Peoples ignorance towards prog

OK I`m sitting down with some non prog friends and I put on a prog CD (probably not wise) Anyway halfway through the first song I notice them looking at each other then just like that one says "do you take this music seriously ?"  I respond "its got some great counterpoint and listened to that Hammond "  (I was playing niacin BTW)  then  without warning I get the lamest response ever , "it sounds like regressive rock honestly kids listen to this crap its such a wank"  I couldn`t believe my ears I mean how rude and ignorant is that ?  

 

So whats the worst thing a friend not into prog has ever said to you about your music ? 

Xanadu wrote: You're a communist! Although that's his way of telling me just doesn't like it

lmao

Rush have caused me some troubles over the years, me being so into them I have defended geddy`s voice time and time again

In my experience few people are open-minded enough to give progressive music a chance. I find that by it's very nature it is not music you can easily like the first listen - which is probably why I like it so much, even songs I have listened to a hundred times can sound fresh and surprising.

As far as friends go, my days of sitting with a friend and 'listening' to music have long passed. I was fortunate enough to be at that stage in my life during the golden age of prog (70's), and with lots of progressive music getting airplay on FM and especially university radio it seemed that people were more open to listening to something different.

Now-a-days music with friends consists of either background music while we are doing something else (in which case progressive is perfectly acceptable as we don't really 'listen' to it) or going to a concert (in which case you are only going with friends who like that particular musician). I listen to my music either by myself or with my young fellow (who is a musician and while he doesn't like all I play he listens with an open mind).

While I may not like the music someone else listens to I try never to say anything negative about it and I expect the same re comments about my music. Any comments they do make go in one ear and out the other. I just can't be bothered even acknowledging their remark let alone trying to change their opinion. Guess I'm a true Canadian!

 

White Feather wrote: OK I`m sitting down with some non prog friends and I put on a prog CD (probably not wise) Anyway halfway through the first song I notice them looking at each other then just like that one says "do you take this music seriously ?"  I respond "its got some great counterpoint and listened to that Hammond "  (I was playing niacin BTW)  then  without warning I get the lamest response ever , "it sounds like regressive rock honestly kids listen to this crap its such a wank"  I couldn`t believe my ears I mean how rude and ignorant is that ?     So whats the worst thing a friend not into prog has ever said to you about your music ?

seems you need to review your social circles!

honestly when i first got into prog in the early 70's my family thought i'd become a born again christian - organs on led zep/purple/genesis/yes/elp etc, though even after some friends making daft comments  i managed to explain it to them and interest them in prog and heavy rock, even got them to come along to a gig!  it seems most people these days like pop and dance stuff /musak and can't be bothered to put any effort into their listening, they like to "relax" or "chill out" instead.  prog, jazz and classical music can be the most rewarding but needs your full attention, it's not wallpaper music, it demands to be listened to.  i always give such music the same attention as watching a film. as for people referring to it as "regressive", is classical, soul and jazz regressive??? all these genres including prog are still being developed and will still be enjoyed for many many years to come, it could even become the classical music of the future!  

One thing I like about prog is that no one knows about it so it's 'cooler' to like (at least for me).

I laid In a Glass House on a guitarist friend and he said "he was thinking too much". He asked me to burn it for him though so I guess he found it somewhat interesting. The key is to just lay the least accessible prog album out on someone and hope they'll realize that its not just music it's MUSIC. Baptism by fire.

No one I know has ever dismissed it as w&nk!

They wouldn't dare mess with the Blacksword

Rush has roused some laughter over the years, as have Yes, but the most common comment is that it's either 'boring' or 'not cool'

its so ironic that this was posted.

i JUST finished reading this post, and didn't really have a comment (at least i thought i didnt), and i'm at work where we all leave our office doors open at all times, since we're all constantly bustling around. Anyways, i'm playing Gentle Giant, and I look up, and everybody's office doors are closed.

wtf?  

 

oh well

I've got various reactions towards prog from various people: ignorance, polite or mild interest, shared enthusiasm, a bit of sarcasm, strong rejection. It's all ok. We don't need to like the same things. And we don't need no thought control!