What makes music good? Why do people like the music they like? Why do I like the music I like?
These questions are constantly buzzing in my head, and after years of thinking about it, I still can’t say that I have a definitive answer to any of those questions.
I do know one thing for certain: there is no black and white answer to these questions. Music is objective; everybody has their own taste, and everybody has their own definition of what “good” music is.
To start this search for an answer I’ll begin with the question, why do I like the music I like?
When I am attracted to music, it is because it has the ability to make me feel a certain way. It puts me in a certain mood. It is engaging.
I like Major Lazer because it pumps me up and makes me want to dance like a Rastafarian Kevin Bacon. I like Big Black because it grabs hold of me with relentlessly noisy production and creates an extraordinarily angry and stressful, albeit highly enjoyable, mood.
I like the music I do because it engages me and creates a mood, and I think that for the most part is why people like the music they do.
This is where things get a little tricky, though.
I mentioned above that I like Major Lazer. Some dude at a frat party once told me to check out Steve Aoki because “Like, dude, did you hear that drop? I’m so hyped right now. TURN UP.”
Sorry party bro, I really don’t like Steve Aoki. I don’t think he is very interesting to listen to, and even though he might get me hyped when I listen to him, I can think of so many other artists that, for me, are more interesting and can get me so hyped I could charge through a brick wall or beat a cheetah in a race.
Does that make Steve Aoki bad? No it does not.
I still do not know for sure what makes music good, and I do not know if I ever will. All I can do is continue my search for exciting music.
With that being said, I challenge you to ask yourself why you like the music you like and to open your mind to new music, even if you think you will not like it.
You never know, you might just find your new favorite band.
