I don’t know about you but no matter how hard I try, I can’t like everything – especially when it comes to music. It really hits me when I bump into an artist that has that really catchy hit but once the album rolls around, that one track is the only one that appeals. It is then I feel let down and like I was suckered into buying a CD I don’t fully enjoy.
My sister recently purchased BoA’s North American release, THE FIRST ALBUM, and felt let down since the most of the album was just standard clubby tunes. I’m just glad I didn’t go out and pick it up. Still, I’m glad she did since I never would have been able to get my thoughts cleared out about this piece.
I loved BoA’s earlier Japanese stuff: Amazing Kiss, ID Peace B, Listen To My Heart, etc. I don’t exactly know what happened but somewhere around merikuri, I fell off the bandwagon. Maybe her fully English album would rekindle that fire within me. Sadly, it didn’t do much for me.
I think I’ve made it pretty clear through my many online profiles that Japanese TechnoPop, Drum and Bass, and Electro are my favourite genres of music. Give me anything by Perfume, Pendulum, or Justice and I’ll eat it up. Sticking to your favourite genres is safe but sometimes, even your genre fails you.
Back to my anecdote, I’ve liked some pop dance hip-hoppy stuff in the past though nothing really comes to mind at the moment. Liking genres doesn’t work all the time but c’mon, I told myself, it’s BoA. You’ll love this album regardless of what sister says. She says she doesn’t like dance music. I like electronic. I know they’re not the same but I should be fine.
Wrong.
Out of the whole album, I felt only “Did Ya” stood out, but wasn’t by any means groundbreaking. It was a bit more fun sounding than most of the tracks but that really isn’t saying much. Her whole album just feels numb compared to her older stuff. I’m just wondering if I’d like “Eat You Up” as much as I do if it didn’t have a PV…
Compared to other new music I’ve come across, THE FIRST ALBUM, barely makes a blip in the groove radar. The most recent stand-out blips I can think of are from the two groups I’ve spotlighted in NewLikes: Girls’ Generation’s Gee and You Love Her Coz She’s Dead’s Superheroes and Wizards. I specify those tracks because I don’t really go out of my way to find Korean Pop or Chiptunes acts. I wouldn’t consider myself a legitimate fan of either genre since I only listen to one or two acts from each. This proves stand-out music transcends genre. Another prime example of this phenomenon is Lenka. Normally, her genre of un-folk doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest but something about her voice and presentation had me sold.
Same with The Pipettes.
At the lightest end of this effect, I could detest a song but if someone were to make a FUN stepchart to it on In The Groove, I’d play it. This is proven with me playing Crank That and Umbrella stepcharts. I don’t exactly hate those songs but I’d never voluntarily buy either album or listen to it outside of playing In The Groove.
This effect at a medium scale would be any song that’s made me a fan of the genre. capsule and TechnoPop, Dieselboy and Drum & Bass / Darkstep, Justice and Electro, m-flo and Japanese Hip-Hop, Hamasaki Ayumi and Japanese Pop, Scott Brown and Hardcore. Listening to songs of new genres that makes me want to explore further must have meant something to make me want to dive head-first into a new world.
The largest scale of this effect would have to be what happened with me and Nicole Atkins and Lenka. Each artist has a song that has really touched me lyrically and musically. Nicole’s Maybe Tonight is a refreshing wake up call that tells me this genre hasn’t completely died on me while Lenka’s Like A Song just has a haunting effect which I just adore and listen to in awe. Another example of this would be if a certain song is playing during memorable parts of my life: A song played at a climactic part of a movie or video game (Melodies of Life from Final Fantasy IX or the entire Braid soundtrack). A random song playing on the radio with friends (K-OS’ Sunday Morning). They might have nothing to do with the actual scenario but the song just reminds you of good times. An odd thing that sometimes happens is a certain melody or combination of notes can cause me to shed tears. I don’t know why.
So when a friend introduces new music to me, the song runs through these three levels of judgment: Is it of a genre I enjoy? Does it stand out? Does it mean anything to me or make me emote? Chances are that if a yes didn’t pop up from those questions, I won’t like it. That may change depending on a few factors. Firstly, am I in the mood for that genre at the moment? Does it do anything unique or something totally unheard of? Situationally, are we doing something fun where this song might enhance the mood? If a yes pops out of those questions, I might just happen to enjoy what you’re giving me – just like trying to soften up a parent to say yes to a question you know they’ll say no to, appease them, then you’ll get the answer you want. It’s only manipulative if the responding party notices…
…This is also why I tend to keep my musical tastes to myself when I meet new people, unless of course they ask what kind of music I like. I’m usually not the one to bring up the music talk unless I know they listen to something I know.
