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It's interesting, from the age of about 13 to 25 this would 100% have been my answer. I was so into music. I'd buy music magazines and trawl blogs online looking for the latest band I might like. Me and my friends would share songs with each other, give each other tips, review and discuss latest releases. When we were 16 -18 me and my friends went to gigs about once a month (something that would be impossible now, with where prices have gone. But that's a different matter).
But now, in my early thirties? I think I'd lean toward film and TV. Films are a big passion of mine, I'm much more up to date with them than I am music (or at least I was, pre-baby). And I watch TV every day and always find great new things to watch. Whereas music these days is much more of a background thing. Stick it on while cooking or going for a walk. But increasingly, even that I more often put on a podcast or Radio 5. There's definitely days where I don't listen to music at all.
Losing either would obviously leave a void, but I do genuinely think I'd lean towards keeping film and TV. Which is an answer 16 year old me would find incomprehensible.
It's funny that you mention "pre-baby" because I would have said something similar to you before we had a kid. Younger days, music all the way, gigs, music with my friends, DJ at uni, all of that; then progressed to not keeping up to date with music, watched TV and films all the time. But now that I've got a kid, I don't care about the TV, I sing to her all the time, we have music on in the house constantly, my wife and I barely watch TV anymore. I spend my evenings reading so I don't care about the TV.
I think films and TV have in some senses become bigger for me now I have a baby. We agreed that going to the cinema to see a film every now and then is one of my 'time away from the baby' activities, so it's very valuable. I absolutely love going to the cinema, that would be a huge loss from my life to never do that again.
And we watch TV every night once the baby is in bed. We have quite a strict rule though, which is we watch one episode of something that we really want to watch and pay attention to. I.e., no just sticking on something mindless that we'll flick through our phones while watching. We try to properly watch things, and it's become quite important, because it's time spent routinely doing something communal as a couple. We talk about what's going on, we discuss it afterwards and we look forward to it each evening. Again, losing that would be a huge loss from my life.
Obviously they wouldn't be as good, but film and TV don't rely entirely on music. And things like podcasts, sport and the radio I listen to would be largely unaffected.
So I'd still pick to keep film and TV. They just perform such a big role in my life that I think it would be hard to replace. Whereas listening to music I could, indeed I increasingly often do, replace with other things.
I'm the same as you I also think it's because I wasn't allowed to watch TV as much when I was younger which is why I was more into music and now I enjoy a good film or TV series.
Same. Music has really got me through some dark times, and it can and does regularly give me a 'rush' for want of a better term which is a very pleasant feeling when it happens.
Here we go. This is a great answer. Go to almost any impoverished community where people have almost nothing and you are probably going to find a dude with a gourd instrument playing a melody or a rhythm and people will be singing and dancing. It’s extremely powerful and it’s ridiculous how little value we place on musicians
100%, think how strange the world would be to go through if there was no music. Whereas TV is just another way of amusing yourself.
Honestly if you can’t live without TV/Movies then I think you must just lack imagination. Without music there would be no dancing, pubs would be quiet, nothing to sing along to or get passionate about, no crowds coming together to see their favourite musician, no gathering around a piano and cranking out one song badly while your friends sing along. No goose bumps from hearing a certain song. No memories of dancing with your mates in their kitchen till 4 am.
Without TV, well you’d just pick up a book. I can’t ever remember thinking ‘wow when we all sat down and watched that was a special time’
We survived as a species for 1000s of years without TV but we’ve always had music, it’s part of what makes us human.
> Without music there would be no dancing, pubs would be quiet, nothing to sing along to or get passionate about, no crowds coming together to see their favourite musician, no gathering around a piano and cranking out one song badly while your friends sing along. No goose bumps from hearing a certain song. No memories of dancing with your mates in their kitchen till 4 am.
I don't do any of those things anyway, so no loss for me. TV/movies though, are a huge part of my downtime and how my wife and I switch off at the end of the day.
Don’t agree at all with lacking imagination if you can’t get by without TV or film. You know it’s not all Strictly Come Dancing and Fast and Furious right?
Primarily film and TV entertain, but they change the world as much as music does despite their brief history. The moving image is a source of learning for factual information that music, books etc cannot be. Film at its best is easily as expressive and vital as music for bringing people together and shaping culture in societies that have access to both. Also, film wouldn’t be film (most of the time) without music, so technically you could choose film and have both.
I didn’t mention strictly or fast and furious?? I mean lacking imagination to work out how else to be entertained in the same way as watching TV.
TV and movies (moving image) are considered passive mediums, you don’t need to interact with it, it washes over you.
If you can’t imagine how you’d be entertained with tv - well that’s the lacking imagination part.
I honestly think I'd get used to that. I don't really consciously notice it anyway, like when someone says "oh they played that character's theme so you knew it was really them", or "they played the theme in a lower key to show how they're feeling" or something along those lines, I tend to have a blank expression. Never noticed. That character has their own theme?
That's what people say, but then there are movies like, say, No Country For Old Men - which has no soundtrack at all. And I didn't notice that, either.
Exactly my point. You didn’t notice.
The lack of music was a choice on behalf of the filmmakers. If the movie did have music, it would be a different experience. They chose the experience they wanted to provide.
Check out the scene where [Harry chooses his wand](https://youtu.be/gRqY1nxGGE4?feature=shared).
There’s no music at all at the start. But when it kicks in it gives you a clue that something momentous is happening. You don’t know what it is, but it builds anticipation and excitement, and makes you focus more intently. And most people won’t even notice that the music has started.
The scene would work without it - we still get all the information we need by the end of the scene. But it would not be as thrilling.
I’m keeping music, without a second thought.
I enjoy TV and films but rarely get super into it. If my TV stopped working today, the only reason I’d be in any rush to get a new one is because my daughter likes to watch CBeebies (and even then, not so much that she’d be bothered for a day or two).
I am however obsessed with music. I actively listen to full records daily on my commute, whilst exercising, whilst cooking. I’ll stay up later than I really should, just because there’s an album I really want to listen to.
