Unpopular Music Opinions (6,366 views)

[Brenda]

I don't even know if this is an unpopular opinion, but I'd love to say that I understand the lyrics to "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" in an unproblematic way, but... I really can't? I've seen people make the argument that the song is somehow saying that the world is "tough for women" or that is in some way not about what, to me, the song seems to be about on a surface level: men make everything but, you know.. women make baby, so.. yeah. Although I do recognize that the lyrics have a semblance of awareness that there might be something wrong with gender dynamics in society, I feel like if these ideas are really there and are not me just trying really hard to see it on a better light, said ideas just seem underdeveloped and not going anywhere, like the bridge is a cliffhanger to "It's a Man's Man's Man's World - Part II".

Again, as I said, I did try to find defenses of this song, but honestly I still haven't been able to really find something that makes me find a deeper meaning in the song itself, I feel like people would like the song to be better than it is, but... you have to be honest: is it really?

[Gilad]

As much as I love the album, "Reckoner" is my least favorite song on In Rainbows, and frankly I find Thom's singing on it pretty annoying.

[Batfleck]

Some of my unpopular music opinions:

- I don't think Nickelback is as bad as a lot of people say they are. I like some of their stuff. Dark Horse, in particular, is a jam

- Sepultura's Roots is one of the most overrated records in metal. It's not even in my top 10 Sepultura albums.

- Testament would fit better in the Big 4 than Anthrax.

[halloweenjack95]

Freddie Mercury had a fantastic voice but he gets way too much praised for it compared to others. The awful bohemian rhapsody movie made it even worse.

[clem]

Apr 1, 2022 17:29:48 GMT halloweenjack95 said:

Freddie Mercury had a fantastic voice but he gets way too much praised for it compared to others. The awful bohemian rhapsody movie made it even worse.

And on top of this, some Freddie-stans even project their own opinions onto Freddie, since he isn't around to have his say. Every Youtube video or Facebook post relating to Freddie or Queen in any way inevitably has comments stating that Freddie would hate every 21st century artist, that music died when he died etc. As fanboy-ish as it is, it's also pretty disrespectful for them to put words in his mouth that make him seem contemptuous of the work of others.

[halloweenjack95]

Apr 1, 2022 19:01:27 GMT clem said:

Apr 1, 2022 17:29:48 GMT halloweenjack95 said:

Freddie Mercury had a fantastic voice but he gets way too much praised for it compared to others. The awful bohemian rhapsody movie made it even worse.

And on top of this, some Freddie-stans even project their own opinions onto Freddie, since he isn't around to have his say. Every Youtube video or Facebook post relating to Freddie or Queen in any way inevitably has comments stating that Freddie would hate every 21st century artist, that music died when he died etc. As fanboy-ish as it is, it's also pretty disrespectful for them to put words in his mouth that make him seem contemptuous of the work of others.

Yep.. so true. I gave up discussing with freddie stans a long time ago.
And to stay to topic... they always bring up that stupid studay as "argument".

[Brenda]

Apr 1, 2022 20:11:54 GMT halloweenjack95 said:

Apr 1, 2022 19:01:27 GMT clem said:

And on top of this, some Freddie-stans even project their own opinions onto Freddie, since he isn't around to have his say. Every Youtube video or Facebook post relating to Freddie or Queen in any way inevitably has comments stating that Freddie would hate every 21st century artist, that music died when he died etc. As fanboy-ish as it is, it's also pretty disrespectful for them to put words in his mouth that make him seem contemptuous of the work of others.

Yep.. so true. I gave up discussing with freddie stans a long time ago.
And to stay to topic... they always bring up that stupid studay as "argument".

Personally, I feel like what contributed to that process of "demythification" of Freddie's voice in my head was listening to as much live performances of his as I did, and I think many people will get that if they also are into Queen live concerts and etc, because it exposes such a vulnerable side to his voice that you'd never hear about if you only consume the studio versions and doctored live releases (*cahem* Wembley '86).

[innuendo]

Apr 1, 2022 17:29:48 GMT halloweenjack95 said:

Freddie Mercury had a fantastic voice but he gets way too much praised for it compared to others. The awful bohemian rhapsody movie made it even worse.

I think that what made his voice so great is probably his tone, which is still today unmatchable IMO. But when we talk about his technique, there are many singers that may have a better technique. I also agree when you say that the movie created like an "untouchable aura" around him and people praised him more than ever, also if it wasn't necessary.

Still, I think that he probably deserved this praising for his voice, when we talk about tone, versatility and, why not, control over his range.

[halloweenjack95]

Apr 2, 2022 15:56:17 GMT innuendo said:

Apr 1, 2022 17:29:48 GMT halloweenjack95 said:

Freddie Mercury had a fantastic voice but he gets way too much praised for it compared to others. The awful bohemian rhapsody movie made it even worse.

