Preconceptions about metal

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I dont know if this has happened to you.. but it has happened to me... sometimes, when I tell someone (mostly girls) that I listen metal they look me with one of these faces... [!--emo&:huh:--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/huh.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'huh.gif\' /][!--endemo--] [!--emo&<_<--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/dry.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'dry.gif\' /][!--endemo--] [!--emo&-_---][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/sleep.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'sleep.gif\' /][!--endemo--] [!--emo&:blink:--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/blink.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'blink.gif\' /][!--endemo--]

many people are full of preconceptions.. when I talk about metal or Iron Maiden they think inmediatly in satanism and screams... maybe its becasue people think that black or death metal are the only metal... becasue they only know those kinds of metal...

That's why today, in my class literary generes of colombia, in an improvisation excersice, I talked about metal....

When I said "im going to talk about metal" I saw a pair of those faces in the people in the classroom and a kind of pff sound... In my school... everyone has that preconceprion about metal... so thats why I said something like that in the excersise :

"This is an unknown and misunderstood genere of music. Many people think that metal is just the 'new metal' (dark, black, which are nonsense screams and satanic)... which in most part is a 'shit' (I didnt said that.. I just dont know how to traduce 'porqueria'). The metal that I listen to, which is the real metal, isnt at all as everybody thinks. On the contrary, that metal has much more profuond lyrics and musical technique than any pop or reagaeton or kind of music you hear... (and here I supported my thesis with maiden songs: history songs such as aces high, tailgunner, alexander the great, montsegur; the rime of the ancient mariner which is about a classical epic poem; the flight of icarus, about a greek myth; hallowed by thy name and powerslave, which treat with existencial issues; songs that talk about injustice such as run to the hills and montsegur;wasted years, a song about saving and using life wisely; songs about the bad face of power and greediness, for which good exapmles are be quick or be dead and 2 minutes to midnight; and finally talked about books being basis to some maiden songs). That is why I say that metal has much more profound and complex lyrics and themes than any other music genere... and MUCH more than pop... or how would you argue me that a superficial song about 'love' is more profound than any of the songs I said before?"

Please discuss and complement.. thankyou


PS Sorry if my comments about black and death metal differ with someone's thoughts
 
i totally know what you are saying here. I have to explain what metal is really about to many ppl all the time. whenever i tell ppl i listen to Iron Maiden they basically give me that look like you said, they think im some suicidal satanic hardcore until i explain what maiden is all about in which most cases most ppl gain respect for maiden and start listening. I cannot even count the number of ppl just in my school that stereotype metal until i tell them about maiden and then it becomes their fav. band! [!--emo&:p--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/tongue.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'tongue.gif\' /][!--endemo--]

The stereotypes that have plagued metal are created by poser, commercialism bands who are just pretending to be hardcore and promote themselves in the media to make money. Since Maiden is not about the money but about carving their own path and being unique, they are not commercialized in the U.S or looked at so much as theses "harcore" bands that get headlines so stereotypes are born....

I would also just like to point out i do like alot of other metal besides maiden so i am not trying to pick on or offend any other bands, im just.. well... venting i guess... [!--emo&:p--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/tongue.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'tongue.gif\' /][!--endemo--]
 
If people only have preconceptions about metal, I wouldn't mind at all, but the worst is the preconceptions they have about other people, regarding the music they're supposed to listen to.

I almost gave a heart attack to some of them telling them that I like Heavy Metal and even worse Black Metal. And it was like : "OMG, it's impossible that YOU listen to this kind of music". Sure I haven't got the stereotypical look of a black metaller, but people are so narrow-minded that they can't help labbeling (don't know if that's the right word) you.

On the other hand that's a good weapon to get rid of people whom you've been too patient with at first and to do it in a rather polite way. When some boring and narrow-minded people think they can be friends with me and stick to me like glue, I usually start talking about music, mentionning that I listen to black metal and then they don't try to be friends with me anymore.
 
The perception of metal from your average person over here is that it is 'just screaming and shouting rubbish'. It is the mainstream metal that has fucked up everyone's opinion (thanks pineapple hunter). Slipknot, Korn, Linkin Park etc are the bands people will think of when I tell them I like metal. To associate me with such bands is offensive.
 
