What do you value in music?

creativity
music is mood so for me it constantly changes

I can go from HORSE the band to The Mills Brothers or Skip James in minutes

well by instinct I just go by the beat but I give other genres of music I don’t normally like if they have decent lyrics, but songs like you’re a jerk just don’t appeal to me in any way really
in other words, I value the lyrics more than the beat itself

the way you feel its quality without realizing it with your rational senses

I love how music can always remind me of people, places, events, or things I might have been doing when I heard it before…. the last time I heard it live, where I was driving, who I was with and so on..

I listen to music nearly all the time.

It’s so hard to explain. It’s what Simone said, feeling its quality without realizing it. There are just certain songs, genres, pieces, composers that “strike” me. There are some patterns, but nothing that can unify everything I like. It just has to sound good to me. Being a classical music fan at heart, though, I don’t really care what lyrics are about in music with singing.

Just yesterday I was listening to Carl Orff music with the lyrics “Diceris male te a tuis unguentate glabris marite abstinere, sed abstine”. I freaked out when I found out what that meant. Same with “o tua mentula, mentula, mentula, mentula, mentula.” Lyrics just don’t matter to me. I do like the sound of words, though, part of the reason I listen to so much foreign music that I can’t understand. I don’t need to know what the song is about, I just the sound of the language that it’s being sung in.

Music is my comfort, exaultation, meditation, adrenaline, medication, etc. I can use it to manipulate myself like nothing else and no chemical fallout :D

There are many different types of music that please me in various ways. However, I don’t like music that has “bumps” in it (some of the discordant jazz, for example), is mind-numbingly boring (much of Philip Glass), or has nasty lyrics (a lot of popular music and much of rap).

Tonight I was happily listening to an 8-string guitar on which were played piano sonatas. Tomorrow I will be just as happily listening to salsa and merengue, or medieval music, or “oldies.”

beat, lyrics, almost everything. If it’s just about sex or lollipop- I’ll hate it!

I love listening to music. Hard to describe specifically what I like about the music I prefer. Of course it varies on my mood, and best of all is that music can change my mood. Mostly I think of the music I listen to as filling the room. I like dance music, not hip hop rap, but more along the lines of eurobeat/runway music. And Latin music, because I like the dance that goes with it, the beat. But, classical fills a room like no other, something about the complexity and the warmth, the use of real instruments, rather then synthesized.

Also, music holds memories. Beatles reminds me of listening to the phonograph with my dad, and my mom loved the Beach Boys and Elvis (Elvis has an incredible warmth to his voice also).

What makes music good to you? Not sure – each piece has its own qualities. Maybe it’s complexity of the piece, or a happy melody, or great vocals, certain genre, originality, or maybe it has to get your blood pumping or relax you. Yep.

Is there a consistent quality in your favorite pieces that makes you like them? Hmmm nope.

GQ.

I value voice, expression, thought provocation, transportation, complexity (even in the most simple music) and emotional response.

My favorite pieces are ones that describe movement- even if it means standing still.

I value what it does to me. Not emotionally, but like, oh. When ever I hear the Olympic theme music, I get chills down my back and goosebumps on my arms. The physical excitement that music gives.

Two things elevate good music to outstanding music for me.

• Takes me out of reality (even for a minute). It’s a similar feeling to waking up from a deep, restful sleep. Everything slows down and you feel enveloped by it.

• Chills and/or goose bumps. Some songs just get me every time. It’s almost an emotional reaction.

This is also non genre specific.

It’s ability to take my mind off of things.

Melody and Originality at about a 45% to 35%, respectively. The other 20% is a mix of syncopation/rhythm, clarity, lyrical brilliance, complexity, timbre, and soulfulness.

I love powerful music that stirs me but if the music is not necessary powerful then I usually like melodies in a minor key.

If there are lyrics then they have to be meaningful to me. I love songs that tell a story or set a scene. A good example of this would be Shoot by Magnum. Also, if here are lyrics then the voice of the singer is very important to me. If I don’t like the voice then it can ruin a whole song for me no matter how well it is written.

Lots of excellent answers; I enjoyed reading them very much! I like how much everyone’s standards vary.

Music is my LIFE. I would just die without it. While I appreciate thoughtful lyrics, it’s the groove that really moves me.

Poetry can only get you so far, but when you mix provoking words with great sound, well man, you’ve got me.

Music is what feelings sound like.

I’m pretty much a classical fan ,but Enya leaves me dreamy-eyed.

@stratman37 You took the words right out of my mouth-metaphorically speaking.

It is the only thing in the world besides actual human contact that can reach into the truth of a person instantly.

Where words end Music begins….....it’s a way of sharing inner beauty that last’s through the ages.

Music is like heaven for me. I like the soothing vocals of Mark Knopfler. Energizing screams of Bon Scott and Ozzy. Music is mesmerizing. The great drums and guitar riffs of rock and roll are my favorite. It’s simply awesome.