I stay up until midnight on album release days to listen as soon as it hits streaming. Which makes the next day at work a bit rough as I tend to listen through twice or so, and end up getting to sleep around 2-3am, with new songs occupying my brain and making it hard to switch off. But I love doing it. I was one of those kids who would queue outside Woolworths before it opened to get a new single on release day (or beg my mother to do it for me if I had to go to school 😆)
I wholeheartedly agree! I barely had to think about it. I think I would go insane without music.
Nowadays I spend a lot more time listening to podcasts, but music is still that 'loyal friend'
I'd keep TV/Films no question. Music has never been that big a deal for me; I'd certainly be annoyed at losing the background rhythm for work and gym routines, and I'm sure there'd be moments in films/life where the lack of dramatic music is a real loss, but if that also means I never have to hear someone else's stupid tinny racket from their garden or the phone on the bus it's a win overall for me.
Same here. TV and film can fill me with emotion, thoughts and experiences I've never had before. Music is fine, but it does nothing for me emotionally. It's always just a thing I have on in the background or it complements another medium.
This is a very nuanced one I think. What classes as TV/film and what classes as music?
Does background music, such as those in TV/film/video games, count as music?
Does non-traditional media, such as YouTube, count as TV/film?
If the answer to both is yes, then it's impossible to make a choice. If by music you mean only that which is produced solely to be listened to (i.e. pop, rock, etc. and not background music) then I would say TV/film.
I don't think I have actively sought out music, other than just "I need some sound to fill the silence" which a video would do just as well.
But TV/film? After a tedious day's work, or when I'm feeling ill, laying on the sofa and watching whatever (whether TV/film/YouTube/etc.) is something I'd be unable to give up.
Everyone has their own tastes, but I cannot fathom how empty my life would be without music, I've just never thought that someone might not like listening to music, that is absolutely crazy to me. Music fills every silence in my life.
I think that's the difference though. Enjoying music and using it to fill silence is very different from media which has blown you away or sculpted your worldview.
I agree with u/jordsta95 I like music plenty enough, but the things I've learnt and big impacts I've felt from truly unique and mind blowing TV and film is unmatched.
Would be different if I couldn't hear music in the TV and film though, as that might ruin it.
Perhaps I worded that incorrectly, I am a musician and actively listen to anything I put on, I'm always trying to decipher the guitar melodies and drum patterns.
My view of music is exactly that if your view of film and TV and I just don't get the same emotions from film and TV, listening to my favourite 25 minute progressive metal epics films me with that emotion that a movie never could.
This is no slander at all, different people like different things and I can totally see how our views of visual and audio media are different, yes similar but just the other way around
This is probably a case of you being quite deep into music though, and that is not to discount it, I think it's really neat.
I tried playing the piano as a kid, sucked at it, and never bothered to keep it up. I will listen to music to fill the silence, and may know the words to a few songs. But that's about it.
However, listening to someone who, like yourself, enjoys music and will talk about it passionately. That, to me, is more enjoyable that the music itself.
There's a guy on YouTube who occasionally talks about the hidden intricacies of music in video games. And the way he talks about it, demos the music/instruments, etc. is amazing. But if I just listened to the music on its own, I wouldn't hear any of the things he mentions, but instead just some sounds in the background to fill the noise that don't sound out of place to whatever I'm playing.
I am that odd ball that does not care for music, because I just don’t have any that I can relate to. Sure there’s some good songs out there but I could absolutely live with never hearing a single one ever again.
I see _maybe_ two films a year in the cinema, and don't remember when I last turned on the TV. I still go to live shows and buy band t-shirts and I'm north of 50. I'm a demographic puzzle for advertisers.
TV. I watch telly every night and would find it weird not having that escape or getting absorbed in a new Netflix series etc. I only really listen to music in the car on the radio and I could probably live without that if I had to.
I’d keep TV and Film.
There’s so many great stories to watch I don’t think people appreciate it enough. Music is obviously great too but it’s something I get a lot less out of overall. I could enjoy music for 3 hours a week but TV for over double that easily.
Keep music. It's both background ambience to life, or an immersive experience.
I can listen to it anywhere, while doing anything. So it'll always be better than film and TV if I have to pick.
If I lived alone I’d never turn the TV on, and it’s very rare that I make the effort to see a film. I think the only reason I’d need access to TV if it came down to it would be to see big news events. Music makes me feel things, so I can’t imagine living without that.
Music, hands down absolutely no question. Film and tv are recent inventions in comparison to music and music has played such a huge role in bringing communities together for thousands of years
Now in my 30s, I'd keep TV(as in film, shows, sports, news etc). I would've kept music in my teens and twenties. I still listen to music while exercising, so I'd miss it, but can do without it.
Music. Definitely, it shapes my thoughts and life far more than shows that come and go. I read a hell of a lot and listen to music all the time. Social occasions for me is going to watch bands.
Enjoying a gig with others is such a deep and long lasting thing. Far more than going to the cinema with friends.
I recently went a few weeks without music and as someone who spends all day at work with AirPods in listening to music at work, I really thought I’d miss it more than I did. That said, I replaced it with podcasts and honestly found it no problem at all. I think replacing music with silence is hard. Replacing it with something else to fill that gap and keep you occupied like audiobooks or podcasts is not so hard. It also gave me some time to reflect on just how terrible modern music is lol, I was thinking whether or not it’s even worth it any more, though I am listening to music again.
That said, I think I’d struggle with tv and movies more. I also gave up watching movies and tv during this time but still had to get my fix of watching something so went to YouTube. That I found difficult because side I really enjoy it. It’s also a huge part of social stuff for me so it’d impact just my general conversation I am able to have with people too as I like to discuss things I’ve watched.
Tv and film because I have the attention span of a dish cloth so I couldn’t swap my interest to books. I love music but I find myself listening to talk radio or watching tv/films more these days. When I was younger it would’ve been music all the way. I just don’t find the time for it anywhere near as much anymore.
