Goths and Metal heads, Finding the boundaries

Vampira132 wrote:

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Not all Goth’s listen to Metal but they listen to Industrial which can be considered Goth to them (not so much to me); So we could have the same argument about them (im sure someone will respond to this )

Oooohh yes indeedy, you saw this coming from a mile away...

I agree with Vampira that Goth is MUCH more than music alone... that being said, we must take into account our roots, which stem directly from the mouth of 80's Goth rock. It could be argued that anything not withstanding in that specific genre isn't "Goth", but then I suppose what one person perceives as "Gothic" would be challenged against another person's viewpoint. It all harps back to the LONG, UNENDING debate over "What is Goth?"

A debate... I'd rather not have... AGAIN.

I'm goth and I like metal. You can be a goth that likes metal just as much as you can be a goth that likes bluegrass.

I listen to everything ranging from Justin Timberlake, boy bands, Timberland to Lacuna Coil, CoF, TBM, Xandria to some country, yet i'm still Goth. Music doesn't make the Goth. It's all about the way you view the world, the way you express yourself, what you do, read and the list goes on.

ravengrim wrote:

Is there a boundry.I mean does there even need to be one?
I'm going to go out on a limb and say something,I think we are what we are in our hearts.
What we listen to matters so very little in the grand scheme of things.I'm pretty ecclectic in my musical taste.I listen to everything just about except for screamo music(ugh Emo music,not for me)Metal,Old School Punk,Deathrock,all of those things and yet like Vampira you might not mistake me for any of those things.I am a velvet and silk kind of girl.
How I view the world and my place in it makes me what I am.

I totally agree. Why does everything have to fit into a neat little pigeon hole? Hell I'm like a stick of rock with gothic written right through my very core but I love old school punk and I love certain rock bands. Please don't say 80s goth doesnt matter as my little heart would break in two. That was the music that I grew up with and still love very much - if I could go to work each day enveloped in a wee cloud of dry ice I would be a happy little girl!

Goth is so much deeper and so much more than what you choose to listen to. It's what YOU are and part of your very essence and has it so many different aspects

Synth, are you still in high school? I think I understand where you're coming from on this.
It's annoying because there's always the group of kids at school labeled the "goth" kids, yet they're only goth because of how they appear (y'know, Tripp pants and eyeliner and dirty clothing). That's just what we call them so we know who one another is referring to. However some people think that's what goth actually is, and then they talk like they know about it, and I really just want to duct tape their mouths shut.
It's not that goths don't listen to metal, it's that that's all the mainstream "goths" you see every day are promoting those types of bands.
I dunno, I think it could help me better prove my super eliteness of the knowledge of "goth" music, if that time ever did come that I would need to, and I'm sure I would thouroughly enjoy it if it did.

I honestly don't really think that "Goth" should have "one set style" of music to listen to. Be yourself and listen to what you like, what pleases your ear. For those who try to label what you are or listen to, let them. I personaly thing that everyone should just listen to what they want and wear what they feel like. Who is ANYBODY to label ANYBODY?

Allow me to make a vague and incoherent rambling here.....

I think it's sort of like the chicken and egg question. Sure, the music started the subculture as we know it, but it was that mindset/personality/worldview that allowed those musicians to create the music in the first place. Also you have the artists and authors that contributed (Poe, etc)....these types of personalities have always been present but I think the subculture only came about recently b/c of the huge population explosion of humans, and the technology that allows these types of music to exist.

That said, I think we should call a spade a spade. I know many goths have varied/eclectic music tastes and goth/metal is a popular crossover. A lot of the problem is the media giving misinformation and people taking that as fact (like the kids with the Tripp pants and such).

We must not forget the music that started the subculture but we must also accept new things and evolve or we die out. But that doesn't mean we should start being overly liberal about it...if we stand for nothing, we'll fall for anything and the subculture is at risk of being bastardized like the emo subculture has become.

Maybe I'm a bit harsh but I don't care. I'm not saying if you listen to anything other than goth, then you can't call yourself a goth. That would make me a hypocrite. And it is more than JUST the music, but I think all the aspects are very connected and dependent on each other.

I really hope this made sense. :-)

^Could I kiss you? Please?! That was not incoherent rambling at all! You made very valid points... many of which I think we all agree on.

Yes, you may kiss me! lol

As long as you don't

And I should correct myself, I really meant to say "I'm not saying if you listen to many different kinds of music including goth, then you can't call yourself a goth. "

albinasamara wrote:

Yes, you may kiss me! lol

As long as you don't

ME NEXT AFTER AKASHA!! I'll try not to too much.

Awww DG. I'm all aflutter

Goth was a sub-genre of the 60's punk scene, which was bred from an angst that rock couldn't provide. Then, metal was the natural progression of rock becoming heavier and darker, but the niche it carved for itself, became inspired and infused with the Gothic attitude more and more over the last two decades. Genres, fads and styles do that all the time; which I like. As the lines blur, most fans can sit in the ever expanding gray-area and enjoy the sights and sounds.

I agree with most of what has been said. It's more about who a person is then what they listen to. I love old school blues and jazz, Jrock, Metal, and the select country hiphop or rap song. Does this make me any less goth? I still love my victorian,roaring 20's, and 30's inspred clothing. I still enjoy sumptuous fabrics and great contrutction.

But i think there is still a line. I don't consider the trip pants wearing metal heads at my school to be goth, they might evolve to be goth later in life. But as of this momment they aren't.

Luminita wrote:

But i think there is still a line. I don't consider the trip pants wearing metal heads at my school to be goth, they might evolve to be goth later in life. But as of this momment they aren't.

Agreed. This is the one exception in which I am actually thankful to have to wear a uniform to school. I fear what atrocities to my eyes I might have to endure otherwise.

Luminita wrote:

But i think there is still a line. I don't consider the trip pants wearing metal heads at my school to be goth, they might evolve to be goth later in life. But as of this momment they aren't.

So, that would not make me a goth?

But Tripp pants are very comfy and come in handy, especially for us ghouls that don't like purses. I wear them all the time when I need extra pocket room.

Does wearing Hello Kitty jammies with slippers that have dog heads that really bark on them make me a non goth?

Actually I think the slippers might be defective because they keep barking and barking - poor old Barney Hound of Dracula keeps trying to save me from them

Ooo!!!! Yay for Hello Kitty!

Yay indeed! I must add in my defence that the jammies are black except for the huge Hello Kitty face across my backside!

Hehe, I own some pink ones, seeing that i'm a fan of pink.

Don't tell anybody but I have a pink Hello Kitty vest and pants set! Sssssssh now or nobody will believe that I am a superannuated 80s goth who dresses only in black

Hehe, you're secret is safe with me Mrs. D.