For me it’s time signatures in music. I grew up playing instruments, played in several orchestras, etc. But no matter how many times someone tries to explain time signatures to me, it makes no sense. I don’t understand why people place such importance on it. To me, notes have a pitch and a duration, maybe some dynamics. That’s it. I don’t understand why people try to needlessly complicate it. It doesn’t give you anything.
My wife will hear a song and go “Oh neat, it’s in 5/8.” And I’m like “How tf do you know that, and why does it matter?”


The difference between 7/4 and 7/8, in my mind, is one of pacing. Similar to how 4/2 and 4/4 are counted the same, but with different notation because the composer or engraver wanted to make the tempo intrinsic.
Money is a much slower song than the examples I gave, more of a laid-back pace, which shouts 7/4 in my mind. I still love it, but it feels more…I dunno, like walking with a jazzy gate rather than tripping forward, if that makes sense. And when Money does get faster it’s in 4/4.
Thanks that’s a great explanation