MUSIC. Just a simple harmless little word. But I still have not come across a single comprehensive meaning for it. Speaking of meanings we are naturally inclined to envisage the dictionary so let me do the extra work and tell you what exactly the word means.


mu·sic [myzik]
n
1. sounds that produce effect: sounds, usually produced by instruments or voices, that are arranged or played in order to create a pleasing or stimulating effect
2. art of arranging sounds: the art of arranging or making sounds, usually those of musical instruments or voices, in groups and patterns that create a pleasing or stimulating effect
3. type of music: music of a particular type, for example, of a particular place or time, for a particular instrument, of a particular style, or appealing to a particular group
rock-and-roll music

4. written music: written notation on paper indicating the pitch, duration, rhythm, and tone of notes to be played
5. pleasing sound: any sound or group of sounds that is pleasing or stimulating
the music of the wind in the trees

6. group: a group of musicians (archaic)


[13th century. Via French musique from, ultimately, Greek mousikē “art of the Muse, music,” from mousikos “of a Muse,” from mousa “muse” (see muse2).]
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Unfortunately for the lexicographers they haven’t been able to grasp the essence of the word. While for me Scorpions soft rock is the best of the lot, for some others EMINEM might be the only musician on the planet. Some might be sitting in their couches beleaguered by the sound of Mtv for they are the classical junkies. Seriously dude, how relative can a word get. Why don’t you try asking five different people of what they think music is and see the kind of diverse answers you get.

Its really complicated, to classify the various types of music junkies and dissect them. Infact everyone at some point of time develops a kind of distinct taste. I know someone who just listens to rap. Supposedly he does not comprehend any other type of music. It’s just rap all the way… and the rest of the genres don’t even figure in his vocabulary. Then of course there are other genres like new age, world music, classical, gospel, gothic, grunge, pop … to name a few. If you want a complete list then just open your windows media player and click to the advanced tag editor. You’ll get an idea of what I’m talking about. Btw, iTunes wont give you a list as big as wmp.

There are several other genres like gospel, gothic, new age etc. but they are hardly significant when compared to some of the other more popular ones. Basically speaking the major chunk of the music hearing population is classified into four major groups. You have the rock population; the pop generation, the rap hip hop and reggae culture; and last but not the least the Others which includes all other genres that form the minority.

Now these groups can again be subdivided into various subgroups. Rock for example can be classified on the basis of chronology, lyrics, type of instruments uses, beats per minutes etc. chronologically you have the fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties, and contemporary. Then you have the hard, soft, metal, acid. There are angst ridden, angry to the point of abuse, songs and at the same time there are soft songs and power ballads that can melt your heart. Eighties rock is by far the most popular of the sub-genres. While most of the not so fond of rock people appreciate the classic eighties, most get overtly critical when it comes to the harder sub-categories, equating it to pure noise. However to its lovers it is a complex form of music and requires tremendous calibre to appreciate and enjoy. ( personal add on : ska music sometimes rocks and sometimes really gets on my nerves. But that’s beside the point).

Now moving on to the pop population. As the name suggests the name pop has been derived from the word popular owing to its huge fan base. Now don’t get all mixed up here. Let’s go back to the dictionary and see how they define pop before getting all biased and prejudiced.

pop mu·sic

n
commercial music: modern commercial music, usually tuneful, uptempo and repetitive, that is aimed at the general public and the youth market in particular. Also called pop

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

So, when something’s crafted to suit your taste, it will appeal to you and you will listen to it or be attracted to it. That is normal human nature. As for my take on the issue, the main reason for the popularity of pop is the radio population ( to many pop words), the people who are not really into music and prefer stuff that are easy to hear and lyrics that are easy to comprehend. So it being a pop music lover won’t exactly place you on a pedestal, but then why should you care?

As for the third major group, I am not in a position to comment since EMINEM’s the only one of the lot that I can listen to for hours at a stretch without getting irritated. A recent craze is the introduction of a little bit of rap into songs of other genres. We hear LL coolJ rapping away in the interludes of JLO’s song. Sounds different and its definitely a good attempt to unite two completely different genres.

As for the other smaller groups, they are a refreshing change and not really a part of the cutthroat rivalry of the other three. While a rock fan dare not admit that he has just heard a Justin Timberlake song ( not by accident) it doesn’t hurt to announce his recent tryst with a sitar maestro’s new album. After all no one wants to be at the receiving end of “ sneers from the peers.”