'Behold: the Star Towers of the Electric Castle! See how it embraces the sky! How insignificant the mere mortal, dwrfed by the majesty of its electric edifice!'

...that was the last time I'm gonna buy a cd because I liked the cover. Was kinda amusing... but... the terrible cheese...

Zip

Mike Oldfield
Four Tet
Cirque du Soleil
Rob Dougan
Frou Frou
Eels
Beck
Yann Tiersen

Enya
Megumi Hayashibara
Round Table featuring Nino
Love Hina Girls
Puffy Ami Yumi :P
Men Without Hats
Weird Al
They Might Be Giants
Morning Musume

... that's all I can think of right now. I admit my cardinal sin of liking J-pop :D

Are you kidding? Men Without Hats clearly makes that list better than anyone else's.

'We can dance if you want to...'
*Runs off skipping with a bunch of leperchauns*

Seriously though, Puffy Ami Yumi ;_;

haha, I know :P I heard some songs on the J-pop net radio station before I knew what they actually were. actually, I think that was before anyone else knew either.

'not to put too fine a point on it;
say, I'm the only bee in your bonnet!
build a little birdhouse in your soul'

A Gravity Song, right?...

'better' rap? like Nas and 50 (fity) cent?

you scare me

Quote:Originally posted by Ness

'better' rap? like Nas and 50 (fity) cent?

you scare me

Yeah, the 'better rap', as opposed to the bullshit played on MTV.

(I realize both of the aforementioned artists probably have music videos which may get air time on MTV, but I don't believe those songs truly represent them due to the fact that they probably either 1) suck, which is a MTV prerequisite, or 2) I've become bored of them through sheer repetition.)

Also, what little I've heard from Tupac I've liked.

On an unrelated note, I hate all R&B.

I wouldn't have brought up anime music if you were going to make an arguement against trendy music. :P If you were to read some of the lyrics then you'd see that most anime music is based on the same things that popular western music is written about...and generally it's just as poppy and electronic as anything you'll find in Western/European mainstream. For the most part, anime music is nothing more than a bunch of Japanese Britney Spears. The fact that it's not as popular over here doesn't make it any less marketable than anything we listen to. Japan has its own version of a popstar, the 'idol', who's career can last anywhere from a week to years just like over here. Megumi Hayashibara, Utada Hikaru, Ayumi Hamasaki, etc. etc. all lend their voices to the songs sung in anime, and all have their music shoved down the throats of Japanese schoolgirls everywhere.

That doesn't mean I don't like it though. I'm actually a big fan of anime music. :P But for the same reasons you are.

Besides, even if the 'artists' aren't deserving, the song writers and producers behind the scenes certainly are. I spent an entire evening dissecting a Christina Aguilara (just an example, I think she has an amazing voice), album with a friend, listening to the different parts to each song and finding a lot of really creative and interesting parts that support the overall song. And do you realise how much work goes into mixing? That same friend has his own small recording studio and spends days on just one song, mixing, and don't get me started on the recording process. Even if it is trendy, or uncreative, you still have to respect the amount of work put into it. To top it all off the means by which certain sounds are produced are some of the *most* creative aspects of music. In one song we used chopsticks instead of drumsticks just becuase it gave off a certain 'shimmer' on a cymbal that produced a sound we liked.

And even so, some times the artists really are deserving and it's the image their PR throw out there that ruins it for them. It doesn't make them any less talented.

But to each his own, I always say. At the end of the day it's opinion and you can never truly win a 'which style of music is better?!' debate simply because it's a matter of personal taste. Some people will scoff at Khross for liking some 50 cent, while others will welcome him with open arms. It just depends on who you are.

But have more faith that we actually listen to the music for the music and not just for the name. I could argue that you like video game/movie/anime music because 90% of the people I've met online do, but I won't, because I don't know you. Besides, if you look at any of the lists you'll find more names that were popular long before we were even born which tells me that the music is indeed good as it seems to have stood the test of time and most of the music isn't even considered 'mainstream'. Just because a lot of people like a certain band doesn't make them any less talented.

Just for fun

Says who? You? Your friends? Walter, the Janitor at your High School?!

Generally anything that 'beats' anything regarding music is a matter of personal taste. To you 8-bit music kicks all of the other competition out of the water, and that's great. You, sir, are an individual and I respect your opinion. But to John Doe perhaps 50 Cent is more appealing than the stylings of Koji Kondo.

It's like me with Pink Floyd. I don't really like them much, though you say they're the only good band out there. Musically, I can easily say they have a lot of talent and are indeed a great band, but their style is not for me and that's just a matter of personal taste.

For video games, vg music works great. For sitting at home and listening to it, vg music is wonderful. When you're cruising down the highway with your friends vg music....eh, doesn't work so much. (trust me I've done it) ;P Same at a party when you want to dance and have a great time (if you're into that) again it doesn't work so well. So for those who do like to go dancing, or thrash around in a mosh pit, vg music isn't better to them. It doesn't make it any less good, creative or inventive, it just means that it wouldn't appeal as much to people who want heavy riffs or strong beats.

Anyway, to answer your question, these bands are so good because in some way they've appealed to a wide-range of people. I mean, one of my favourite bands is Green Day. They're about as simple as it comes in regards to complex music, but it's catchy and generally fun to listen to. And that works for me despite how much I love listening to the intricate parts in more complex arrangements. Some times I just like to jam to something that's plain and simple.

And again, a lot of the bands you'll see on those lists have been around for a very long time and in some cases before most of us were born. The Beatles come to mind, and the fact that their music has stood the test of time says something to me. I don't see record producers shoving them down our throats anymore, but they're still thought of as a great band. But, again, they're not for everyone. :)

But don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you SHOULD like certain music because so many others do and I don't think that you're a 'music hater' because you like styles that aren't necessarily popular. I just don't think it's fair to an artist to be discriminated against just because their music is 'trendy' or to generalise us as those who like those styles of music solely for that reason. :)