Is metal by far the most misunderstood genre?

[senecadawg2]

Yes, I know there are many sub-genres, but it seems that they are all misunderstood. I think a lot of it has to do with the harsh vocals, and the connections with satanism, but also simple close-mindedness.

Anyhow, the title pretty much sums up my question. I think an argument could possibly be made for Rap/Hip-Hop, but I don't enjoy that nearly enough to elaborate. I personally think that metal does take the prize.

[WindMaster]

I think it is by far the most misunderstood genre. I was watching Orphaned Land live, and my mom commented on horrible Kobi's growls were. She asked me how I could stand it, and I told her it was awesome, and plus the clean vocals, really adds to the music. Both my parents can't stand growls. I can totally see how someone would hate it.

Here's another take: My cousins think that metal consists of nothing but noise and screams, and some of it does, but obviously everyone here knows that's not true. This is another way metal is misunderstood.

[Pols Voice]

How is not liking growls misunderstanding metal? It's just personal taste. I don't like growls, by the way.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I think electronic is up there in a way. Lots of people I know think it's entirely party music and movie music.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

How is not liking growls misunderstanding metal? It's just personal taste. I don't like growls, by the way.

Asking

why Akerfeldt insisted on growling, when his clean vocals sounded so nice.

is very largely misunderstanding metal.

[Dark Castle]

Yeah, my dad doesn't like growls, but he appreciates the talent of the musicians and understands that the growls fit, and my mom even likes some Black Metal like Wolves In The Throne Room, and Enslaved.
It really annoys me when people just call metal "screaming and noise" because it shows how close minded they are to even assume most even scream, when a lot do growling.

[WindMaster]

What some non-metal listeners don't get is that growls actually add something to the music. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're a change in dynamic, one which makes for some interesting music.

EDIT:

It really annoys me when people just call metal "screaming and noise" because it shows how close minded they are to even assume most even scream, when a lot do growling.

And some people don't even know the difference between growls and screams... 

[Zantera]

My mom hates growling for example, my dad doesn't really like it, but doesn't really hate it either. Over the last years I've played bands like Opeth, BTBAM, Periphery and Agalloch in the car, so he has sorta gotten a bit used to more harsh vocals, still he sometimes asks me what the purpose of growl is. I wouldn't say that I have any preferences when it comes to harsh/clean vocals (whatever fits really), but I do think the growl serves a purpose during heavier sections. The music gets heavier, and it's only logical that the singing gets heavier as well, in that way the cleaner parts gets more "clean" and you get more interesting variety. I think that the extreme heaviness of BTBAM for example would sound pretty lame if Tommy had been doing all clean vocals over it, the harsh vocals add to the heaviness.

And yes, there are people who say stupid things like "this isn't real singing" and "whats the point with this music?" but honestly I don't care what others think about what I like, screw them. 

[senecadawg2]

A very common response is, "this isn't even music'. This really frustrates me.

WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TO SAY WHAT IS AND ISN'T MUSIC!!!! 

[theseoafs]

How is not liking growls misunderstanding metal? It's just personal taste. I don't like growls, by the way.

Asking

why Akerfeldt insisted on growling, when his clean vocals sounded so nice.

is very largely misunderstanding metal.

Not really. Although Opeth is instrumentally a great band, I can't listen to much of their catalog because the vocals are so silly. I'd like to know why Akerfeldt insists on growling when his clean vocals are so nice.

[Zantera]

A very common response is, "this isn't even music'. This really frustrates me.

WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TO SAY WHAT IS AND ISN'T MUSIC!!!! 

I think that comment is lame, but it also comes from different people. If I listen to Metal, someone into softer music might say "that's noise, how can you listen to it?", meanwhile if I listen to Electronica, someone into Metal might ask me the same. So I don't think that part just applies to metal, but again.. people who try to force their opinions onto you are lame, especially the whole "this is what I think, this is how it works". (like it's something objective)

[Ħ]

Some people can know perfectly well what it is and dislike it. For the most part, I don't really like metal as a genre but more of another artistic tool that can be used in an artist's palette. But it is very misunderstood by some people who dismiss it as Satanic, screaming stuff.

[Priest of Syrinx]

Misunderstood, how?

Jazz, pfft... they just make it up as they go along.  I could do that! / Homer Simpson

[Heretic]

My parents have gotten used to the music with screams, and my dad even enjoys some of it, but for the most part, the people I know who hear me listening to music with harsh vocals ask what the point of that kind of music and some even go on to say how terrible all music with screams is and whatnot. It's so annoying but it's hard to change the opinions of people who only listen to radio music.

But yes, I definitely think metal is very misunderstood.

[Ben_Jamin]

I'd say Rap/Hip-Hop takes the cake. Metal is well known, lots of people know Metallica, Megadeth and AC/DC. Most just dismiss Rap as unmusical, yet its poetry and better overall lyrics.

