[Thor Joachim Haga]

Maybe you got me wrong. Maybe not. For me there is a difference between music that I don’t like and music of which I think, it’s actually rubbish, an insult to any musical taste.
Let’s take my favourite example, Hans. I don’t think his music is rubbish. If people like it, fair enough. Do I think, most of his orchestral music doesn’t meet my quality standards? Yes. But the music fulfills others that I don’t care for or I even dislike. But I understand why others like it.
But pop groups like Modern Talking are terrible. And liking their music is… in need of help.

It probably will not surprise you that I like quite a bit of Modern Talking. 😀

Of course, since it’s difficult to agree on ‘objective’ criteria as to what constitutes good or bad music (I’m not saying it’s impossible — see this thread — it’s just difficult), I’ve always found it more useful to try and understand what it is someone finds appealing with a piece of music. I’m also a big supporter in evaluating music on its own terms (for example, I wouldn’t judge Zimmer by traditional orchestral standards, as that’s not what he’s about).

I’m also a big fan of TAILORING my suggestions when I do missionary activity out “in the field”. That is, first getting to know the person’s taste and preferences, and then fit my own suggestions into that. Otherwise, it would just slide off like water to a goose’s back or however the saying goes. In cases like these, it’s not really important what I personally like or dislike.

Other example. When people claim, they like the melody of a particular song and I know from where it was actually stolen I feel the urge to clarify that.

This one, I fully support. It’s about providing context and information, and that was always a good thing. As long as they aren’t wild stretches, like I see on so many messageboards (where people stumble upon some random similarity between two pieces, and present it to others as if they’ve discovered the atom; some revelatory intentional connection where there is none).