I think that what made his voice so great is probably his tone, which is still today unmatchable IMO. But when we talk about his technique, there are many singers that may have a better technique. I also agree when you say that the movie created like an "untouchable aura" around him and people praised him more than ever, also if it wasn't necessary.

Still, I think that he probably deserved this praising for his voice, when we talk about tone, versatility and, why not, control over his range.

Well tonewise George Michael is pretty much unbeatable. And places imo way above him(Just to name one).
Neverless he is unique and one of my favourite singers but the queen fanbase can be really annoying(you excluded).

[fountain30]

Apr 1, 2022 17:29:48 GMT halloweenjack95 said:

Freddie Mercury had a fantastic voice but he gets way too much praised for it compared to others. The awful bohemian rhapsody movie made it even worse.

I agree with this 100%. 

[ellamaistan]

The category “Alternative R&B” is not only nonsensical and unnecessary, but borderline racist.

[clem]

Jul 1, 2022 23:35:31 GMT ellamaistan said:

The category “Alternative R&B” is not only nonsensical and unnecessary, but borderline racist.

I'm not that familiar with Alternative R&B, but isn't "alternative" as a genre tag just any subgenre that uses elements that aren't typical of the parent genre, in an understated way? Similar to "progressive", but without the emphasis on virtuosity. There's been alternative hip-hop since the 90s, and I've never heard it described as racist. 

[mikale]

Jul 1, 2022 23:35:31 GMT ellamaistan said:

The category “Alternative R&B” is not only nonsensical and unnecessary, but borderline racist.

How???

[ellamaistan]

“Alternative R&B” is just an excuse not to classify black or part black artists as indie or pop. Find an Alternative R&B artist who isn’t a BIPOC. When listening to Alternative R&B artists like Frank Ocean, FKA Twigs, and SZA, I don’t get R&B. I get Indie. FKA Twigs wasn’t even considered “R&B” until people realized she was mixed. And let’s add that Frank Ocean and SZA don’t even consider themselves R&B. I love SZA, but I see her has indie/pop, not Alternative R&B. The instrumentals are closer to indie/pop than R&B. (See Julia) She’s collaborated with pop artists, she’s befriended them, and has even made it on the POP charts. The only thing she doesn’t share in common with pop artists is that she’s black. Now name a white R&B artist that’s not Justin Timberlake. Lots of white R&B artists are marketed today as pop artists. Justin Bieber, of all people, is a huge example. Now let me say that I’m not a Justin Bieber fan by any stretch of the imagination. When listening to his stuff, I get R&B. He himself has collaborated with famous R&B artists and wishes to do so. Joanna Levesque (JoJo), is an even bigger (white) example of this. She herself considers herself an R&B musician and was inspired by it since she was little. So why classify white musicians as pop and POC musicians as R&B? Pop is short for popular music, which is at the top of the food chain. R&B isn’t. Or if it is, it’s rebranded as pop. So why’d I bring indie into this? Indie has been close to Pop music at the top of the food chain, at least in recent times. And Alt R&B is a recent genre. The timelines add up. But in conclusion, if most Alternative R&B artists could be classified as something else with more ease, and if most of them don’t agree with their label as “Alt R&B”, there’s no point in the Alternative R&B label.

[mikale]

Yeah, but you also have to take into consideration what the artists themselves classify themselves as and not just what genre you think they fit better. R&B has subsets just like any genre, so of course certain artists are going to fit into the mold of what R&B is generally thought to be. Also, it’s very arbitrary. I’m sure a lot of people think of SZA as R&B, myself included. And FKA Twigs has made R&B records lol. “Holy Terrain” is the example that comes to mind.

['S]

Well. First, lmao @foodchains. Since when did popular mean superior and like "top-level predator" vibes? Second, god forbid someone has crossover success, by your definition idk what you'd think of that.

Anyway the thing is, putting artists into genres doesn't exactly from critics or music experts, a lot of times until recently it was normal clueless music shop employees who either filed under where the record label marketing wanted it or otherwise just guessed. And in recent years it's AI and algorithms doing it so like you know, no better. I could complain at any East Asian music being pegged as "[insert country initial]-pop", anything singing about nature not love over soft pads and delicate textures being called "new age", but like I wouldn't sweat over dumb classifications. At least the forms of R&B are acknowledged with enough nuance to differentiate them. Even if it can be (shock!) arbitrary.

There's also how the likes of Ocean stand by the label "alternative", or how some people reject certain genres applied to them entirely. Fun !

:joyful:

[kewis]

Apr 1, 2022 20:39:08 GMT Brenda said:

Apr 1, 2022 20:11:54 GMT halloweenjack95 said:

Yep.. so true. I gave up discussing with freddie stans a long time ago.
And to stay to topic... they always bring up that stupid studay as "argument".