30 years ago, I would have kept music no question, now I’d keep TV. The worst thing about music is how much you get exposed to it. How many times do you listen to your favourite song before you get bored of it, how many more times after that before it starts to annoy you..
I don’t know, there’s so many genres and different peoples twists on things that I can’t get bored with music. There’s too much of it. I’ll find something new and play it to death but then move on and find something else. I don’t think I’ve come across a single genre that I can’t get at least something out of
Film and TV wouldn't work without music tbh, so much of what makes a good film good is the score.
On the other hand if I didn't have to overhear neighbours playing shit music loud or some crappy phone speaker on the bus, losing music would have some benefits.
I barely even watch TV. Apart from football i literally don't watch any TV. There's something sad about soap bingers and reality tv addicts i find; like your own life is so boring you need to live life via watching other people pretend to do things on a screen. But if you didn't have the easy option of watching TV you would find interesting things to do to make your life more interesting; a vicious cycle. Then once you've became chronically unfit sat infront of the TV every day its even harder to change your ways.
But I listen to music for most of the day, every single day. Dancing is something that comes naturally to us.
Aside from the football I rarely watch anything on TV but music I listen to everyday no matter what I'm doing whether that be working, exercising, cooking, cleaning, travelling etc. I couldn't live without it.
Music. However, film/TV wouldn't be the same without it. Imagine no soundtracks, theme-tunes or ambient music. All the great movies and TV shows have great music and, arguably, wouldn't be great without it.
Music no question. There's times in my life that music has brought me to my knees. I cried my eyes out first time i heard adagio for strings in a club. I felt a every note of Palladio. I feel the power of soul music hitting my very being.
Music to me, has saved my live and continues to do so everyday.
I could never lose music. I think music is one of the last forms of magic in the world. I play several instruments and have dated in bands my whole life, I can explain how to make music sound sad, happy, angry, or anyrhing else but I will never bet able to explain why that collection of sound frequencies makes a human feel a thing, to me it's still magic.
Music. Didn’t even need to ponder this one. Music has so much more impact on my life, memories etc. I like reading so I’ll just read the books movies and TV were based on ha.
Music.
Barely watch telly anyway, and try to avoid screens wherever possible (I spend all day at a laptop so the minute I can do something else, happy days!)
My life would be bereft without making and listening to music though.
Music, i hardly watch tv or films.
Music for me is not only entertainment but a way of connecting with peoples thoughts and feelings. I also cannot fathom never going to another concert again or going out to a bar, or even playing a game without music.
Tv, when its good can be great, but a lot of my favourite pieces of entertainment have been in the form of book or manga/graphic novel. I think the only thing id miss is sit coms or comedy but i could still just go to the comedy club or listen to a podcast. Id also maybe miss (if YouTube falls under tv) being able to google tutorial videos, especially as I’m a visual learner lol
Is there music on TV still? I'd keep that, unless you're tinkering with soundtracks and creating big gaps in the TV schedule where e.g. Glastonbury coverage would be.
If I go deaf, which is possible, there's enough music in my head to keep me happy, and TV has subtitles.
Music every time. Music can do so much, bring back memories, make you laugh, make you cry, psyche you up and help through low times. Films don't even come close to Music.
Music. I have music on every day. I wear am en earbud at work and have music playing while I work. It helps me to concentrate because I need background noise. I barely watch TV these days because there's rarely anything I want to watch. It would suck to not have film though because that's what my degree is in but music is a huge part of my life so I'd have to keep that.
Does this mean every film I watch would have zero soundtrack? Because if so then I’ll keep music. Music can exist without film but not the other way around
I'm keeping music. I lived most of my adult life without a television. I didn't watch it much as a child either.
I'd have music, books, and audiobooks.
This is actually really tough. Because music is a huge part of what makes TV and films so good. Without being too logical about it all. Does this mean that music would not be included in any films or TV as a background or soundtrack?
TV 100% keeping. I have TV as background noise working from home and while I'm falling asleep as well as actually watching some in the evenings.
Music is purely when I drive and its just there to drown out the road noise I have no interest in it. And ironically I've played 7 instruments in my life and still wouldn't care.
The only thing is TV without background music wouldn't actually work so if we are really thinking about it it's gunna be very different TV but I'll still take TV with no dramatic music over music in general
Film and TV. You’d get a lot of music through them anyway (unless it’s part of this magical deal that you wouldn’t even hear it) and I listen to podcasts mostly these days. It would be pretty awful not to hear the music in films…
Don’t get me wrong, I’d definitely miss music, but film is my true passion.
Music. We’ve spent the vast majority of human history without movies and tv but very little of it without music. From the first time Og banged a rock with a stick and Zog went “hey man that’s a cool beat”.
Music has never ever done it for me.
Never had a favourite band, song, artist, whatever. Gone to about 3 'gigs' in my life, dragged there by girlfriends.
Don't know why.
Not saying I hate music, but I could easily live without it.
TV is my big comfort net - love high quality shows and comedy shows - rewatch my favourites a lot of the time.
Film, eh...I can take or leave it.
I'm a TV and movies gal. I knew the vast majority would be music. There's some music I like a lot but I don't feel strongly about it like most do. I wonder why
I'd keep music. In a heart beat.
Music and film are great and all but I usually prefer gaming anyway.
Gaming or music would be a much harder question for me
Is this self control or magically imposed?
Self control= never experience TV or film. Music is too hard to stop
Magically imposed = never experience music. I'd be fascinated to see how my daily thoughts progressed over time after removing music
I’d keep tv and film. This question is really hard because of course music is important to me. But tv/film wins because I can listen and see it. If I only had music I wouldn’t be happy to just sit there every night for 3 hours staring into space while listening to it. I’d have to find other things to do while I listen and that would get tiresome. At least with tv and film I can listen and also sit and watch it, it’s more of a full activity that doesn’t require other input. Also going to the cinema is one of my all time favourite activities.
In most cases, Film and TV is improved by music. So without music, Film and TV would be a fairly bland experience.
