Is it normal for an 18 year old to listen to very old (*) music?

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10 Comments

(*) I'm not talking about the 80s or even the 50s - I really enjoy listening to e.g. folk songs from the 18th/19th century, military marches/patriotic songs from the beginning of the 20th century, medieval ballads and even the Gregorian chant! I've tried forcing myself to listen to modern music, but modern songs aren't as deep and meaningful...I really like history, languages etc. Most of the songs I'm listening to are from different countries and in different languages - there is something in those songs that it intrigues me and I like trying to interpret them - understand what's actually being said (I'm learning many of those languages) and most importantly - the implied meaning and some historical background. I'm 18 so it's hard for me to find someone with similar music taste... How can I convince myself to listen to normal music?

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94% Normal
Based on 17 votes (16 yes)
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Comments ( 10 )
  • RaggedyandDandy
    5 years ago

    Sure.

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  • Chippo_Man
    5 years ago

    If it's deep lyrics you are looking for listen to tool

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  • MagicJamey
    5 years ago

    If you want to get in popular music of XX — XXI century, you can try to listen best of the best. For example, look for 1001 albums you must hear before you die.

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  • Goomats
    5 years ago

    That's awesome

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  • JustMolly
    5 years ago

    You are a nerd. Be proud!

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  • lordofopinions
    5 years ago

    You appreciate good historical music. Nothing wrong with that. I grew up in the golden age of rock from the 50's to the 80's. A lot of the music heard on the radio today is all electronic crap. My favorite station is a local golden oldies station.

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  • Anonymous Post Author
    5 years ago

    Thank you for the comment :)

    By the way, I don't think that every song produced in the last century is bad - I mean the quality of music overall has worsened in recent years - most of the mainstream songs ("the commercial pap") that are so popular right now (including all of my friends) sound exactly the same; use the same combination of instruments; the lyrics are about one thing and as I read in an article (can't remember where) they all use the same combination of sounds, because they are familiar to us - so it ensures that the song will get into the top charts - and I'm not exaggerating, because I've tried listening to many of them.

    Because everyone likes the mainstream music so much, it's a little (by a little I mean very) embarrassing for me to talk about my music taste with any of my friends, because they start joking and laughing at me immediately when I tell them that I like e.g. old Norwegian folk songs or Prussian military marches...

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    • Boojum
      5 years ago

      Being a geek can be difficult, particularly when it's an uncommon variety of geekiness. Sometimes, the easiest route is to compartmentalise and have one set of "normal" friends and another circle of friends who share your fascination. That's easier these days than it used to be, since you'll be able to find music geek internet friends all over the world, while you get your real world social contact with people you know in real life.

      Being embarrassed by teasing is understandable, but the fact is that your friends have very narrow and conventionally mainstream tastes in music, while you've actually spent some time investigating and thinking about the topic. That's nothing to be ashamed of, but ignorant people often deal with thoughtful people by mocking them.

      The most fortunate people in life are those who identify their "spark" - the thing about the world that truly fascinates them - when they're young, and they pursue it. It's probably unlikely that you'll ever get rich in monetary terms by following your current fascinations, but you never know. What is certain is that you'll have a happier life if you spend your free time investigating things that interest you rather than wasting your time in more conventional ways.

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    • Alichael
      5 years ago

      I've got something in common with you. I love very old music too. I love 1930s and 1940s swing music such as Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Paul Whiteman, Busby Burkeley films and songs with Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler such as 42nd street and I only have eyes for you. I love early 1900s songs too such as Billy Murray, ragtime bands, roaring twenties music such as The Charleston. You ever see James Cagney in Yankee doodle dandy and his songs in it such as the title song and Over there (great WW1 nostalgia)

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  • Boojum
    5 years ago

    So what if you don't like the latest commercial pap that the music industry churns out? Why should you listen to music that doesn't interest you? If you're just want like "normal" music because you want to be popular, that doesn't really work. People who are interested in K-Pop (or any other vapid, commercialised genre) are probably going to be very different to you in many ways.

    However, not all modern music is commercial pap churned out by huge corporations and cynically aimed at the largest target demographic, so it seems a bit snobby to write off everything produced in the last hundred years. And bear in mind that the old music you're able to listen to is the best of what was written back then. Just like now, there would have been a lot of dreck that was quickly forgotten about.

    Since you're able to listen to this ancient stuff now, there clearly are people who are producing the music now, and there must be internet forums where you can talk to people who share your interests.

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