What makes people find Prog boring?

The problem is not with any music but the listener. It's not you it's me.

I've heard lots of R and B, hip hop, metal, blues all forms of jazz, most forms of classical and everything else. And disco and punk as well as music. It's social conditioning (as the original poster indicated). It's what the times are and the current trends.

But if someone finds some music boring the it's the fault of the music. Sometimes you gotta work for it but many listeners (such as they are - you want elitist? You got it...) ... want everything done for them. Perhaps the music has not communicated it's intent to the listener the listener has to take responsibility for their enjoyment.

Sometimes we have to move on from soda and acclimatize ourselves to a fine wine, scotch, bourbon or whatever adult beverage takes your fancy but we do it (largely out of social acclimatization). Vanilla Chai tea for me in a moment.

kenethlevine wrote: it can take a while for a prog piece to develop, and it can take multiple listens to really sink in.  Most people don't have time for that!

Mmm...some Prog yes, some Prog no.

it can take a while for a prog piece to develop, and it can take multiple listens to really sink in.  Most people don't have time for that!

^ Well yes... but your position is a bit fuzzy.   People buy what they enjoy listening to, period.   'Pop' music as an approach ~ generally digestible and melodically attractive songs ~ has always been and always will be popular.   Even when Prog and Artrock briefly ruled the world we still had Seals & Crofts, McCartney, and ABBA.   Whoever attracts the most customers wins.   The radio may gamble on certain artists or cuts but it either sells or it don't, and if most people are buying Michael Jackson it's because they like him best, not because he's the coolest or biggest.

DDPascalDD wrote: And why haven't we discussed the logical next step which solves the problem: how can we make people interested in prog? That's what I'm trying to figure out for a long time, but there are some things I've learned. When you put on music like "I'll play you a song I like a lot" it doesn't come from themselves and it almost becomes an obligated action, though music should be what you want to hear yourself. I've heard many times the same things which are of course things you'll be able to name, but you can anticipate very well. I thought Firth of Fifth would be not too long, it has a lot of energy and emotion in it and it starts out not too off the map. Though it was just refused with the ease and quickness of an eyeblink... It's very hard to make people listen to prog out of their own, but luckily we have very popular bands who are found legends by many many people and also have albums which are pop/rocky and easy to get into. I.e. Pink Floyd - The Division Bell has tracks like High Hopes and Marooned which a lot of pop-used-ears could appreciate. Just say something like this: "Wouldn't you like something a little different than every single song based upon just a simple verse-chorus form?".

^Maybe that should be another thread. FYI, I've already met a lot of resistance from PA members who think people like what they like and that's all that they like. As opposed to like and dislike being in some significant measure a product of cultural influence, as I would expect.

Edited by HackettFan - October 22 2015 at 18:23

And why haven't we discussed the logical next step which solves the problem: how can we make people interested in prog? That's what I'm trying to figure out for a long time, but there are some things I've learned.

When you put on music like "I'll play you a song I like a lot" it doesn't come from themselves and it almost becomes an obligated action, though music should be what you want to hear yourself.

I've heard many times the same things which are of course things you'll be able to name, but you can anticipate very well. I thought Firth of Fifth would be not too long, it has a lot of energy and emotion in it and it starts out not too off the map. Though it was just refused with the ease and quickness of an eyeblink...

It's very hard to make people listen to prog out of their own, but luckily we have very popular bands who are found legends by many many people and also have albums which are pop/rocky and easy to get into. I.e. Pink Floyd - The Division Bell has tracks like High Hopes and Marooned which a lot of pop-used-ears could appreciate.
Just say something like this: "Wouldn't you like something a little different than every single song based upon just a simple verse-chorus form?".

  

 

Removed due to PA's deliberated act of deleting threads as alleged featuring negative behaviour posts towards others.

   

 

 

Edited by Otto9999 - October 31 2015 at 11:17

ExittheLemming wrote: ^ The 'suggestions thread' conundrum is very slowly beating it's way to your cerebral cortex with every passing tectonic plate.

This constant Svetonio-sniping is more boring than any prog album or track. As soon as the guy posts anything in any thread (regardless of what he says) the responses from certain senior members immediately jump off topic to launch personal attacks. And some people say that he is a troll!!! The hypocrisy is staggering.

That which is not immediately accessible forces you to choose whether you would be willing to invest time in seeing whether there's a likely pleasure payoff in the indeterminate future.

Same reason that people find classical or jazz boring.  Complex, long-winded musical ideas that take time to develop and focus and concentration to appreciate.