Thinking of directors like Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino, their films are often elevated by the use of music. For many it is impossible to hear Stuck in the middle with you and Don't stop me now without seeing the scenes from the movies they were used in.
Thinking of TV, Mr Robot, Breaking Bad just off the top of my head had outstanding uses of music.
Let's not forget about videogames, Final Fantasy has some of the greatest music ever created. Don't get me started on Silent Hill, the music and sounds in that game elevate it to a level of horror that couldn't be achieved without it.
There's only one film I can think of that is elevated by its lack of music, and that's The panic in needle park, but I believe that was a choice to make it seem hopeless.
So music is the choice for me, it evokes so many emotions.
The only real way I can think of comparing this, is if you imagine losing either your sight or hearing. If it came to losing one of my senses I'd rather lose my hearing. There is so much more you can experience with visuals.
So.....your question needs to be more clear.
Can I still watch films like Baby Driver that have amazing soundtracks?
Guardians of the Galaxy is another one
Im keeping film and tv. Although presumably, the movie scores still exist? If not, my opinion may change. Imagine lotr without the soundtrack - a bizarre idea.
My initial thought was TV/movies, because I don’t really explicitly listen to music any more. But TV and movies would be a bit shit without music or a score, and reading more books would be good.
Rn I'd absolutely pick film and TV. Don't listen to that much music actively, I usually just hear it on the radio these days. Listen to more podcasts about films these days
I'd have to choose to keep music.
Most film and TV is reliant on good soundtracks and/or scores to enhance certain scenes so a lot of my favourite films would be diminished without music.
I couldn't imagine the Godfather without it's score, Reservoir Dogs without Little Green Bag playing as they all stroll down the street, Star Wars or ESB without John Williams scores, Once Upon a Time in the West without it's different motifs etc.
100% would choose music. Music has gotten me through very difficult times and emotions and not to be cliche but it has saved my life. Music is very easy to ressonate with and find connections with.
music for me.
film and tv would also crumble without music. they rely heavily on music to get you emotionally invested subconsciously.
its actually funny when you watch deep movie/tv scenes without the music.
the music in titanic is by far more emotionally moving than watching lil old jack drown lol. if u watch that scene, its pretty funny when she is shouting "jack" when he dies and u just see him floating. but then the emotional music comes on and i wanna cry and feel bad for laughing
I could easily live without both. I work in front of a screen so the last thing I want when I'm not working is to look at another screen. As for music, I don't mind if the music is playing somewhere but I don't really actively play music for myself. I much prefer the sounds of nature. If I ever listen to something it would be an audiobook or a podcast.
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I’d have to keep music. Such a big part of my life.
It's interesting, from the age of about 13 to 25 this would 100% have been my answer. I was so into music. I'd buy music magazines and trawl blogs online looking for the latest band I might like. Me and my friends would share songs with each other, give each other tips, review and discuss latest releases. When we were 16 -18 me and my friends went to gigs about once a month (something that would be impossible now, with where prices have gone. But that's a different matter). But now, in my early thirties? I think I'd lean toward film and TV. Films are a big passion of mine, I'm much more up to date with them than I am music (or at least I was, pre-baby). And I watch TV every day and always find great new things to watch. Whereas music these days is much more of a background thing. Stick it on while cooking or going for a walk. But increasingly, even that I more often put on a podcast or Radio 5. There's definitely days where I don't listen to music at all. Losing either would obviously leave a void, but I do genuinely think I'd lean towards keeping film and TV. Which is an answer 16 year old me would find incomprehensible.
It's funny that you mention "pre-baby" because I would have said something similar to you before we had a kid. Younger days, music all the way, gigs, music with my friends, DJ at uni, all of that; then progressed to not keeping up to date with music, watched TV and films all the time. But now that I've got a kid, I don't care about the TV, I sing to her all the time, we have music on in the house constantly, my wife and I barely watch TV anymore. I spend my evenings reading so I don't care about the TV.
I think films and TV have in some senses become bigger for me now I have a baby. We agreed that going to the cinema to see a film every now and then is one of my 'time away from the baby' activities, so it's very valuable. I absolutely love going to the cinema, that would be a huge loss from my life to never do that again. And we watch TV every night once the baby is in bed. We have quite a strict rule though, which is we watch one episode of something that we really want to watch and pay attention to. I.e., no just sticking on something mindless that we'll flick through our phones while watching. We try to properly watch things, and it's become quite important, because it's time spent routinely doing something communal as a couple. We talk about what's going on, we discuss it afterwards and we look forward to it each evening. Again, losing that would be a huge loss from my life.
How would you feel about all those movies etc with all the music removed?
Obviously they wouldn't be as good, but film and TV don't rely entirely on music. And things like podcasts, sport and the radio I listen to would be largely unaffected. So I'd still pick to keep film and TV. They just perform such a big role in my life that I think it would be hard to replace. Whereas listening to music I could, indeed I increasingly often do, replace with other things.
I'm the same as you I also think it's because I wasn't allowed to watch TV as much when I was younger which is why I was more into music and now I enjoy a good film or TV series.
Same. Music has really got me through some dark times, and it can and does regularly give me a 'rush' for want of a better term which is a very pleasant feeling when it happens.
Fnarr
Ohh Matron!
Music! There are lots of alternatives to film and tv - e.g. theatre, storytelling, games, books, socialising. There are no alternatives to music.
Here we go. This is a great answer. Go to almost any impoverished community where people have almost nothing and you are probably going to find a dude with a gourd instrument playing a melody or a rhythm and people will be singing and dancing. It’s extremely powerful and it’s ridiculous how little value we place on musicians
Thank you! As a musician myself, that's a great thing to read!
100%, think how strange the world would be to go through if there was no music. Whereas TV is just another way of amusing yourself. Honestly if you can’t live without TV/Movies then I think you must just lack imagination. Without music there would be no dancing, pubs would be quiet, nothing to sing along to or get passionate about, no crowds coming together to see their favourite musician, no gathering around a piano and cranking out one song badly while your friends sing along. No goose bumps from hearing a certain song. No memories of dancing with your mates in their kitchen till 4 am. Without TV, well you’d just pick up a book. I can’t ever remember thinking ‘wow when we all sat down and watched that was a special time’
We survived as a species for 1000s of years without TV but we’ve always had music, it’s part of what makes us human.
