A question for you

I've been asked a couple of times over the past few months about why I like a particular song or a particular movie.

To me it's an odd question, and one that I've given a lot of thought. Usually when I hear a new song or see a new movie I decide I like it or I don't based on how it resonates with me. Beyond that I can't articulate what it is about it that caused me to like something--though often I can articulate why I didn't like something.

Take music, for example. I know people who will really like a song because it fools around with time signatures in a creative way, or has interesting key signature changes or tempo changes or something like that. I find music that is purely an intellectual exercise boring--if it's devoid of any emotional content that I can detect I don't care for it. If I have to sit there and parse it out to see what's so wonderful about it, and to discover the artist's intent, then I lose interest quickly. Yes, I know people who look down their noses at music and theater that's overly accessible, but to me, if I can't understand it, then it I don't see the point. And I'd rather not have to research something I'm listening to or watching for pleasure to get any pleasure from it.

But do you do that? How do you decide whether or not you like something? Do you intellectualize it when you hear or see something new, or do you do like me and let your viscera decide if you like it?

I'm just curious.