Same thing mate, when I say to people that I like metal they mention those shitty bands which are the polar opposite to what I like. When I say Maiden or Priest, they say "are they still around?" if I say Atheist or Morbid Angel they say "if they're so brilliant why aren't they famous?". Those other bands you mentioned 7th son, not only blow, they brought metal back to the masses. Which in my opinion, is a bad thing because idiots sure know how to milk metal for all its worth.
 
Metal is something completely different than any other type of music. It is about being unique and having your own goals and thoughts and expressing your emotions(im mainly reffering to maiden of course). Commercialism for metal is terrible for it, it ruins it completely. Metal artists create their music not for money, but for the passion. Rock and metal bands are bands that often start in high school or so with kids that just want to have fun and have a passion for creating music, they of course do not think about money at all. Rap, hiphop and all that junk is specifically geared towards making money, none of it is unique, none of the songs last more than a year and they are purely commercialized. It's all crap. Once metal is commercialized it starts going hollywood and tries to make music "for the people" and there is no more passion just greed. That is why linkin park and Korn and all that is such garbage. I know metal will be stereotyped badly for many years to come, but i just try not to care because i know what Maiden and all are about, society in general is...well....stupid......
 
Maybe it's just a bit of maturity that comes with age, but I really don't give a flying fuck what other people think of any music that I listen to. Nor do I feel any need to correct the wrong ideas that some people may have about metal (or any other music). Let 'em be wrong. It's not my job to make sure that everyone in the world is right. (Though I'll confess that Mr. DICKtionary sometimes forgets that.)

I'm not saying that anyone here is immature. I used to be concerned about such matters myself, when I was a teenager or even in my early 20s. I'm just saying that for most people, concerns about how others perceive your taste in music become less important with time.

I also don't care if metal is commercial or popular - if it's melodic and non-repetitive enough to fit my tastes, I'll listen to it. The reason I don't like Korn or Linkin Park or their ilk is because they use DJs in their bands. It is my opinion that a turntable is just an electrical appliance; it has no more musical potential than a microwave oven. Therefore, DJs are not musicians, and the inclusion of one in a rock band is nothing more than a feeble attempt to seem palatable to a generation that has grown up with rap music.
 
[!--QuoteBegin-metalboyken+Sep 18 2005, 12:52 PM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(metalboyken @ Sep 18 2005, 12:52 PM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]I would call it rap
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And I would call it crap.
 
[!--QuoteBegin-SinisterMinisterX+Sep 18 2005, 06:47 AM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(SinisterMinisterX @ Sep 18 2005, 06:47 AM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]It is my opinion that a turntable is just an electrical appliance; it has no more musical potential than a microwave oven. Therefore, DJs are not musicians, and the inclusion of one in a rock band is nothing more than a feeble attempt to seem palatable to a generation that has grown up with rap music.
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I know one ins't supposed to rubbish anothers opinion but...
Keyboards have been used by Maiden on several albums and I don't think you would call this just an electrical appliance. It expands the music and adds a different feel to it. The same can be said for turntables and d.js. They might not be everybody's "cup of tea" but a lot of people do like the effect they add. I am not one of them and I don't like "nu-metal" but millions of people do and I don't think it's fair to slag off the musicians. This is what they are - musicians. They make music by mixing beats and sections of tracks. They are every bit a musician as an electrical guitar player or a vocalist.
 
[!--QuoteBegin-charlotte+Sep 18 2005, 12:50 PM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(charlotte @ Sep 18 2005, 12:50 PM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]And I would call it crap.
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Let's call it ©rap [!--emo&:p--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/tongue.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'tongue.gif\' /][!--endemo--]


Anyway, I've so far been rather fortunate when it comes to this subject. Most of my friends enjoy Metal; some are more into it than others, but all appreciate it in some way. Some, I have managed to "convert" simply by the fact that they were interested in the music I listen to; or they have heard one Maiden song somewhere and liked it- that kind of stuff. Others do not like the music I listen to, but tolerate it. I know only one person in my circles who actually believes there are sime sinister intentions in this kind of music- I avoid this subject when talking with him.
I often wander around in Maiden shirts, and I often provoke reactions with it. Sometimes drunk people approach me and chant "Maiden! Maiden!" and so forth. At work, the people usually make some kind of commentary such as "Uh huh. Iron Maiden, eh?" or "A Maiden shirt... reminds me of my youth" (this one came on Friday). At school it was a bit different, but that's long ago.