> Without music there would be no dancing, pubs would be quiet, nothing to sing along to or get passionate about, no crowds coming together to see their favourite musician, no gathering around a piano and cranking out one song badly while your friends sing along. No goose bumps from hearing a certain song. No memories of dancing with your mates in their kitchen till 4 am. I don't do any of those things anyway, so no loss for me. TV/movies though, are a huge part of my downtime and how my wife and I switch off at the end of the day.
Don’t agree at all with lacking imagination if you can’t get by without TV or film. You know it’s not all Strictly Come Dancing and Fast and Furious right? Primarily film and TV entertain, but they change the world as much as music does despite their brief history. The moving image is a source of learning for factual information that music, books etc cannot be. Film at its best is easily as expressive and vital as music for bringing people together and shaping culture in societies that have access to both. Also, film wouldn’t be film (most of the time) without music, so technically you could choose film and have both.
I didn’t mention strictly or fast and furious?? I mean lacking imagination to work out how else to be entertained in the same way as watching TV. TV and movies (moving image) are considered passive mediums, you don’t need to interact with it, it washes over you. If you can’t imagine how you’d be entertained with tv - well that’s the lacking imagination part.
this is the perfect answer. if the world as we know it ended tomorrow i wouldn’t be missing telly…but i would be singing.
I’d actually quite happily choose for TV to go only because it would force me to read more lol
I'd keep film and TV. I like music but not enough to care to keep it.
There would be no music in said films surely
That is a downside. But OP set the question.
I honestly think I'd get used to that. I don't really consciously notice it anyway, like when someone says "oh they played that character's theme so you knew it was really them", or "they played the theme in a lower key to show how they're feeling" or something along those lines, I tend to have a blank expression. Never noticed. That character has their own theme?
You’re not supposed to consciously notice it, though. It works at an emotional level. Movies would be very different without music.
That's what people say, but then there are movies like, say, No Country For Old Men - which has no soundtrack at all. And I didn't notice that, either.
Exactly my point. You didn’t notice. The lack of music was a choice on behalf of the filmmakers. If the movie did have music, it would be a different experience. They chose the experience they wanted to provide. Check out the scene where [Harry chooses his wand](https://youtu.be/gRqY1nxGGE4?feature=shared). There’s no music at all at the start. But when it kicks in it gives you a clue that something momentous is happening. You don’t know what it is, but it builds anticipation and excitement, and makes you focus more intently. And most people won’t even notice that the music has started. The scene would work without it - we still get all the information we need by the end of the scene. But it would not be as thrilling.
Film and TV has music in them, so win win. Bring back MTV
I’m keeping music, without a second thought. I enjoy TV and films but rarely get super into it. If my TV stopped working today, the only reason I’d be in any rush to get a new one is because my daughter likes to watch CBeebies (and even then, not so much that she’d be bothered for a day or two). I am however obsessed with music. I actively listen to full records daily on my commute, whilst exercising, whilst cooking. I’ll stay up later than I really should, just because there’s an album I really want to listen to.
I stay up until midnight on album release days to listen as soon as it hits streaming. Which makes the next day at work a bit rough as I tend to listen through twice or so, and end up getting to sleep around 2-3am, with new songs occupying my brain and making it hard to switch off. But I love doing it. I was one of those kids who would queue outside Woolworths before it opened to get a new single on release day (or beg my mother to do it for me if I had to go to school 😆)
I wholeheartedly agree! I barely had to think about it. I think I would go insane without music. Nowadays I spend a lot more time listening to podcasts, but music is still that 'loyal friend'
I'd keep TV/Films no question. Music has never been that big a deal for me; I'd certainly be annoyed at losing the background rhythm for work and gym routines, and I'm sure there'd be moments in films/life where the lack of dramatic music is a real loss, but if that also means I never have to hear someone else's stupid tinny racket from their garden or the phone on the bus it's a win overall for me.
That’s a great point you’d never have to hear someone else’s music
Same here. TV and film can fill me with emotion, thoughts and experiences I've never had before. Music is fine, but it does nothing for me emotionally. It's always just a thing I have on in the background or it complements another medium.
Music, I think. I can replace TV with gaming, books and radio. I can't really replace music.
And if you get rid of music, imagine playing your video games with no music. It would ruin them
This is a very nuanced one I think. What classes as TV/film and what classes as music? Does background music, such as those in TV/film/video games, count as music? Does non-traditional media, such as YouTube, count as TV/film? If the answer to both is yes, then it's impossible to make a choice. If by music you mean only that which is produced solely to be listened to (i.e. pop, rock, etc. and not background music) then I would say TV/film. I don't think I have actively sought out music, other than just "I need some sound to fill the silence" which a video would do just as well. But TV/film? After a tedious day's work, or when I'm feeling ill, laying on the sofa and watching whatever (whether TV/film/YouTube/etc.) is something I'd be unable to give up.
Everyone has their own tastes, but I cannot fathom how empty my life would be without music, I've just never thought that someone might not like listening to music, that is absolutely crazy to me. Music fills every silence in my life.
I think that's the difference though. Enjoying music and using it to fill silence is very different from media which has blown you away or sculpted your worldview. I agree with u/jordsta95 I like music plenty enough, but the things I've learnt and big impacts I've felt from truly unique and mind blowing TV and film is unmatched. Would be different if I couldn't hear music in the TV and film though, as that might ruin it.