[Dr. DTVT]

Like most subjects, people tend to associate the extreme aspects when evaluating them.  There are a lot of people who think of jihad extremists when you mention Islam, overbearing Ned Flanders types for Christianity, people in while lab coats with bubbling liquids in Erlenmeyer flasks when they think of chemists, black metal when they think of metal, and hard-core gangsta rap when they think of hip-hop or even modern R&B.  It's human nature because it's easy to think of something you aren't passionate about in simplistic terms.  We all do it, probably with different subjects, so it doesn't particularly bother me when metal is typecast like that.  I actually like it, because then I get to shatter that perception because unless I'm wearing a band T-shirt, I don't dress the part, and I certainly don't look the part with my lack of tattoos, glasses, and conservative haircut.  If they know what I do it just makes for a starker contrast.

[Ben_Jamin]

Like most subjects, people tend to associate the extreme aspects when evaluating them.  There are a lot of people who think of jihad extremists when you mention Islam, overbearing Ned Flanders types for Christianity, people in while lab coats with bubbling liquids in Erlenmeyer flasks when they think of chemists, black metal when they think of metal, and hard-core gangsta rap when they think of hip-hop or even modern R&B.  It's human nature because it's easy to think of something you aren't passionate about in simplistic terms.  We all do it, probably with different subjects, so it doesn't particularly bother me when metal is typecast like that.  I actually like it, because then I get to shatter that perception because unless I'm wearing a band T-shirt, I don't dress the part, and I certainly don't look the part with my lack of tattoos, glasses, and conservative haircut.  If they know what I do it just makes for a starker contrast.

Same here, I love it when I surprise them with a song out of left field, then they reply with "what?! You like them?" Then I say "why wouldn't I" gets them irritated.

[Mosh]

I think electronic is up there in a way. Lots of people I know think it's entirely party music and movie music.

This. Or Rap/Hip Hop.

[MasterShakezula]

Western classical music can sometimes end up being misrepresented in the sense that a (relatively) small

Some 400 odd years worth of music, clumped into one genre tag, if you're talking Baroque era to present.  Even more, if you count the Renaissance.  Throw in the Medieval period, as well, and you're practically shoehorning in the musical history of post-Rome Western Europe into a single genre, there.  My school's orchestra pretty much only plays stuff from the Classical era (which is not synonymous with classical music; it's simply one era of music from the later 1700s to the mid 1800s) and Romantic era ( most of the 1800s to circa WWI).  Anything from before the 1700 or after 1900 is ignored, for the most part, because the orchestra is mainly set up for playing those two main eras, because that's how most orchestras are because most prospective viewers come to see them play that music, probably because a lot of peoples' idea of classical music (from my experience with people; I dunno about yours) is 'old music from the 1800s played on a bunch of string instruments'.  I am a bit upset that so much music from other periods ends up going unnoticed. 

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy Classical and Romantic era music and often find myself listening to popular classical radio, which often emphasizes those two eras with some Baroque and a bit of modern music, but they sometimes end up overshadowing the rest of history when people think of classical music.  There's plenty of great modern classical, and even really ancient music can be related to on some level. 

(I'm no classical snob, BTW.  I'm just scratching the surface, myself, so I've been guilty of what I ranted about above, myself.    )

Edit: MY BAD, I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS THREAD WAS JUST ABOUT METAL.  STILL, I STAND BEHIND WHAT I SAID.

[orcus116]

A very common response is, "this isn't even music'. This really frustrates me.

WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TO SAY WHAT IS AND ISN'T MUSIC!!!! 

You get that within subgenres of metal too. There's a lot of infighting going on that will never end.

[antigoon]

Western classical music can sometimes end up being misrepresented in the sense that a (relatively) small

Some 400 odd years worth of music, clumped into one genre tag, if you're talking Baroque era to present.  Even more, if you count the Renaissance.  Throw in the Medieval period, as well, and you're practically shoehorning in the musical history of post-Rome Western Europe into a single genre, there.  My school's orchestra pretty much only plays stuff from the Classical era (which is not synonymous with classical music; it's simply one era of music from the later 1700s to the mid 1800s) and Romantic era ( most of the 1800s to circa WWI).  Anything from before the 1700 or after 1900 is ignored, for the most part, because the orchestra is mainly set up for playing those two main eras, because that's how most orchestras are because most prospective viewers come to see them play that music, probably because a lot of peoples' idea of classical music (from my experience with people; I dunno about yours) is 'old music from the 1800s played on a bunch of string instruments'.  I am a bit upset that so much music from other periods ends up going unnoticed. 

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy Classical and Romantic era music and often find myself listening to popular classical radio, which often emphasizes those two eras with some Baroque and a bit of modern music, but they sometimes end up overshadowing the rest of history when people think of classical music.  There's plenty of great modern classical, and even really ancient music can be related to on some level. 

(I'm no classical snob, BTW.  I'm just scratching the surface, myself, so I've been guilty of what I ranted about above, myself.    )

Edit: MY BAD, I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS THREAD WAS JUST ABOUT METAL.  STILL, I STAND BEHIND WHAT I SAID.

