I had to endure a long playlist of Bruno Mars songs today

[buzzword]

Tell ya' what - when your generation takes a computer that occupies three city blocks, make it a thousand times more powerful, squash it into a briefcase and sell it to you for $300, then invent an internet for you to be arrogant, condescending and full of s***, and do it in a suburban garage - between bong hits, creates music for following generations to copy without doing even just one f***ing original thing, then you can talk.

My generation? Uhh, I'm 62, the same age as you. But one thing I recognize is that every generation thinks it's music is best. Studies have shown that the music you hear between the ages of 16 and 21 is the music that sounds "best" to you for the rest of your life. *Every* generation's music is derivative. As I got older I started to get a little bored with music because everything started to sound like I'd heard it before, oh yeah, that's a little so and so mixed with a side of this and that. But then I realized it's completely natural to incorporate your influences, musicians do it because of love for those influences and the music they loved growing up. The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin were influenced by the bluesmen, the Beatles by the Everly Brothers, Nirvana by the Beatles, etc. You incorporate your influences and add something of your own the the recipe, if you're a real talent it can point you in a driection that sounds totally original. After I realized that I began to enjoy music again and enjoyed recognizing what influences were present. By realizing what your favorite bands were influenced by, you seek those influences out, far easier today than it was when we were growing up! There are only 7 notes, and they were around long before the 1960's, regardless of whether it's music or transistors, every generation stands on the shoulders of those before, so get over yourself dude.

 

[srblue5]

I try to keep an open mind -- and I do like some bits of newer music -- but I figure out pretty quickly what I like and dislike. Being bludgeoned over the head with a newer artist like that that I don't like would probably make me want to vomit and/or quit (especially in a work setting, which is stressful enough).

Years ago, I had a girlfriend who would always commandeer the music selection in my car. Must've listened to that "Havana" song on every single car ride for about 3-4 months. My requests for a change in music (even a temporary reprieve with my iPod) were usually flat-out ignored (at best), met with a scoff, or escalated into an argument. Once when I asked to change the music so I could get into the zone right before a gig we were driving to, she bs'd me about how it was healthier for me to figure out how to get into the zone without listening to my music. All this wasn't the main reason we soon separated but I'll be damned if it wasn't a significant contributing factor.

The “Mum” part suits me fine

Never understood what people saw/heard in Mumford & Son. Evidently I'm not alone:

"Folk rock"? Okay, whatever you say. I'll be in my corner with Simon & Garfunkel, 10000 Maniacs, and The Lovin Spoonful if you need me.

I like Uptown Funk. Yes its a total derivative rip off of a whole bunch of 70s and 80s artists, but it was good to hear that classic sound on the radio a few years ago. Its pretty catchy and it gets butts shakin' on the dance floor and panties wet.

I grew to hate that song. I found it relatively inoffensive yet bland the first few times I first heard it but everybody playing it out at parties or requesting/playing it at gigs made me start to absolutely despite it. Maybe it's catchy but it just sounds trite to me. Individual mileage may vary, of course.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

I typically find Bruno Mars anywhere between "fine" and "I can ignore this". I do think he's a funny choice of newer artist for fans of "the old stuff" to rag on, but I also find him a very vanilla point for someone who hasn't heard that stuff to stop on. It's like the Fifty Shades books. Whenever someone would go on to me about how great they were, that mostly just told me that they were starved of a certain kind of media that they were obviously (if subconsciously) craving.

My interpretations of Mars' music is that he is too "self-consciously" old-school. He seems to be a great student of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, perhaps some Prince, etc., and also pretty good at (at least superficially) replicating these. But he doesn't seem to use any of that to take the next step, whatever that might be for him. My favorite thing he's done that I've heard was the first Silk Sonic single, but then I listened to some of the album and thought, "I like this stuff, and they do this stuff well, but I've already heard this stuff done better."

Contrast that with someone like, say, Gary Clark Jr. or Black Pumas. You can tell they listened to a lot of the same old stuff but, while they may not be hugely groundbreaking, you can tell they're not stuck there.

 

[NoTeleBob]

The only Bruno Mars song I know is "When I was your man". Just him and a piano and a little ballad about the girl he screwed up with. Not a bad song.

 

[sloppychops]

My generation? Uhh, I'm 62, the same age as you. But one thing I recognize is that every generation thinks it's music is best. Studies have shown that the music you hear between the ages of 16 and 21 is the music that sounds "best" to you for the rest of your life. *Every* generation's music is derivative. As I got older I started to get a little bored with music because everything started to sound like I'd heard it before, oh yeah, that's a little so and so mixed with a side of this and that. But then I realized it's completely natural to incorporate your influences, musicians do it because of love for those influences and the music they loved growing up. The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin were influenced by the bluesmen, the Beatles by the Everly Brothers, Nirvana by the Beatles, etc. You incorporate your influences and add something of your own the the recipe, if you're a real talent it can point you in a driection that sounds totally original. After I realized that I began to enjoy music again and enjoyed recognizing what influences were present. By realizing what your favorite bands were influenced by, you seek those influences out, far easier today than it was when we were growing up! There are only 7 notes, and they were around long before the 1960's, regardless of whether it's music or transistors, every generation stands on the shoulders of those before, so get over yourself dude.

Studies have shown that the music you hear between the ages of 16 and 21 is the music that sounds "best" to you for the rest of your life.

Man, oh man, that is so not true for me. At that age I was into The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Moody Blues, Genesis, Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Allman Brothers. Now I NEVER listen to any of that stuff and really have no interest in it at all. If I never hear another Led Zeppelin song in my life I'll be just fine.