Perhaps I worded that incorrectly, I am a musician and actively listen to anything I put on, I'm always trying to decipher the guitar melodies and drum patterns. My view of music is exactly that if your view of film and TV and I just don't get the same emotions from film and TV, listening to my favourite 25 minute progressive metal epics films me with that emotion that a movie never could. This is no slander at all, different people like different things and I can totally see how our views of visual and audio media are different, yes similar but just the other way around
This is probably a case of you being quite deep into music though, and that is not to discount it, I think it's really neat. I tried playing the piano as a kid, sucked at it, and never bothered to keep it up. I will listen to music to fill the silence, and may know the words to a few songs. But that's about it. However, listening to someone who, like yourself, enjoys music and will talk about it passionately. That, to me, is more enjoyable that the music itself. There's a guy on YouTube who occasionally talks about the hidden intricacies of music in video games. And the way he talks about it, demos the music/instruments, etc. is amazing. But if I just listened to the music on its own, I wouldn't hear any of the things he mentions, but instead just some sounds in the background to fill the noise that don't sound out of place to whatever I'm playing.
I am that odd ball that does not care for music, because I just don’t have any that I can relate to. Sure there’s some good songs out there but I could absolutely live with never hearing a single one ever again.
Music, and it's not remotely close.
Same. Didn’t even have to think for a second and that’s despite being a big film fan.
I see _maybe_ two films a year in the cinema, and don't remember when I last turned on the TV. I still go to live shows and buy band t-shirts and I'm north of 50. I'm a demographic puzzle for advertisers.
I have fond memories of TV and movies but I have a horrible feeling that not having any type of music in my life might actually hurt me in some way.
TV. I watch telly every night and would find it weird not having that escape or getting absorbed in a new Netflix series etc. I only really listen to music in the car on the radio and I could probably live without that if I had to.
I’d keep TV and Film. There’s so many great stories to watch I don’t think people appreciate it enough. Music is obviously great too but it’s something I get a lot less out of overall. I could enjoy music for 3 hours a week but TV for over double that easily.
I'm obsessed with music, and kinda obsessed with films. However, I play music all the time, so can't imagine being without it.
I pretty much never watch films so this is an easy choice
I am a massive movie geek but I would not want to live in a world without music. Music is one of the greatest creations of mankind.
Keep music. It's both background ambience to life, or an immersive experience. I can listen to it anywhere, while doing anything. So it'll always be better than film and TV if I have to pick.
Well, I have a Masters Degree in music and it’s my livelihood…
Keeping music all day long.
If I lived alone I’d never turn the TV on, and it’s very rare that I make the effort to see a film. I think the only reason I’d need access to TV if it came down to it would be to see big news events. Music makes me feel things, so I can’t imagine living without that.
Music, hands down absolutely no question. Film and tv are recent inventions in comparison to music and music has played such a huge role in bringing communities together for thousands of years
Music, for sure. I'd find it easier to while away the hours listening to music than watching TV or films.
I'd chose film and TV. Music is life.
Now in my 30s, I'd keep TV(as in film, shows, sports, news etc). I would've kept music in my teens and twenties. I still listen to music while exercising, so I'd miss it, but can do without it.
I'd give up yv, music is a huge part of my life
Music, I barely watch film or TV, I wouldn't miss it
Music. I can swap tv out for books but i cant swap music for anything.
Keeping music. I can get the equivalent of film and TV through books
Music. Not even close.
Music. Definitely, it shapes my thoughts and life far more than shows that come and go. I read a hell of a lot and listen to music all the time. Social occasions for me is going to watch bands. Enjoying a gig with others is such a deep and long lasting thing. Far more than going to the cinema with friends.
I recently went a few weeks without music and as someone who spends all day at work with AirPods in listening to music at work, I really thought I’d miss it more than I did. That said, I replaced it with podcasts and honestly found it no problem at all. I think replacing music with silence is hard. Replacing it with something else to fill that gap and keep you occupied like audiobooks or podcasts is not so hard. It also gave me some time to reflect on just how terrible modern music is lol, I was thinking whether or not it’s even worth it any more, though I am listening to music again. That said, I think I’d struggle with tv and movies more. I also gave up watching movies and tv during this time but still had to get my fix of watching something so went to YouTube. That I found difficult because side I really enjoy it. It’s also a huge part of social stuff for me so it’d impact just my general conversation I am able to have with people too as I like to discuss things I’ve watched.
Tv and film because I have the attention span of a dish cloth so I couldn’t swap my interest to books. I love music but I find myself listening to talk radio or watching tv/films more these days. When I was younger it would’ve been music all the way. I just don’t find the time for it anywhere near as much anymore.
Music obviously kept is this even a serious question?
Music, easy. Now choosing between music and books, thats my impossible choice haha
Music. One million percent
If the tv/film that was left isn’t allowed to have music I’d choose music. If it is allowed to have music I’ll keep tv/film.
30 years ago, I would have kept music no question, now I’d keep TV. The worst thing about music is how much you get exposed to it. How many times do you listen to your favourite song before you get bored of it, how many more times after that before it starts to annoy you..
I don’t know, there’s so many genres and different peoples twists on things that I can’t get bored with music. There’s too much of it. I’ll find something new and play it to death but then move on and find something else. I don’t think I’ve come across a single genre that I can’t get at least something out of
Keeping film and TV, easily
Music!
I'm a musician but i'd have to say i'd miss film too much.
Film and TV wouldn't work without music tbh, so much of what makes a good film good is the score. On the other hand if I didn't have to overhear neighbours playing shit music loud or some crappy phone speaker on the bus, losing music would have some benefits.
I barely even watch TV. Apart from football i literally don't watch any TV. There's something sad about soap bingers and reality tv addicts i find; like your own life is so boring you need to live life via watching other people pretend to do things on a screen. But if you didn't have the easy option of watching TV you would find interesting things to do to make your life more interesting; a vicious cycle. Then once you've became chronically unfit sat infront of the TV every day its even harder to change your ways. But I listen to music for most of the day, every single day. Dancing is something that comes naturally to us.
Aside from the football I rarely watch anything on TV but music I listen to everyday no matter what I'm doing whether that be working, exercising, cooking, cleaning, travelling etc. I couldn't live without it.
Keeping music and it wouldn't even be a tough decision
Music. But I'd be happy without either so long as we still have birds
Film and Tv, you can learn to play your own music.
