Personality types and prog
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Topic: Personality types and prog
Posted By: barbs
Subject: Personality types and prog
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 05:53
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What affect (if any) do you think that personality type has on your choice of music and what you choose especially as your favourites. (might take a bit of contemplation) What started me thinking about this was reading through the forums recently and noticing how often people would disagree about certain bands or how they thought they were overrated. A few forum members, for example, think that PF aren't very good whereas others believe them to be the best, with many in the middle. Some members who listen to GG sound almost repulsed by the music of other bands. DT for example, tends to bring out some of the worst reactions. Now while we can agree that this is personal choice, freedom of speech etc - it doesn't get away from the fact that a great deal of people will at times, like a band we dislike and I am suggesting that our dislike often has nothing to do with the quality or even the aesthetic of the music, thus it is my 'personal' taste. While the development of your musical taste most likely progresses through nurture, experimentation, degrees of musical intellect(understanding) and immersion, it still seems to me, because of musics emotive elements that, music often matches personality types. A task oriented person with a dominant choleric streak in them will like a certain type of music and because of their personality type may be adamant that their music is the best. Why. Because they chose it, they like it and they 'always' make the right decision.(sic) Probably not but thats the way they will argue. A melancholic dominated personality type (probably me), would possibly love PF, PT, Opeths Damnation, Marillion, probably Yes and Genesis etc, but may not be able to stand Krautrock etc. So do you think this is 'utter bollocks' (provide picture please  ) or do you believe thereis some credibility in this suggestion?... and can you give an example of this in your favourite music...or someone elses  .------------- Eternity |
Replies:
Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 06:17
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I think the main personality trait required is an open mind. if you're not open minded then you will never listen to the more interesting bands. you also need to be tenacious. if you turn off a record after 1 listen, you've not going to gain an appreciation. however, if you stick with it you open your mind to enjoying it. prog is an interesting beast that requires attentive listening to enjoy and discover new bands. ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: Politician
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 06:28
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There probably is some truth in this. Whilst I like all kinds of progressive
music (and a lot of psychedelic, folk and extreme metal stuff), I particularly like knotty, complex music: Zeuhl, RIO, Krautrock, etc. That's partly because I like a challenge, but also I think because I enjoy understanding music that many people find inaccessible. It's partly the desire to be different: for instance, I've just bought a new home and am having the decorating done from scratch. Whilst many people would have chosen a natural wood floor and black leather furniture for the apartment, I've opted for a black wood floor and white leather furniture - mainly because I've never seen that done before. There's a connection there, I think... |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 06:29
I agree but I still think there is more to the selection of your personal favs than that. IMO, when you are in touch with your own feelings and begin to know yourself and your personal responses, likes, dislikes and why, then you begin to understand that it is more than just being open minded because a person can be as open minded as they like but it doesn't mean they are going to love everything they listen to, no matter how many times they listen to it. Otherwise, it can almost be like being your own dictator, who by force, subjugates the will to accept any sound or a noise as a worthy piece of music, despite the ears bleeding. ------------- Eternity |
spectral wrote:Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 06:36
Yes, they are some of the connections that I was hoping people would be able to make about this. I think it can help us to understand others a bit better as well. Can you post some pics of what that room looks like? It sounds like an interesting idea.  ------------- Eternity |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 06:46
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When I bought my first Yes album (yessongs) it was the 70s and I was 16
or 17. I certainly had no understanding or control of my destiny or
feelings at that stage (I think I was buying the partridge family
before this ). Most proggers may
well just be loners with a highly developed creative side of their
brain. Their imagination takes pleasure in the evocative emotions
created with this type of compositional music. I bet we all like to
read and watch fantasy/SciFi as well.
|
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 06:52
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I am an eccentric by nature, and that definitely shows in my taste.
Krautrock, Rio, Canterbury, Zheul and other weird stuff are just the
thing for me. I like some symphonic prog too, and some fusion, but even
when it comes to symphonic prog I tend to opt for the weirder bands
(Van der Graaf Generator, King Crimson, some Peter Hammill records are
EXTREMELY weird). Certainly I have the usual Yes and Genesis albums in
my collection too and even like them, but my heart definitely is with
the weirdos.
-------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 06:52
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i feel that ultimately, given time, if we are open minded and willing to discover new things, then we can appreciate most types of music (certainly within the genre of prog). For instance, if you are unable to get past Geddy Lee's vocals (as certain posts have mentioned in the past), then you're never going to enjoy Rush. It is generally down to the disposition of the person. Generally, if someone embraces prog, you could draw the conclusion (as politician said) that they are able to appreciate different things. it's all a matter of opening your mind to new ideas (as a girlfriend once said ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 06:54
A bit scary cobb.  I do like fantasy/sci fi as well (used to read heaps when I had more time) and my fav movies are sci fi flicks.------------- Eternity |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 07:02
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With movies it is the same as with music with me. Some of my favourite
movies: "The Holy Mountain" and "El Topo" by Alejandro Jodorowsky,
"Zardoz" (starring Sean Connery) by John Boorman and "Viva la Muerte!"
by Spanish surrealist Fernando Arrabal.
