Originally Posted by Jinn

It's the difference between art and entertainment.

Good *art* should make you consider its meaning, expand your perception of the world, or even leave you thinking days after your initial exposure.

Good *entertainment* should make you want to move, or listen, or laugh, or be playful, joke, drink, party, or even at it's most banal, activate your basic instincts so that you can shut off the more cerebral portions of your brain and relax.

When I'm working out, I'm not looking for any of the goals of art. I'm looking for entertainment.

When I'm driving in my car, my cerebral activity is focused on driving safely, and I want something that can entertainment in the background, not challenge my intellect.

When I'm studying, I want my activity to be focused on the material at hand, not ancillary noise. I want background entertainment.

When I'm having sex, when I'm partying, when I'm.. etc., etc. You get it.

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If I wanted art, I'd sit down and listen to the music and its words for their deeper meaning. But I'm simply not interested in finding art that way. I more prefer traditional art.

For all other things, I prefer my music to entertain.

And songs about gang activity, dancing, beats, drugs and sex do that job JUST fine.

My favorite songs ALL come from the "NOW" edition of CDs.

1. Now That's What I Call Music! (released October 27, 1998)
2. Now That's What I Call Music! 2 (July 27, 1999)
3. Now That's What I Call Music! 3 (December 7, 1999)
4. Now That's What I Call Music! 4 (July 18, 2000)
5. Now That's What I Call Music! 5 (November 14, 2000)
6. Now That's What I Call Music! 6 (April 3, 2001)
7. Now That's What I Call Music! 7 (July 31, 2001)
8. Now That's What I Call Music! 8 (November 20, 2001)
9. Now That's What I Call Music! 9 (March 19, 2002)
10. Now That's What I Call Music! 10 (July 23, 2002)
11. Now That's What I Call Music! 11 (November 19, 2002)
12. Now That's What I Call Music! 12 (March 25, 2003)
13. Now That's What I Call Music! 13 (July 22, 2003)
14. Now That's What I Call Music! 14 (November 4, 2003)
15. Now That's What I Call Music! 15 (March 23, 2004)
16. Now That's What I Call Music! 16 (July 27, 2004)
17. Now That's What I Call Music! 17 (November 2, 2004)
18. Now That's What I Call Music! 18 (March 15, 2005)
19. Now That's What I Call Music! 19 (July 19, 2005)
20. Now That's What I Call Music! 20 (November 1, 2005)
21. Now That's What I Call Music! 21 (April 4, 2006)
22. Now That's What I Call Music! 22 (July 11, 2006)
23. Now That's What I Call Music! 23 (November 7, 2006)
24. Now That's What I Call Music! 24 (March 27, 2007)
25. Now That's What I Call Music! 25 (July 17, 2007)
26. Now That's What I Call Music! 26 (November 13, 2007)
27. Now That's What I Call Music! 27 (March 11, 2008)
28. Now That's What I Call Music! 28 (June 3, 2008)
29. Now That's What I Call Music! 29 (November 11, 2008)
30. Now That's What I Call Music! 30 (March 24, 2009)
31. Now That's What I Call Music! 31 (June 30, 2009)

These are the only songs on my iPod.

And if that scares you, maybe it should. I'm the target demographic and there's a lot more like me, based on the success of "entertainment" music.

"In 1984, Huxley believed people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us."

I think Huxley had it. We're driving more and more towards an entertainment culture, rather than an intellectual culture.

But damned if I don't like hearing "do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips" blasted through my headphones.

Do with that what you will.