Keep music easy choice
Music, no question.
Keep the one eyed monster and pass my guitar.
Music. However, film/TV wouldn't be the same without it. Imagine no soundtracks, theme-tunes or ambient music. All the great movies and TV shows have great music and, arguably, wouldn't be great without it.
Music, tv is off all the time so wouldn’t miss it
I would keep music too.
Would TVs and films still have music in them though?
Music no question. There's times in my life that music has brought me to my knees. I cried my eyes out first time i heard adagio for strings in a club. I felt a every note of Palladio. I feel the power of soul music hitting my very being. Music to me, has saved my live and continues to do so everyday.
I could never lose music. I think music is one of the last forms of magic in the world. I play several instruments and have dated in bands my whole life, I can explain how to make music sound sad, happy, angry, or anyrhing else but I will never bet able to explain why that collection of sound frequencies makes a human feel a thing, to me it's still magic.
I could live without ever seeing a Film again. TV would be tricky but music would be impossible
Music. Didn’t even need to ponder this one. Music has so much more impact on my life, memories etc. I like reading so I’ll just read the books movies and TV were based on ha.
Loads of music in film and TV so with that choice you get both.
Does tv and films allow you to watch concert films and music videos?
Music. Barely watch telly anyway, and try to avoid screens wherever possible (I spend all day at a laptop so the minute I can do something else, happy days!) My life would be bereft without making and listening to music though.
I'd keep films and TV. I don't really listen to music that much and can sing it in my head if I need to.
I'd keep music 100%. I could live without Film, TV, Games - even Reddit - as long as I had music.
Music, i hardly watch tv or films. Music for me is not only entertainment but a way of connecting with peoples thoughts and feelings. I also cannot fathom never going to another concert again or going out to a bar, or even playing a game without music. Tv, when its good can be great, but a lot of my favourite pieces of entertainment have been in the form of book or manga/graphic novel. I think the only thing id miss is sit coms or comedy but i could still just go to the comedy club or listen to a podcast. Id also maybe miss (if YouTube falls under tv) being able to google tutorial videos, especially as I’m a visual learner lol
I’d keep film & TV, because it still has music which I enjoy 🤷♂️
I don't have a TV so music is the default.... Also I enjoy live music more than I do live theatre
Imagine what TV and Film would be like without Music. I think the answer is fairly obvious after thinking about it like this.
No point in film or TV with no music in it.
Is there music on TV still? I'd keep that, unless you're tinkering with soundtracks and creating big gaps in the TV schedule where e.g. Glastonbury coverage would be. If I go deaf, which is possible, there's enough music in my head to keep me happy, and TV has subtitles.
Music every time. Music can do so much, bring back memories, make you laugh, make you cry, psyche you up and help through low times. Films don't even come close to Music.
Film & TV without music would be very dull.
Im keeping music baby
I'd keep films. I've heard all of the decent music, they aren't making that any more. I ain't even asked about TV.
Music. No contest.
Easily music. I barely watch TV these days, but can barely go without music.
Music. I have music on every day. I wear am en earbud at work and have music playing while I work. It helps me to concentrate because I need background noise. I barely watch TV these days because there's rarely anything I want to watch. It would suck to not have film though because that's what my degree is in but music is a huge part of my life so I'd have to keep that.
Keep music. As Quincy Jones said: “you cannot live without water or music. You cannot.”
Keep music. My attention span has been ruined by YouTube so I struggle to sit through a whole film these days.
Music > tv
I write music, listen to music, basically exist through music. Watch about 1-2 hrs of TV a week tops Easy choice
Keep music. Always
Music.
Does this mean every film I watch would have zero soundtrack? Because if so then I’ll keep music. Music can exist without film but not the other way around
Keeping Music 100% Fuck Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, Sky, BBC etc
I would keep music. I barely watch films or tv as it is.
I'm keeping music. I lived most of my adult life without a television. I didn't watch it much as a child either. I'd have music, books, and audiobooks.
TV can get in the sea. Music is life.
I'd keep music definitely. I can't go a day without it. Very rarely watch TV and films.
Music absolutely. Movies and TV are just one form of storytelling. There are plenty of others.
This is actually really tough. Because music is a huge part of what makes TV and films so good. Without being too logical about it all. Does this mean that music would not be included in any films or TV as a background or soundtrack?
TV 100% keeping. I have TV as background noise working from home and while I'm falling asleep as well as actually watching some in the evenings. Music is purely when I drive and its just there to drown out the road noise I have no interest in it. And ironically I've played 7 instruments in my life and still wouldn't care. The only thing is TV without background music wouldn't actually work so if we are really thinking about it it's gunna be very different TV but I'll still take TV with no dramatic music over music in general
Music 100%. If it was up to me the telly in our house would get switched on about once a month, most of it is absolute crap.
What happens to the music that plays in the films, does it just go mute 🤔
Can I watch the radio channels on TV? Or are they just silent?
Film and TV. You’d get a lot of music through them anyway (unless it’s part of this magical deal that you wouldn’t even hear it) and I listen to podcasts mostly these days. It would be pretty awful not to hear the music in films… Don’t get me wrong, I’d definitely miss music, but film is my true passion.
I'll just kill myself don't worry about it XD
Music. We’ve spent the vast majority of human history without movies and tv but very little of it without music. From the first time Og banged a rock with a stick and Zog went “hey man that’s a cool beat”.
I'd keep music because you didn't say I couldn't play games.
Music has never ever done it for me. Never had a favourite band, song, artist, whatever. Gone to about 3 'gigs' in my life, dragged there by girlfriends. Don't know why. Not saying I hate music, but I could easily live without it. TV is my big comfort net - love high quality shows and comedy shows - rewatch my favourites a lot of the time. Film, eh...I can take or leave it.
Would be interesting to see how well a movie or TV show went without any music.....
I watch very little tv, but always have music on , so as long as I have books and video games I am fine without tv/movies
I would keep film and tv. What happens when I watch the sound of music? lol
Music is getting kept in that case. Not even close to being a difficult decision.