------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 07:09
| Surrealism is just fantasy in a different guise. |
Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 07:18
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Is being an "eccentric" your nature or something you've made efforts to become? Not that I'm saying this of you, but some people like the idea of being an eccentric and force themselves to revel in eccentricities - i.e. watching particular films, reading certain books etc.. Is it a character trait or is it experiences when you are young that shapes/brings out your eccentric personality? ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 07:34
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I don't think I am being eccentric just for the heck of it. I have been
quite an outsider all my life; admired in a way (I was a child prodigy
and especially a math wizard, which is a little unusual for girls; I
don't remember how many math exams I wrote for others back in school),
but no-one ever really warmed up to me. I hung around with some circles
but never had the feeling I really belonged. The only person I really
belong to is my wonderful wife Jean. This is not supposed to sound sad though. I am quite happy. ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 07:38
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I was just interested and I certainly wasn't intimating you were making this all up!! You're definitely a weirdo ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 08:31
Unfortunately, schools have a habit of doing that to people Friede. If a child is either, especially gifted or particularly challenged, their peers often keep them out for a whole complex list of reasons but really because children have not been taught to be inclusive of others on a broad enough scale (and some of course have even been taught to be exclusive). Particularly as a girl/young woman, you possibly intimidated the guys because of your intellect and school groups develop strange dynamics by which they relate - at some stage a person has to develop strong defense mechanisms to cope (psyche) and by that stage the die is often cast. I would not call myself eccentric but I have often felt that eccentricity is an extremely strong desire for independent choice and identification with extreme ideals in the pursuit of creative outlets. It appears to be a form of security in identifying oneself as unique in a world that so often is marked by trend and the drone of the madding crowd. Eccentrics seem to be quite happy with their own company most of the time, but...perhaps its really just a reaction to JWs constantly knocking at the door.  ------------- Eternity |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 08:40
A tantalising teaser at the end of that post spectral. Is that, a girlfriend or girlfriend a. Hey maybe you could suggest Radiohead do a follow up album to Kid A and call it that. ------------- Eternity |
Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 09:13
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^ "...as Girlfriend A. once said, your honour!" ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: Infinity
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 10:58
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Pre-judgements certainly play their part as does association....the point is conquering those if you have have the desire to. The rest has to lie on what is pleasing to the ear, emotions whatever.....I do believe this can evlove. A listener can be so conditional with music but then something may come along to spin your personal take on it, perhaps even your comfort zone completely on it's head....to be embraced and acknowledged or swept under the carpet......the truth will out though cool topic by the way
------------- I can't remember what I said I lost my head. __________________________ |
Posted By: porter
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 11:44
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this topic is great! I think that you are perfectly right in your analysis of the nature of musical tastes...I consider myself a really open minded person, not only for music, also for life in general...but, there are some things that I just CAN'T GET INTO, despite my personality. For example, since you've mentioned them in your thread, I just CAN'T STAND PF. I've tried so many times to like them, I swear I did, but, nothing...it never happened! And I do consider them as a great band, one of the greatest ever...it's just that they don't "get" me...it's a pretty irrational thing I guess, I wouldn't be able to tell you why; it just happens. Same thing for Genesis(even though in that case I think I know why I don't like them....but let's keep that a secret What can I do? I must be a desperate case. ------------- "my kingdom for a horse!" (W. Shakespeare, "Richard III") |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 13:56
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I admit I'm a little closeminded. Its bad but I really dislike experimentation for the heck of it (in music). There are some genres I just cannot get into and probably never will, but I admit I had pre-conceived notions about them (....Kraut, Zeuhl, Metal) In goign with your topic barbs I fidn that I cannot listen to any German Music with vocals. Any other country I can stand, and even some German music is alright, but once the vocals come in i get freaked out and turn it off, especially if its non english. ------------- 
|
Posted By: King of Loss
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 14:01
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WEll, the bands you choose sometimes determines your personality. But I know a kid with almost the identical tastes in music as me and his personality is not even close to mine! |
Posted By: Soulman
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 18:42
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I think it would be a little pretentious for one to say that they are
open-minded; as of course, some of us may despise certain bands or
types of music. And that is usually because we tend appreciate things
that we can relate to, so much that it tends to make his ignorant. I don't think we should get the wrong idea, that prog fans are the better fans of music. It's just that as prog fans we tend to appreciate certain things about music, different from other fans of musical genres. I think as an individual, I liked prog rock music, because I like it's ability to be many things as often I find my tastes to be conflicted; I cannot stick to one type of sound. Prog can take upon many musical genres, it can be completely abstract, melodic, virtuosistic, and emotional. Those are some things that I definetely admire about prog rock. |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 20:03
Port, what bands are your favs? I was wondering if you would find, that in comparing your fav music with PF and Genesis, that you might identify a contrast that reveals what it is specifically that 'gets at you' about their music. By deconstructing their use of instruments and compostitional arrangements, vocals, use of extraneous sound, atmosphere etc and comparing to the others - it might be possible to identify something in particular that puts you off them. In the case of VGG, I really had to look past the vocals to really appreciate the complexity of their music, but I often find it difficult to handle 'different' vocal styles that don't match the criteria I have in my head/soul for what I personally consider to be 'listenable' vocals. (Geddy Lee and Surkamp are other examples) Fortunately, I can overcome my prejudice about this now, which broadens the musical spectrum I listen to. I still prefer a certain type of vocalist though. (Still, I'm not sure if this has anything to do with my personality. ------------- Eternity |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 20:40
| Christ almighty, now we have psycologists in here..................for f**ks sake you like music because you do. There is nothin scientific nor psychological in it. Your psyche does not discern whether you like prog rock, heavy metal, electronic, folk or whatever. Music is a personal choice, as are many other of life's other little quirks. I, myself, have 2 options on music i either like it or hate it there is no middle ground,some of the supossed prog groups on her make my blood boil. But, there is no point arguing as someone will always try to reason why they are here ( generally American). Music is appreciated by many for different types of music bu tnot because they of their psyche. |
Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: August 18 2005 at 23:07
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well yes, I certainly think that there is some link between music and ones character...specially when you are a fan. the best example I think are the punks! but with me it also goes...I think its because I was always...not a weirdo, but diferent as others, specially as a little boy. I never liked sports and I spend all my time drawing ( actually I am an artist if you want to look it that way). Then I begun to pley the guitar, which Im quiet good ad I must say jejejeje. Then along came prog and that was an other important step in my life ( I really feel that prog has changed me) and finally I found out how much I love films and movies, specially the "weird" movies, like the ones from David Lynch and Tim Burton, The Wall, Want to be John Malkovich...etc...so Im going to study cinematography...so in a way all of this things really clicked, in the way that I always like the thing that most people dont. ------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?" 
