Does intelligence matter?

Aside from all this, I chose those specific examples from prog rock with good reason, because they are more derivative and less musically adventurous.  Shifting the comparison to UZ would take away from the point because my very question was in what way is Camel more cerebral than Stevie Wonder?  I fail to see.  His chord progressions are far more interesting, generally speaking and the sheer breadth and diversity of Beatles's work speaks for itself. 

And I remain opposed to that idea because intelligence is too broad based a term to be applied so liberally.  It is too all encompassing.

Saperlipopette! wrote: Well known (if flawed) studies has shown that Beethoven fans are generally much more intelligent than fans of modern/commercial R&B/pop/hip-hop (and eveything else included in the study).

Which well known studies and what is their reliability, if any at all?  There are only a small minority of people who could be called Beethoven fans in the present day and an even smaller fraction of that would respond to a study.  What evidence do we have that suggests that the average 'intelligence' level of Beethoven fans back in the day was also high enough to make Stephen Hawking sweat?  Yes and ELP were massive live attractions back in the 70s and their albums sold plenty copies.  In other words, the "R&B/hip hop" of their day.  So what is that then supposed to mean?  That intelligence levels of the human race were at an all time high in the 70s or simply that there is no strong correlation between music and intelligence?

Saperlipopette! wrote: Does that really surprise you or anyone else?

See above, I cannot even accept these 'findings' without examining their veracity so the question of being surprised or not surprised doesn't arise.  

Saperlipopette! wrote: Of course you can be the smartest person on earth and only listen to stupid hits excusively (or not listen to music at all), but it doesn't work the other way around.

Why not?  The fact that some people posting on this thread actually believe there is a correlation between somebody's music tastes and his intelligence level...what does it say about their own intelligence levels?  How long before extreme preconceived notions about a person emerge from something as insignificant as music preferences?  

Saperlipopette! wrote: And no, you're not supposed to look down on or sneer at anyone because they listen to pop (don't we all?)

Again, who's the we here?  My boss only listens to whatever is the equivalent of old pop here and devotional songs and he is a very intelligent and well informed person.  

Saperlipopette! wrote:  or that complex stuff is difficult to grasp for idiots.

Again, more assumptions.   How do you really know that?  Have you ever considered that it has far more to do with the things we direct the attention of our brain towards?  People choose from a myriad set of obsessions - it could be sports cars, alcohol, music, cinema, a sport or game, even equity stock.  As you spend more and more time obsessing with a specific field of interest, you will tend to learn more and more about it and eventually be in a position to articulate your thoughts on the subject clearly.   THAT is the 'difference' between the 'average pop listener' and 'average prog listener' that people talk about through several threads on this forum and some of whom find therein an opportunity to pat themselves on the back.   A typical pop listener may simply be somebody who has a few songs in his IPod and really doesn't listen to much music at all while a typical prog listener is likely to have an obsession with music.   It is very unlikely, though not entirely impossible, that a prog listener would have a very casual relationship with music and not express much interest in it.  That does not necessarily correlate to the intelligence levels of the people themselves.  It may say something about the intelligence with which they can express their views on music and that is what some people, including apparently yourself, have latched on to in forming a theory that prog fans are more intelligent than blah blah blah.  

Saperlipopette! wrote: You're not supposed to do or become anything other than what you are, if that's what you're afraid of. We're just discussing because somebody created this topic.

Er, thanks but I have no fear of being so influenced by this discussion as to become what I am not.  I had posed rhetorical questions, which I was sure you'd have grasped.