Music vs Music videos and your perception of the music

[masraum]

So, I'm betting many of us at least when we were younger listened to music, because there weren't really music videos, no MTV.

Still today, I'll sometimes hear music without ever having seen a video. Sometimes I'll hear the song and be aware of it for a while and eventually, I'll see the video after having already formed an opinion of the music.

But sometimes, due to youtube and the Internet, my introduction to some music is through the music video.

Do you find that seeing a video of a song (whether the band playing live or a video that's trying to tell a story or just be shocking/interesting visuals) alters your perception or opinion of the music/song?

IE, you hear a song a few times, and then when you finally see a video for the song, your opinion of the song changes (either for better or worse). Or maybe you see a video and think, hey, this is great or not great, and then hear the music without the video and decide without the distracting visuals, it's better (or worse) than you thought?

I find that I'm more likely to upgrade my opinion of a song/music because of an interesting video (or maybe even just an attractive performer). I've realized that I thought something was better after seeing a video than I'd thought before, or even in some cases eventually thought that the song isn't that good, but because the video is in some way compelling, I feel like I like the song more than I should.

[Nostril Cheese]

[masraum]

Or not...





Nice one.

[masraum]

Not the best example, but hey, the boob-loop dress on the beach with the upskirt, what's not to love?

[LeeH]

Maggie Koerner singing Sheryl Crow's song, The Difficult Kind. While she puts a lot emotion into it, seeing the expressions on her face makes me believe that she's lived the words she's singing. I heard the Sheryl Crow version after watching this one and it sounded so flat... unemotional by comparison.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Interesting.
To a certain degree, the listener instills their own experience on the song, regardless of what the singer meant- video or not.

I remember "sweet caroline" by neil diamond.
As a kid, it was something that played in fast food joints.
As a teenager, it was the drinking song of all time.
My wife recently told me it was about Caroline Kennedy as a child-(who would've thunk?)- and that idea of Neil Diamond singing about a child, in whatever context, which freaks me out a little.

When I was 10-11 years old. Video was king. In my perverted mind, the music was SECONDARY to the video.

Then I went to college and was detox'ed from Video's/

When I got out, MTV was dead, and was getting away from music videos entirely.

Sometimes it's neet to watch the video after the fact, and see what their producer came up with, but, I rarely watch them anymore.

[ledhedsymbols]

I think the BEST of music videos is that they can be a form of art just as the song or a short film can be. Lots are garbage, but some are performance art in their own right.

[jcommin]

I'm old school here. It is about the music not the video. There was so much medicare music in the MTV era tht made many allot of money solely from the video. The music became secondary IMO. And it's only gotten worse: elaborate sets, costume changes, smoke, special effects rule. However, there is a reason for it. I think most don't make allot of money because their music can be pirated free. Performing live is where the money is - so the show has to be worth seeing.

Me, not so much. I saw Elvis Presley in the early 70's. Aside from his costume, he just sang. I like blues and jazz clubs just to hear the music,

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jcommin

I'm old school here. It is about the music not the video.

I agree, it should be all about the music, and for me it usually is. That's why I was a bit surprised when I realized that the video could, without my conscious knowledge, affect my opinion of the music.

[Oh Haha]

Interesting topic.

I don't have ITunes or purchase music online. My exposure to new bands/songs are pretty much just from the radio.

A performance video will enhance the experience as I like to see the band "doing their thing" onstage.

An "artsy" video won't sway me one way or the other on whether I dig the song or the band.

Being a drummer, I view a video and watch how the drummer plays and what equipment they are using. Weird probably but that's me.

Car videos are the same--I would prefer to hear the engine sounds versus a musical background.
BTW-I came of age during the height of MTV.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by jcommin

IThere was so much medicare music in the MTV era

Works on so many levels!

[Por_sha911]

Never really thought about it until now.

