From the wreck of the Popism thread...

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

OK a 'rockist' sez:
Bob Dylan is better than Charlotte Church. That's just a fact.

A 'popist' sez:

No way, boring Bob is rubbish compared to Charlotte Church. That's just a fact.

Here's what I actually think:

Listening to music is made up of a series of moments, like coin tosses or dice throws. At any given moment I might find Bob suits me better, or Charlotte. Over time, it's likely Bob will win a lot more often than Charlotte. But during those moments when I want Charlotte, no amount of Bob will suffice. The 'rockist' or 'rockist-about-pop' mistake is to imagine that the 'over time' is what matters, not the moment.

(For 'Bob' and 'Charlotte' insert whoever you want.)

This third point of view is, you'll notice, considerably less snappy than the other two.

-- Tom (freakytrigger@gmail.com), October 20th, 2005 1:59 PM. (Groke) (later) (link)

So re-reading this I wonder if it's statin' the bleedin' obvious or if there's anything in it, I mean in terms of the conception of the fixity of taste and judgement being a big divider....

Comments

I can't help myself, I need professional help

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

CC's 'Crazy Chick' was played at Poptimism! It is fun, but she's still better than her records.

I've never really had to teach myself anything when it came to Dylan - at an early age, wise beyond my years, I asked 'Mummy, why is this man on a record when he can't sing?' But then later, I learned that various songs I did like had been written by him, and then sung by people who could.

With very rare exceptions, improv makes me want to eat tables.