Why Good Is More Popular Than Great

I always wondered why bad music is so successful.  So many people complain about how such repetitive, unoriginal/creative music can get multi-million dollar record labels, and why so many people buy into it.  Especially after listening to CJSW, I learned there are so many beautiful songs our there.  Bands creating lyrics and sounds so full of emotion and ... awesome, and then you turn on a top 40 station and hear crap.  Where is the justice?

This got me thinking.


I really don't want to think that people are stupid.  If I've learned anything, people are stupid until you learn about the pain they've suffered, then the things they do seem like it really was their only option.  Once you do that, and rule out the occasional mistake we all make, there aren't many stupid people left.  Those special leftovers are generally saved for politics *shudders*.

Anyways!  The point is there is a reason and it hit me.  Sometimes we don't need great, we just need good.  Especially in Calgary, you get a lot of people who work too long.  There is lots of money to be made, and oh do they make it, but it leaves everybody pretty tired at the end of the day.  We need that first beer, we need to sit our ass down and just be.  We need that second, no requirements, no responsibility, just a refreshing drink and that good tune in the background.

Enter mediocre music.  Great music doesn't fit here, it carries the responsibility of being understood, being properly appreciated, and great music has to be found.  Right then, at that moment, we'll take just about anything as long as its decent.  North American society seems like it's always so high strung it'll generally take just about anything, all the time.

Everybody loves bad music sometimes.  So maybe next time you hear yourself complaining that people are so stupid for buying such bad music and perpetuating a horrible cycle, remember that sometimes you need that music too.  And if you really feel there should be significant change, stop downloading music and go watch some bands play live.  Regardless, here's a cool TED talk about music too, seems appropriate, plus if I keep adding videos of actually cool shit to my posts then maybe you'll be distracted from the silly points I make!