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Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 03:50
Peter Hammill is a case of "love him or hate him", and I must admit it took me a while too before I got used to his vocal style (my first VdGG-experience was "Godbluff"). But now I absolutely love that voice and think it is by far the best in prog. No-one brings emotions across like Peter Hammill (the man can sing absolutely beautifully, by the way, only it would not fit for most of the lyrics, especially not with VdGG. But some of the love songs on his solo albums are beautifully sung; just listen to "This Side of the Looking Glass" from his solo album "Over". And anyone who ever experienced an unaccompanied encore in one of his concerts (without microphone or instruments) can only say "Wow!" I had that experience twice; once he sang "Again", the other time "I Smile Like Chicago" from Robert Fripp's first solo album "Exposure" (where Hammill has a few guest appearances). ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: porter
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 06:31
Well, I must admit that, beyond the irrational thing i mentioned about my "hate" for PF and my "not exactly love" for Genesis, I have a love for a hard-edged sound, which is something that I don't find in the 2 bands above, especially in Genesis, and I also feel a "lack of something" in both of them: for Genesis it may be some kind of "inconsistency" in their musicianship (they are good musicians indeed, but nothing compared to others, at least in terms of "groove"....now what do I call groove? that's a question.... About the prejudice thing, you're totally right, probably the only reason why I can't fall in love with Genesis (and I was about to a couple of times) is the fact that I can't overcome the prejudice...I could with Geddy Lee's voice, I could with Peter Hammill's weirdness (even though it took me a very little time to appreciate him) but I couldn't with, say, Tony Banks' style...just sounds "wrong" to me... for PF it's different because my mind has decided not to give them any chance anyway, the subject is very complicated, it'd take forever to unravel all of the subtle aspects it implies, and I don't think you'd want me to infest the forum THAT long... ------------- "my kingdom for a horse!" (W. Shakespeare, "Richard III") |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 06:42
You are right. Music is a personal choice, but the topic requires contemplating why you have made some of those choices and perhaps your personality is such that you dislike contemplation. Our response/reactions, even to this post reveals at least a little about certain aspects of our personality. Positive self reflection is one of the more civilised aspects of human behaviour IMO. IMO, if people are open minded they will also consider an holistic effect on their musical taste which includes the subject of this topic. Human beings are complex and it stands to reason that musical taste can be complex. Just because I love or hate a certain type of music does not mean it is the best or even that it is 'good' music. It doesn't even mean that it is necessarily prog, even if the other 80 or 90 percent of the music I listen to is 'considered' prog by 'experts'. IMO there are nature/nurture considerations regarding musical choice among others. If you were to just take, for example, the fact that you have very strong opinions about certain subjects.(Your posting suggests that you are a person of strong personal opinions and you are not afraid to show how you 'feel' about it.) Can you measure, with any degree of accuracy, 'all' of the reasons why you 'feel' (I hope you don't deny that humans have feelings) the way you do about certain things. If, for example, you have experienced trauma of a substantial nature, the impact of the trauma is likely to include many of the sights, sounds, smells etc during that experience. It could be an injury and accident a relationship issue etc. Basically everyone has experienced some kind of trauma because birth itself is one. Of course, if it is a repeat incident it will more likely reinforce the various sensory connections associated with the incident lodged in your 'filing cabinet' and may be triggered in a whole list of ways when a particular sight, sound, smell, activity etc takes place. You may feel apprehensive, anxious, happy, morose, 'indifferent' etc. Now you may be able to reason this out as some people are about irrational fears etc, because of their heightened self awareness and because they have developed coping strategies, but with music we would tend not to reason like that. Music is generally non-threatening (well most - could be another topic)
so we generally don't consider the reasons why/why not, regarding our
dislike of music, somewhat like the response you gave in your post.There is no reason why our musical appreciation would not in some way be affected by some of the things I suggested and therefore, to a degree our concept of 'choice' can be subconsciously compromised. Now if we take that and then add the fact that as human beings we are all different and IMO unique, all subject to influences all of our lives and that these differences include personality which will, to a degree, dictate likes and dislikes including food, music, reading material etc - even friendships/relationships, then I believe the discussions in this thread are valid as well as being civilised and considerate. ------------- Eternity |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 07:01
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This is pretty heavy stuff here Barbs.... Why do I prefer devin townsend to the flower kings? Why do I think yes is more akin to beethoven than the beatles? Why do I prefer bands with vocalists compared to bands with no vocalist, when I love the instrumental sections in the vocal compositions? and then of course there's- Why do i love bananna flavour in dairy products but detest banannas? These are all questions that I do not need to know the why of- I just know |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 07:03
Thanks for your openess. I didn't want
to pre-empt what your fav listening was but the two bands I thought of
from your original post were KC and VGG because of their contrast to
the bands you don't like, but I wasn't sure about Yes because I don't
consider them harder edged. Those three, it may be argued, are possibly
the most aggressively experimental. Consistently risk taking, pushing
boundaries. You probably like live concerts and 'party' energy.Perhaps we could say that some progressive music has more 'grunt' than others. I know some people stay away from PF because they do not find their music and particularly the lyrics very positive. Again, in some ways (not always but some) this may be to do with personality type because a light and bubbly personality may find them either difficult to understand (don't worry, be happy type) or even a bit depressing for some  . I think degrees of aggression and mellowness in music as well can match up. Male and female hormones, testosterone levels - would possibly affect what we listen to, where, when, how much etc etc ( as you said, it is very complicated  but I find it interesting)------------- Eternity |
Posted By: porter
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 07:12
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it's VEEERY interesting....I wonder what your profession is?....psychologist? ------------- "my kingdom for a horse!" (W. Shakespeare, "Richard III") |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 07:15
I get where you are coming from Nets. Some languages do not translate very well, particularly from English,(can be a little freaky, yeah )
however, I can imagine that a native speaker may find it preferable.
Opera, on the other hand, can sound very clumsy and lose its polish
when translated from another language into English (particularly
Italian and French), so it depends on the style of music.------------- Eternity |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 07:36
Peter Hammill is a case of "love him or hate him", and I must admit it took me a while too before I got used to his vocal style (my first VdGG-experience was "Godbluff"). But now I absolutely love that voice and think it is by far the best in prog. No-one brings emotions across like Peter Hammill (the man can sing absolutely beautifully, by the way, only it would not fit for most of the lyrics, especially not with VdGG. But some of the love songs on his solo albums are beautifully sung; just listen to "This Side of the Looking Glass" from his solo album "Over". And anyone who ever experienced an unaccompanied encore in one of his concerts (without microphone or instruments) can only say "Wow!" I had that experience twice; once he sang "Again", the other time "I Smile Like Chicago" from Robert Fripp's first solo album "Exposure" (where Hammill has a few guest appearances). [/QUOTE] Excellent memories Friede. I definitely
intend to get more listening time with these bands along with GG. They
make you earn the pleasure of the listening experience more than most
by making you think more about the music IMO.
