# When I name a genre of music, who do you think of? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 28, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531 "2006-09-28T21:05:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/1 "2006-09-28T21:05:05Z")
I usually have a band or artist that defines a genre of music for me. Whenever someone talks about punk rock music the band that I always think of first is the Sex Pistols. Who do you think of? Here are the genres (you can add to the list if you feel like it): Classical Music- Mozart Jazz- B.B. King (I don’t even think he’s a jazz artist, but that is who I think of) Rock- Beatles Punk Rock- Sex Pistols Heavy Metal- Slayer Pop- Britney Spears Country Music- Johnny Cash R&B- Destiny’s Child Rap/Hip-hop- The Notorious B.I.G. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/2 "2006-09-28T21:15:39Z")
[QUOTE=Lakai] Jazz- B.B. King (I don’t even think he’s a jazz artist, but that is who I think of) [/quote] Nobody in particular, but a whole soundworld and approach to music is evoked by the very word. > [@](#): > > Rock- Beatles I’ve no idea whether I even have a response to ‘rock’ because it’s such a wide term. But the Beatles certainly would not be the answer. > [@](#): > > Punk Rock- Sex Pistols Agreed > [@](#): > > Heavy Metal- Slayer Probably Metallica > [@](#): > > Pop- Britney Spears Madonna and Michael Jackson. It’s about the maximum commercialisation of the music. > [@](#): > > Country Music- Johnny Cash Yep. > [@](#): > > R&B- Destiny’s Child Pure pop, IMO. No idea, because it’s such a vague genre, which also embodies a lot which makes me turn the radio off. > [@](#): > > Rap/Hip-hop- The Notorious B.I.G. If we’re talking contemporary music, probably Kanye West. If we’re talking historically, then NWA. Note that I’ve omitted classical music, because that’s when I start getting awkward 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/3 "2006-09-28T21:16:44Z")
Classical Music- Beethoven Jazz- Rock- Rolling Stones Punk Rock- Sex Pistols Heavy Metal- Judas Priest Pop- Christina Aguilera (or however the hell her name is spelled) Country Music - Hank Williams R&B- Marvin Gaye Rap/Hip-hop- Outkast ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/4 "2006-09-28T21:21:57Z")
Classical Music- Handel Jazz- Wynton Marsalis Rock- The Who Punk Rock- The Clash Heavy Metal- Anthrax Pop- too large to pick one! Country Music- Tim McGraw R&B- Luther Vandross Rap/Hip-hop- Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/5 "2006-09-28T21:23:23Z")
Classical- probably Mozart, but my SO, who went to Oxford for music is anti Mozart so I might have to revise that. Jazz- Miles Davis Rock- more the Rolling Stones than the Beatles Punk Rock- could be the Sex Pistols but I think I’ll go with the Ramones. Heavy metal- Led Zepplin. That’s where it came from (unless you want to count the Kinks.) Pop- I don’t know, I just know I never want to think of Britney Spears. Country Music- yeah I can go with Johnny Cash. R&B- James Brown Rap- not at all sure. ---
**Author:** ![guppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@guppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guppy)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/6 "2006-09-28T21:24:51Z")
Classical - Bach Jazz - Duke Ellington Punk - Dead kennedy’s Heavy Metal - Slayer/Metallica Pop - MJ Country - I’ll go with Johnny too R&B- Curtis Mayfield Rap/Hip-hop - Public Enemy for old, Outkast for new Rock - The Who ---
**Author:** ![guppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@guppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guppy)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/7 "2006-09-28T21:26:50Z")
Now that I think of it, I change my metal to Iron Maiden. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/8 "2006-09-28T21:58:25Z")
Punk- Avril Levigne Heay Metal- Jethro Tull 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/9 "2006-09-28T22:00:38Z")
Classical Music- Beethovan or Bach Jazz- I don’t know anything about jazz. Rock- Rolling Stones or Van Halen Punk Rock- DEVO Heavy Metal- White Stripes? Pop- Britney Spears or Tiffany Country Music- Johnny Cash or Hank Williams R&B- don’t know Rap/Hip-hop- Eminem New Category: Outlaw Country- Hank Williams Jr. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/10 "2006-09-28T22:16:02Z")
These are just the first examples that came to mind with each genre. [ul] [li]Classical Music- Beethoven[/li][li]Jazz- Miles Davis[/li][li]Rock- Led Zeppelin[/li][li]Punk Rock- Dead Kennedys[/li][li]Heavy Metal- Judas Priest[/li][li]Pop- Britney Michael Jackson[/li][li]Country Music- Alan Jackson[/li][li]R&B- Stevie Wonder[/li][li]Rap/Hip-hop- Eminem[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/11 "2006-09-28T22:22:43Z")
Classical Music- JS Bach Jazz- Thelonius Monk Rock- The Who Punk Rock- The Dead Kennedys Heavy Metal- Thin Lizzy Pop- ABBA Country Music- Johnny Cash R&B- Smokey Robinson Rap/Hip-hop- Beastie Boys ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/12 "2006-09-29T12:11:26Z")
