The Alternative Perspective
Music.
We all like some form of it, right? We may not be able to perform it or understand it, but we all enjoy something about it. During a conversation today in my friend’s car about rap music, I began thinking about the demographics that each genre of music represents. Now before I present my opinion, I must say to please not take this personally. I’m forming an opinion about a general audience of specific kinds of music, not about any of you reading this that may like the kind of music that I mention. Once again, please don’t take this personally.
Most of you know the song “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” by Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em. It was and is a very popular song for the teen and preteen demographic, right? What genre would you consider this song? Well, let’s look it up. According to iTunes, this song is classified as Hip Hop/Rap. Now, even though during its high time I would dance to this song, I wouldn’t list it as something that I would ordinarily listen to. And from today’s conversation, I figured out why.
Let’s go back to “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”. Can you hear the song or even just a few lyrics going through your head? I know I can. The catchy chorus and even verses make it a song that is hard to not dance to whenever it comes on, even if you don’t like that sort of thing. But what is this rapper actually saying? If you pay close attention or even if you don’t, you can hear the slang in his voice and the way he’s almost trying to sound ignorant by not using proper speech. Unintelligent lyrics and language is not my kind of thing if you know what I’m saying. But the people who are listening to this tend to be (notice I didn’t say “are always”) the people who talk and act like this themselves, or the ones who gawk at the rock and alternative music (not to mention classical). And these people, unfortunately, are the majority of the people in today’s society who dominate the popularity totem pole.
Now, here’s a question. How many of you have heard the song “Holy Diver” by Killswitch Engage? Ha, that’s what I thought. Not as many hands would go up in a modern classroom if I asked that question. This song is classified as Metal. The lyrics are dark and almost creepy at times in this genre, but they are intelligent in a lot of ways. I want you to think about the difference between the two songs that I just pointed out, even if you haven’t heard one of them or either of them. If you think about it, the difference is clear. The people that listen to each kind of music are almost polar opposites. Rap and Hip Hop- that’s definitely popular and cool to the mainstream teenager. Hard Rock and Metal- tend to be people who want to stay mysterious and detached from the people at the “cool” end of the spectrum. And I’m definitely not saying that either is bad or unintelligent in anyway, but they tend to carry their own trends like the ones I presented.
To me, this all points to something; that the type of music you listen to can reflect your lifestyle and/or intelligence.
As for me, I listen to mostly alternative and rock music. It’s a mix of electric guitar and meaningful lyrics. Take the band Muse. Most of you have probably not heard a single song by them. But let me tell you this- one of their songs is number 35 on the top 40 list of America’s most popular songs for this week. Well, according to a certain popular radio station, but it’s still in the top 100 on every other list 
. But that’s not my point. I consider myself to be an intelligent person, but I’m definitely not trying to gloat or anything. I like words. A lot. And I like words that mean things, that have a greater power left to my interpretation. So naturally, I like songs with great meaning. Alternative music tends to provide this for me, and when I listen to music of this genre, I feel in my element (right now I’m sticking to music with words, because classical music would be a completely different post; oh wait, it already is!). Most of my intelligent friends listen to alternative and or rock with a bit of blues in there too. What does this all come back to? Music reflects your life. But, that is just the alternative perspective.
So with this, I encourage you to think about what you are putting into your ears and filtering into your brain. Will it invigorate your mind to find meaning in the world? Or will it make you think that intelligence is not the answer? Just remember that your brain deserves a good dose of great music, not music that will discourage cognitive enlightenment.
Keep it flowing.
AtMM
being an “old guy” that has had the honor of watching a lot of kids “grow up”, and even with all the music training, i still have not read any research on the correlation between different types of music and intelligence.
what i do know to be true from experiential knowledge is that music’s power to influence the character and overall value system of anyone, not just kids, is extreme. in this age where nothing is true, but everything is relative, i have found this to be absolute. listening to dark, amoral, deeply sexual, or even suicidal/homocidal lyrics and music that sounds “angry” influences the listener’s character in those directions. just as what you put in your body (food) creates certain outcomes, so it is with your senses. the imprints of aural and visual images are available for recall at any time and become a source of contemplation which eventually leads to action. what goes in, will, most certainly, come out. while this may not be popular, it IS true. i’ve seen it working with teens for 30 years. careful what you put in. contrary to the popular saying, “it’s not all good.” i’m not here to tell you what to listen to, but i am here to look out for you. like it or not.
I agree with you. I think I may have presented my point wrong after reading your comment, because that was more what I was trying to get across; that music influences you, not necessarily that your intelligence reflects your musical preference. I was going to follow up with this post that this does not apply to all people at all, but I was simply making an observation. Because I DO know a few people who like music that doesn’t fit the demographic that the artist was singing to in the slightest. So there are many exceptions, but I still believe that what you say is VERY true.
This is a great post! Very thought provoking. I agree there are some people who are less discerning about music and so like you say may end up liking something “out of their demographic.” I agree with the first comment that music has a powerful influence. I like the idea that it can be food – junk in, junk out! Thanks for the “food for thought.”