Worst Defenses Against Music Criticism

If you're going to defend a musical artist, song, or album, don't use these kinds of statements. Also, these are not direct quotes, but rather representations of one would often use as a defense against most criticisms.

The Top Ten

1 "It hit No.1 on the Billboard charts"

Successful =/= good (sadly). - allamassal

Well we had a horrible song at #1 not 2 weeks ago... - allamassal

By that logic Closer by the Chainsmokers is the best song of 2016 - christangrant

By That Logic Watch Me Is The Best Song Of 2015 While See You Again Is The Worst Of 2015, Right? - VideoGamefan5

Uh See You Again was number 1 for 12 weeks. Watch Me couldn't even get #2. - ProPanda

2 "White people can't criticize black music"

Calling rap music "black" music makes you racist. - DCfnaf

It's kinda weird to use racism as a defense against music criticism - Neonco31

Wow that's just stupid - christangrant

Kanye, go hug yourself. (if ya know what I mean) - Swellow

3 "I'd like to see you do better"

First of all, the person commenting can't do better. Second of all, the person they are commenting to isn't a musician so he can't do better. Third of all, that doesn't make every artist ever immune to criticism. - DCfnaf

Right Because Taylor Swift Is A Good Artist? - VideoGamefan5

If its Watch Me by Silento then I already have made a better song then that - christangrant

4 "If you don't like it, then don't listen to it"

If you are watching it for the first time to see if you like it, then this comment wouldn't make sense. However, if the song plays on the radio, just turn it off or switch to another station. Nobody is "forcing you" to listen to the song, it was your own choice to sit through the song without changing the station. - BlueTopazIceVanilla

Do I like What About Us? No. Did I keep hearing it on the radio over and over and over again until it drove me insane? Yes. - allamassal

Does it look like I like 7 Years? , Nope, But My Radio Forced Me To Listen To It Back In Summer 2016, And Right Now Does It Look Like I Want To Listen To Shape Of You? - VideoGamefan5

But what if you're in a store? Then you don't have that option. - allamassal

5 "It's just a song"

It's just my opinion on the song... - DCfnaf

Stimulated Isn't Just A Song, It's A Retard Having Sex With A Goat - VideoGamefan5

I hate Watch Me for many reasons - christangrant

6 "But it's catchy"

Sometimes a song can be catchy in a good way (think Charlie Puth's songs), but having What About Us in my head for hours annoyed me to the extreme. - allamassal

I don't know why people think this is a good thing. I generally find catchy music annoying

This is a perfectly reasonable excuse to like a song and avoid critical thought. - ProPanda

Awful Excuse - VideoGamefan5

7 "These singers made a lot of money from this song/album while you're just sitting behind a computer hating"

And you're sitting behind a computer complaining about a stranger's opinion of a song that doesn't define you. - DCfnaf

Taylor Swift Is A Sellout - VideoGamefan5

8 "You have bad taste in music"

Because music is subjective, no one has a bad taste in music. I used to say things similar to this, only about songs I hated, not liked. - allamassal

I don't get this one because there's no such thing as real music. All music (as well as all forms of art in general) is subjective.

Music is subjective, so it's a dumb defense. - DCfnaf

Wow, Best Quote Ever - Hillary Clinton - VideoGamefan5

9 "This [insert record/artist here] won a Grammy"

And your point is...? - DCfnaf

Lemonade lost to 25 (But Luckily Adele still honors Beyonce and share her Grammys with her) - BeaM456

10 "Be honest, you only hate this song because of overplay or overhype"

If they say a song is bad then they usually have reasons for saying it besides "I've heard this song 921653932165891 times on the radio it's driving me insane". - allamassal

This is probably the truest thing on the list. - Swellow

The Contenders

11 "Everyone at my school likes it"
12 "It's a dance song, so the lyrics don't matter"

Some songs aren't meant to have lyrics. As long as it's not offensive (Juju) or annoying (Watch Me), I'm fine with mediocre lyrics. - ProPanda

Not all songs need to have lyrics, say like for video game tracks and some electronic dubstep songs - Neonco31

What if it's an unlistenable piece of garbage dance track? - DCfnaf

Lyrics do matter in my opinion - christangrant

13 "It's still better than any of today's music.

So you're telling me that "We Built This City" is better than "Irvine", "Jesus Alone", "I'm Going To Do It", and "Blackstar"? Pfft, nonsense. - DCfnaf

Work By Rihanna Sucks And You Need To Accept that People Hate It For Good And Valid Reasons - VideoGamefan5

You are the type of person who the user of the list is specifically trying to show negatively. - Swellow

No sticking to the past, move on with it - Neonco31

14 "You obviously didn't listen to it"

I did, and this is my opinion. - DCfnaf

15 "You just don't like it because it's not the 80s'."

It would be so easy for one to use this argument on people who like old music and hate modern music, and...maybe it's true, as in the best songs list, there are virtually no songs from the 2010s, or maybe I'm just a total idiot and people actually have legit reasons to like old music, and hate modern music. I dunno...(likely the second option, though.).

16 "But it's a [insert something that the song is not here]"
17 "Oh look all mainstream pop and rap is rubbish metal is way better"

Whenever these conversations come up, it's always Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne that get brought up. - DCfnaf

Nah, Metallica's Hardwired is barely decent to be honest - Neonco31

Stupid Reason - VideoGamefan5

No way in the world BOTDF Anal C Cannibal Corpse Corpse is better than Ed Sheeran The Weeknd Bruno Mars Talyor Swift Eminem Rihanna Mackamore 21 Pilots Lady Gaga want me to go even further Justin Bieber makes better music than them his new ones like Love Yourself is actually good and than their is songs like Where is the Love Fireworks Born This Way that all them good messages so you see people their is some Pop and Rap that is way better than Metal

I find it hilarious that all the people you just mentioned are white. - ProPanda

18 I am biased. This song reminds me of my friends.

I kind of disagree with this one because it does not really sound like it is being used as a defense. Really it is a reason why I like this song although I know this does not objectively make it a better song.

I am biased. Th

19 "Say it again and I will kill you."
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