Not iconic/best/most influential/most important/whaddever, right, just who **I** think of? Classical - Bach Jazz - Billie Holiday Rock - Caterwaul Punk - The Ramones Heavy Metal - Black Sabbath Pop - The Sundays Country Music - kd lang R&B - Macy Gray Rap - Queen Latifah Outlaw Country - The Knitters Blues - Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band Ecto - Kate Bush Hip Hop - Outkast ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/13 "2006-09-29T13:07:45Z")
Classical Music- Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi (who also gets the spot for Opera), Bach Jazz- my first thought is “Big Band”, really; “In the Mood” was one of the few songs my tone-deaf Dad could recognize without prompting Rock- Loquillo, Miguel Ríos Punk Rock- Siniestro Total Heavy Metal- Obús, Leño, Barón Rojo (most were in business in my teens) Pop- Nacha Pop (hey, why do you think they put it in the name), Mecano R&B- not a category used in Spain. Most people considered R&B in the US are filed under Pop hereabouts. Symphonic Rock- Queen Kick Your Ass Rock- Queen Celtic Pop-Rock- Celtas Cortos Celtic Metal- Mago de Oz (metal with violins, acordeons and the occasional bagpipe; no, they don’t take themselves seriously, why do you ask?) Real Celtic stuff- Gwendal (sp?), Chieftains ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/14 "2006-09-29T14:35:25Z")
[QUOTE=Nava] Heavy Metal- Obús, Leño, Barón Rojo (most were in business in my teens) [/QUOTE] Obus and Baron Rojo are great. When I was on my honeymoon in Spain last year we picked up some CDs. The Obus maybe the best driving CD ever. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/15 "2006-09-29T19:43:28Z")
Country has its own varietals Country Blues: Junior Brown Country Swing: George Straight, Lyle Lovett Alt.Country: The Mavericks, Steve Earle Cowpunk: Dwight Yoakam, Rubber Rodeo Country Folk: Mary Chapin Carpenter, John Prine Countrypolitan: Glenn Campbell Ur-Country: Hank Williams Appalachian Roots Country: Carter Family, the Skillet Lickers, Flatt & Scruggs Singing Cowboys: Roy Rogers, Gene Autry Memphis Mafia: Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, Cowboy Troy They’ve Gone Country: Kenny Rogers, Shania Twain, Michael Martin Murphy Country’s Gone to Them: Jimmy Buffett Rockabilly: Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Collins Kids ---
**Author:** ![twopiecesofeight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5e9695/32.png) [@twopiecesofeight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twopiecesofeight)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/16 "2006-09-29T20:38:38Z")
[QUOTE=several posters:] Classical - Bach [/QUOTE] I can’t help but hear my grade school music teachers shout in my head, “Bach is not classical. It is baroque!” 😃 I’ve listened to Bach more than Mozart and Beethoven combined. (I’ve listened to Chopin more than Bach, but no one thinks “Chopin=Classical” in a free association word game.) My guess is that if I ask the people I know what comes to mind, they will answer “Mozart”, even though they probably listen to Beethoven more frequently. (Remember when most cell phone ring tones were to set to _Fur Elise_?) ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/17 "2006-09-29T21:10:57Z")
Classical Music- Frederick Chopin Jazz- Louis Armstrong Rock- Led Zeppelin Punk Rock- The Misfits Heavy Metal- Metallica Pop- Eh… hard to say. Country Music- Hank Williams Sr. R&B- again, Meh… Rap/Hip-hop- Ice T Also, Blues- Robert Johnson Bluegrass- Bill Monroe Celtic- The Chieftains (all of 'em) ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/18 "2006-09-29T21:13:18Z")
[QUOTE=twopiecesofeight] I can’t help but hear my grade school music teachers shout in my head, “Bach is not classical. It is baroque!” 😃 I’ve listened to Bach more than Mozart and Beethoven combined. (I’ve listened to Chopin more than Bach, but no one thinks “Chopin=Classical” in a free association word game.) _Fur Elise_?) [/QUOTE] I swear to GOD I hadn’t even read your post when I submitted mine. Chopin comes to mind not only because he’s my favorite composer but also because of that memorable scene from the movie “Tombstone”. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/19 "2006-09-29T21:19:15Z")
Classical - Chopin (How do you like that, **twopiecesofeight**?) Jazz - Thelonius Monk Rock - Rolling Stones Punk - ??? Heavy Metal -??? Pop - Britney (blech!) Country - Another vote for Johnny Cash R&B- Curtis works for me Rap/Hip-hop - Sir Mixalot ---
**Author:** ![twopiecesofeight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5e9695/32.png) [@twopiecesofeight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twopiecesofeight)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531/20 "2006-09-29T21:47:05Z")
**lokij** , that was amazing. There _is_ an Og/Invisible Pink Unicorn/Omega Root Beer Float in the Sky. I couldn’t help it after reading your Tombstone comment. From [here…](http://www.geocities.com/aaronbcaldwell/Tomb.html) Cowboy: … Stephen stinking Foster. Doc Holliday: Ah, yes. Well, this happens to be a nocturne. Cowboy: A which? Doc Holliday: You know, Frederic fucking Chopin. **freckafree** , I like them apples very much, thank you. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-name-a-genre-of-music-who-do-you-think-of/374531.md?page=2)