The most boring music you've heard

[btpaul674]

Are you considering that Brittney Spears, Nsync, The Bee Gees, various American Idol winners, are composing "genius" music? Say what you want about research and all your jargon, but this music flat out sucks big time. If you didn't read my post, I'm not talking about the dumbed down instrumental muzak, but the muzak stations that now stream POPULAR MUSIC that is grating on the nerves.

"It is supposed to alter your arousal," or turn you into a mindless shopping zombie? That, my friend, is the question. I don't believe that this goal is to be admired. If anything, it's a sad comment on the collective intelligence of our fellow man.

After your edit:

Mindless shopping zombie in an ideal capitalist world. But to increase sales, indeed. I believe its a happy comment on the power of man's intelligence. The benefits of such research are just beginning to yield what is possible with controlled music.

The Rite of Spring, Muzak, General Noriega, etc., look at what music is capable of. 

[Don]

I could care less if it's a Muzak version King Crimson or Young Jeezy or Champaign. I could care less if its Muzak of 'my funny valentine' or 'giant steps.' The point people seem to be missing is these songs are put together in a fashion to increase your productivity in the workplace and increase sales in public areas by the phenomena I discussed and phenomena I haven't discussed. Its production is calculated to the minute. That is GENIUS. Functional music at a pinnacle.

I have a different take on it.  I find that since this music has the purpose of manipulating listeners, those who provide it are operating on a somewhat immoral level.  Put another way, its purpose is entirely extra-musical.  So I consider it offensive.  By the way, I used to exist in a workplace that used this stuff, and it did not have the intended effect on me.

[greg]

When I was in high school there was this guy in my French class that would impress the girls by playing the piano line from a Coldplay song. I had to restrain myself from lobbing a boot at his head every time.

ha, is that all it takes?
girls don't have high standards, do they, lol

[btpaul674]

By the way, I used to exist in a workplace that used this stuff, and it did not have the intended effect on me.

What did you observe?

[Don]

What did you observe?

I saw and heard quite a few folks bitching about the music they were required to endure.  This resulted in a number of them bringing in their own music and headphones which pissed off the bosses.  Eventually, the piped-in music went bye-bye.

[btpaul674]

I saw and heard quite a few folks bitching about the music they were required to endure.  This resulted in a number of them bringing in their own music and headphones which pissed off the bosses.  Eventually, the piped-in music went bye-bye.

Cool. Great observation. This happens more often then not. It goes without saying that companies and their goals differ from one business to the next. Often the environment could do without Muzak or any form of music in general. It doesn't change the fact that Muzak exists, does work, and helps with profit.

[Don]

Cool. Great observation. This happens more often then not. It goes without saying that companies and their goals differ from one business to the next. Often the environment could do without Muzak or any form of music in general. It doesn't change the fact that Muzak exists, does work, and helps with profit.

And it doesn't change the fact that Muzak sucks.

[btpaul674]

your dislike for the Muzak Corporation only fuels their drive. 

[LVB_opus.125]

After your edit:

Mindless shopping zombie in an ideal capitalist world. But to increase sales, indeed. I believe its a happy comment on the power of man's intelligence. The benefits of such research are just beginning to yield what is possible with controlled music.

The Rite of Spring, Muzak, General Noriega, etc., look at what music is capable of. 

Define "ideal" capitalist world? I don't understand why piped in music should be tolerated by anyone. Please do consider the unfortunate workers that have to listen to the same bland music day in and day out. It's torture. Again, I say it; and it's true. Virtually no one in my building save for a few even like the music that is played by the muzak station.

As far as the whole idea of, 'if it makes money, it's good'. There are so many factors to consider. How many Nsync fans today are embarrassed to admit that they were so into them? Were they interested in the music, or the sex appeal? Would you consider this distinction important? How about marketing? Most of the cost of a new CD is to cover the group's promotional budget: air play, MTV, mainstream exposure... With this kind of monstrous promotional backing (that the comsumer pays for) from major labels, is it really fair to say that one kind of music is better because it was shoved down the throats of the most people? Brian Eno and John Cale aren't household names, but they propably would have been if they have the millions of dollars from their company making sure that radio stations played them every hour, and did promotions to have people win concert tickets and such. This is admirable? The Music Business? Call me old fashioned, but I view music as the highest art.