Personally, I feel like what contributed to that process of "demythification" of Freddie's voice in my head was listening to as much live performances of his as I did, and I think many people will get that if they also are into Queen live concerts and etc, because it exposes such a vulnerable side to his voice that you'd never hear about if you only consume the studio versions and doctored live releases (*cahem* Wembley '86).

Freddie's most famous live performance was Live Aid, where he was in his absolute A-game so most people probably listen to it and some of his famous performances out official releases of Montreal '81 or Wembley '86 and assume that's how he sounded most if not all of the time live.

Don't forget that awful recent "study" where they somehow managed to "prove" that Freddie genetically had a special voice that no man can have no matter how hard they try, hence adding to the mythical status.

[IhateMana]

How to Dress Well, James Blake and Banks are some white artists that do alt R&B

Not sure how it's controversial to call any of those artists alternative r&b cause like... they are? you can have artists working in various different styles too, like they can also do indie lol (that incorporation of other styles and influences is the alternative part). though I struggle to see how calling rich major label artists "indie" is any less reductive.

also R&B has been a predominantly black occupied space historically, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to see poc artists prominent in the modern trends too. There might be covert racist undertones amongst some music journos who can't split trip hop from their downtempo and make certain assumptions based purely on optics, but i don't think the concept of "alternative r&b" is some throwaway label, considering it does pretty succinctly describe the kind of umbrella and scenes these artists are working under. they do quite literally make an alternative style of r&b music.

also ps i fucking hate it when artists try to say "ooh well I'm actually not such and such genre" like sorry my guy that actually not how it works. it's a pet peeve of mine, the second an artist pulls that one in an interview, i switch off.

[Osmosis]

Jul 2, 2022 22:32:17 GMT 'S said:

Anyway the thing is, putting artists into genres doesn't exactly from critics or music experts, a lot of times until recently it was normal clueless music shop employees who either filed under where the record label marketing wanted it or otherwise just guessed. And in recent years it's AI and algorithms doing it so like you know, no better. I could complain at any East Asian music being pegged as "[insert country initial]-pop", anything singing about nature not love over soft pads and delicate textures being called "new age", but like I wouldn't sweat over dumb classifications. At least the forms of R&B are acknowledged with enough nuance to differentiate them. Even if it can be (shock!) arbitrary.

This is all true but the one example I have of a classificaiton that always grinds my gears is that Oasis were britpop. No they weren't, they were a rock 'n' roll band. Nothing but a lazy grouping by the media at the time to create increased drive to their publications.

And as far as a new unpopular opinion goes... Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" is a dull affair that far outstays its welcome. It is at most a 3/4 minute song.

[CT]

Reign in blood by slayer is extremely one note, it’s fast except for postmortem (and even that gets fast), this is the album that they really started their “signature guitar solos” too, out of slayer’s first 5 classic albums it is by far the least diverse (it’s my least favorite of their first 5) the reason I think it gets so much love is because it starts perfectly and ends perfectly

[kewis]

I prefer Metallica's "Load" and even some part of "Reload" to most stuff on Death Magnetic and Hardwired. It's a lot more unique, Hetfield's vocals are far more impressive, whereas their 2 newest albums bar some tracks aren't memorable.

[clem]

Jul 5, 2022 11:29:52 GMT IhateMana said:

also ps i fucking hate it when artists try to say "ooh well I'm actually not such and such genre" like sorry my guy that actually not how it works. it's a pet peeve of mine, the second an artist pulls that one in an interview, i switch off.

True dat. Reminded me of this. When an artist says the new album will be their "most mature" work, it's never a good sign.

['S]

I don't get the same vibe with those two but lmao take a shot every time you hear
MY MOST PERSONAL ALBUM YET
for a commercial big label release

[halloweenjack95]

Jul 4, 2022 1:32:49 GMT kewis said:

Apr 1, 2022 20:39:08 GMT Brenda said:

Personally, I feel like what contributed to that process of "demythification" of Freddie's voice in my head was listening to as much live performances of his as I did, and I think many people will get that if they also are into Queen live concerts and etc, because it exposes such a vulnerable side to his voice that you'd never hear about if you only consume the studio versions and doctored live releases (*cahem* Wembley '86).

Freddie's most famous live performance was Live Aid, where he was in his absolute A-game so most people probably listen to it and some of his famous performances out official releases of Montreal '81 or Wembley '86 and assume that's how he sounded most if not all of the time live.

Don't forget that awful recent "study" where they somehow managed to "prove" that Freddie genetically had a special voice that no man can have no matter how hard they try, hence adding to the mythical status.

100% agreed. But thats a fact lol

[Goober]

Maturity is realizing that the bands your dad disliked growing up aren't that bad.... That being said Five finger death punch is ass