Music Genres : Have You A Favourite?

Do you like listening to music? Both Eddie and I do and we enjoy a wide variety. Apparently there are approximately 41 primary music genres that are commonly recognized, with over 1200 recognized sub-genres... so we all have so much to choose from.

I must admit the older I've got my likes tend to a more gentle easy listening style, and you will not find me playing any heavy metal, even though Birmingham in the UK was the birthplace of heavy metal. However, if I was Scandinavian that might not be the case!

I came across an article on 'The Big Think' detailing the popularity of heavy metal music in Scandinavia. Quite an interesting read, and I share a little of the article below ...

Scandinavian heavy metal: Why Earth’s happiest place makes the darkest music

Did you know there are more heavy metal bands in Scandinavian countries than anywhere else. It has been argued the genre’s popularity is uniquely linked to Nordic culture, history, and climate.

At the same time, the preference for metal could be due to affluence and education.

Scandinavian countries consistently rank as the happiest in the world, and for good reason. Their societies are trustful and homogenous, with high GDPs per capita, long life expectancies, and reliable infrastructure. Even their prisons, which emphasize rehabilitation over punishment and allow inmates to cook their own meals and grow their own gardens, seem relatively pleasant.

But there is another, lesser-known statistic concerning Nordic countries, one that initially appears to contradict the first: their fondness of heavy metal music. A 2016 survey by the Czech linguist and mathematician Jakub Marian found that, while the United States only had around 72 metal bands for every million citizens, Sweden had more than 428. Finland came out on top with a grand total of 630. Iceland and Norway, which had 341 and 299 per million citizens, respectively, still ranked well above the 69 bands of the United Kingdom, heavy metal’s historic birthplace.

Maybe Scandinavians are attracted to heavy metal music because its explosive sounds and violent imagery speak to their Viking heritage.

Other well-known explanations point to Scandinavia’s history of paganism, another prominent element of Nordic metal and its performance. The genre’s dark character might relate to the region’s unforgiving climate and long nights (the northernmost areas do not see any sunlight from November to January).

You can read more at 'The Big Think' here

h/t Marks Daily Apple here

Do you have a favourite music genre or artist(s) you like listening to? Do please share your thoughts in the comments.

image from here

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All the best Jan