many people find unpalatable (black metal acts, far-right punk groups) - but even then I think it's possible to listen to Whitehouse or Merzbow without being sociopathic!
And only a complete idiot would force themselves not to have an emotional reaction to mainstream music, so to criticise somebody who may only like mainstream stuff would be dishonest.
Anyone else gonna try and help with the answers to Paula's query?

[Carolyn B]

For me music is very important. I was trying to explain to paul the other day why I loved duplo (prompted by 'nightmare' of another girl announcing the arrival of a duplo baby) - and it because it causes an emotional reaction - now nearly 15 years on in a nostalgic way - but at the time because it made me happy.

I was once given the Best of M People by a long term partner, the relationship crumbled shortly after -not just because of that but it made me realise how important it was for a partner to at least have an understanding of what I would like and not music wise.

I hope that I would not judge a potential partner by their music tastes (as I would not like to be - take that do rule) - but it was difficult once, when taken on a date to see the Fun Lovin' Criminals and the boy in question thought they were the most exciting thing on the music scene at the time.

Apols to any FLC and MPeople fans out there - I am simply trying to illustrate how important it is for a partner to know you at all. Most of what paul listens to I don't like but we do find stuff that we both like by sharing stuff.

Anyone else up for seeing Tabby at the new venue in Bexhill in Feb - I'm taking me Nan...

[marcusjr]

Soundtracks to our lives, the narrative we share with other people and the score beneath that.

Listening to music can also be a solitary activity, but this is a recent development and I think that because historically it was impossible to listen to music without there being at least one other person present to create the music, so perhaps listening to music has something to do with making us feel less alone.

There are also a number of ideas about rhythm that would suggest that is kind of hard wired into us. The 4/4 is inherent most human physical activity be it walking, chopping carrots or making love.

[mooominmama]

hey guys thank you for your thoughts they are very interesting... well observed marcus, i probably do have something specific in mind, guess i just wanted to see if i was just being a bit shallow or nuts, i wasnt dismissing someone because they happen to like something i dont...(my god the old pender has got some very strange tastes!!) (well he went out with me, nuff said) but i think not in hindsight, sometimes its nice to have some sort of framework with which to help illustrate who you are in order for people to 'get you' when you really really really try and they still dont or at least seem to not care very much its a bit disheartening... that said maybe its been useful in that its made me look at some stuff in both myself and others and my response to certain situations... so there. enuff now of serious girl. its my birthday and im gonna get well mermed up!!!!!

[stuhuggett]

The latest controversy in the Scilly Isles, ladies and gentlemen, undoubtably and indubitably spells Booze:
B, Double-O, Z, E...

[mooominmama]

hey just like to announce, yes, it did take me a while to type this but im not so bad that i cant!!! lets leave that till the weekend!!!

i would also like to thank barbie and chris at this point (tho they never log on ) for absolutely the best birthday i have ever had, i love them to bits and between them and all my other pals including the ppender i honestly cant remember the last time i had such a lovely lovely birthday... ... thank you. xxx

[stuhuggett]

Hey! Paula's pissed! We all love you too, looking forward to you visiting over December.
Spent the first part of the evening over at the Horse And Groom with Michael and Caroline: can we collectively point out that you are very welcome to stay over in their their lounge, or our lounge or spare room, whilst you're in the area for Christmas? Thank you. Sleep well, x

[the colonial]

Oh crap I make love in Waltz timing - iss there something wrong with me - nooooooooooo!

[stuhuggett]

Nick: as there's at least one of your exes contributing to these boards, are you sure you want to be asking these questions?! Could be worse, just imagine the following:
The Chuckle Brothers - "To me, to you"
Eric Morecombe - "Boom! Ooh! Ya-ta-ta-taa!"

Er, sorry everyone.

[the colonial]

Exes, Hexes, Vexes schmexes! Balls I say! Maybe 5/7 time was the way to go hmmmmm.

[stuhuggett]

Slow Slow Quick-Quick Slow.