INTPs and Music Taste

The Doctor · May 29, 2015

Do you think that certain personality types are more likely to be interested in different types of music? What kind of music do you listen to, and do you think that being an INTP plays a part in that preference?

I personally like Rush a lot; instrumentally, the music is complex and unique and conveys a lot. The lyrics are steeped in meaning and metaphor, and a lot of them tell stories, many of which take place in a science fiction or fantasy setting. I'm also convinced that Neil Peart, who writes the lyrics, is an INTP (and I don't seem to be alone in that belief).
I've always thought these preferences were in line with INTP traits. Does anyone else agree? I'm sure there's a large variety of music that INTPs listen to, but perhaps there's a trend.

Rachel Wood · May 29, 2015

The Dark Lord said:
Do you think that certain personality types are more likely to be interested in different types of music? What kind of music do you listen to, and do you think that being an INTP plays a part in that preference?

I personally like Rush a lot; instrumentally, the music is complex and unique and conveys a lot. The lyrics are steeped in meaning and metaphor, and a lot of them tell stories, many of which take place in a science fiction or fantasy setting. I'm also convinced that Neil Peart, who writes the lyrics, is an INTP (and I don't seem to be alone in that belief).
I've always thought these preferences were in line with INTP traits. Does anyone else agree? I'm sure there's a large variety of music that INTPs listen to, but perhaps there's a trend.

I've come to learn that I can't guess what "kind" of music I'll like or dislike. It all comes down to the individual artist for me. I enjoy everything from Paloma Faith to Sigur Ros (both brilliant, in my opinion).

My favourite songwriters are Regina Spektor, Kate Bush and Bob Dylan though. I'm not sure how that relates to INTP-ness.

moretap · May 29, 2015

The Dark Lord said:
I'm also convinced that Neil Peart, who writes the lyrics, is an INTP

That makes sense...:wink:

forgotten reason · May 29, 2015

I don't know, my music taste is pretty varied, genre doesn't seem to encapsulate it at all, which is why I tend to not pay attention to it very much. But there is an underlying theme to all of it I suppose... but definitely in a way they are not all the same at all. I would say that I have over time found a very obective means (for myself) to tell what I like and what I dislike. I don't know if I can communicate it though.

The Doctor · May 29, 2015

jeremusic2 said:
I don't know if I can communicate it though.

I know that feeling. Words are so limiting, I feel like there aren't enough of them to accurately communicate one's thoughts.

Carlton · May 30, 2015

EDM (I'm not sure which genres I enjoy the most, but I don't like headache-inducing wubwubwubs and I prefer there to be some vocals.)
Classical
Rock & Southern Rock

I'll listen to whichever of those depending on my mood.

forgotten reason · May 30, 2015

The Dark Lord said:
I know that feeling. Words are so limiting, I feel like there aren't enough of them to accurately communicate one's thoughts.

Yes, be it words or anything. But words are the most accessible form of communication to humans, so I try my best. Which isn't good enough.

N0rB3tz · May 30, 2015

I love rap, which I don't see much at INTPs actually. However it has strong and intelligent lyrics and are from a culture that have been socially supressed which I can relate to with my poor social skills and difference I tend to face with other persons. It also are pretty selfthinking and also I find much of it itroverted. So it's kindof appealing and I can relate. However I hate dramatic music with much feelings in it and so on. Can't stand it at all.

SamTheMediocre · May 30, 2015

I have really eclectic tastes. I like rock, reggae, electronica, jazz, and a little bit of pop and country. I like music theory and noticing the different and similar tones in different genres. That said, when a song has trashy, throw away lyrics, it makes me quite irritable. You had 5 minutes to tell a story or express something through an incredible medium, so you decided to make song with a painfully simple bass line and one guy saying the word versace until the listener snaps. Some rap has incredible background tracks and phenomenal lyrics, others are worth slamming someone's hand under a car compactor for having written them. That goes for any genre with lyrics. I have played piano for 12 years, so I can be a little picky about sloppy composing, but I'll give just about anything a shot.

ZaneCross · May 30, 2015

I will enjoy anything that doesn't bore me and has a good sound. This includes everything from various forms of EDM like dubstep or house, death metal, the Beetles, classical music, ect.

