I think it's interesting that people look for different things in music. For me I look primarily for melody, it doesn't really matter what genre the music is, the important thing is that there's some kind of tune that I hum or sing along to.

Other people (or rather a LOT of other people it seems) seem to go for music which has a catchy or intricate beat, whilst others might go for the 'attitude' of the music, be it aggressive, gangster, seductive or whatever. I find that whilst these things can significantly improve a song, they're nothing without a melody that I can enjoy.

For this reason I find it very difficult to enjoy genres such as R&B or Drum and Bass. These genres tend to emphasise the rhythm over the tune which I find quite grating. I also don't have much love for Ska or Reggae, I really don't like the skank rhythm and for this reason I find songs in these genres to be very samey and tiresome. There are a few exceptions in all these genres of course, but these tend to be ones that downplay the genre stereotype and dip into others a bit.

What kind of things do you look for in music?

Unfortunately I can't add much to what you said because I'm exactly the same way.

I like tone. if the tone catches my ear, i'll listen more. wheter it be jazz blues rock heavy death black metal. if the song is good it's also great, but i think a good tone can make a mediocre melody sound amazing when played with the right vibe.

I'm in total agreement w/ Detty & Krokodile. There are exceptions to much of what Detty said (e.g: ambient) but overall I feel the same way. I would like to add the element of mood to the conversation. I love music that has the power to change &/or prolong my mood. I love music that takes me on a journey, whether that's telling a story w/ lyrics (it doesn't even have to be in my native tongue) or putting me in a trance w/ a synthesizer. I mostly use music to compliment my life (like a nice wine w/ dinner) but often I want to escape my life (like the effect that many get by watching a movie or playing a video game).

I listen to the music itself, and typically don't pay any attention to the lyrics. If I do pick out lyrics, it's a phrase or two out of the entire song and there's a good chance I walk away with a completely different feeling about the song than intended.

I listen to a lot of rock, mostly rhythm and guitar riffs I suppose, but I also listen to a lot of symphonic music in the form of video game or movie (Star Wars) soundtracks.

I'm all over the place. I guess it depends on the mood I'm in. Tone and melody certainly are at the top of what I like though.

It's hard for me to explain what I like to listen to. My top plays this week are everything from Chopin to Baroness.

I'm all over the place too. I'd say it's melody, rhythm and tone I guess?

I just listen for awesome.

I like melody and bass, and in terms of vocals I definitely favor female voice. I don't care at all about attitude or lyrics.

Lyrics have to be non-cringeworthy.

I'd like to heard Obi Kwiets input here.

Much like det ans kroko I like a good melody, but I also emphasize lyrics. I like to sing along with my music.

I like good music.

I'm with Detty, Kroko in terms of melody. Like Darkjedibob, I really don't pay much attention to lyrics unless they really stand out in the song. Harmonies help a lot too.

I do enjoy singing along, but quite often I can't make out the lyrics so I kind of do a singing-what-words-I-kind-of-hear thing, eventually i'll look up the lyrics online though :p

For the most part, I don't even listen to the lyrics. I mean I hear them, yea.
But you could show me a line from one of my favorite songs and I'd be like "wheres that from?"

I don't know what I look for .. it just has to be something I like. The flow? maybe. I dunno.

I mostly like it when music is good. That is what I look for in music. I do not know how to explain it any better.

here here

Depends on my mood. Right now for instance, I'm in to Ra. Some pretty good stuff at the moment. Also, I look into stuff that would sound good for other wrestlers and go with there characters. My entrance music is Better Think Again by Submersed.

No matter what mood I'm in, the music has to be original. Also, I prefer my music to be an experience, not just catchy pop throw aways or the flavor of the month. I'd say my musical tastes lay the fine line between mainstream and avant-garde.

Nothing is original. Nothing. I hate this attitude, because music is good because it's musical, not because it's original. Originality is only a means to an end and only one part of what can make something good. Execution is key.

I can't understand hip hop at all. It's a 3-5s beat set on repeat with someone basically chanting. I await Temperamental to tell me I'm an idiot.

I want to hear instrumentation. I want to hear someone who has spent years of 6 hours of each day of getting that note. Someone who has made it their life's passion on the violin/'cello/piano/flute.

