Modern music's success

[saxamaphone]

Hi all, I am new to the forum but I would say a major hurdle for prog music in more commercial outlets is that many times the music takes some time to appreciate. I find myself having to listen to an album or song several times before really understanding what is happening in the music or appreciating it. I don't think this format works very well in the mainstream where record companies want people instantly hooked onto a song, they don't want people to have to listen several times before going to buy an album. I think progressive music will always do best by word of mouth, and playing a CD you like to friends. Keep in mind that you will always be able to see your favorite group in a small club setting instead of from a distance in a huge arena if prog becomes "popular".

[Elric68]

I agree with you, mister (or miss) new member. Welcome to you !

What I've always found in progressive music is huge emotion. I can feel it the 1st time I listen to a tune, even if I have to listen to it again to find interesting parts, nice solos, ...

With the music I can hear on radios or TV, I never feel that way, and I wonder if people feel the same with those popular songs. If so, then that's nice for them, but if not, why do they keep listening to that ? Because it's fashion ? Because they think they like it ?

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by saxamaphone

Hi all, I am new to the forum but I would say a major hurdle for prog music in more commercial outlets is that many times the music takes some time to appreciate. I find myself having to listen to an album or song several times before really understanding what is happening in the music or appreciating it. I don't think this format works very well in the mainstream where record companies want people instantly hooked onto a song, they don't want people to have to listen several times before going to buy an album. I think progressive music will always do best by word of mouth, and playing a CD you like to friends. Keep in mind that you will always be able to see your favorite group in a small club setting instead of from a distance in a huge arena if prog becomes "popular".

Excellent points. You're dead on.

The lack of success has long since ceased to be an issue in my mind.

Small club settings are great in MD...especially since "major" acts skip Baltimore (with some exceptions, Who/RHCP being one recently)...where in MD are you?

[saxamaphone]

I have enjoyed reading everyone's comments. I got a few questions after my posting so here are my answers:

Rick and Roll: I am in Ellicott City (the eastern most point of it)

Yesspaz: Your are right, my name is a reference to a Simpson's episode where Homer picks up Lisa's saxaphone and sings "Sax-a-ma-phone, sax-a-ma-phone" to the melody of Beethoven's Ninth. I also play the saxaphone so it works well for me. That scene in the Simpsons just got stuck in my head for some reason.

Elric68: I am "mister new member", lol.

Rick and Roll, I agree with your point about how the compexity of the music can be too large of an investment for many people. For many people, the music is just in the background, and they do not want to have to focus on it. They are drawn to simple lyrics and melodies and repetitive rhythms for that reason. I don't think prog music has much to offer them.

Thanks for the welcome!

Josh

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by saxamaphone

I have enjoyed reading everyone's comments. I got a few questions after my posting so here are my answers:

Rick and Roll: I am in Ellicott City (the eastern most point of it)


Thanks for the welcome!

Josh

i was just in EC two weeks ago to see a friend (Cliff from Chaos Code) play at the "Judge's bench" bar....I'm in Parkville

[ZoOgY-DoOgY]

Intensity... Depth, passion... I think we are all here for same reason.
Progressive music is more than a style, I agree with all your comments about it. Prog can feed all styles ! And all styles feed prog ! In fact, prog is just transcendent in music as it is for us transcendental.
What we can't understand at this point is why the hell some people are not able to open themselves to that intensity, at least just a little. Too long tracks ? Too complex tracks maybe ? There are short and simple prog tracks too...
I personnally think the answer is NOT in music. It is a biologic and psychological phenomena (omg I need to check dictionnary). Humans don't want to make efforts and their efforts are done to make less efforts, or take pleasure, or take more pleasure. There is not only that fact, but we can't list them without entering a very complicate thread and maybe boring (yeah that's it, don't want to write/read posts like that right now, I'm human...). Well, there is one thing important, way more important than we often think : Mediatic Pollution. And particullary, ears pollutions. A simple (and bad) song to promote corn-flakes or grassplot's health product (just ask a french if he knows Fertiligene...) can STAY IN YOUR MIND FOR HOURS SOMETIMES DAYS. Again it is not enough to explain but this thing is a big part of the problem since people are meeting them in compact communities...
And how being more open to others when we are deeply link to communities ? So how being "prog" like that ? Intensity often express himself out of communities... The only choice you have is being a part of a community related to all other communities... Prog one (at least in music of course). The problem is that if you want to go out of it and join another, you need to make efforts.
Listening to Madonna ask no effort (gives no pleasure and for me gives also nausea but that's not the point). Of course for some people it is easier. Elric has no problem, his father had already make an effort

[Elric68]

Yeah, but I made the effort myself, my dad only tried helping me when making me listen to Pendragon, but he did the same with my sis' and brother, and my sister listens to Madonna, Muse, Green Day, Indochine, and my brother likes the same music as me just because I'm his big brother. And he finds prog boring. He only likes the heavy part of what I like myself.

After my dad made me discover Marillion, Hawkwind and Pendragon, I tried myself to discover some other bands, and to listen, buy, experiment, (play too) music. Because prog is a music that one experiments. And finally I am the one who helps him discover things now. I lend him CD's, and yesterday he borrowed my Subterranea (IQ) and my Visitor (Arena).

[ZoOgY-DoOgY]

That's exactly what i'm talking about The fact is you were not alone to discover. You could probably discover prog yourself alone, yes, of course, many people do it too. But it is "easier" with a father/a mother/a brother/a friend. Easier with a community, easier with a beer...