After all, the entire point of music is to be enjoyable, to make you think, or at least to stimulate some form of emotional response. Which is why, to me, the only music that is completely terrible is either something that sounds horrible, or that is boring and doesn't elicit any kind of response.

joshman108 · May 30, 2015

EDM, mostly in the form of :search query:*song name* remix.That sort of thing is about what I listen to.

Miss Anne Thrope · May 30, 2015

It is easier to list what I refuse to listen to: mainstream music of any genre, especially any country. Okay, I like Johnny Cash and Pasty Cline but that is it.
My preferred genre depends on my mood that day but typically classical is always at the top.

Ryonne · May 30, 2015

I like any music with a certain degree of complexity, I've found. I like classical music, and have listened quite a bit recently to Tchaikovsky, Schubert, and Shostakovich. I also really love progressive rock, Rush being one of the bands I listen to, but also King Crimson, ELP, Jethro Tull, and Pink Floyd. I also listen to a bit of electronic music, mainly Lapfox Trax (RQ's "Knight" album is criminally unknown in my opinion). Dissonant music also sometimes catches my fancy, like Erik Satie. After that, I eclectically pull artists from all genres, really.

Also, I have to disagree with you on Neil Peart. I think his songs would indicate he's more of an INTJ.

The Doctor · May 30, 2015

It looks like everyone so far has either mentioned wanting meaningful lyrics or has mentioned a genre which is usually very mentally stimulating (like classical music).

I think the problem with mainstream music is that this generation has grown up listening to increasingly dumbed-down music. The music industry wants money. Some music comes out that becomes popular, and the music industry starts pumping out similar music with as little effort as possible, resulting in dumbed down music. People become accustomed to more dumbed down music and because the industry wants to make music that will be popular, they're now imitating imitations, and it becomes increasingly dumbed down until people finally get bored with it and reset the cycle. That hasn't hapened yet. I think most INTPs don't like pop music because of this- they want something more cerebral. Even rap can have very cerebral lyrics in the absence of complex instrumental parts.
I also don't mean to offend anyone who likes pop music, because there's nothing wrong with that. People look for different things in music; I'm just trying to demonstrate why it might not appeal to certain people.

Miss Anne Thrope · May 30, 2015

The Dark Lord said:
It looks like everyone so far has either mentioned wanting meaningful lyrics or has mentioned a genre which is usually very mentally stimulating (like classical music).

I think the problem with mainstream music is that this generation has grown up listening to increasingly dumbed-down music. The music industry wants money. Some music comes out that becomes popular, and the music industry starts pumping out similar music with as little effort as possible, resulting in dumbed down music. People become accustomed to more dumbed down music and because the industry wants to make music that will be popular, they're now imitating imitations, and it becomes increasingly dumbed down until people finally get bored with it and reset the cycle. That hasn't hapened yet. I think most INTPs don't like pop music because of this- they want something more cerebral. Even rap can have very cerebral lyrics in the absence of complex instrumental parts.
I also don't mean to offend anyone who likes pop music, because there's nothing wrong with that. People look for different things in music; I'm just trying to demonstrate why it might not appeal to certain people.

Mainstream music, pop in particular, is only about creating jingles that get stuck in your head. They don't care if it makes sense or has any meaning as long as you can't stop singing it.

The Doctor · May 30, 2015

Ryonne said:
Also, I have to disagree with you on Neil Peart. I think his songs would indicate he's more of an INTJ.

Really? May I ask why you think so? I think he seems to have very prominent Ti, and many of his songs contain the kind of deep, reflective emotion that INTPs harbor (The Fountain of Lamneth is an excellent example- also 2112). INTJs tend to dismiss emotion or see it as less important, from my knowledge. Take Hemispheres: the entire song is built around the theme of loguc versus emotion, and in the end the conflict is resolved by balancing the two and making them of equal importance. That sounds very INTP to me.

Ryonne · May 30, 2015

The Dark Lord said:
Really? May I ask why you think so? I think he seems to have very prominent Ti, and many of his songs contain the kind of deep, reflective emotion that INTPs harbor (The Fountain of Lamneth is an excellent example- also 2112). INTJs tend to dismiss emotion or see it as less important, from my knowledge. Take Hemispheres: the entire song is built around the theme of loguc versus emotion, and in the end the conflict is resolved by balancing the two and making them of equal importance. That sounds very INTP to me.

