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| quote: | Originally posted by Project-K
I use 'intelligent' in the context of music that isn't too shallow, has artistic and cultural value beyond mainstream commercial appeal. It's not really meant to be elitist, just a word to describe thought-driven music as opposed to music designed to be as catchy and easily digestible as possible. |
Bang.
I feel very at home using the tag "intelligent" for this reason. It doesn't imply anything about the listener, only the creator. Just like you could say a scientific theory is "genius", you're implying that the idea or concept is clever and so is the person who created it; you're not saying anything about the person reviewing it.
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
I think it's more that describing music as "intelligent" has inherently elitist connotations, as it implies that you're intelligent for listening to it and also that other music out there must be unintelligent by comparison. Since music has no intellect, you're either being metaphorical or (more likely) deferring meaning by calling it intelligent. "Complex" can describe the music directly without deferring the meaning. |
I mostly agree with that, but I think music can be complex and well-layered without being intelligent.
| quote: | Originally posted by Sykonee
Most of the time 'intelligent' music is meant to describe music that is strictly for the head (i.e. math rock) rather than for physical (rhythmic) or emotional (melodic) reactions we typically expect out of music. |
On the contrary, the music that moves me the most is intelligent music. I marvel at the genius involved with the track.
| quote: | Originally posted by Sykonee
Experimental music might also be considered 'intelligent' if there truly is something intuitive going on, but oftentimes producers of that stuff will use the 'intelligent' adjective as a shield against the fact what they're making is just a bunch of stupid noise. |
Correct.
| quote: | Originally posted by Meat187
There's no such thing as intelligent music. Saying Aphex Twin is more intelligent than Happy Hardcore is like saying apples are more intelligent than oranges. Complete nonsense in every thinkable way. |
No, Aphex Twin is far more intelligent than Happy Hardcore. Most happy Hardcore is the equivalent of a children's book or a National Lampoon movie, while Aphex Twin is more like Donnie Darko or Atlas Shrugged. What counts is the effort.
| quote: | Originally posted by digitalEyes
So it appears the general consensus is that there is no such thing as intelligent music.
But I ask you this: In the same way you weed through the "dull" tracks on digital music sites to find the tunes that are "good" to you, can you weed through your "good" tunes and pick out the ones that are the most "intelligent?" |
Most definitely, and I will do so later to provide a better response to this thread. Right now, I've got a date with a 500g porterhouse.
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