Hey Cup, welcome back to the forums! I don't know if you're aware but you are currently running a roulette! You should stop by your thread

[MasterShakezula]

Western classical music can sometimes end up being misrepresented in the sense that a (relatively) small

Some 400 odd years worth of music, clumped into one genre tag, if you're talking Baroque era to present.  Even more, if you count the Renaissance.  Throw in the Medieval period, as well, and you're practically shoehorning in the musical history of post-Rome Western Europe into a single genre, there.  My school's orchestra pretty much only plays stuff from the Classical era (which is not synonymous with classical music; it's simply one era of music from the later 1700s to the mid 1800s) and Romantic era ( most of the 1800s to circa WWI).  Anything from before the 1700 or after 1900 is ignored, for the most part, because the orchestra is mainly set up for playing those two main eras, because that's how most orchestras are because most prospective viewers come to see them play that music, probably because a lot of peoples' idea of classical music (from my experience with people; I dunno about yours) is 'old music from the 1800s played on a bunch of string instruments'.  I am a bit upset that so much music from other periods ends up going unnoticed. 

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy Classical and Romantic era music and often find myself listening to popular classical radio, which often emphasizes those two eras with some Baroque and a bit of modern music, but they sometimes end up overshadowing the rest of history when people think of classical music.  There's plenty of great modern classical, and even really ancient music can be related to on some level. 

(I'm no classical snob, BTW.  I'm just scratching the surface, myself, so I've been guilty of what I ranted about above, myself.    )

Edit: MY BAD, I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS THREAD WAS JUST ABOUT METAL.  STILL, I STAND BEHIND WHAT I SAID.

Hey Cup, welcome back to the forums! I don't know if you're aware but you are currently running a roulette! You should stop by your thread

I'm writing up results right now, actually.  They should be posted in another week or so.  

[Accelerando]

I'd say Rap/Hip-Hop takes the cake. Metal is well known, lots of people know Metallica, Megadeth and AC/DC. Most just dismiss Rap as unmusical, yet its poetry and better overall lyrics.

This. Nothing bothers me more when it comes to music when people just dismiss hip-hop/rap just because of.

[Ravenheart]

Many genres seems misunderstood. Rap/Hip-Hop and electronica get dismissed with comments like "This isn't music!!!!" The same rhetoric gets tossed around with metal, punk, alternative, goth, ska, industrial, and so on.

[kirbywelch92]

No, not really at all if you ask me. What's not to get? I would argue Jazz.

[PuffyPat]

Like most subjects, people tend to associate the extreme aspects when evaluating them.  There are a lot of people who think of jihad extremists when you mention Islam, overbearing Ned Flanders types for Christianity, people in while lab coats with bubbling liquids in Erlenmeyer flasks when they think of chemists, black metal when they think of metal, and hard-core gangsta rap when they think of hip-hop or even modern R&B.  It's human nature because it's easy to think of something you aren't passionate about in simplistic terms.  We all do it, probably with different subjects, so it doesn't particularly bother me when metal is typecast like that.  I actually like it, because then I get to shatter that perception because unless I'm wearing a band T-shirt, I don't dress the part, and I certainly don't look the part with my lack of tattoos, glasses, and conservative haircut.  If they know what I do it just makes for a starker contrast.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[kári]

For the case of metal I think it is simply the case that the music sounds angry. Most people don't like that. I don't like metal BTW.

[Gadough]

My brother asked why Akerfeldt insisted on growling, when his clean vocals sounded so nice.

For fuck's sake

Metal vocalists use harsh vocals because it doubles the percussive nature of the music being played.

Even if you hate metal vocals, this isn't that hard to understand.

[Elite]

I don't think any genre can be 'the most misunderstood'. It's just that when people don't really know something or don't feel passionate about it or whatever, they are more inclined to make a quick, easy and therefore more likely false assumption. A good friend of mine once asked me why metal would all be generalised. I replied to him "well, because people don't know it. You do the same with electronic music."

[King Postwhore]

I'm on the other boat when it comes to rap.  It is not music.  But it is poetry with a back beat.  It's just not my cup of tea.

I think it's an age thing when it comes to growls.  I'm no fan when it's used all the time but when it is used as an effect or used to emote an emotion like Opeth does, then I love it.  But growls all the time it too much.

[theseoafs]

I'm on the other boat when it comes to rap.  It is not music.  But it is poetry with a back beat.

You are wrong.

[KevShmev]

Rap is 3/4 crap.

[theseoafs]

Your opinions on hip-hop aside, it is incorrect to say that it's not music.

[Gadough]

Rap is definitely music. It has beats, flow, tempo changes, lyrics, verses, choruses, instrumentation....it's music.

[senecadawg2]

I'm not going to dismiss rap as 'not music' (although I personally don't like it). However, I do honestly believe that there are a lot of artists who produce garbage and give rap a bad name. As DTVT said, the associations are most often with the most extreme examples within each genre (be it Bring Me the Horizon, or the rap equivalent).

As for jazz...
I don't often hear people dismissing jazz as easy, simple, or something 'anyone can do'. Perhaps I have just been lucky to avoid this kind of ignorance, but I don't think jazz is nearly as misunderstood as metal and/or rap.