Bad opinions [ARCHIVED] • Page 49

I've worked with a lot of surgeons who have whatever they want blasting during cases. I could never do that in a million years, too scared.

 

I'll be having something akin to this during the summertime. Granted, it's a manual labor job so it's not exactly chill, but I've known people who've worked the same job say that while it's a lot of physical work, you are pretty much left to take care of things by yourself and can listen to music the whole time essentially. The 6 AM start time is going to be murder, but it'll be worth it.

 

Yeah I make phone calls all day so music is out. Internet usage is also scrutinized

 

Hm, I guess I just don't have a difficult time finding working links for a lot of things I download. Can't think of a single album I haven't been able to find by just looking around a little bit or asking a friend, especially considering the majority of albums I download are newer releases.

I don't know the employee wifi situation for every single business I can think of, so I can't really speak to that outside of friends that I have asked. So idk, you could be right about that, I have no way of knowing. Regardless, there is not wifi for employees at my job. It's where I spend 8 hours of my day 5 days a week and consume most of my music, and that's why the service is inconvenient for me. That's all I'm saying here. Not hating on the service or anybody who uses it.

Also, not acting like that's the only option, like, at all. I've acknowledged that there is a way to use the service without eating data. I just prefer to do that exact same thing, except not pay for it. The extremely seldom "man I really want to listen to this one specific thing", is not enough to draw me in.

 

I feel like many surgeons listen to metal/DM. Can you confirm/deny?

 

I can use one earbud while I'm at whatever station I'm working that week.

 

This is a ridiculous opinion. Bands don't owe anyone shit. We don't "Pay their Bills." They bust theirs asses touring and creating art so they can pay THEIR bills. We as fans are lucky bands make as much music as they do, since probably 90% of people listening to it pirate it. Most medium sized bands barely make a living.

 

I'm sorry. I must have been mistaken in thinking that fans pay for concert tickets, merchandise, and (in best case scenarios) albums, which supports the artist. I'm not saying that artists need to pander to fans' every whim, but to pretend that consumers don't financially support the band makes little sense to me. If nobody bought tickets to the show, the tour would be over before it even began. If an album is released without a single CD sold, then I'd say that's a career-ender.

 

Do you associate all businesses and not just bands with this theory? Capitalism is not charity. Yes, We do have a consumer based economy, but do you really believe that every "Good" and "Service" that you purchase means you paid their bills? That's ridiculous. Does Disney owe you because you bought a ticket to see Star Wars? Nope. Bands are small businesses. They offers goods like CDs, Shirts, etc. And services like shows for your entertainment. Let's not pretend like bands are the only one gaining something from their existence. Shit, I've paid $10 for a CD that changed my life. That's a pretty good deal.

 

So what you're saying is you can pay for the music you listen to but choose not to? That isn't a problem with streaming, that's a problem with how you value music.

If you don't have wifi you can download whatever you'll want to listen to at home before you go, it's the exact same as having it saved on your phone as far as listening goes.

I am not huge on streaming services either, but not for the reasons I've seen mentioned yet. I just like to know that I own a copy of the album in the event it's taken off the service or some other event where I lose access to it.

 

First off, the bounds by which a person values music are not limited to what they are willing to pay to listen to it. Secondly, I support the artists I like monetarily by attending their shows (been to three in the last six days), purchasing merch (put $40 in Vince Staples' pocket two nights ago for a shirt that I gave to the person standing behind me that was complaining about the price) or buying their vinyl. I support them in other ways by sharing their news on social media, and most recently, writing about them.

Okay, now I'm just repeating myself: I realize it's the same thing and that is exactly my point. Literally the only difference is that I don't pay for it. Idk why this is hard to understand.

I agree with this sentiment, but losing access to music just isn't my main concern. Finding music on the internet isn't that hard, but rebuilding an entire library would definitely take a lot of time.

