@guacadoggie Sorry to say it, but punk is very mainstream. In fact, it is over 35 years old and has been cycled and recycled through mainstream music over and over since then.
Also: Everyone these days is 'indie', so 'indie', by its ubiquity, is, by definition now 'mainstream'.
True, there is more than one mainstream, just as there is more than one 'Average Joe' type. There is 'indie' mainstream (Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, The Strokes) and there is dance pop mainstream (Gaga, Bieber). The only thing is that what is mainstream now is not the same as what is mainstream 40 years ago and this confuses people into thinking that they distance themselves from the 'mainstream' by listening to the Decemberists instead of Justin Bieber, not realizing that these indie bands are now big business and as a whole are as big or nearly as big as dance pop.
An 'average' person today would be someone like Eli from Stargate Universe, Hurley from Lost or Leonard from The Big Bang Theory and NOT someone like Don Johnson, Archie Bunker, or Booth from Bones.
Just check out fan forums for each of these shows and see how many peeps think Hurley is just like someone they knew in high school. Same for Eli. Leonard is a bit of a caricature, but is still a good example.
People want to think that the 'average normal' person is a jock or an uncreative corporate wonk so they can feel more unique themselves. But, when EVERYONE starts thinking this way, it becomes a new mainstream all its own, which is why new shows don't depict Archie Bunker as an average guy anymore, since he is now no longer an average guy but is a marginalized relic of the past.
This applies hugely and especially to music. So, again, hate to say it, but it takes more to be 'different' from the mainstream than just listening to big business indie and punk bands like Rancid, Arcade Fire, Gogol Bordello, The Cribs, Belle and Sebastian and Wilco.
A few interesting facts that are hard for supposedly 'different' types to accept:
Vampire Weekend is more popular than Warrant.
The Cure has sold more albums than Limp Bizkit.
They Might Be Giants songs are more widely recognized than Nickelback songs.
Weezer has sold far more albums than Puddle of Mudd.
The Decemberists are more popular than Hoobastank.
Death Cab For Cutie is more popular than the Goo Goo Dolls.
Loser, by Beck, is more widely recognized than any song by Three Days Grace.
Same with people who think Urban Outfitters, Hot Topic or Zumiez are edgy. You know how much money these companies make?? They are anything but underground or outside the mainstream, but they sell lots and lots to those who think they are outside the box. It's called, derisively, Rebel Consumerism. As if, buying certain things makes one a rebel. All consumerism.
I don't think in terms of "mainstream" and "indie". It's just difficult for me to comprehend the psychology of it all. Conforming non-conformists? How do these thoughts play out in the mind?
Somehow, it seems to hold true with many people. These might think of the most popular (and inherently ever-changing) music as a static genre called "mainstream". From what I'm guessing, this word has received negative connotation for its listeners lacking individuality. However, is music not intended to be enjoyed for a pleasing sound, rather than for pleasing the current social opinion?
Others probably feel it necessary to go outside the box by entering the box inside of it. The way I see it, it may be better to simply not think of being inside or outside of anything. It may be much more enjoyable just listening to what you love, without going through all the indie/mainstream mayhem. Doing what you like regardless if others want you to like it or not.
I don't want to keep you long. If anything, just know that the world is great - Much too great to let something so trivial as clashing musical tastes make you any less comfortable with your own choice of music.
Is it normal to hate Mainstream music?
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@guacadoggie Sorry to say it, but punk is very mainstream. In fact, it is over 35 years old and has been cycled and recycled through mainstream music over and over since then.
Also: Everyone these days is 'indie', so 'indie', by its ubiquity, is, by definition now 'mainstream'.
True, there is more than one mainstream, just as there is more than one 'Average Joe' type. There is 'indie' mainstream (Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, The Strokes) and there is dance pop mainstream (Gaga, Bieber). The only thing is that what is mainstream now is not the same as what is mainstream 40 years ago and this confuses people into thinking that they distance themselves from the 'mainstream' by listening to the Decemberists instead of Justin Bieber, not realizing that these indie bands are now big business and as a whole are as big or nearly as big as dance pop.
An 'average' person today would be someone like Eli from Stargate Universe, Hurley from Lost or Leonard from The Big Bang Theory and NOT someone like Don Johnson, Archie Bunker, or Booth from Bones.
Just check out fan forums for each of these shows and see how many peeps think Hurley is just like someone they knew in high school. Same for Eli. Leonard is a bit of a caricature, but is still a good example.
People want to think that the 'average normal' person is a jock or an uncreative corporate wonk so they can feel more unique themselves. But, when EVERYONE starts thinking this way, it becomes a new mainstream all its own, which is why new shows don't depict Archie Bunker as an average guy anymore, since he is now no longer an average guy but is a marginalized relic of the past.
This applies hugely and especially to music. So, again, hate to say it, but it takes more to be 'different' from the mainstream than just listening to big business indie and punk bands like Rancid, Arcade Fire, Gogol Bordello, The Cribs, Belle and Sebastian and Wilco.
A few interesting facts that are hard for supposedly 'different' types to accept:
Vampire Weekend is more popular than Warrant.
The Cure has sold more albums than Limp Bizkit.
They Might Be Giants songs are more widely recognized than Nickelback songs.
Weezer has sold far more albums than Puddle of Mudd.
The Decemberists are more popular than Hoobastank.
Death Cab For Cutie is more popular than the Goo Goo Dolls.
Loser, by Beck, is more widely recognized than any song by Three Days Grace.
Same with people who think Urban Outfitters, Hot Topic or Zumiez are edgy. You know how much money these companies make?? They are anything but underground or outside the mainstream, but they sell lots and lots to those who think they are outside the box. It's called, derisively, Rebel Consumerism. As if, buying certain things makes one a rebel. All consumerism.
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I don't think in terms of "mainstream" and "indie". It's just difficult for me to comprehend the psychology of it all. Conforming non-conformists? How do these thoughts play out in the mind?
Somehow, it seems to hold true with many people. These might think of the most popular (and inherently ever-changing) music as a static genre called "mainstream". From what I'm guessing, this word has received negative connotation for its listeners lacking individuality. However, is music not intended to be enjoyed for a pleasing sound, rather than for pleasing the current social opinion?
Others probably feel it necessary to go outside the box by entering the box inside of it. The way I see it, it may be better to simply not think of being inside or outside of anything. It may be much more enjoyable just listening to what you love, without going through all the indie/mainstream mayhem. Doing what you like regardless if others want you to like it or not.
I don't want to keep you long. If anything, just know that the world is great - Much too great to let something so trivial as clashing musical tastes make you any less comfortable with your own choice of music.
I love how you're in much depth to this :D i appreciate it lots!
Learned alot too! Haha