Is there such thing as "bad taste in music"?

Key · 04-20-2012, 01:34 AM

Music is subjective and strictly based on opinion. To say somebody has bad taste really just means that their taste in music doesn't match your preference in music.

If you take into consideration their point of view, they have a good taste in music depending on their preferences.

I believe that any type of music deserves a chance, and if you don't like it, it doesn't match your preference, however someone else likes it, that doesn't necessarily mean they have bad taste.

So again I ask, is there really such thing as bad taste in music?

**Janszoon** · 04-20-2012, 04:43 AM

I think a bad taste in music is one that is very limited.

mr dave · 04-20-2012, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I think a bad taste in music is one that is very limited.

Initially I want to agree 100% but on 2nd thought, not quite all the way.

While I agree that listening without limits is a great thing, at the same time everyone needs to be able to recognize and respect their individual internal tastes. One thing I've noticed (and been guilty of in the past) is that the shift towards learning about new music online and being exposed to so many immediate possibilities resulted in a lot of people adopting a very politically correct (and ultimately ineffectual) stance of 'I like evVVverRRRrything'

I don't buy it.

Everyone has personal tastes and preferences and if they're ignoring those to present a 'correct' answer then that answer is ultimately hollow and without merit. I also wonder if that attitude has anything to do with schools eschewing any sort of competitive game or sport where the rules dictate that a clear winner and loser are established by the end of the competition.

**Janszoon** · 04-20-2012, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

Initially I want to agree 100% but on 2nd thought, not quite all the way.

While I agree that listening without limits is a great thing, at the same time everyone needs to be able to recognize and respect their individual internal tastes. One thing I've noticed (and been guilty of in the past) is that the shift towards learning about new music online and being exposed to so many immediate possibilities resulted in a lot of people adopting a very politically correct (and ultimately ineffectual) stance of 'I like evVVverRRRrything'

I don't buy it.

Everyone has personal tastes and preferences and if they're ignoring those to present a 'correct' answer then that answer is ultimately hollow and without merit. I also wonder if that attitude has anything to do with schools eschewing any sort of competitive game or sport where the rules dictate that a clear winner and loser are established by the end of the competition.

I wasn't implying that you have to "like evVVverRRRrything" in order to have a good taste in music, I was saying that a very narrow taste is a bad taste in music. I'm referring here to people who, say, only listen to metal or only listen to hip hop or only listen to (*gag*) showtunes. Not having very narrow taste doesn't mean you have to love everything from Earl Scruggs to Merzbow, it just means you are willing to approach music with even the smallest sliver of an open mind.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 04-20-2012, 08:13 AM

It's only bad taste when you decide to bother other people with it.

**Janszoon** · 04-20-2012, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

It's only bad taste when you decide to bother other people with it.

Yes. My neighbor who listens to super-bland R&B so loud the whole block can hear it definitely qualifies for your definition.

Howard the Duck · 04-20-2012, 08:16 AM

of course there is "bad taste"

i have very good tastes, everybody who disagrees that what I listen to is "good" have exceedingly bad taste in music

**Goofle** · 04-20-2012, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ki

To say somebody has bad taste really just means that their taste in music doesn't match your preference in music.

I don't agree with that line.

I am not super into Jazz and Avant-Garde music, but I wouldn't say anyone who listens to those genres has a bad taste in music. I think intelligent people can spot if you are generally listening to what is considered "good" and "bad".

Also, this depends on who is saying "You have a bad taste in music..." to be honest. I was told I had a bad taste in music yesterday from somebody who mainly listens to Snow Patrol, Creed and Coldplay.

mr dave · 04-20-2012, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I wasn't implying that you have to "like evVVverRRRrything" in order to have a good taste in music, I was saying that a very narrow taste is a bad taste in music. I'm referring here to people who, say, only listen to metal or only listen to hip hop or only listen to (*gag*) showtunes. Not having very narrow taste doesn't mean you have to love everything from Earl Scruggs to Merzbow, it just means you are willing to approach music with even the smallest sliver of an open mind.

Absolutely. But I'm sure that you've seen what I described just as much as I have.

I also definitely agree that it can cut both ways like the example your provide above. Ultimately, what I was getting with my first comment is that there are some people who seem more concerned with limits (or lack thereof) than what their personal tastes and preferences are telling them.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that bad taste in music develops when a person starts ignoring their own tastes to fit in to whatever peer group they've decided they want to belong with. Whether that's hardcore metalheads, or country purists, or all encompassing political correctness of liking evVVverRRRrything, when the limit is based on social pressure rather than individual preference the taste has gone bad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goofle11

Also, this depends on who is saying "You have a bad taste in music..." to be honest. I was told I had a bad taste in music yesterday from somebody who mainly listens to Snow Patrol, Creed and Coldplay.

This reminds me of getting called a F-bomb in high school for listening to RHCP discs like Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik by people with Bon Jovi shirts.

duga · 04-20-2012, 08:44 AM

I agree with some of the stuff you guys have been saying. I'll just add to it by saying someone with bad taste is someone who listens to music for the wrong reasons. For examples... Take two people who both love the hell out of Limp Bizkit. One of them listens to them because they legitimately find their music enjoyable and they helped them through some rough times... The other listens to them because the popular kids do so it must be pretty badass. The latter has bad taste in music. I may be able to say Limp Bizkit is horrible personally, but if you can give me a real reason why you like them I think it would be wrong of me to say you have bad taste in music. Ill informed, maybe.

Edit: yeah, also what Dave just said.

04-20-2012, 01:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Key . Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 13,153	Is there such thing as "bad taste in music"? Music is subjective and strictly based on opinion. To say somebody has bad taste really just means that their taste in music doesn't match your preference in music. If you take into consideration their point of view, they have a good taste in music depending on their preferences. I believe that any type of music deserves a chance, and if you don't like it, it doesn't match your preference, however someone else likes it, that doesn't necessarily mean they have bad taste. So again I ask, is there really such thing as bad taste in music?

04-20-2012, 04:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	I think a bad taste in music is one that is very limited. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

04-20-2012, 08:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	It's only bad taste when you decide to bother other people with it. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

04-20-2012, 08:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
duga MB quadrant's JM Vincent Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 3,762	I agree with some of the stuff you guys have been saying. I'll just add to it by saying someone with bad taste is someone who listens to music for the wrong reasons. For examples... Take two people who both love the hell out of Limp Bizkit. One of them listens to them because they legitimately find their music enjoyable and they helped them through some rough times... The other listens to them because the popular kids do so it must be pretty badass. The latter has bad taste in music. I may be able to say Limp Bizkit is horrible personally, but if you can give me a real reason why you like them I think it would be wrong of me to say you have bad taste in music. Ill informed, maybe. Edit: yeah, also what Dave just said. __________________ Confusion will be my epitaph...