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On the surface, few things are as revealing about a person as the sort of music they claim to like. Think, for a moment, about the major genres of music out there and the social and economic stereotypes associated with each. For decades, music has been used as a social tool to figure people out by categorizing them into neat, predictable boxes. Musical stereotyping has always been problematic, but in 2019, it’s also becoming woefully inaccurate about not only music fans, but also musicians. Today, music is bending and shifting into new styles that borrow from a spectrum of all genres and eras like never before. As musicians, we’re doing ourselves a massive disservice when we listen to music we think we like and nothing else.
The baggage of genre
Musical stereotypes can be harmful for musicians, but they can also provide comfortable and lazy identities to hide behind. If you make a certain type of music, the world expects you to act in predictable ways, whether it’s how you dress or the themes and instrumentation you feature in your work. Making the effort to explore work you think you don’t like can expose the drawbacks of the genre you write in by showing you what’s really going on with music you might’ve written off years ago. Once you recognize how powerful stereotype-driven expectation is in music, you can listen with new ears and start hearing an artist’s work for their creative merit and not through the filter of association.
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Opportunities to learn, grow, and discern
Listening to music you’re not familiar with or a fan of provides something many musicians are sorely lacking in their lives: newness. In music, it’s easy to decide what we like as teenagers and to write the same sounding songs over and over again. Giving music you think you don’t like another shot is a chance to become exposed to new ideas in music that can inform our own work. Try checking out some of your musical dislikes and you might find a surprising appreciation for the stuff you’ve long thought wasn’t for you––or it might just be plain awful. But even if your original negative impressions still ring true during this exercise, there’s still plenty of good to be gleaned through discernment. If you don’t like something in music, it’s important to get to the bottom of your feelings. Doing this develops your taste and hones your musical approach by not repeating the same mistakes you hear in another artist’s work. It all goes back to the priceless asset of curiosity in music, which gives artists the power to ask why things are the way they are, good or bad.
You might think that listening to music you don’t like is a waste of your time, but it’s an exercise that will probably do more for your creativity than listening to your favorite songs over and over again will. If you’re intent on bringing the most creativity you can to your work, you’ll have to find ways to embrace risk and discomfort in your process. Listening to music you don’t like is a great way to do it.
Patrick McGuire is a writer, musician, and human man. He lives nowhere in particular, creates music under the name Straight White Teeth, and has a great affinity for dogs and putting his hands in his pockets.
47 comments
Join the conversationGordon Kaswell - December 18, 2019
I figured out years ago that if there is a genre of music I do not like, it probably means that I do not know how to listen to it. By way of illustration, if I want deep lyrics, I’m not likely to find much from AC/DC, but if I want to dance, Bob Dylan might not be the best choice.
I occasionally go to the library and borrow CDs (yes, they still have them) of artists I know nothing about, just to stretch my tastes a bit. Most of the time I’m not excited by what I find, but occasionally I am.
The only exception I make in all of this is auto-tuned tracks. (Say goodbye to EDM.) I have a visceral reaction to them, and it isn’t pleasant. Except as a special/novelty effect, auto-tuned tracks are unlistenable to me. They sound phony. That’s because they are.
Free Amapiano Songs - May 31, 2021
This is Awesome
Rick - December 18, 2019
One should listen to music they don’t understand if it informs them if it does not there is no reason to.
If one is doing three chord pop songs it behoves them to listen to Classical or Baroque music, maybe a Gregorian chant or Stravinsky. If the artist can recreate the style but finds it to simple then what is the point. There is a saying in tennis. Always play against someone better than you. That is how you get better.
Justnaija music - June 14, 2021
Thanks for this…
9JABEE™ - July 7, 2021
I really appreciate
Williams - January 30, 2022
Well, its a nice piece of information you shared here.. thanks once again.. great job
Xan - December 18, 2019
Running a radio station for the last four and a half years has required me to deal with lots of different genres of music I would never otherwise listen to. And in the end you sort of come up with a “professional appreciation” of these genres if not ending up getting to like them somewhat. Certainly in as much as you can start to determine what are the best examples of that genre, which is important for radio programming. Quite possibly, the influence of this somehow makes it’s way into the songwriting experience.
jesusloves - February 4, 2020
Thanks so much..
