Prog lover = low self esteem

Anderson III wrote: jammun wrote: Darklord55 wrote: Ya but, I'll never be able to understand why  a person would  like country or rap.  Someone please explain.           For that reason alone we need a progetariat.  Power to the proggers!!   Hmm, can't explain the rap part, because I am part of the progetariat, but country is easy.  Pedal steel guitar!    "I was drunk the day mama got out of prison..."     Don't worry. I'll take care of the rap thing... The way rappers use the human voice as a musical element is actually quite unique and remarkable. As a rhythmic instrument it's definitely my favorites, because one can experiment with all these different tones and express any emotion easily. Unlike in other styles of vocal music where the lyrics are usually built within the melody, in Hip Hop it's in the rhythm - which actually insinuates that when done right, rapping is more versatile than drumming. But there's more: when the rhythm is put into rhyme, the correspondence of sound actually makes it "flow" beautifully. I can't say I'm surprised that PA members don't like Hip Hop beats very much. After all, they are similar to standard Rock 'n Roll: loud and minimalistic. But of all the genres that focus on hard-hitting beats, "hooks and loops", Hip Hop is still without a doubt my absolute favorite. I guess it's a question of taste, but I'm in love with filthy sounding music! I also prefer a clever arrangement of samples from various sources (rock, jazz, prog, funk, etc.) to that boring old guitar riff. Even if you're one of those who just like to sit back and marvel at the technique of the musicians, Hip Hop still has something to offer! There are MC's like The Gift of Gab, Lateef the Truthskeaper and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony if you want to go "how do they do that?". Plus rappers have attitude! And do I even have to mention Hip Hop as a performance art?

The spectre of Rap has moved things a bit off topic, and got me thinking...

(Exhale...) Alright, I'm coming out of the closet.  I spent a little time into Rap (though not at the expense of everything else) when I thought that it was exhibiting what you might call progressive tendencies (I don't mean that I go about programmed to consciously accept or decline music based upon specified parameters; I just mean that, in retrospect, I think I know why my tastes fell where they did). 

There where actually two periods.  One was when Three Feet High, Nation of Millions, By All Means Necessary, and Paul's Boutique came out (1987-89).  Then 'gangsterism' caught full hold (despite protestations from Rap's brightest at the time) and I thought, "well, there's that."  The second spot was from the surprising Wu-Tang Clan member's: The Liquid Swords and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, both beautifully produced by RZA (1995).  These two records really made me think that Rap was going to highly interesting places with it's music; but, alas, it would not hold.  (BTW, I'm not addressing the matter of lyrics here at all, but I guess I'll say two things: with Liquid Swords I do like many of the lyrics, I guess because there's a sadness and regret about them, a human power; I don't know what Raekwon is talking about, but the poetic flow on Cuban Linx was fascinating to me.  But yes, I too can do without deriding women and the rest of the crap that goes on in most rap lyrics.  Admittedly these rappers are not speaking to my experience, so I can't really comment.)

However, in the inspired interem, I started to put together an idea for music in Hip-Hop form.  I would produce some tunes without vocals by an almost classical approach, perhaps interest someone in them.  It took longer than I expected to put together the means though (life got "interesting" for me in the late 90's and also money was an issue, plus I knew nothing then about computers), and it didn't happen for me ("official" interest I mean).  And in the end this was probably for the best.  However I did make what I think are some interesting instrumental, or should I say sample-based, tracks.  (All an admittedly 'white' approach, I know .)

If you care to (here's the part where I "come out") you can hear some of these things on my MySpace page.  I'd love to know what people think of course, and I would like more 'friends' and 'comments' if you care to .  If you want to take the time I suggest listening through them in order, as if it were an EP.  At least one tune should make people here laugh, others I guess are more "serious".

(Note: I write about the stuff on the lower left of the myspace page, under "The music in the player..."  Double Note: I highly recommend NOT viewing the page in Internet Explorer because the formatting comes out all crazy.)

Thanks, and sorry for the off-topic.  But I've unburdened my soul somewhat this morning. 

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: Hey guys be positive.   If we had low self esteem, we would need something to boost our insignificant egos, and we would be listening something that made us cool.   If we dare to listen a genre that will never be cool, we proved that we [don't (I think you mean)] give a sh!t about what others think, in other words our self esteem is pretty high.   Iván

Edited by King Crimson776 - June 18 2009 at 03:40

Actually, I had my lowest self esteem/depression/moodyness and bleak out look back a few years ago. As my musical tastes got more and more progressive my overall mindset has actually gotten better!

hawkcwg wrote: I have plenty of self esteem, I've just come to realize that I "know" that I'm superior to everyone else.

I suppose I could turn on a "Classic Rock" station and listen to Stairway To Heaven, Freebird or Hotel California for the 499,877th time in my life.

Actually, I find that Prog Related generally goes over very will with women.  But I've been lucky to know several women that like prog, though I'm don't think any of them love it the way we here do.

As to self esteem, I think if it relates to music, it is because people will seek out music that fits them.  As a teenager, I listed to Cheap Trick constantly........for obvious reasons  

From there I went to metal, because I hated the world

Then came classic rock, because I was starting to think more.

Then prog because I became a total genius   

But seriously, what you like is what you like.  I won't criticize anyone here about what they like.
(though I may tease them a bit............expecting the same in return, of course  )


Edited by infandous - June 17 2009 at 18:49

debrewguy wrote: Really folks, has anyone alerted Amnesty International to all this torture that Prog lovers must endure. Its' popularity is eclipsed by the totality of all other genres. Its' fans are forced to listen to what the majority like. Its' supporters are constantly insulted and considered lesser forms of intelligent life Friends, Countrymen ( & women) the time has come for a dictatorship of the Progetariat ! Once the proper order of things has been put in place, we will dictate what people like. OF course, those who disagree or dissent will have to be dealt with. And then, those of us who show signs of counter-revolution will need to be taken care of. Or, we can just understand that each person has their own likes and dislikes, with one no better than the other. Unless there's a psychological need that some need to be convinced that having differing tastes is no reason for a lack of self esteem.

I remember someone here telling: Prog is the music for ones who can't pick-up chicks... That's where our low self-esteem comes from, I guess 

kingfriso wrote: Some people feel like they are attacked when you say you don't like their favourite albums (for instance: I don't like Dark Side of the Moon at all!). This is just your ego defending, for a lot of people belief they are their ego's and an attack on the ego becomes an attack on their being. This is a serious problem in our community.

I don't believe I am my ego! Id, ego and superego, more like!

The first revolution led by (as an old friend would say) acne-faced virgins...the sh*t is going to HIT THE FAN, they've come with a huge bone to pick - the lack of popularity, the sexual frustration, the armchair Leninist ideals, it's gonna CHANGE TEH WURLLD.