How long do you have to listen to the song to understand whether you like it or not?

[RepresentingWrath]

The question is in the title. I will use myself as an example and elaborate a little bit. Usually, I can listen to a couple of seconds in the beginning, skip to the middle part and listen to a couple second more, after that I can get an understanding whether I will like a song or not.

What about you? Do you gauge it with a few seconds, a minute, maybe you have to listen to the full song multiple times before giving a final judgement? Share your experience.

 

[RainyLiquid]

About 4 seconds.

No. Not joking. The melody and the music has that long to get my attention before I hit next. Half my time writing is just me hitting next till a song that sounds right in my head plays.

I just vibe check it all.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

About 4 seconds.

No. Not joking. The melody and the music has that long to get my attention before I hit next. Half my time writing is just me hitting next till a song that sounds right in my head plays.

I just vibe check it all.

I believe you since I am similar.

 

[LiteraryWho]

I'd say my judgement starts in ten seconds, but I don't know for certain if I like a song until it's almost done. An interesting, and related, question is how long until I *stop* liking a song, which I would say is anywhere between ten and fifty times hearing it.

 

[HisDivineShadow]

Actually, I’ve only come to love some songs after I really listened to the full lyrics, not just the chorus.
But it all depends on why I want to listen in the first place.
Some tracks hit me from the very first note, but then after I burn through that peak phase of listening,
I never go back to them again.

 

[tiaf]

Instant liking happens in a couple of seconds but I can also come to like a song if I listen to it a few times, though there are genres/songs I'll just not be able to like.

 

[Deleted member 206441]

7 seconds + chorus

 

[LilRora]

Usually within the first few seconds of proper music. How much of the video it is exactly varies, because it's typically difficult to tell when there's a long buildup.

I have had a number of songs, however, that start out mediocre but are amazing in the later parts, or vice versa. So I guess the first few seconds are good for a first judgement, but I'll need to hear the whole thing, ideally multiple times, to be certain.

 

[GlassRose]

I usually just stick it on in the background, and if it stays in the background I ignore it and move onto the next one when it's done, but if it catches my attention and stimulates my brain in a nice way then it goes on the playlist and I check out other stuff by the same group. Sometimes though I'll stick something on and turn it off after the first verse or so because it's just extremely mediocre or stereotypical rock or metal and I'll just skip right along because it's not doing anything new or interesting that really satisfies my brain juices, it just sounds like any other mediocre rock/metal band and it's not worth lingering on.

 

[CodeCrisis]

It's usually pretty quick to me. Start with the beats and melody, if that is enjoyable, then I wait for the lyrics. If it's crappy rap lyrics, me no likey. Otherwise, me likey.

 

[RepresentingSilence]

A song must meet at LEAST 2 of 3 criteria for me to like it and it can take up to 30 seconds or so to figure it out

That criteria is lyrics vocals and melody if it ain't got at least 2 of those in the first 30 to 45 seconds it's a no

 

[georgelee5786]

Thirty seconds. If i really like it or really don't, i will know in a few seconds of the singing/beat

 

[NotaNuffian]

About 4 seconds.

No. Not joking. The melody and the music has that long to get my attention before I hit next. Half my time writing is just me hitting next till a song that sounds right in my head plays.

I just vibe check it all.

I'm not that good.

I have phases.

The opening

The lyrics (if any)

The end.

And I'll give them scores but frankly, if you spoil the opening for me, I'll already give low scores for middle and end.

 

[Daydreamers]

Depends; 4 seconds to a minute

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Listen to whole thing. Unless I hate it after 2 minutes or so.

 

[Corty]

Past the first five to ten seconds and I can tell if I like it.

But to say I don't like it, there needs to be a few re-listens. There were many times when a song grew on me and I started to like it later.

 

[Tempokai]

If I have the urge to press "replay" that new song, then it's the song I liked. My mind basically has categories of the songs that I like / good to listen once in a while / meh, one time only / bad, and "liking the song" comes if I replay it

 

[Kara_dija]

The question is in the title. I will use myself as an example and elaborate a little bit. Usually, I can listen to a couple of seconds in the beginning, skip to the middle part and listen to a couple second more, after that I can get an understanding whether I will like a song or not.

What about you? Do you gauge it with a few seconds, a minute, maybe you have to listen to the full song multiple times before giving a final judgement? Share your experience.

I have to read the lyrics and listen to it alone, by myself. Example, my sis made me listen to wildflower but I thought its meh until I decided to listen to alone and read the lyrics. Turns out I really like it.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I have to read the lyrics and listen to it alone, by myself. Example, my sis made me listen to wildflower but I thought its meh until I decided to listen to alone and read the lyrics. Turns out I really like it.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Once. Twice with better sound quality if unsure.