INTJ's are very capable of emotion, really, but they're more apt to hold convictions, as their tertiary function is Fi. Ni also gives one a sense of mysticism, which drives most of the fantasy-based themes of their songs. I think 2112 is very Ni-Fi driven, really, as is the rest of Peart's objectivist stint. Ayn Rand went the same way with her work, and she's generally considered the purest INTJ to ever INTJ. This is coming from someone who hasn't really studied Rush's entire work, so a diehard fan might have a better interpretation, but a lot of people seem to type Peart as an INTJ.

The Doctor · May 30, 2015

Ryonne said:
INTJ's are very capable of emotion, really, but they're more apt to hold convictions, as their tertiary function is Fi. Ni also gives one a sense of mysticism, which drives most of the fantasy-based themes of their songs. I think 2112 is very Ni-Fi driven, really, as is the rest of Peart's objectivist stint. Ayn Rand went the same way with her work, and she's generally considered the purest INTJ to ever INTJ. This is coming from someone who hasn't really studied Rush's entire work, so a diehard fan might have a better interpretation, but a lot of people seem to type Peart as an INTJ.

People seem to type him as an INTP just as often as an INTJ. What strikes me about his lyrics is that I resonate with them so well that, often times, the first time I hear a Rush song, I'll be left feeling like it was something that I could have written myself. It's uncanny. Perhaps that isn't solid proof that he's an INTP as opposed to an INTJ, but it's enough to convince me that he could be an INTP.

I've always thought that Ayn Rand's influence on his lyrics could have affected the way they come across. As you said, she's a very solid INTJ. If Neil Peart is not an INTJ, then the strong influence of Ayn Rand could certainly make his lyrics seem more INTJ. 2112 itself is based on one of Ayn Rand's stories.

Littleleicesterfox · May 30, 2015

I really like a lot of different music, I have to say my favourite music is probably Queen though and I have my suspicions that my favourite writer in the band, John Deacon, is INTP

I love songs of theirs such as 'You and I'. I also have a wide classical range and I really enjoy things like Tuba Mirum from Mozart's Requiem, Uranus from the Planets by Holst and the allegro from Summer in Vivaldi's four seasons. I really enjoy music that builds up and builds up. I also love things like Neil Hannon, the Wonder Stuff, James, Athlete, Fat Boy Slim, The Beatles and I have the odd song from people like Gene Pitney, Glenn Campbell and a bit of things like Gnarls Barkley and stuff. It's a very eclectic collection I have been told. I also love electronica like Tubular Bells and Jean-Michael Jarre and Kraftwerk.

Doktorin Zylinder · Jun 1, 2015

I have a very eclectic taste in music. It started with music from the sixties and seventies because that's what my mother used to listen to. I branched to music form the thirties, forties, and fifties, with swing and jazz, good jazz, mind you and stuff from Dennis Day and the like. After that, is was some pop, alternative, R&B, and classical. I'm not a fan of country. My family is also very Scottish, so I also listen to Celtic music and I play the penny whistle and I'd like to learn the bagpipes if I ever have the time because it's important to me. I have several family members who play them. When I was living in Europe, I managed to collect a lot of weird German music along with excessive amounts of techno, house, trance, nightcore, et cetera. When I was living in Japan for a year, I became interested in J-Pop and K-pop along with various themes on Zen meditation music. I learned to play the shakuhachi, as well. If you can name the genre, I probably have at least one album of it. Classical is my go to, though. I have over two terabytes of classical music on my computer and Europe is the best place to get it because the philharmonics there usually have relatively inexpensive CDs at their performances and offices. One of my favorite groups is Vitamin String Quartet. They rewrite popular songs for string quartet and have over a hundred if not two hundred albums.

INTPs and Music Taste

The Doctor

Rachel Wood

moretap

forgotten reason

The Doctor

Carlton

forgotten reason

N0rB3tz

SamTheMediocre

ZaneCross

joshman108

Miss Anne Thrope

Ryonne

The Doctor

Miss Anne Thrope

The Doctor

Ryonne

The Doctor

Littleleicesterfox

Doktorin Zylinder

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