It perhaps makes it a bit easier for someone who is used to speaking
another language such as German, to 'accept' the vocal style of Hammill
because the way he uses his voice in song is very dramatic. They could
perhaps be considered, 'shakespearean progmasters' because I sometimes
think the way they go about it would not be out of place in one of his
plays.------------- Eternity |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 07:40
No Ports, only some at uni while doing an education degree but I am naturally curious for some reason. ------------- Eternity |
Posted By: Reverie
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 07:42
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I think barbs has it. The disposition of a person's mental state certainly colours there world in different ways, and music is no exception to this. People don't necessarily have to have similar personalities either because we all hear something different. King Crimson sounds slightly different for me than it does to others and we each either like the colour or we don't. Personally, it has come to be that the single most important aspect of life for me is without a doubt freedom. I love everything about it. I love what the word means. So if i listen to music and i can't find freedom in there somewhere, if i can't find that matching colour, then chances are i'm not going to warm up to it so much. And it changes for sure. I was obsessed with Dream Theater and Opeth at one stage, then i craved something else, something more. I didn't want to be imprisoned in those bands so here i am listening to all kinds of crazy music. I think things get really interesting when you start composing music yourself. I've been writing music for a few years now and it's astounding how much i've changed. How i've gone from cliche metal riffs to soft jazzy stuff with really weird, edgy bits here and there. And it's really interesting to experience my reaction to some stuff i write. I've noticed that some of my material has this very distinct feeling for me, this feeling that really confuses me. When i hear this stuff it's hard for me to know what i think about it. I don't know whether to think it's really cool and interesting or.... i can't even put it into words. There isn't a word for this feeling Very cool topic! |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 07:46
Now that is interesting. I love bananas and banana smoothies and toasted bacon, cheese and banana fingers but banana in dairy products is yuk to me. I'm just naturally curious about these things Cobb. Some people are, some aren't. ------------- Eternity |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 07:58
Barbs, you should read "Gravity's Rainbow" by Thomas Pynchon. At the beginning there is a scene with a banana breakfast, where bananas appear in every imaginable way. -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 08:05
You have brought up a really interesting point Rev. I tend to be a collector of things and I write compositions as well. One of the things that draws me to prog is that it is the most experimental of the modern genres and there are so many excellent musical ideas floating around. A chord progression, structure, a vocal arrangement, instrument combinations, musical styles and combinations etc - it keeps music alive and growing inside of you I think. Your own musical personality is growing as you express the freedom you desire to and this expands as we are immersed in musical ideas. It is an exciting prospect really and I think the chance to be original and relevant is a very envigorating and life enhancing thing.
Probably the most authentic name I have ever heard for a band is Muse,
because IMO, the real good stuff is caught rather than taught.------------- Eternity |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 08:10
I just love the way they are so easy to 'unwrap' Jean.
If I was dumped on a desert island with the choice of only one food
source, it would probably be bananas but mangoes come a close second.------------- Eternity |
Posted By: Gloryscene
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 08:10
|
As well as prog I personally listen to a wide range of music so I cannot categorically say that a particular type of music is an expression of my personality. However, I think maybe the way i approach and listen to music is a clearer illustration of my personality. Things really need to make me sit up and be impressed and I often get that with the more proggressive stuff. I guess i am just not easy to please in music as well as other traits of life! Maybe us proggers are more maticulous in our listening and less throw away about music than your general Radio 1 listener. ------------- "The Beautiful Ally Of Your Own Gravediggers" www.gloryscene.co.uk |
Posted By: Ray Lomas
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 08:12
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Very intresting topic to read. I think Barbs has made some very good points and is absolutely right. Someone has said that a persons bookshelf reflects his/her personality. I think the same can be said about his/her music taste. |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 09:41
|
I agree with you about banana flavor in dairy products you can buy, like yoghurt. the artificial banana arome in them is nowhere near the real taste of bananas. but try making some banana milk yourself. mesh them and mix them with the milk - it tastes fantastic! but stay away from banana beer! yes, it really exists; there is a pub in Cologne that offers literally over a hundred different types of beer (most of them bottled, of course), among them a banana beer. yikes to the power of 3! ------------- A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: DEzerov
Date Posted: August 19 2005 at 11:15
|
Sadly, we proggers are forced to confront a series
of problems that fans/fanatics of other genres are generally not forced
to endure: (1) their passion being constantly panned by "the so-called
music critics" as being pretentious, bombastic, and pompous,(2) a
mainstream media that largely does not acknowledge that prog (and it's
myriad of sub-categories) EVEN EXISTS, and (3) an overall ignorance by
the "average music consumer/listener" in the genre and a lack of
willingness to listen to something "esoteric" or "different" due
to the aforementioned numbers one and two. I've always marched to the
beat of a diffent drum machine. I've never been the "average music
consumer/listener." Most likely my interest in progressive rock, as with most of you who take the time to read this, comes about not so much as a product of nature vs. nurture, but rather nature plus nurture. Where we fall on the food chain and the environment where we were raised, most likely makes us proggers. I propose that we proggers are most likely towards the upper end of the bell curve. I don't intend to imply that one is "affected" if he or she choose to listen to Beyonce, Coldplay, 50 Cent, or Tim McGraw. I'm sure there are some very bright folks who listen to othertypes of music, but by the very nature of prog's construction, it takes a different type of "wiring" to fully appreciate the very way it's assembled, let alone all the nuances and sub-genres. How can I appreciate Can, Magma, Henry Cow, Univers Zero and Taal at one end of the spectrum and PFM, Celeste, Fruupp, Gryphon and the Moodies at the other? Nature plus nurture, I suspect. Growing up in house where Dave Brubeck, Louis Armstrong, Kay Kaiser, Edvard Grieg, Modeste Mussorgsky, Anton Dvorak and Ray Charles all spent time on the record player, probably has a little to do with my passion for prog. At the same time Ed Sullivan had the Beatles, the Stones, and the Lovin' Spoonful on Sunday nights (of course my parents watched for Topo Gigio and Victor Borge). Hearing 21st Century Schizoid Man on a late-night FM show called "Sunday Subway" may have been the catalyst for me. The same program introduced Gypsy (of a Strange and Distant Time), Space Oddity, and Steppenwolf's Monster to me. A long, strange trip it has indeed been! ------------- The moon is made by some lame cooper and you can see the idiot has no idea about moons at all - Nikolay Gogol |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 20 2005 at 06:26
I have become somewhat of an expert at making banana smoothies Jean. If you have an industrial milkshake maker, 1 or 2 nicely ripened bananas, chopped up and mixed first with appx half a litre of milk, add large tablespoon of malt, two large tablespoons of good quality vanilla icecream (more if you like) and add about half a teaspoon of nutmeg and mix till its real creamy smoothie. ------------- Eternity |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: August 20 2005 at 07:53
|
the adding of nutmeg sounds interesting, I'll definitely try that. I like adding some crunched hazelnut. and a little bit of rum
------------- A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Dreamer
Date Posted: August 20 2005 at 07:55
|
I enjoy thought provoking and quite "deep" music. What other type of music has such great thought provoking lyrics, themes and challenging music? I'm quite sure im not alone at liking prog for the "challenge" that it takes to listen to it. I also love the emotions it gives the listener, only if you listen closely enough. |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: August 20 2005 at 11:22
Well, I'd say that I'm certainly an eccentric and always have been. When I was young I was bullied about a few aspects of my personality (well okay, all of them) and after a while I took steps to try and quash this by burying my own personality and interests under those that I thought "normal" boys had. I failed, and quickly decided to bugger the lot of 'em and just be me. I'd say this goes for all real eccentrics - we're people who were born a little of sync with normality and thus we need to play by our own rules or perish. I know this is true of me and is no doubt true of the Baldies too. Does this mean to say that all eccentrics like RIO? No, of course not. It probably helps, though. |
Posted By: thepods
Date Posted: August 20 2005 at 20:49
|
I can tell you with some certainty that there is almost no correlation between personality types and liking prog music. I have been a musician for a long time and have been to lots of prog festival type things, I've known lots of prog musicians and fans. I have known prog fans that were the type of loners described here to extreme extroverts. From nerds and geeks to bikers and hippies and everything in between. From tree-hugging caring pacifists to flag-waving nazis. In fact I was quite shocked at some of the people on the Yes forums and it took an OT thread for their true colours to show and it was quite an eye-opener in that you think you are dealing with a certain kind of person and find out the contrary. I'd say if there is a profile of the 'average' prog fan these days they are male, middle-age, probably married with a few kids - other than that they could range from Gandi to Charles Manson and still be just as big a fan of prog.