I don't doubt that for most people, particularly non-musicians, the music of their youth is what they like to this day. I know people like this...50 to 60 years old who are still listening to Led Zeppelin, etc. and acting like it's the greatest music ever made.

 

[pixeljammer]

Up next: Ed Sheeran

 

[Ron R]

I've got no problem with Bruno. He's a very talented dude and an excellent singer. And I have yet to hear anything about what a jerk he is (as we end up hearing about too many pop stars). And, as mentioned by Killing Floor, the Silk Sonic album is excellent.

 

[notjustbass]

I bet Bruno Mars is more talented than you.

 

[ChicknPickn]

"He did the Super Bowl. What a loser."

 

[BigDaddyLH]

I'm starting to feel sorry for Choppers. Are ganging up on him? Haven't we all been annoyed with music playing somewhere that you can't escape from? The music doesn't have to be awful, you just have to have had enough of it.

 

[mexicanyella]

.

 

[buzzword]

Studies have shown that the music you hear between the ages of 16 and 21 is the music that sounds "best" to you for the rest of your life.

Man, oh man, that is so not true for me. At that age I was into The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Moody Blues, Genesis, Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Allman Brothers. Now I NEVER listen to any of that stuff and really have no interest in it at all. If I never hear another Led Zeppelin song in my life I'll be just fine.

I don't doubt that for most people, particularly non-musicians, the music of their youth is what they like to this day. I know people like this...50 to 60 years old who are still listening to Led Zeppelin, etc. and acting like it's the greatest music ever made.

I find some holds up and some doesn't, I never tire of Led Zeppelin (excluding Stairway to Heaven) or the Rolling Stones or early Santana but although I was a huge fan of The Who, rarely if ever do I listen to any of their albums any longer, I have 1500 CD's which I never listen to. I'm usually on the lookout for new stuff all the time, my wife and I both like to keep our phones Shazam ready while we're watching television because these days many shows feature some really great music. As for the 16-21 imprinting, my wife is 9 years younger than me and what sounds "best" to her are the 80's "hair bands" which I absolutely loath. Fortunately there's enough music out there that we both love

 

[sloppychops]

I find some holds up and some doesn't, I never tire of Led Zeppelin (excluding Stairway to Heaven) or the Rolling Stones or early Santana but although I was a huge fan of The Who, rarely if ever do I listen to any of their albums any longer, I have 1500 CD's which I never listen to. I'm usually on the lookout for new stuff all the time, my wife and I both like to keep our phones Shazam ready while we're watching television because these days many shows feature some really great music. As for the 16-21 imprinting, my wife is 9 years younger than me and what sounds "best" to her are the 80's "hair bands" which I absolutely loath. Fortunately there's enough music out there that we both love

Tell your wife to check out Kix. They're a great 80s band (still playing, too!) that never got the success they deserved. They're from the area where I grew up and I saw them a few times way back when.

 

[Willie Johnson]

Then Mumford & Sons.

You shoulda just led with this--Insurance Commercial Neo-Folk.

 

[Blackmore Fan]

I would think that any business owner that wanted to maximize productivity would minimize polorazing music in the work place. And that doesn't just mean Bruno Mars, or pop, or country, or metal. I'd just pick something instrumental and call it a day...and keep the volume low.

 

[sloppychops]

I find some holds up and some doesn't, I never tire of Led Zeppelin (excluding Stairway to Heaven) or the Rolling Stones or early Santana but although I was a huge fan of The Who, rarely if ever do I listen to any of their albums any longer, I have 1500 CD's which I never listen to. I'm usually on the lookout for new stuff all the time, my wife and I both like to keep our phones Shazam ready while we're watching television because these days many shows feature some really great music. As for the 16-21 imprinting, my wife is 9 years younger than me and what sounds "best" to her are the 80's "hair bands" which I absolutely loath. Fortunately there's enough music out there that we both love

I do the same thing when I'm watching TV. I've "discovered" a lot of great stuff just by looking up some of the music I hear in movies (mostly streaming series).

 

[sloppychops]

You shoulda just led with this--Insurance Commercial Neo-Folk.

I once worked at a place where someone posted a video on Slack and talked about how great Mumford and Sons are. I responded that they're an insult to Americana music. Instantly ostracized.

 

[pixeljammer]

I once worked at a place where someone posted a video on Slack and talked about how great Mumford and Sons are. I responded that they're an insult to Americana music. Instantly ostracized.

That’s the good kind of ostracism!

 

[buzzword]

Tell your wife to check out Kix. They're a great 80s band (still playing, too!) that never got the success they deserved. They're from the area where I grew up and I saw them a few times way back when.

Mentioned it to her, you'll be pleased to know she was familiar with them and back in the day "I even had some of their cassette tapes" (yikes!)

 

[goonie]

I would think that any business owner that wanted to maximize productivity would minimize polorazing music in the work place. And that doesn't just mean Bruno Mars, or pop, or country, or metal. I'd just pick something instrumental and call it a day...and keep the volume low.

Speaking of business owners making good choices, I was out for dinner this week and the hotel had this background music that was just incredibly nondescript but also pleasantly musical and perfect for the situation. You know the Al Green song Tired Of Being Alone? Well it was two hours of songs in that light R&B vein. All of them well constructed, well arranged and played, and ideal as a background to conversation and for helping to create a good vibe. And the weird thing was none of them were hits ... in fact I had never ever heard any of them before. And as soon as the next one started, you totally forgot the previous one!