[btpaul674]

Ideal Capitalist world was my gross exaggeration to yours.

I'll preface by making these points: I agree that music is the highest art form as do you. I agree that a listener has the right to choose his or her own music. Do I think sex and money drive the current Pop music industry? Even into some of the non-pop music? Yes. Do I wish money was in control of all mainstream music? No and yes. Yes because it gets some people involved. Do I listen to Muzak personally? Hell no. Do I deal with it in my current workplace? Yes. Does it get on my nerves? Sometimes. Does it increase my productivity? Yes when I'm not listening. I think if I brought in my own music, I wouldn't work at all. I would listen. Nothing gets done.

This is similar tothe NAPS theory of music. This Non-Adaptive-Pleasure Seeking theory of music basically details that Pleasure Seeking systems release endorphins in the brain. Eating, having sex, defecation, taking drugs, exercising, drinking, smoking, camaraderie, etc all release endorphins in neural pathways in the brain. Some of these are Adaptive Pleasure seeking. They serve a biological purpose. (eating, having sex, defecation, etc.) The others, the Non-Adaptive pleasure seekers (drugs, drinking, smoking) do not serve a biological purpose. Well since music releases endorphins in the brain, does it serve a biological purpose? We don't know and in current research its 50/50. However, when you have something that releases endorphins in the brain (for example, music you LIKE), you are prone to focus your attention on it and neglect your responsibilities. Heroin does the same thing. Heroin users neglect their young and the young often die, they neglect their responsibilities. In the workplace, if you are subject to music you like, you are not going to be productive. So what about no music in the workplace at all? A happy medium? Well the Muzak researchers will promote their product saying their Muzak is better than no music at all. IT WORKS.

Why should anyone tolerate it? Well, I think a lot of employers would tell you to stop listening and start working and you should hear the music, not listen to it. (Does not reflect what I would tell you.) Why I think you should tolerate it, or appreciate it? Because it works. And I do not call the Muzak itself art, I call its extra-musical product art. The shaping of a human mind, how disgusting and invasive it may seem.

A point Don made earlier:

"I find that since this music has the purpose of manipulating listeners, those who provide it are operating on a somewhat immoral level.  Put another way, its purpose is entirely extra-musical.  So I consider it offensive"

The same occurs with all advertisement and movie music you've heard. In fact, MOST music listened to operates for an extra-musical purpose. Is all music offensive to you? Hell since high school I've wanted to create music with nothing but an extra-musical consequence. Music that is of the highest functional form to manipulate the listener or convey concrete ideas. Current studies being conducted are starting to tell us how possible this is.

[Heather Harrison]

The piped-in music I hear in stores often makes me want to leave, and I have sometimes walked out without making my intended purchase because I can't stand what they are playing.  I know they have done a lot of research on it, and on balance it probably does have the effect they are after, but sometimes it does backfire.  I'm glad this stuff isn't around where I work - it would drive me crazy to have it playing in the background all the time.

For me, the most boring music is best described by a term one of my friends coined a few years ago - "tuneless tunes".  This can describe the sort of music that is often piped into stores and other businesses, but the term was intended to refer to the sort of music that usually accompanies corporate training or promotional films.  Tuneless tunes tend to be upbeat in a sickening way, and they are of course very simple in nature.  To actually pay attention to this music would be torture, so it is probably a good thing that it is intended to be in the background.  Unfortunately, I naturally pay attention to whatever music is around me (this is probably why bland piped-in music bothers me), so when I encounter tuneless tunes I get annoyed.  However, if tuneless tunes have one saving grace, it is that they are sometimes unintentionally funny, especially when combined with silly corporate or government propaganda films.  Some of the tuneless tunes of the 1950's and 1960's are actually so funny in combination with their crude propaganda films that they manage to become interesting.  (I actually like to watch propaganda films from this time because they are so funny.)  Maybe the modern ones will become interesting in 30 or 40 years after they have become dated.