 

I think there's a distinction to be made between service industry customers and art industry spectators. The service industry is indeed built around the customer and set up to adapt its products based on customer preferences... if you go to a restaurant, you expect to customize every part of the meal. But if you buy a ticket to an art industry spectacle, you are not paying to write the setlist and choose 2 of your favorite songs for them to cover. A concert is not something that can be re-done differently to fit every single person in the crowd's needs; likewise an album cannot be re-recorded thousands or millions of times with adjustments for every single listener to suit their preferences. You are paying to be a spectator for an event of an industry that revolves around the craft itself, not the recipient of the product. You want to see what that band does -- no matter what the band does -- because they have a tendency to impress you. Like why would you go to a movie if you wanted to direct the script? Just make a movie yourself, then, same thing throughout the art industry. Its entertainment, the product comes first and its sales depend on who appreciates it after it is released, not based on expectations before it is complete. Why would you watch a sports game if you could rig the outcome and determine for yourself with no suspense what happens? If you wouldn't want to pay money without prior judgment or expectations to see that band perform then don't get mad at the band, just don't go see them.

Some pop bands do have the marketing expertise to be successful by focusing on maximizing their accessibility, but most bands more so bet on their attention to detail and musical skill on its own attracting enough interest to keep spectators buying tickets - and that's why it's a very hard career to pursue.

 

Good post.

 

I've never thought about the divide between the service and art industries this way. I'll most definitely be referring back to this when I hear about artists owing their fans which is sadly pretty often. Really, really great post.

There's another element of fan entitlement that gets to me. Maybe I'm unrealistically separating art from the industry aspect with this point, but I'm finding that as I write music I'm giving a lot of myself in the songs I write. I think there's an element of sacrifice that comes with simply being an honest songwriter and opening the world up to your personal journal. I'm not saying this like I'm just that important, because I'm not, it's just really hard and emotionally taxing to expose myself through my music. To think, assuming my music even finds an audience one day, that I could write something so deeply from my heart and people could feel entitled to what else is on my heart is a really creepy idea. And yet, I know I'm guilty of that same thing with artists I love when the new album doesn't sound like *insert album name here*.

The point is, I don't think any fan is entitled to an artist's art for the reasons Randall said. I also think a fan shouldn't feel entitled because if art is an expression of someone's heart then what an artist expresses of him or herself is ultimately their business. That doesn't mean art can't be subject to critique. You can like different aspects of an artist's music better just because of personal preference and love certain albums more and others less. I just think that to presume your own ideals upon an artist that you only know from a distance and to be frustrated when they "don't deliver" is wrong. Or maybe I'm just overly-sensitive since I'm new to the songwriting process.

I'm also aware that there's a difference between the songwriter mindset and the entertainer mindset. Some artists are driven more by honesty and others are driven more by industry. I don't think what I said necessarily applies to the latter.

Edit: Just want to clarify, I understand that as an artist when you decide to express yourself outwardly you're naturally making it other people's business in a sense and opening yourself up to critique. It's a really weird place to be in and I don't know what's right or wrong. I've just been thinking through these things a lot lately.

Edit #2: This was a lot more long-winded than it was supposed to be. :)

 

You'd think so but nope...a whole lot of top 40 and some classic rock. I remember one surgeon being big into like the EDM/techno stuff. It's kind of fun.

 

Damn, really hoping you'd find some who have a taste for Cannibal Corpse haha. Oh well, I get a kick out of surgery performed while Sandstorm is playing in the background

 

I like the poppier Paramore (Still Into You, Ain't In Fun) more than their earlier stuff

 

I don't think that's all that unpopular. With their current lineup, I agree that Paramore is much better when going straight pop. With the Farros, I always much preferred the darker stuff.

 

Riot is still my favorite but I like all of it. I will say I have a hard time with whether it's a nostalgia thing or if I really do like it better.

 

I think each Paramore album has been a little greater than the last but it would be cool to see an album in vein of "Decode," "Part II," and "Future". I'd just love to see what an unhinged indie rock version of Paramore sounds like if they ever went that direction.

 

I don't enjoy Full Collapse by Thursday at all.

 

Yeah the first Thursday album I like is WATT

 

brand new eyes is my favorite paramore album and it isnt close. is that an unpopular opinion?

 

I wouldn't say it isn't close but that album's definitely my favorite of theirs.

 

Not that I know of haha