A musical retrospective (also known as Rant #1)

Quick disclaimer: I am using "classical" here as a generic term for most music before the early 1900's, before the advent of jazz. Before you get yourself all in a tizzy over how classical refers to a specific period of European musical history, just keep in mind that I am using this to refer to not only classical, but a wide range of early types of music, as well as most contemporary instrumentals. Also, I am using "contemporary" to list most all other types of music including, but not limited to, jazz, blues, rock (and all it's variations), reggae, and even big band. Also keep in mind that this is my personal music opinion, which I generally am very passionate about, but even if it sounds like it, I do not look down on anybody for listening to any kind of music. Even the ones I'm dissing in this post. Just because I support other people listening to it though, doesn't mean that I have to like it myself.

I understand the appeal of classical music. I get how beautiful it is, how masterfully it is constructed. I get the dramatic dynamics, and the inter-weaving of each individual piece as it creates the great tapestry that is a classical composition. I get what in it appeals to people, but it just doesn't appeal to me.

To me, classical music is good. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it. Like I've said, I understand that it is good, I like it, but if I were to choose among some of the most brilliant writers of music of all time, my selections would come more from the likes of Lou Reed (pre-solo career), Black Francis, and Bob Dylan, rather than Vivaldi or Bach. To me, these people are far greater musicians than Beethoven or any of his elite club of genius musicians. What always bothered me about classical music is the lack of what, to me, makes music music; feeling. Every time that a symphony (or other fitting musical group) plays one of these pieces it sounds exactly the same as every other time they've played it, as well as every other time that somebody else has played it (save for errors and improvements, or differences in instrumentation). Every trill is precisely where it is supposed to be, every lead voice (not literal, but including instrument "voice") hits just the right notes that are lined up before him (or her) on the sheet music; every single person who has ever heard anybody perform that particular pieces knows exactly what to expect. Sure, some performances may be more masterful than others, but besides this small difference in skill, each is identical. If you hear a live performance of a more modern band, however, every single time a new band plays it it is unique. Some may argue that this is because it takes less technical skill, and therefor is worse, but I think it's these imperfections that make it all the more meaningful. Music is supposed to hit you where nothing else can; it's supposed to express emotions or ideas that the words alone cannot; it is meant to be individualized. To me, classical music never accomplished that individualism. Of course, keep in mind that this is my opinion, and I'm not going to judge other people for liking classical music, like it seems many classical-listeners do. As I said, music is about individuality, and if classical music moves you, then I'm all for it. I've got no beef against any music; just the mindset of people who listen to a lot of it, which brings me into my next topic.

I have never really got the mindset of "classical music is intelligent, contemporary music is not". I do understand that a great deal of contemporary music is not intelligent at all- in fact, a good majority of it is the exact same crap, re-mixed and sent out again- but take into consideration that the classical music we hear is the best of what existed. Only really the most innovative of each time period got carried on to the next. Time has weeded out all the pieces of crap that were around at that time, just as people a few hundred years from now will never hear the Good Charlotte or any one of the Metal-by-numbers bands, just the Pixies and Red Hot Chili Peppers and the likes, because nobody carries on unoriginal. Their music wasn't brilliant. It had shining stars, that carried on, just as will happen with our music today. I don't consider myself any less intelligent because the sound of Billy Corgan's voice moves me more than that of a piccolo.