In the area of classical music, there isn't much that I find truly boring.  Sometimes, I find music of the Classic period boring (but certainly not to the same level as tuneless tunes).  The Classic period tends to be afflicted by a degree of sameness; the structures became so rigid that everything starts to sound the same after a while.  I find that this applies to the mediocre earlier works of Mozart and Haydn, and to many of the lesser composers.  Of course, some of my favorite music comes from this time; when composers actually make the idiom of the time work well, the results are incredible.  Also, when composers mess with the structures and create something unique, it dispels the boredom that might otherwise set in.  (I seldom find C.P.E. Bach boring; his music frequently deviates considerably from the norm.)  When I want background music, I often play some of the lighter music of this time; it may be a bit on the boring side, but I don't find it the least bit annoying.

Heather

[Kullervo]

For me, the most boring music is best described by a term one of my friends coined a few years ago - "tuneless tunes".  This can describe the sort of music that is often piped into stores and other businesses, but the term was intended to refer to the sort of music that usually accompanies corporate training or promotional films.  Tuneless tunes tend to be upbeat in a sickening way, and they are of course very simple in nature.  To actually pay attention to this music would be torture, so it is probably a good thing that it is intended to be in the background.  Unfortunately, I naturally pay attention to whatever music is around me (this is probably why bland piped-in music bothers me), so when I encounter tuneless tunes I get annoyed.

I love those. They usually have this sort of "It's 1995 all over again" feel. Where I work we have these DVDs that play trailers and advertisements all day, and are changed every two weeks. For some reason they thought that adding music videos would increase our sales. Sometimes I can ignore it, but often it becomes excruciating (Smash Mouth's "All Star" comes to mind).

[71 dB]

Call me old fashioned, but I view music as the highest art.

Architecture is the King of art. Music is the Queen.

[DavidW]

Most boring music?

Obligatory joke: Cage 4 33.

I'm not sure what this thread serves except to potentially piss people off.  As a hypothetical consider this: say some anonymous Joe Blow poster from Amsterdam doesn't like Haydn with no reason given.  Should I care?  Have I learned anything important to me?  Will I reevaluate my music or at least understand another perspective? 

Nah the only reaction from me is a whatever dude as I page down.  Maybe to some they'll react with that's fighting words, either way nothing is gained.  A thread that's just like "list music you don't like" is a bit silly imo.

[BachQ]

As a hypothetical consider this: say some anonymous Joe Blow poster from Amsterdam doesn't like Haydn with no reason given. 

How dare he ..........

[karlhenning]

I have a different take on it.  I find that since this music has the purpose of manipulating listeners, those who provide it are operating on a somewhat immoral level.  Put another way, its purpose is entirely extra-musical.  So I consider it offensive.  By the way, I used to exist in a workplace that used this stuff, and it did not have the intended effect on me.

Excellent points, Don.

[greg]

(eating, having sex, defecation, etc.)

hopefully not at the same time.....

The piped-in music I hear in stores often makes me want to leave, and I have sometimes walked out without making my intended purchase because I can't stand what they are playing.  I know they have done a lot of research on it, and on balance it probably does have the effect they are after, but sometimes it does backfire.  I'm glad this stuff isn't around where I work - it would drive me crazy to have it playing in the background all the time.

ugggghhhhhh now this thread is making me think about the music in kfc today that i had to listen to while filling out a job application. It's not elevator music, but it's pop-ish- a reggaeton song and then an American Idol-sounding song, actually almost all pop music makes me want to bash my head against a wall. It's so freaking boring that listening to it is torture, and i start craving music that doesn't sound like mush.... hmmm, now that I think about it, I started thinking about the Rite of Spring not long after that, I'm wondering if it was a survival mechanism to avoid pain?

[quintett op.57]

Mahler may be overindulgent and narcissistic, but boring he is not.

Bruckner is.

Bruckner is gripping.
Listening the development of pieces like the 5th symphony is captivating, so greatly interesting.

[Larry Rinkel]

hopefully not at the same time.....

Or perhaps no more than two out of three . . . .

[Don]

your dislike for the Muzak Corporation only fuels their drive. 

Nah, they don't know I exist.