Upon reflection, I would say that because I am old school: (VINYL and Cassettes) the videos weren't around and I didn't buy into MTV. "In my day" (gosh I hate to hear that coming out of my mouth) there was a greater gap between people and their view of music: you were either into the artistry and actual making of the music or you just recreationally heard whatever came across the radio.

As such I think it is a generational thing. For those that grow up with a smart phone super-glued to their hand, video is far more influential since is a main vehicle for introduction to a song.

Two side thoughts:
-Joe Walsh is very outspoken that the artistry of making music has been lost to autotune, mass produced, digital effects. There isn't the art and skill of playing an instrument with feeling. It has no soul. I agree. How many hard rock guitarists can hold their own without a distortion pedal? Don't even get me started on screamo bands.

-My generation listened to an album. A series of songs written and put in a certain order by the artist. Today you download one song or watch one video. Totally different experience.

[GH85Carrera]

As a teenager the switch to FM radio was a big change. I was so sick of trying to find real rock and roll and the DJ would throw in the inevitable Jackson 5 or Osmond's bubble gum version that I was thrilled to move to a new city that had a FM rock station. I bought a lot of 8 track and finally switch to albums when I figured out I could make my own mix tapes for the car. I would have bet money Michael Jackson was never going to have music I liked. Then I saw the Thriller video



Back in December of 1983 a buddy was all excited about the debut of Thriller on MTV and he had a MTV party. I had never heard of MTV because I did not have a TV at all back then. About 8 folks crowded around his TV and we all watched the debut. That was the peak of MJ's career. Before he turned freak and he had some real talent.

I finally broke down and bought a TV mostly so I could avoid having to go to my parents house to watch space shuttle launches and landings.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Before he turned freak and he had some real talent.

Exactly! MTV replace the artistry of music with a flashy show. The music was just an excuse to create the video.

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I finally broke down and bought a TV mostly so I could avoid having to go to my parents house to watch space shuttle launches and landings.

Sorry for this but I can't resist a little light hearted humor. Does the above sentence not set off the geekometer?

[GH85Carrera]

I confess. I have been a space junkie since the start of Gemini program. That was when my dad was a presenter for the USAF presentations team. They went all over the world showing slides and movies about the space program to get the citizens interested.

The Apollo 11 contamination module passed within 6 blocks of our house in Hawaii. I waved to Neal Armstrong and he waved back. I rode my bike alongside the module before it was loaded up on the airplane for the trip back to Houston.

[VincentVega]

Interesting topic. My initial thought was I didnt care about the video. Then I thought about some of my favorite music and usually really like the videos. I stay up too many nights watching old Led Zep live videos. Another favorite is Radiohead. I've always liked their music and also think some of their videos are equally impressive. Sure the songs stand along but seeing what spin they point on it with the video can add something.

For example, this is one of their classic songs. Great song. But, add in a video thats a little out there and it really works of me.

[MBAtarga]

Tom Petty - Last Dance with Mary Jane - video was not what I expected (stars Kim Bassinger as a corpse)

[joe payne]

Billy Idols White Wedding, Duran Duran's Rio, Def Leopards Photograph were video's from my youth that really painted a picture in my mind every time I would hear the song on the radio.
I miss good music and the video's that were made back in the early 80's.

[widebody911]

I like music, for the most part I can't stand musicians; videos tend to be nothing more than an extension of the musician's ego.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I confess. I have been a space junkie since the start of Gemini program. That was when my dad was a presenter for the USAF presentations team. They went all over the world showing slides and movies about the space program to get the citizens interested.

The Apollo 11 contamination module passed within 6 blocks of our house in Hawaii. I waved to Neal Armstrong and he waved back. I rode my bike alongside the module before it was loaded up on the airplane for the trip back to Houston.

Cool. I had two uncles that worked in Aerospace. One worked at Grumman on the LEM module. I have a piece of AL tube with a "super new technology breakthrough" coating (probably just teflon) that cost millions to develop for the module. The other was one of the developers for the F-111 (or as they referred to it "F-what a lemon").