Put it this way. How many people know these names: Glenn Gould, Yo-Yo Ma, Janine Jansen, Julia Fischer, Mstislav Rostipovich, Leonard Bernstein. Compared to: Carrie Underwood, "Sanj-Sangi" however that creepy ass dude's name is spelled, uhh..Katy Perry.

Absolutely. People have been taking other people's movements and measures for a long ass time. It's nothing new. Like Emon said, it's all in the execution. If you take a little piece from Bach and put it in your composition and it sounds wonderful, great! Is it entirely original? Hell no. You copied from Bach some! Is an entire concerto for the vuvuzela original? Yeah, most likely. But I guarantee is going to sound like royal shìt.

Originality, at least in this day and age comes from successful re-interpretation of classic materials. People who can successfully merge their influences without having one overtake the other is where originality comes into play. Of course nothing is completely original, but you can still create a unique sound by merging the sounds around you. You don't hear people complaining that every band with vocals is just a cheap imitation of Gregorian Chant. Music is a universal language, and today it's about successfully merging genres to create an 'original' sound. Originality exists, you just need to bend it's definition and have an open mind.

Of course. But execution still matters more.

Professor, how scared should we be?

Somewhere between not at all and entirely!

I only listen to hymns and weather forecasts.

The pursuit of originality for originality's sake is what causes people to waste their lives. You want to be like Mozart who travelled around learning the styles of as many musicians as possible, and then integrating them into his own work.

But the point I want to make is that I don't find originality to be rerequisite for something to be good. How many bands have started to change the style and tone of their music drastically during the course of their career? You'll have fans that like the old or the new, but someone has to be pretty hardcore to like both. I can't stand old Red Hot Chili Peppers (pre Blood Sugar Sex Magik) but I like the more recent stuff. In general I seek out music that's similar to music I already like, this is how our brain learns to like new things, by linking it to the stuff we already know.

Oh man, I love weather forecasts, without them I couldn't go Walking in the Rain, especially Chocolate Rain. But I hate Crying in the Rain., in those cases Bring on the Sunshine, in fact, take me to the Land of Sunshine, and spare me the Raging Storms. But psh, Who'll Stop the Rain? It's not possible, if it was someone would probably just Steal My Sunshine anyway... and there's no use waiting for a Wind of Change, especially since it could make things worse, and turn into a Hurricane.
Also many other weather-related jokes.

Just Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.


Also something about Dust in the Wind, and many more...

Originality does not have to mean a total absence of influence from previous works. This is an overinterpretation of the concept of originality. Originality can be found in the choice of influences, and how they are used. A band that isn't "original" is one that deliberately constrains itself to a chosen genre, and sounds indistinguishable from other bands of that genre.

When Sajn said "original", I'm pretty sure he just means "not generic".

Nothing wrong with good pop music. Some people will moan and b*tch and cry about the lack of guitars and originality or whatever, or maybe that it came from some sausage factory of music churning out clones but **** it - if it's good it's good. Case in point: Lady GaGa. You may dislike her, but she cranks out some seriously good pop music.

That rant aside, I like stuff from all over the shop. Currently I'm listening to a lot of Tim Minchin because I like comedy as well as over the top piano. And rude words.

Haha. Fgr you ********.

She does a lot more than funny dance music, too. Her albums actually have a bunch of really good acoustic stuff. It doesn't sound like the same artist at all.

And (I realise this goes against what I was saying about sausage machines) she writes her own songs. And for other people too.

Funny nose though.

Sharp knees and that.

The worst pop is actually the stuff that has guitars in it. Case in point: The Feeling. Or Busted.

I like to listen to really angry rap music real loud in my car with the windows down, so that everyone I pass by thinks I'm a ****ing baddass.

I like intricate instrumentals, mostly in the realm of guitar, as well as something lyrically meaningful. Also, groups that build a soundscape that totally immerses the listener. Godspeed! You black emperor comes to mind.

Listen to the new Blind Guardian album and forget about everything else.

Here is some progressive house

Here is some Norwegian Black Metal



good luck in your quest for the perfect song OP hope your way of the leaf serves you well

Only people that listen to angry rap think that people who listen to angry rap are badass (and yes, I know you're not serious).