|
Posted By: ulver982
Date Posted: August 20 2005 at 21:36
|
To the comment that proggers tend to like fantasy/sci-fi films...I love prog yet I hate fantasy/sci-fi films. But hey, that's just me ------------- Improvement makes straight roads, but the crooked roads without improvement, are roads of genius. Silence is the music of the future. |
Posted By: Syntharachnid
Date Posted: August 20 2005 at 22:26
|
Firstly, I'll echo all those who have said "Great thread." The only definition I can give of why I like it better than other genres is that it paints more exciting images in my head. This may also define why I like almost all juristictions of prog, from Tux to Trouser. I love Marillion's Misplaced Childhood because when I'm in the right mindset for it, I can really "live the album". I cand close my eyes, and suddenly, I'm there, in this meloncholy semi-cartoon world, brought to life by the sonic textures of the music and the drama of the lyrics. I also love Genesis, my preferred album being the wildest, and that's of course The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. This album paints deep, dull colours and is generally quite morbid. This quality juxtaposed with with Gabriel's cleverness in lines such as "The cheerleader waves a cyonide wand, there's a smell of peach blossom and bitter almond..." makes the album an almost horrific experiance. And I do like Pink Floyd as well! Albums like DSOTM send shivers up my spine. My favorite band, though, is Yes, partially because when I listen to them for the "big picture" like I've been describing here for the other albums, I get brighter, more appealing colours. They could do the dark stuff too, though; Relayer proved that. Oh, yes. And I also consider myself an eccentric. Not a self-made one either, a real eccentric. Since I was very young, I liked the wierd, theatrical music, the movies with lots of special effects and spaceships, and the Italian food. A lot of eccentrics like Italian food, don't you find? But unlike poor Trouser, I've never been mistreated for it. In fact, I'm very well liked, and respected. I've never actually met another prog fan, probably because I live in an artistically deprived place called Western Canada. Well not artistically deprived, there is a lot of appreciation for jazz and classical, especially in a fairly artsy town like mine. But for some reason, not prog rock. Well, at least nobody knows how nerdy it's considered! That may very well be the only reason I'm respected at all! Oh, and yes, I do like a challenge. I play piano and trumpet. I recently tried to transcribe the solo at the beginning of Firth of Fifth note for note, and it definately was a challenge! Keep the suggestions coming, by the way! Let's try and get everyone's take on this topic!
------------- 
|
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: August 20 2005 at 23:23
|
Yes, of course, excellent thread Barbs....you should've been a psychologist!
I often find myself asking the same question to myself, and I always ask people what kind of music they listen to. Most of the time it is directly linked with their personality and past experiences. Me, I'm very laid back, so I prefer calm, gentler music. The rock band I first ever loved was Pink Floyd, the dark passages and deep meaning of the lyrics really pulled me in. Now,there is a kind of music for every mood I have. Some of my friends tell me that I have multiple personalities, and I've always thought of this as ironic, because they all know me by a different 'nick-name', and I behave somewhat different around each of them. Each of these "multiple personalities" has a different musical preference: When I'm in a good mood, with lots of adrenaline I prefer the harder stuff to get me "pumped up". When I have a bad day, and I'm pesimistic I choose darker music like Opeth, Pink Floyd,etc. When I am sad I like melancholic music (obviously). So if there is different kinds of music for each mood, the same should go with personality. People listen to music that they can relate to, and that strikes a chord within their soul. You can tell a lot about someone by the stuff they listen to-- it's like a window into their mind. Syntharachnid, I know exactly what you mean by 'painting a picture in your mind'. This is precisely the case with myself. Music is my escape from reality, it takes me on a journey to a better place-- blue skies and green fields Aside: Man this is so frustrating. When trying to assemble my response I am overcome with emotion, and I can't think of the words to describe it. I'll try to think about it later, ps., I'm sorry if this post doesn't make much sense (my head is flooded with thoughts at the moment, I better take some time to sort them out).
------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 03:35
And I think you are Fearless, because you have been very open about yourself .
