Ich
01-04-2010, 05:35 AM
Have you ever had a band you thought was pretty good, or even all right, but you never really got into them? Have you ever dated somebody who liked that band a lot and frequently listened to the band's music in your presence? Enough that you start to think "oh, they're actually pretty good; I should get more of their stuff" and you do. You start to genuinely enjoy the music, and you appreciate the musical talent of the artist.
Then, you break up with the person, and the formerly acceptable or even good band has been ruined. The music with substantial artistic merit that you genuinely enjoyed has now been spoiled by its strong connection to a failed relationship. The CD that was pretty good is still pretty good, but an otherwise passable, decent, or even good band has now been rendered unlistenable.
Except for the song "Island in the Sun" (which I liked before the relationship began) Weezer's entire catalogue of music has been ruined for me. I should perhaps note that the breakup was two years ago, and although I am not bitter now, I still can't stand Weezer.
Does anybody else make this kind of strong association between music and people? Have you had a (good) band similarly ruined? Are there other forms of media that this has happened to you with, such as movies, video games, books, etc., or is music by nature a medium that has a stronger emotional component to it?
Then, you break up with the person, and the formerly acceptable or even good band has been ruined. The music with substantial artistic merit that you genuinely enjoyed has now been spoiled by its strong connection to a failed relationship. The CD that was pretty good is still pretty good, but an otherwise passable, decent, or even good band has now been rendered unlistenable.
Except for the song "Island in the Sun" (which I liked before the relationship began) Weezer's entire catalogue of music has been ruined for me. I should perhaps note that the breakup was two years ago, and although I am not bitter now, I still can't stand Weezer.
Does anybody else make this kind of strong association between music and people? Have you had a (good) band similarly ruined? Are there other forms of media that this has happened to you with, such as movies, video games, books, etc., or is music by nature a medium that has a stronger emotional component to it?