Reasons for Listening?

[PantsMcFist]

So, I'm curious - why do people listen to what they call secular music?

For me, I started because the rock was edgier, and more aggressive (Korn, Limp Bizkit).

Now I seem to listen bands whose lyrics I find meaningful, and the music is secondary. For instance, I like RATM, because of the activism and political message. I like Rammstein for the poetry and depth of emotion expressed. The top of the list though, is Tool, for the raw, earnest spirituality that I find in MJK's lyrics. To me, it's just 100% more meaningful and honest and spiritual when I compare it to the P&W I grew up with.

Anyone else experience music like this?

 

[SparkyMaddie]

I don't catrgorize what I listen to,I just like music

 

[Tallerthanatree]

I listento what I listen to because I like it.

And of course I get accused of being a false Christian because I obviously listen to Morbid Angel, Immolation, and the like because supposedly I enjoy their blasphemous lyrics.

 

[Qyöt27]

I need no reason for listening to it. Putting it that way makes it seem as though you need to justify it, and I see nothing about 'secular' music that requires justifying it in the first place.

Now, there are reasons I tend not to like CCM and other mass-produced, sugarcoated junk and shoddy imitations, but that's purely artistic in nature - theology rarely, if ever, enters the picture (although the general differences may be enough to enhance the distaste, but I don't use it as my primary reason - the music itself in those cases is already bad enough to warrant my reaction).

 

[PantsMcFist]

I'm sort of surprised that no one interacts with the music much beyond "I like it". Has anyone tried interacting with it cognitively, instead of just consuming it?

 

[Lunar Arcane]

Me and the music I listen to, its like I'm bonding with something other-wordly. Even though it would be defined as secular music, it all has meaning to me. The lyrics, the music, the feel. I wouldn't be who I am without this music. Some examples:

Radiohead
The Beatles
Neil Young
Blur
Pilot Speed
Muse
Coldplay
Peter Gabriel
Supertramp

 

[PantsMcFist]

Me and the music I listen to, its like I'm bonding with something other-wordly. Even though it would be defined as secular music, it all has meaning to me. The lyrics, the music, the feel. I wouldn't be who I am without this music.

This is something I can relate to.

 

[Caedmon]

"Christian Music" is the true oddity here, much more deserving of a justification than "secular music." But I can understand having been forced to listen to "Christian Music" as a child, only really being allowed to listen to regular music when I left home for college. I don't listen to music for a spiritual experience, not that that never happens. I listen to it because I enjoy it, and because it engages me creatively. Some of the themes may include spirituality, but they also include things like war, death, violence, apocalypse, utopia/dystopia, gloom, ecstasy, madness, etc.

 

[Musicology]

I hate using the quote, "the music you listen to is the soundtrack of your life" however it is essentially true. Whether the lyrics relate to how you feel, or the tempo matches to the activity you're involved in or whether they have no correlation to anything you are doing, it is your choice to listen to the song/band etc.

Most of the time an Artist/musician/band will write a song for a distinct purpose however i can see two main situations that will change the original meaning. The listeners interpretation or if the listener listens to the the song during an emotional state/event can change the original meaning to suit oneself.

I listen to music written by religious and non-religious musicians because i like the lyrics, the beat, the production, the guitar solo, the interesting drum patterns. It's like what Tallerthanatree said, "I listen to what i listen to because i like it"

I play music, i write music, i collaborate with other musicians, i critic, i listen to music. I perceive music as a combination of lyrics/beat/guitar etc to have a strong connection with spirituality. To the listener, music will make them happy (or release endorphins that create a sense of happiness/well-being/positivity). It all depends on ones likes and dislikes. Emotions, state of mind and maturity (i believe) play a big part on what we listen to as well...

I can waffle endlessly about music but it's Christmas and people are about to arrive shortly!

I have never fully understood what it is actually meant by the term "Secular music"?


Merry Christmas

 

[a.d.ivNonasNovembres]

I listen to music, partly just because it has always been there and yes, I like it. But why do I like it I guess is the question?