Music can be so beautiful, evocative and inexplicably captivating. I
can understand your frustration as I have had the same experience
trying to describe it. I have been thinking that music has a language all of its own and that is why IMO it can strike at the heart and soul of a person so powerfully because it can touch us in that way. What lies at the heart of the soul of a song, communicates this to us and we interpret this according to where we are at, at that time, through our personality types. IMO, you only truly understand this when you have been totally captivated by a piece of music, letting it take you where it wants you to go which essentially ends up being where we choose to let it take us. I think personality and character have a bit to do with what we choose, where we go and how far we choose to let it take us. I feel great freedom when I listen to the music of my own choosing, particularly the songs I really love. One thing I do also believe. If music can have such a beautiful effect upon us, it can also, if it is used in the wrong way, 'put us on a downer' or 'put us further down'. Freedom of choice is not meant to enslave us so music should be liberating/enjoyable/challenging not enslaving by encouraging us into destructive thought processes, particularly about ourselves. Freedom of choice is a powerful thing for good if we use wisdom. ------------- Eternity |
Posted By: Nipsey88
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 04:17
|
Here are my two cents. I am an absolute nerd (and proud of it!) My movie tastes tend to the sci fi/fantasy genre as do my literary choices. I am an RPG (role playing game, for you hipsters) fanatic, and I love card games such as Magic. Prog rock just clicked with me (all kinds, I favor no particular sub-genre), and I suppose it was because I just liked expression that went beyond the everyday experience. Don't get me wrong I am a nut for all music forms, most especially bebop jazz, prog (duh!), underground hip-hop, electronica, classical, etc... But I just wanted something that tried to go, well, beyond. I think that is certainly indicitve of a personality type. My roommate is the perfect example. I play him prog, which he occasionally enjoys, and he plays me techno/post-rock/chillout, which I occaisionally enjoy. We both love the music for the same reasons, we just love different styles. Again, our movie/TV/literature tastes differ as well, but again, when we argue our faves, we sound surprisingly similar. This is why I believe most proggers are very much the same: the music speaks to us in very specific ways. This is also why I believe prog lyrics tend toward the sci-fi/fantasy. We share common interests. Even though my roommate is a very intelligent, music loving person, we enjoy different styles because of our underlying difference about what interests us. To each his own... ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Nipsey88/?chartstyle=myspace02" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 04:26
Now I know you didn't mean this literally Trous and it is a bit naughty to pick it out of your post but the subconscious, darkly comedic side of your personality has shown through here I think.------------- Eternity |
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 13:06
|
Wow. That's what I was trying to say. Thanks ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: margaret
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 14:22
well said and not much to add after that. |
Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 14:33
|
I don't think I can explain this well. I'm an http://www.typelogic.com/infj.html - INFJ , one of those freaks.
------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: alan_pfeifer
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 15:45
|
Well, I used to be a Dick when it came to music. Then, when I got into prog, I became even MORE of a dick. It wasn't until reccently that I became a lot more accepting of music as a whole. As long as you realize that music is music, and realize that it will affect you and others in diferent ways, then You'll be fine
On that note, I suggest evrybody give a try to the album Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest |
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 15:49
|
That's a very intersting link. I've read about Jung's work, and it is very intriguing to me. I've just taken Jung's test at http://www.humanmetrics.com - www.humanmetrics.com , and it says I am an "INFJ". This is fairly accurate, but there a parts of the description that I don't fit. I encourage you all to take this test. (it is the first bullet "Jung Typology Test") ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: Gedhead
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 17:28
|
Funny this topic should come up as I was just this very week discussing it with my pychoanalyst. He is utterly convinced that my desire to listen to progressive has something to do with my relationship with my parents. We had a breakthrough some months ago involving a memory of being forced to listen to MacArthur's Park by Richard Harris. This traumatic event, he has concluded, led to the development of my insatiable desire to hear outstanding music. Who would have thought abuse was at the heart of it? Truly a breakthrough. He's worth every taxpayer funded penny. |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 17:33
|
Definitely not with me. My brother, who is 10 years older than I am, started collecting prog when he was 15 or so, so I literally grew up with it, since he was my hero when I was a kid. ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: el_Sethro
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 17:38
|
one of the reasons I love prog is the same reason why my mom always hated it: you can't dance to it anyway, I'm sure there is a link between personality and taste in music. I always enjoyed rock music, but when I listened to DT for the first time, I was instantly hooked. likewise, when I first listened to PT, I loved every single note of each song, discovering that Stephen Wilson's style of psychodelic prog rock/metal was exactly the kind of music I loved most. ------------- Who you gonna call? |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: August 21 2005 at 17:48
|
Not true!!!! I can dance to it, and very well too!!! I have even danced to tracks like "Quasarsphere" from "Inventions for Electric Guitar" by Manuel Göttsching!!! ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Eetu Pellonpaa
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 03:25
|
Banana offtopic: Has anybody else tasted "applebananas", sweet and small bananas 5-10 cm long? Yum! |
Posted By: Ray Lomas
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 06:12
I took the test and it tells I'm Counselor Idealist (iNFj) too - intresting.  I really do see a lot in that description that fits me. Still, I'm a bit suprised. |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 07:24
|
Hey that Jung test was pretty spooky stuff Here is a quote from what I had written earlier in this thread
And here is a quote from the typelogic.com site INTJs know what they know, and perhaps still more importantly, they know what they don't know. In case you haven't figured out, the humanmetrics site test placed me as an INTJ. |
Posted By: Dreamer
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 08:41
| Well that test is interesting, and i am also with the crowd, INFJ, which is interesting. Not sure how accurately i answered some of the questions though |
Posted By: tuxon
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 09:04
|
INTP. don't know what it means, but Jung, Descartes, Einstein, Newton, Pascal, Socrates and Rick Moranis where too, so i'm in good compagnie (aside for the fact the only living one in this list is Rick moranis) http://typelogic.com/intp.html - http://typelogic.com/intp.html ------------- I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT |
Posted By: Big Ears
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 09:15
| Opposites attract. I am quiet, but I like my progressive music loud. |
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 14:27
|
So far, all of us who have reported are IN's , so maybe that has something to do with liking Progressive Rock. I can certainly see a correlation in that we are all introverts, prefer to have quiet/think about the very important things, and have deep thoughts and emotions. Someone who is more 'socially active' (some types of extroverts) and at the same time is less intuitive, is less likely to enjoy thought-provoking music, maybe because they are more apt to party, and go out in public (small attention span). Some prefer to live for the moment and don't find time to contemplate themselves. I would be interested to see what % of us progheads are INJ's/INP's, compared to society as a whole. Less than 2 percent of the human population are INJ's, but I would be willing to bet that more than half of the members here are in this category. ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 14:31
|
I think the "F" part of the equation is important... NF, regardless of
the I/E or J/P affiliation, are generally the most "compassionate" type. INFJ is extremely rare, I've only had the pleasure of knowing one other in person.. it was quite shocking to see so many get that here.  ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 14:33
|
That is weird. I had the same experience the first time I took a personality test. I was shocked to see that there were other people as crazy as me, and the desciptions were spot on. I find myself having the same situations as were explained (ie. "knowing" things about people without an explanation) ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 14:36
|
Yes, the "F" part is more emotional, while the "T" would be more analytical. You're lucky to have met another "INFJ". I'd never even heard of one until today. ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 14:37
Just *discovering* that others
existed was one of the strangest things ever... I always thought
I was some sort of freak-boy. 
