'I don't get it'

Hi folks,

For my first post, I thought I'd ask for your thoughts on a statement that I'm sure we've all heard many times when attempting to introduce others to our favourite music...

'I don't get it.'

I've always been confounded by this term, and it raises a few questions.

What exactly does 'get it' mean? To understand the intent of the music?

What is there to 'get' about any style of music?

Can you not 'get' music and still enjoy it?

I think basically I'm trying to understand 'get' in terms of how one would 'get' a joke - to 'get' a joke means understanding why it's funny. What is there to 'get' about music? You either like it, or you don't.

Sometimes I think that saying that you don't 'get it' is just polite code for not liking it.

Anyway, interested to hear what others think about this.


Edited by FT4IFK - July 28 2024 at 02:52

cstack3 wrote: Therefore, "I don't get it" requires context.

Exactly, and therein lies the problem. 'I don't get it' just seems to be a blanket response that people use when they just don't like something.

Twelve artists "I don't get"  simply because I don't like them. 

Saperlipopette! wrote: I don't like Ayreon. But I get it and I know why they are not for me. I don't like Cardiacs either. But I suspect there something I don't get about them. From personal experience there is actually something to potentially get about differente styles of music. My knowledge and experience seperates the middle aged me from the teenage me. I've had to come back to many of the bands/artists that Psychedelic Paul don't get/don't like. I instantly knew that Swans, The Residents, Universe Zero were for me. I loved them all at first attemnt. But I didn't really get Zappa, Wyatt, Beefheart or Henry Cow until I was reintroduced to them a few years later. I didn't enjoy jazz in my teens either, and I can safely say that it was because I didn't get it. Now it takes up more than half my listening time. The only type of jazz I could acknowledge back then, I have no genuine interest in now.  I also "get" Taylor Swift. I get it and I consider her to be lightweight, mediocre at best - and not a master of her craft. It's music for beginners and "fans". I also get Billie Eilish, which is why I know she and her brother are brilliant at what they do.

OK, so you say that you get some certain acts - what is it that you get?

You answered your own question. It's just a polite way to say you don't like that style of music.

Edited by Grumpyprogfan - July 28 2024 at 04:13

richardh wrote: Usually for me it applies to bands that I like generally and then they put out an album that sits a bit different in my mind because it's probably a change of direction. But it can be plain bad. The classic case is Discipline. I might not like ( I really don't!) but because it's so highly regarded I may then say 'I don't get it' but that's more a comment to the fact that so many like it when I don't. A bad album such as Love Beach, it's easy just to not like it and say it because it is actually bad!

David_D wrote: cstack3 wrote: Therefore, "I don't get it" requires context. Yes, that's of course the first step of it, but that should be: "we've all heard many times when attempting to introduce others to our favourite music...".

Jared wrote: richardh wrote: Usually for me it applies to bands that I like generally and then they put out an album that sits a bit different in my mind because it's probably a change of direction. But it can be plain bad. The classic case is Discipline. I might not like ( I really don't!) but because it's so highly regarded I may then say 'I don't get it' but that's more a comment to the fact that so many like it when I don't. A bad album such as Love Beach, it's easy just to not like it and say it because it is actually bad! If you're referring to King Crimson (I'm guessing you are, but I'm not sure) then I'd agree with you.. Discipline, Beat and Three have got to go down as the prime candidates for 'I don't get' for me too.. borrowed them from a local library when I was about 19; just didn't get them at all... and now I'm 56, I still don't... hey ho.