Defining Categories

jmeyer3131 · **Defining Categories -** 04-21-2007, 10:39 PM

When I saw the thread about alternative music, it got me thinking about categories. I don't think I'd even try to categorize music anymore, not even in a review. I've seen so many people get outright insulting when they don't agree with how an artist is categorized.

That, of course, makes it harder when you're trying to describe a song or artist.

What do you think? Have you ever had problems with this?

HAROLDISSIMO · 04-21-2007, 11:22 PM

Well, as in many other fields, categories can be a poor thing. On the other hand I could say it happens quite always that we need them. Think about school: we have different categories like history, philosophy, art, politics. Actually in real life they are not separated, it's our need, as we are limited.
I suppose the same happens with music. It's arbitrary to separate what it's one thing with different characteristics, but it's our need to better understand.
This should be the intention, for many ppl it becomes the target and that's wrong. From my point of view the matter is: who is so clever to decide categories? Personally I just use them as an instrument (maybe not good enough) to share feelings and opinions with someone, nothing else.
I remember an interview with Andreas Wollenweider, some years ago. He got upset as I asked him if his music could be called new age, then he understood that there was no intention to define his music, but to understand and everything was ok in a minute. It's alway very difficult to talk about music and it's very easy to speak the same language with other ppl without saying a word whaen we are listening to live music together. (More difficult when you talk about music in a foreign language.. lol)

Ciao

NickDanger · 04-22-2007, 03:12 AM

Labels can be useful in that they can keep you from buying apples when you wanted oranges, to use a tired analogy. So far as music goes, though, it can be a bit more difficult. "Alternative", I believe, was just a marketing term devised by folks whose sole interest was in 'moving units.' What "Alternative" was alternative to was never clearly defined.

jmeyer3131 · 04-22-2007, 03:05 PM

I think labels are necessary for describing things, but it seems like labels in the music industry have gotten so muddled anymore. Like NickDanger points out, there's not always a clear definition.

But what bothers me is how people get worked up over categories. I've been on music boards where someone will use a description, for example, "punk", to describe a band. As soon as a category is mentioned, it's like the rest of the post is meaningless. People who don't agree with the category start insulting the person and quoting Wikipedia definitions for the particular genre to prove their point.

That's the part that drives me nuts, especially with such lack of clear definition.

Taggart · 04-22-2007, 10:02 PM

This thread also reminds me of how many times I've seen artists interviewed, and then kind of balk at categorizing a song or album.

Sometimes a fairly hard rock band will have a hit with a ballad for example, and have an odd identity after that.

drg371950 · 05-24-2008, 03:59 PM

One of the fascinating things about this site is that you quickly come to realize that when it comes to music, there is no accounting for taste: each member has their own ideas about what makes good music and what they personally want to invest in and listen to.

I appreciate the fact that the members of this site respect one another's tastes in music and don't make fun of or ridicule other members, just because they themelves would never be caught dead listening to the artist that this other member admires.

The different genres and sub-genres of music are useful aids in discovering new artists that we might like, but so often it is easy to abuse categories. Artists themselves don't often stay in one category. They frequently evolve, so it is difficult to say that artist A belongs to this or that genre.

Recently I've had a running battle on wikipedia with some other members, insisting the a certain group fits into the neoclassical darkwave sub-genre; I put them in the listing, and next day my entry is removed. So, I add the band again, only to have it removed the next day. This has gone on and on for some time, but there are signs that I am winning the battle.

vikulenka · 05-24-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drg371950

One of the fascinating things about this site is that you quickly come to realize that when it comes to music, there is no accounting for taste: each member has their own ideas about what makes good music and what they personally want to invest in and listen to.

I appreciate the fact that the members of this site respect one another's tastes in music and don't make fun of or ridicule other members, just because they themelves would never be caught dead listening to the artist that this other member admires.

The different genres and sub-genres of music are useful aids in discovering new artists that we might like, but so often it is easy to abuse categories. Artists themselves don't often stay in one category. They frequently evolve, so it is difficult to say that artist A belongs to this or that genre.

Recently I've had a running battle on wikipedia with some other members, insisting the a certain group fits into the neoclassical darkwave sub-genre; I put them in the listing, and next day my entry is removed. So, I add the band again, only to have it removed the next day. This has gone on and on for some time, but there are signs that I am winning the battle.

Well said!

One exception :- we make fun of solaris' taste in music all the time!