------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 14:41
|
^Me too. I've always felt alone, and actually struggled with depression for a while (a couple years ago) until I finally snapped out of it. I was suprised at the list of famous "INFJ's". I never would have guessed that Mel Gibson was one.
Famous INFJs:Nathan, prophet of Israel
Nathaniel Hawthorne ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: Man Overboard
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 15:05
|
*snickers* Mother Theresa... well, that actually does make a good deal of sense. *gets all shy and hides* ------------- https://soundcloud.com/erin-susan-jennings" rel="nofollow - Bedroom guitarist". Composer, Arranger, Producer. Perfection may not exist, but I may still choose to serve Perfection. Commissions considered. |
Posted By: Gaston
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 15:34
|
I blame the learned over any innate quality you may possess. I am
highly eccectric, but why does that have any bearing on whether you
listen to prog? Alot of eccentricity can be channeled into other areas
like painting and theatre. Why music? Well, for me, it was my parents who did it, inadvertantly, mind you. They were very strict Christians and did NOT allow me to indulge in any forms of rock music as a child. However, on the opposite side of this they DID put me into piano lessons at an early age and had me listening to all the greats, of course, and the charismatic music of pentacostalism (highly energetic soulful gospel) as well as the great hymns of the past couple hundred years. I was offered to skip a grade and change schools to the art school in my city. I declined, siting a loss of friends, so really, I had one foot in genius and one foot in mediocrity. I feel that I've retained that certain balance for my entire life. I tried desparately to not be the brown noser teachers pet. I remember purposefully answering questions wrong so I wouldn't get perfect on tests. I did particularly well in public school. So what happened? As a teenager I rebelled. I snuck rock and roll records into the house and listened to them without my parents knowledge but this was the 90s, so it was Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam. As far as my parents were concerned, it was devil music. Something happened though, and I grew tired of these bands and almost completely discarded them all (Pearl Jam I still like though) and I graduated to prog around 1997. Perhaps it was the drugs, perhaps something else, but when I first put on The Dark Side of the Moon, something in my brain was tweaked, and it allowed me to go back to the music of my earlier childhood - classical. And from there it was Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, full speed ahead, you know? You know what it felt like, man, it was like these were the bands I was SUPPOSED to have been listening to as a teenager but didn't. They were like long lost, yet future undiscovered friends. To a degree, I believe I possess what appears to be some form of musical clairvoyance. I don't know how to explain this except to tell you that, you know how you listen to a record for the first time and it's a great and wonderful experience, well it's like that with me...except that I feel in my mind's eye that I've already heard it before, like in a past life, or... in a dream or something. I know that sounds strange, but before my folks really started to become awfully strict, they themselves listened to prog in the 70s. Perhaps even while I was in the womb - it becomes some sort of innate thing, ingrained in the very fibres of your being, perhaps right in your dna, I don't know, but it's something like that. But like I say, that's just me, I don't know if other people are so innately prone to prog and in fact, may like progressive rock more because of their upbringing, NOT their disposistion. So really, what happened with me was that, in effect it was my strict parents who got me into prog simply because I had been required to play piano and study the greats as a child! I had a foreknowledge of prog! Thanks mom!!! (NOTE: This perhaps my explain why I feel I've heard prog songs before, as certain melodies and riffs may have been lifted from the greats, and so it's somewhat of a prog echo) My parents feel slightly checkmated by this (I mean, come on, my dad tells me that he felt so heavily convicted about listening to rock and roll when he was a hippie cum born again Christian that it basically killed him to see his son listening to it) so I don't really bring it up, but I guess they are happy I'm not into alt-rock anymore (as am I!!!) My 2. Gaston -------------  
It's the same guy. Great minds think alike. |
Posted By: Harlequin
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 17:55
I took the Meyers Briggs test 10 years ago and again last year. Both times I came out INTJ. I need time to absorb this thread some more. Captivating Barbs. ------------- Information is not knowledge Knowledge is not wisdom Wisdom is not truth Truth is not beauty Beauty is not love Love is not music Music is the best... |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 23:49
Thanks for that Gaston.  Even though
your story is unique, I think other people will be able to identify
with parts of your story and perhaps better understand others, even
themselves. I have had this theory for some time which is to do with the amount of fluid in our bodies. There is this incredible relationship, IMO, between the creation of the earth and our bodies whereby there is a similar percentage of fluid on the earth as there is in our bodies. The effect of waves on the surface of the earth is part of the continual shaping and development of it. There are many associations between the way we should treat our own bodies and the way we should treat the earth as the body we live on. Sound as you know, produces waves. I can imagine the developing child in the womb, sensing the waves, tiny vibrations of sound around him/her through the fluid the child is immersed in, penetrating through the body and being registered in the developing consciousness of the child. That feeling sometimes that certain sounds or a wall of sound goes 'straight through you' and the complex responses we have to it. It does at times seem like a deja vu type of experience. Anyway, it is something that I would have liked to have investigated much more thoroughly, scientifically. ------------- Eternity |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 22 2005 at 23:53
|
Apparently I am in the IN field as well. Well thats what the test said I was. I would also like to say, because I started the thread in the first place , that it has given me personally a warm fuzzy feeling  the
way basically everyone on this thread has contributed and particularly
some who have made the effort to reveal personal things about
themselves. That there has been respect and encouragement towards one
another in the posts, is a positive portrayal of humanity and is
tantamount to trust and the development of meaningful relations and I
think when we communicate like this we are revealing the better side of
our natures. Lets not start another hugging thread though. There can only ever be one of those. ------------- Eternity |
Posted By: Gaston
Date Posted: August 23 2005 at 00:20
Thx Barbs! BTW, I'm INFP, if you couldn't tell.  Supposedly, my buddy says that all who take the test, INFP accout for only 5%. Gaston -------------
It's the same guy. Great minds think alike. |
Posted By: Guillermo
Date Posted: August 23 2005 at 01:09
|
