Why do I always get this response?

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It seems that everytime I ask someone what kind of music they like, I always get a response, "Oh, I like a little bit of everything." I can understand if somebody enjoys listening to different genres of music, but people say this quite often and I wonder why. When they ask me, I usually list bands or musicians I like.

Last edited by BlueElephantKing on 28 Nov 2012, 8:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

It's my experience that most people, when pushed for details, really only like one or two fairly narrow genres of music.

Strange as it seems, not everyone is really into music. To them, music is nothing more than background filler not to be taken seriously. Most of these people don't know the difference between Paul McCartney and a can of paint. I've learned over the years not to ask people what kind of music they like because they'll say "a little bit of everything" to seem like they're still in the loop.

This is a tragedy, how can someone not be into music? I can't go a single day without listening to some music, it's apart of my routine. Seriously, I can discuss music for hours!

I ran across someone years ago who never liked to listen to the same music twice.

I still don't understand that.

I can give you one example. I once dated someone who had nightmares almost every single night. To prevent them, she avoided anything that elicited strong emotions. One of those things was music.

I tend to like certain specific songs which I think are transcendent.

And then I find new songs, and they're almost like my new special interests.

I'm one of those weird ones who doesn't listen to music much. Every once in a while a hear a specific song that I enjoy, but for the most I just don't care. I'm just not that responsive to it I guess. That "little bit of everything" is a common lie that I tell to anyone who asks, so they don't think I'm weird.

One thing too is, they may just be saying it to not offend anyone else's tastes in music. IE, if I say to someone I like country music, they might say "Country is music for rednecks and it sucks." So to some people, while genuine apathy to music could be part of that answer, it's probably more that they're afraid of getting a negative response from their music tastes from others. So "I like a little bit of everything" is one of the most neutral answers you can give.

There probably is 1-2% too that genuinely does like almost everything, I'd like to think I have pretty broad musical tastes, but most of these people, if not all of them, would explain their musical tastes out in detail as then music would be a huge part of their life.

Despite being a musician, I go through weird music listening phases. Sometimes I'll go a year straight listening to music for hours a day followed by a year where I genuinely don't listen to any music at all...none, no iPod, no radio if it can be helped, nothing outside of what I create practicing guitar and piano. I think other people can relate but if I'm forced to listen to music in a genre or by a band that I don't like (probably 98% of the music out there; I'm a picky listener), it almost feels as though I'm being subjected to some sort of physical torment. It sucks. I agree though, I think when someone is asked what genre they're into, they neglect to say anything too specific for fear of immediately distancing themselves from the questioner.

If I gave you a list of artists/bands I like it would go on and on. On top of that I like a lot of artists and bands that the general population doesn't know about. To not be annoying, save time, and stray away from making it seem like I base my personality on the music I listen to, I'll just say "I like a little bit of everything", or I will name a couple genres I am really fond of at the moment.

I know for a fact that I like ALOT of everything, but I always tell people what I like most, when they ask, (which isn't too often..)
mostly I love music from video games...

Lots of people just like chart music, they don't really have a passion or intense interest in it, and therefore don't have an answer when you ask that question. It's like tv for them, just a casual filler of time in their day, or background noise. Probably because they don't really explore music and try to see connections.

My answer usually is that I like pretty much anything (because frankly, I'll listen to just about anything; I think one can find something good in just about any genre), but then name off my favorites along with it.

That's not the way to live your life!

"A little bit of everything" is always my response. I always hated that question! I have social anxiety, and I feel like they will judge me on the music I like. They always do. And they'll ask me my favorite bands, and I won't know any. I don't remember bands, I remember tunes and notes. People will just laugh at my clueless response. The truth is, I'm not that into music. I just dont need it to live, like some people- for me it's visual art, I need that to live. Never had an mp3 player or anything. People dont get it. In fact I remember totally leaving a conversation with a cute guy just because he asked me what I listen to.