Joinho - December 18, 2019
Thanks for an article.
Chasity Londyn - December 19, 2019
This was a beautiful read and a great reminder. Thank you for covering this topic ! Highly appreciated.
Alessio - December 19, 2019
I actually got it for a while. In my country’s language, we’ve got a really explicit figure of speech, but it’s a really way offensive one: “listening to s**t helps appreciating chocolate”.
TheMan - December 27, 2019
It’s time to get serious. I’m not going to listen to some idiot growling or screaming with the idea that it’s good to listen to something different. A variety of music is good…if the music is good. You can put lipstick on a pig but it’s still…
Babynaija - December 30, 2019
Thanks alot. I’ll follow all that has been said.
Soliu Jamiu Ishola - February 22, 2020
I used to feel like, what’s the essence of listening to a music I don’t like but this article has opened my eyes to some pure class.
OFFSET - February 22, 2020
I occasionally go to the library and borrow CDs (yes, they still have them) of artists I know nothing about, just to stretch my tastes a bit. Most of the time I’m not excited by what I find, but occasionally I am.
The only exception I make in all of this is auto-tuned tracks. (Say goodbye to EDM.) I have a visceral reaction to them, and it isn’t pleasant. Except as a special/novelty effect, auto-tuned tracks are unlistenable to me. They sound phony. That’s because they are.
Download Mp3 - May 27, 2021
Like seriously, this is the best
Johaness - March 14, 2020
Thank you guys for telling us
John inya - March 16, 2020
Nice article…am following
Hot Naija Music - March 16, 2020
Okay, nice one, thanks for the write up, its really helpful…
SA Songs - May 27, 2021
Indeed, its a very great article
Abolade - July 17, 2020
Thanks alot.
Victor - September 21, 2020
The only exception I make in all of this is auto-tuned tracks. (Say goodbye to EDM.) I have a visceral reaction to them, and it isn’t pleasant. Except as a special/novelty effect, auto-tuned tracks are unlistenable to me. They sound phony. That’s because they are.
Drip Naija - May 27, 2021
This comment is just great! I love it
Naija Mp3 Songs - May 31, 2021
God bless you! Thank you so much
Free Naija Mp3 - May 31, 2021
Thank you for covering this topic ! Highly appreciated.
Latest Naija Music - May 31, 2021
Great content here, Keep it up
Tope Oshikoya - July 16, 2021
Great content here, Keep it up
tinoloaded - August 16, 2021
Nice post
Vevo songs - August 16, 2021
Unique content my dear writer
Chris D. - August 29, 2021
I thought the content of this article was unique but unfortunately, I am perhaps too old fashioned or closed minded to even consider using reverse psychology for music I know is absolute garbage to my ears (i.e. all pop and hip-hop). I guess that I am the person this article was written for but just the thought of me sitting and listening to something horrible like Halsey or Billie Eilish just isn’t gonna happen. Not sorry at all.
Mayowa Silas Adeyanju - September 10, 2021
This is indeed a great content
tgpbaze - September 22, 2021
great thanks for this
Fedinard - September 27, 2021
Great Writeup, I agree with you have to give your ear to all kind of music because we improve and learn on a daily base
NigeriapenNG - October 9, 2021
I am glad to be one of several visitors on this great website. Thanks for posting. Hear is meant for hearing. So listen to all the learn or filter the part you want.
NaijaBeat - December 30, 2021
have you heard of amapiano. it’s a music genre i never liked and now i am in love with it.
Etoro Utin - June 7, 2022
Such a great article
Joy - January 29, 2022
Wonderful , I am glad to be here
Williams - February 22, 2022
This is awesome.. love it..
Wizkid - April 4, 2022
Well, this is kidda cool though. I ain’t gon lie.
Chinonso - April 6, 2022
Awesome
Wizzy - April 7, 2022
Nice one, thanks for this
Music Lover - April 23, 2022
music i dont like? well thats a strong word
Travelschoolar - June 5, 2022
Well, I will try this
Etoro Utin - June 7, 2022
Thanks for this article 🥰🥰
Joshua Isibor - June 9, 2022
Amazing
Nobsloaded - July 24, 2022
Great post very useful..
Naijagrin - December 3, 2022
Listening to afrobeats is the best and this genre of music helps a lot.