Does a Band's Popularity Affect Your Taste?

Thom Yorke · 02-14-2011, 07:49 AM

I remember my dad telling me that he liked The Beatles until they really blew up. After that he couldn't be bothered with them.

Do people here (in general) devalue bands just because they're popular? And if so, why? Is it simply because you think they're overplayed, or is there a "snob effect" invloved, where you only like being known for liking more obscure bands?

Personally I think I'm pretty good with not doing this. If you like something, you like it. My love for bands like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, etc. isn't affected in the slightest because of their popularity. Of course there are many popular bands I don't like, but that's just a matter of taste.

EDIT: This isn't asking about when a band changes their style to gain more fans.

s_k · 02-14-2011, 07:56 AM

No, it doesn't. I like Franz Ferdinand, I Like Dire Straits.
But some bands do change their music when they get famous.

I do have a hard time taking bands from the Netherlands serious.
Especially when they come from somewhere near. It somehow feels like I have to like that band because they come from where I come from.
Nevertheless, I have quite some records in my cabinet that are from bands from Limburg (The province where I live).

Zer0 · 02-14-2011, 07:57 AM

Not really, if i like a band's music then i listen to them, regardless of how popular they are. I certainly don't listen to underground bands just for the sake of it. If a band changes their sound to gain more commercial interest and if their new sound doesn't appeal to me i would be less inclined to listen to them, not because of their new-found popularity, but because of their new sound.

The overplaying factor does have some effect though. If you're over-exposed to a band or a particular song being played on the radio constantly then you get sick of them after a while. But that doesn't happen to me too often.

Blarobbarg · 02-14-2011, 07:59 AM

Exactly what Zero said. Literally.

It's not so much how popular they are, it's more how sick I am of hearing that one song that EVERYONE loves so much.

s_k · 02-14-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero1986

The overplaying factor does have some effect though. If you're over-exposed to a band or a particular song being played on the radio constantly then you get sick of them after a while. But that doesn't happen to me too often.

Not with every song hear. I can't hear Stairway to heaven or Bohemian Rhapsody anymore, but I still like Sultans of Swing and Hotel California.

ThePhanastasio · 02-14-2011, 08:15 AM

A song / band's popularity doesn't generally sway my opinion one way or the other. If I like it, I like it.

With that said, as soon as a song is used in a commercial and I have to hear that one snippet of the song a thousand times, I grow to dislike that song and even think of it as cheesy.

Zer0 · 02-14-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_k

Not with every song hear. I can't hear Stairway to heaven or Bohemian Rhapsody anymore, but I still like Sultans of Swing and Hotel California.

I see what you mean but really it's a personal thing. It varies from person to person. There are some songs i never get sick of hearing but not too many.

~~Sansa Stark~~ · 02-14-2011, 08:21 AM

no.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra · 02-14-2011, 08:29 AM

Not at all, albeit music I do like happens to be unpopular most of the time, and music that's popular I tend to not like. However, there are very melodic, rhythmic, and philosophical reasons for this.

~~James~~ · 02-14-2011, 09:14 AM

Nope. It affects me talking about the band, ie if someone here asks me about Radiohead it's probs all been said before so I cba, but the music doesn't change any.

02-14-2011, 07:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
Thom Yorke Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,848	Does a Band's Popularity Affect Your Taste? I remember my dad telling me that he liked The Beatles until they really blew up. After that he couldn't be bothered with them. Do people here (in general) devalue bands just because they're popular? And if so, why? Is it simply because you think they're overplayed, or is there a "snob effect" invloved, where you only like being known for liking more obscure bands? Personally I think I'm pretty good with not doing this. If you like something, you like it. My love for bands like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, etc. isn't affected in the slightest because of their popularity. Of course there are many popular bands I don't like, but that's just a matter of taste. EDIT: This isn't asking about when a band changes their style to gain more fans. Last edited by Thom Yorke; 02-17-2011 at 10:23 PM.

02-14-2011, 07:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,206	No, it doesn't. I like Franz Ferdinand, I Like Dire Straits. But some bands do change their music when they get famous. I do have a hard time taking bands from the Netherlands serious. Especially when they come from somewhere near. It somehow feels like I have to like that band because they come from where I come from. Nevertheless, I have quite some records in my cabinet that are from bands from Limburg (The province where I live). __________________ Click here to see my collection

02-14-2011, 07:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
Zer0 ∞ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 3,792	Not really, if i like a band's music then i listen to them, regardless of how popular they are. I certainly don't listen to underground bands just for the sake of it. If a band changes their sound to gain more commercial interest and if their new sound doesn't appeal to me i would be less inclined to listen to them, not because of their new-found popularity, but because of their new sound. The overplaying factor does have some effect though. If you're over-exposed to a band or a particular song being played on the radio constantly then you get sick of them after a while. But that doesn't happen to me too often. __________________ Last FM \| RYM \| The Final Sound

02-14-2011, 08:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	A song / band's popularity doesn't generally sway my opinion one way or the other. If I like it, I like it. With that said, as soon as a song is used in a commercial and I have to hear that one snippet of the song a thousand times, I grow to dislike that song and even think of it as cheesy. __________________ Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend My last.fm It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they're better left unsung

02-14-2011, 07:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
Blarobbarg Do good. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 2,065	Exactly what Zero said. Literally. It's not so much how popular they are, it's more how sick I am of hearing that one song that EVERYONE loves so much.

02-14-2011, 08:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
~~Sansa Stark~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Eyrie, Vale of Arryn, Westeros Posts: 3,234	no.

02-14-2011, 09:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
~~James~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,483	Nope. It affects me talking about the band, ie if someone here asks me about Radiohead it's probs all been said before so I cba, but the music doesn't change any.