Well one thing I really like is harmonies. Get some good harmonies going and I will very much go for that.
Other than that, there are a couple of groups of music - there is "intellectual" music, a lot of classical and some baroque is purely intellectual from my point of view, if you understand it, its very interesting and intellectually fulfilling, if you don't it's "meh".
Then there is music which speaks to my heart, some Baroque, some Classical + Romantic, and a lot of folk and modern music fits into this category. The music effectively conveys and creates natural human emotions of various shades and I will listen to it either to enhance whatever emotion I am feeling, or to alter my emotions, or just for the sake of the "story" of an emotional journey in the music.
Then there is another kind of music that is blatantly ...not exclusively sexual, but, "earthen" - where the "natural emotional" music of the "heart" feels "airy" (whether that is the light air of a summer breeze or the thick heavy air of a fog) the earthen music is, dark, low and speaks to dark and deep parts, and yes, has often but not always sexual aspects, and if not similar lusts such as a lust for power or to be adored etc.
Then there is another weird group of music that is none of these, where some religious music does seem genuinely "unearthly" in a heavenly sense (and other religious music is more emotional or intellectual, but drawing the emotions or intellect to think or feel toward God) - there is another kind of "unearthly" music that I do like and find interesting, and that I can only describe as "extraterrestrial" - it has a feel of something I cannot comprehend. Not because of its infinity as something supernatural, but just because of its alienness. It doesn't induce any emotion except the eerie sense of "this I do not recognise in myself" and all the fear, excitement and curiosity that comes with that, it can be treated intellectually or mathematically but you don't gain much comprehension that way of the alienness. It's just creepy and out there.

I am very interested in this kind of thing.

 

[Musicology]

HARMONIES! i totally forgot about harmonies.
Harmonies add another dimension to song. JAson MRaz and Toca Rivera are two of the best musicians working together in the pop/folk/jazz type genre. Seeing them live is amazing.

I recommend the band Stringmansassy and in particular the album "Dragonfly". A duo (girl singer and guy guitar) who not only harmonize with vocal and guitar, but they muck around with sound effects and loops. The sounds they create are quite unearthly and extraterrestrial. They can also play fantastic Jazz and folk numbers. Two songs come to mind of theirs...

1. Fragile - It has an intro that goes fro about 2 minutes with the guitarist playing with natural harmonics and synth sounds while the vocalist has a slight distortion and echo when she makes bird/insect/nature noises. If you close your eyes and lie down whilst listening to a live performance, you will be transformed beyond sight and sound without using mind altering drugs!
2. The Glockenspiel song - The guitarist plays around with natural harmonics and again, if you close your eyes and lie down at a live performance, he makes the guitar sound like and actual Glockenspiel...

I feel as though i might have got carried away and moved off topic... it's slightly on topic still...

Cheers

 

[antiarte]

it's only music.

 

[a.d.ivNonasNovembres]

If you can use the qualifier only for music you obviously have not been listening to the good stuff.

 

[ephesus32]

I listen to "secular" music because Christian music becomes all too much of the same.... no creativity. Now, I'm not speaking for all types of music, but the music and lyrics all use the same ideas too much. In secular music, there is so much variety to increase my musical prowness. and yeah, i agree i like the lyrics of some secular songs with political messages and others where it makes you think "man, where did these people get these ideas"

 

[Celticflower]

What I listen to on any particular day has a lot to do with the mood I'm in and what I'm doing. Somedays I need to get moving and get stuff done, so I pick guitar heavy rock from the 70's and 80's. On days where my mind seems to be going in 12 different directions I will turn to Aine Minogue or David Arkenstone. If I need a giggle I'll pick Alice Cooper or the Tartan Terrors. Wishing for a sunny day in the midst of a blizzard - the Beach Boys. More interested in lyrics - Rush or Triumph. Company in the house - Bach or Beethoven in the background. Time to sing with the kids - Broadway. Need to cut loose - something Celtic. Feeling romantic - Barry Manilow. Feeling "emo" - Alan Parsons.

 

[a.d.ivNonasNovembres]

I listen to "secular" music because Christian music becomes all too much of the same.... no creativity.

???
William Byrd? The Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus? Hildegard von Bingen? Stellamara? Lyke Wake Dirge? Stella Splendens? Divna Ljubojevic? Bach? Whoever wrote this? Thomas Tallis? Monteverdi? Brahms? Thomas Luis de Victoria? - I could go on for ever... ALL the same? Surely you have been listening to the wrong kind of Christian music