Why I like Progressive Rock Music? I grew listening to a lot of Classical Music (a lot of records played by my father), The Beatles and other bands from the 60s, and to some Progressive Rock albums (all these Rock albums played by my older brothers and cousins). I also liked The Archies (!) when I was 6-7 years old. When I was 11-12 years old, I really started to be interested in the music. I remember that one day I listened again to The Who`s "Tommy" album, but I was impressed particularly by the drums, played by Keith Moon, particularly in the song called "Underture". I think that I started that day to be more interested in the drums. So, I listened again to YES`"Fragile", particularly to "Heart of the Sunrise" and to Bill Bruford`s drums. "Hey, interesting drums there!" I thought. Later, one of my brothers bought King Crimson`s "USA" album, I read the credits in the back cover, "Hey, William Bruford on drums, the same drummer as in the "Fragile" album!" I thought. I think that I started then to listen to the other instruments. I particularly liked the mellotron.Then I listened to the guitars, the bass, etc. One of my brothers had a band. He is a guitarist. They rehearsed for some time in my parents`house. So one day I saw their drummer play. I saw how he took the drumsticks, etc. One day the drum kit was available! I sat and I played the drums! By 1979, when I was 14 years old, I bought Genesis`"Seconds Out" and "And there were three" albums. I wanted to be a drummer and to play like Collins, Chester Thompson, Bruford, Alan White...So I started collecting Rock and Prog Rock albums. By 1982, when I was 17 years old, I was playing in bands. I bought my own drum kit. Prog Rock and Rock music in general, being a school for me as drummer, also was a "refuge" for me when I was a teenager. The majority of my mates at Secondary School liked Disco Music. I was more interested in "mental trips" (without drugs and alcohol!). I was an "introverted person", and I think that I`m still that way. In Hight School there were more "open mind" people who liked Rock music and Prog Rock music, so I could talk with them about bands. I like music which communicates feelings, emotions. Some days I like some "Heavy" music from Led Zeppelin, Rush, Black Sabbath, King Crimson, etc. Other days I prefer music by P.F.M., YES, Genesis, Eros Ramazzotti, Zucchero, etc. Some days I really can dance! Some days I listen to Bossa Nova played by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (an old influence played by my father). Some days I listen to Classical music, or even to some jazz-rock by J.L. Ponty. I think that I like music on which I can identify myself with the band. For example, I can`t identify myself with Peter Hammill and VDGG or with the 80s-90s version of King Crimson. Too "artsy" for me. I remember that my father didn`t like some Rock music that my brothers and me listened to. But he likes THe Beatles and The Doors!. I think that I like Prog Rock music because it is a "mixture" of two influences: the music that my father likes (Classical Music) and the music that my brothers and cousins and some friends and me like (Rock/Prog Music). ------------- Avatar: Photo of Solar Eclipse, Mexico City, July 1991. A great experience to see. Maybe once in a lifetime. |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: August 23 2005 at 05:25
|
I saw a lot of weird things when I was a little kid. as I mentioned
somewhere before, perhaps even in this thread (too lazy to look it up),
my parents were hippies, which should not be a surprise, given time (I
was born Dec 1968, my parents were only 18 when I was born; I was a
kind of "accident") and location (Oakland CA, just a stone throw from
SF, the center of the hippie movement). there was always some kind of
freaky music playing (especially Krautrock, but also anything else
progressive). my parents believed in free love and that it was "natural" for kids to watch sexual acts, so I witnessed a lot of mass orgies at an early age. I never understood any of it though and thought the men were hurting the women, and it scared the heck out of me. I was especially afraid for my Mum. interestingly I had no conscious knowledge about this as a grown-up; I had repressed it. I made the mistake of marrying a man at age 21, not being aware of my sexual tendencies at that time. it never worked out sexually though; I was like a statue in bed with my husband. so I went to a shrink who put me into hypnosis and led me back to the days of my early childhood, and I "relived" them. I had a big row with my parents about their carelessness when my memories were back, and they were not especially proud of what they had done back then. I am an eccentric not only in my musical taste, the eccentrity is present in all parts of my life, be it clothes, interior design, literature, art, movies or sex (and I am not only referring to being lesbian here. no details though). when I met Friede, I met another eccentric. initially we didn't share many of our eccentrities, though our musical tastes were quite similar; we had different ideas about a lot of things, although they certainly could be named "eccentric". yet it was fun for us to explore the other's eccentrities, and now, after having been together for 11 years, we definitely share them. we are a happy pair of weirdos, and some nickname us "alien twins". ------------- A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Bob Greece
Date Posted: August 23 2005 at 08:20
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As many people have said, this is a great thread. I think that people who like prog are generally more intelligent and are searching for more interesting kinds of music. Maybe that's why we find this psychological thread so interesting. Let's turn this idea on it's head. I like heavy metal and psychedelia. So what kind of person am I? I must be an aggressive druggie! In fact, I am a mild mannered guy who never had anything to do with drugs. I learnt something else from this thread too - Jean and Friede are a couple. I was wondering why they had the same avatar! ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/BobGreece/?chartstyle=basicrt10"> 
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Posted By: Bob Greece
Date Posted: August 23 2005 at 08:39
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INFJ - yes me too! Amazing! ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/BobGreece/?chartstyle=basicrt10">
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Posted By: Bob Greece
Date Posted: August 23 2005 at 09:49
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I have started a poll for the test: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10519 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10519 ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/BobGreece/?chartstyle=basicrt10">
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Posted By: DEzerov
Date Posted: August 23 2005 at 14:04
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ENFP (or eNFp as the Keirsey temperment website classifies us) here...."the champion idealist"... gee I am in the same "league" as Phil Donahue, Bill Moyers, Molly Brown and FDR... We're a rare breed too...only about 3% of the general population. Oddly, the profile is very, very accurate....spooky What an interesting concept...attaching numerical values to human behavior traits. Whoda thunk it? ------------- The moon is made by some lame cooper and you can see the idiot has no idea about moons at all - Nikolay Gogol |
Posted By: Foxtrot
Date Posted: August 23 2005 at 15:00
| Well, there aren't too many xSxx types in the poll, maybe there is something to that. I tend to look at it in much simpler terms. My enjoyment of progressive music is rooted in the difficulty of the music and the variety/complexity in the parts; as a musician, I tend to respect and enjoy parts that I can't pick up and play myself within five minutes. Some of the other theories posted earlier don't fly as well - I don't particularly like sci-fi all that much, and wouldn't consider playing a role-playing game. The reason why some folks like progressive music may not be an answerable question, along the lines of "why is xxxxx your favorite color?" |
Posted By: barbs
Date Posted: August 23 2005 at 22:05
What and extraordinary/difficult period you lived through Jean. I cannot help feeling for you then, as children are so beautifully innocent and wonderous about the world around them, and the actions of adults, particularly primary caregivers, can have devestating and long lasting consequences on the psyche of a child. I can't remember who said this (you may remember) but it was something like this. 'Give me the child till he is 7 and I will give you the man.' I actually think this saying should be 'Give me the child till they are 7 and I will give you the person.' ------------- Eternity |