Musical Elitism and Frisson

By Daniel Stankus on September 12, 2014

Everyone believes that their music taste is better than everyone else’s, that’s why you like what you like. I realize there are those who do not care for music at all, but for those who do and don’t care, I will attempt to elucidate why people, including myself, become musical “elitists.”

There is the concept known as “frisson,” or goose bumps, where something strikes the right chord or strums the proper heartstring to make you really feel, make you shake, chill, sweat, smile and even cry (See: …Tears and Titus). However, not everyone is capable of eliciting these chills from music and some get it more frequently than others. Myself being susceptible to the feeling, I often have a very strong opinion on the music being played, as the chills are quite pleasurable and could even be compared to a miniature orgasm.

Frisson can be induced in a variety of ways. While house and clubbing music may do it for some, these genres are not typically associated with the musically inclined listener. Classical compositions, guitar or piano oriented groups and rap are more likely to do such because they contain more harmonies, breakdowns, lyrical prowess, dynamic changes, emotion-based vocals and even human mistakes in recording. For example, the moment a back-up singer joins the lead vocalist, lyrics that resonate with the listener, a drastic pitch change, a change in key, a well-timed note, a fantastic guitar solo or the moment a chorus begins can all be moments that cause one to receive the chills.

While this does not equate to elitism and is not the only reason why one may be considered snobby about their taste, the ability to feel this way is an active part of why one may have a stronger opinion on the sounds in their environment.

The ideology behind certain music may also be a reason why some have a sense of elitism. The straightedge movement that became associated with some punk bands caused many to denounce music that did not advocate this belief system. Also, some believe that other genres lack the soul or relatability that their own taste has, causing a sense of disdain for music that’s missing a reason to stand behind it. I myself am this way.

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I tend to only listen to guitar-based bands, because as a musician who plays guitar, bass and drums, I like to learn from those I admire. Lyrics are a big part of my allegiance as well. I relate more to rock n’ roll bands and punk groups as opposed to rap because I have lived a lifestyle much more similar to the bands I enjoy. I have come off as “douchey” before when I am upset by a poor music choice because while I can respect musical ability, I prefer the story and the message behind it, one that I know more intimately.

Despite many telling me I should be more “open-minded,” I find that my taste is still quite large even though I don’t include non-guitar based music. I could talk endlessly about rock n’ roll, blues, punk, garage rock, rockabilly, Americana, folk-punk, surf, psychobilly, classic rock, post-punk, hardcore, metal, etc., often going into great detail about each band I like. I could even tell you which parts of which songs give me frisson. Elitism is a product of falling in love with the world of the band, and it’s a fragile world. So I wouldn’t use the word “elitism,” I like “devotion” much better.

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