Great taste in music

The more I share and think about music with friends the more I am intrigued by what constitutes "great music".

There is no doubt that some pieces by some artists are simply great and that on first hearing virtually every listener can be appreciative of the quality of the art presented. Into this category I would put pieces such as "So What", by Miles Davis, "Let's Go Out Tonight" by The Blue Nile or even "High and Dry" by Radiohead. But what makes it onto our ipod playlist, the ubiquitous 80s mixtape or a Spotify playlist as "great music" is, i suspect, a much more complex process.

I remember a friend at school patronising those of us who had never enjoyed the works of Daevid Allen or the skills of Jacquo Pastorius as though such knowledge was commonplace. Taste in music isn't commonplace for most people and probably more influenced by commercial than quality issues. You've probably never even heard of "In These Arms" by The Swell Season but if I tell you it's great, will that encourage you to download it? Or are you more likely to download the latest offering by whoever has the ear of the local radio producer?

I really like "I gotta feelin'" by the Black Eyed Peas but I don't think it is great music. So why do I like it? Partly it was soundtrack to a summer holiday, it played at a party I was at and it's just fun, but it isn't great. The reason I've heard it so often was the constant radio air play and that also makes it more of a memory than memorable all of which builds it in my consciousness as a track I "like". And there's nothing wrong with that.

What makes music great may be quality but what makes music really special is the place in life where you heard it, the person you sang it for, the smile, the longing, the kiss, the love, the heartbreak, the memory, the loss and the tears. And no-one else would understand that unless they were there to listen to Norah Jones sing "Come away with me."

There's no such thing as a great taste in music merely music that makes us feel great. And that can't be quantified. You've got great taste in music.