I've only once been approached by an X-ian who wanted to make me believe Heavy Metal is all about aggression and hatred. I just smiled and left.

Apart from that... I suppose you all know the story of how I got into Maiden (if not, it's in the appropriate threads in this forum).
 
Woe me. All I get is mocking and contempt. Be it my punk friends ("Where is the 'heavy' in that?"), classic rock fans ("Purple has ten times more musical ideas in one song") or pop fans ("How can you work with that noise in your ears?").
And as if it wasn't enough, I get my share from nu metal fans, too ("You listen to that dated crap?").
Up the Irons [!--emo&:D--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/biggrin.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'biggrin.gif\' /][!--endemo--]
 
Nu metal fans think it's outdated? Hah, their stuff won't last 5 years and even then, it will only be remembered for the joke that it is. Maiden will live on forever.
 
I don't always "dress metal". I pretty rarely do. So, when I tel ppl that I listen to metal, they seem surprised. "you didn't look like the type" A coupel fo years ago, i was even younger than now, i had long hair and i almost always dressed in black. SO i could see what they expected. But i have seen the light, and now i look like a "normal" person, but i'm still a head-banger inside
 
[!--QuoteBegin-Black Ace+Sep 18 2005, 11:49 AM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(Black Ace @ Sep 18 2005, 11:49 AM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]I don't always "dress metal". I pretty rarely do. So, when I tel ppl that I listen to metal, they seem surprised. "you didn't look like the type" A coupel fo years ago, i was even younger than now, i had long hair and i almost always dressed in black. SO i could see what they expected. But i have seen the light, and now i look like a "normal" person, but i'm still a head-banger inside
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Haha, exactly how I am man.. I go to a Catholic school, so you can already guess the crap I get from the other people.. Hell, since it is such a small school, me and a few friends are the only people that like real metal, and I, for sure, and the biggest Maiden fan in the school. All of the high school includes emo kids, whom I run into arguments with all the time. Of course I beat the crap out of them with my reasons why I like Maiden. "Why do you like that noise, it has no talent.." or "I can't stand his voice" is my most hated phrase. "You learn to make a song half as well as Maiden, both in the musical talent and the awesome Bruce Dickinson voice and I'll congradulate you, Anybody can make up a whiny voice followed by crappy chord progressions with a shitty voice, and no imagination whatsoever."

The Nu-metal people annoy me just as bad, if not worse, its a disgrace to even be classified in the metal genre, so sad.

Also, when I try to explain anything metal to the school (remember, mostly emo kids), they give me those same looks and try to argue that the lyrics and voice especially, all suck and all it is is satanic and screaming, they better as hell get ready for a comeback to that one.
 
I don't like people who follow stereotypes!!!!!!!!!
Especially the whole "metal = satanism and corrupted youth" bull-crap...
Just the other day i was at my aunts' and when asked what kind of music i listen to and answering proudly "HEAVY METAL" she started saying how much she hates it and started throwing all these bloody stereotypes at me....
I'm basically NOT against people who don't like metal, that's their choice, but against people who fanatically follow, as i said, STEREOTYPES!!!!!
Once again i rest my case!!!
 
If only we could reason with them in a way that doesn't involve cheap stereotyping or distorted preconceptions... What evidence is there that metal corrupts the youth?
 
[!--QuoteBegin-Black Dragon+Sep 19 2005, 07:47 AM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(Black Dragon @ Sep 19 2005, 07:47 AM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]If only we could reason with them in a way that doesn't involve cheap stereotyping or distorted preconceptions... What evidence is there that metal corrupts the youth?
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Heh, my point exactly [!--emo&:)--][img src=\'style_emoticons/[#EMO_DIR#]/smile.gif\' border=\'0\' style=\'vertical-align:middle\' alt=\'smile.gif\' /][!--endemo--]
 
[!--QuoteBegin-Black Dragon+Sep 19 2005, 09:47 AM--][div class=\'quotetop\']QUOTE(Black Dragon @ Sep 19 2005, 09:47 AM)[/div][div class=\'quotemain\'][!--QuoteEBegin--]What evidence is there that metal corrupts the youth?
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Of course metal corrupts youth. How else can you explain this?
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Oh yeah, how could I forget (imitates that weird laugh). At least they bowed faithfully to the god of emptiness...
 
It's a shame that people feel the need to make the comments about a genre they know next to nothing about. Oh, and posers suck too but that's another topic altogether...
 
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