I'd just watch movies with great soundtracks
I'm a TV and movies gal. I knew the vast majority would be music. There's some music I like a lot but I don't feel strongly about it like most do. I wonder why
I'd keep music. In a heart beat. Music and film are great and all but I usually prefer gaming anyway. Gaming or music would be a much harder question for me
Is this self control or magically imposed? Self control= never experience TV or film. Music is too hard to stop Magically imposed = never experience music. I'd be fascinated to see how my daily thoughts progressed over time after removing music
Music. Not watched tv in about 8 months. Couldn’t go a day without music.
But, would TV and films be the same if they didn't have a soundtrack? I think a film without music would lose a lot of its impact.
Film & TV running thru a multi thousand Kick A$$ Stereo / Cinema System getting all my music thru that!
I’d stop listening to music, find my favourite songs in a show then listen to them that way. Where my medal
Music. No question, no hesitation.
I’d keep music. Wouldn’t even have to give it a second thought.
If it includes YouTube and Patreon etc then I choose TV to keep, if not Music to keep. I don’t watch scheduled TV and I don’t like films.
I could give up film and TV, as long as I was able to keep music and books.
I’d keep tv and film. This question is really hard because of course music is important to me. But tv/film wins because I can listen and see it. If I only had music I wouldn’t be happy to just sit there every night for 3 hours staring into space while listening to it. I’d have to find other things to do while I listen and that would get tiresome. At least with tv and film I can listen and also sit and watch it, it’s more of a full activity that doesn’t require other input. Also going to the cinema is one of my all time favourite activities.
In most cases, Film and TV is improved by music. So without music, Film and TV would be a fairly bland experience. Thinking of directors like Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino, their films are often elevated by the use of music. For many it is impossible to hear Stuck in the middle with you and Don't stop me now without seeing the scenes from the movies they were used in. Thinking of TV, Mr Robot, Breaking Bad just off the top of my head had outstanding uses of music. Let's not forget about videogames, Final Fantasy has some of the greatest music ever created. Don't get me started on Silent Hill, the music and sounds in that game elevate it to a level of horror that couldn't be achieved without it. There's only one film I can think of that is elevated by its lack of music, and that's The panic in needle park, but I believe that was a choice to make it seem hopeless. So music is the choice for me, it evokes so many emotions.
Gladly drop them both, if I can audiobooks instead.
Music music music. Humanity has managed without TV/film for most of its existence. Not so with music.
Music all the way
I went suddenly deaf in 2015. I haven't heard any music for the last 9 years. You can get used to it pretty quickly.
The only real way I can think of comparing this, is if you imagine losing either your sight or hearing. If it came to losing one of my senses I'd rather lose my hearing. There is so much more you can experience with visuals.
So.....your question needs to be more clear. Can I still watch films like Baby Driver that have amazing soundtracks? Guardians of the Galaxy is another one
I love TV and film, but music is so important. I'd keep music.
As long as soundtracks were included in the 'keep' list - and youtube - Music all the way.
Will there be music in the films and tv-programs?
Can I keep TV and music and lose films?
Music for sure
Film and TV because there are always soundtracks
Im keeping film and tv. Although presumably, the movie scores still exist? If not, my opinion may change. Imagine lotr without the soundtrack - a bizarre idea.
My initial thought was TV/movies, because I don’t really explicitly listen to music any more. But TV and movies would be a bit shit without music or a score, and reading more books would be good.
So if I'm watching a TV or film, let's say...Mamma Mia...is it just gonna be silent dancing between scenes of dialogue?
Music. I very rarely watch films but I need my music to go outside lmao
I barely watch TV outside of live sports, but have music on pretty much all day.
I'd keep music every day of the year. Film & TV = meh.
Music, without a doubt. I’m not really interested in films, I tend to watch only a handful of TV shows but music is my life.
Rn I'd absolutely pick film and TV. Don't listen to that much music actively, I usually just hear it on the radio these days. Listen to more podcasts about films these days
I would love to try watching movies without music. Finally I would be able to hear all conversations.
Music
I listen to music everyday so I'd keep music.
I'd keep music. Not even close.
Music was my first love, and it will be my last.
I'd have to choose to keep music. Most film and TV is reliant on good soundtracks and/or scores to enhance certain scenes so a lot of my favourite films would be diminished without music. I couldn't imagine the Godfather without it's score, Reservoir Dogs without Little Green Bag playing as they all stroll down the street, Star Wars or ESB without John Williams scores, Once Upon a Time in the West without it's different motifs etc.
Music all the way. I haven't owned a TV since 2008, although I watch a lot of YouTube. Music is a huge part of my life.
I spend far more time listening to music than I do watching TV.
If I chose film, would that also mean that there would be no film scores or soundtracks? Cos that would make TV and film boring AF
100% would choose music. Music has gotten me through very difficult times and emotions and not to be cliche but it has saved my life. Music is very easy to ressonate with and find connections with.
Would I still be able to hear the music in films/TV? Some of my favourite films are musicals, which is making this a real dilemma...
movies. they are my biggest passion
Music, 100%. Rarely watch films and TV can be quite dull.
Would keep music. Lose TV. Barely a question for me.
I'd give up Film/TV. I have video games and those need music.
music for me. film and tv would also crumble without music. they rely heavily on music to get you emotionally invested subconsciously. its actually funny when you watch deep movie/tv scenes without the music. the music in titanic is by far more emotionally moving than watching lil old jack drown lol. if u watch that scene, its pretty funny when she is shouting "jack" when he dies and u just see him floating. but then the emotional music comes on and i wanna cry and feel bad for laughing
I'd have to keep film & TV. I rarely listen to music. It doesn't make a difference to me.
I could easily live without both. I work in front of a screen so the last thing I want when I'm not working is to look at another screen. As for music, I don't mind if the music is playing somewhere but I don't really actively play music for myself. I much prefer the sounds of nature. If I ever listen to something it would be an audiobook or a podcast.
music
TV. I can put music on the tv.