I'll start by asking you to listen to this piece of music while you continue to read this thread.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4RSscBcpDs[/media]
That piece of music is Bobby Darin's [I]Beyond the Sea[/I], released in the year 1959, and it's one of my favourite pieces of music.
This track is an example of how music, in general, used to be: enjoyable, purposeful and meaningful.
A song about a man pining after his lost lover, beautifully sung by Darin.
Now listen to this "song".
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpocrqvP2Yg[/media]
Soulja Boy's [I]Crank That (Soulja Boy)[/I] is a perfect example of what much of today's music has become: monotonous, repetitive, shallow and just... bad.
I'd advise you to stop listening now.
So what's my point?
Music used to be something people danced to, enjoyed and remembered.
Today it's just something in the background, something to listen to while you do something else.
It's all about sex and drugs, a way to advertise and it's almost heartbreaking.
How can civilization go from beautiful melodies and lyrics to what we have today?
Could Bobby Darin have ever imagined that music would degrade the way it has when he sung[I] Beyond the Sea?[/I]
Never in his wildest dreams.
I believe it's down to a couple of things:
A: Society is getting dumber - it's undeniable, with the brainless junk we have in today's media (as an example) humanity is degrading in terms of intellectuality. This kind of thing appeals to the lowest-common-denominators in society, the council - house 'chavs'.
B: Computerization - don't get me wrong, I love technology, but it has given us synthesizing (as an example) which means people don't need to play instruments to make music any more. Any moron with a keyboard can make millions from his tracks (lookin' at you Soulja Boy).
C: The Rat Race - Humanity is nowadays always trying to find ways to make things quicker, less time spent on anything. When was the last time you sat down and actually listened to your music properly? No, I don't mean while playing a game or such, I mean simply sitting there, with no distractions, and just listening. I recommend you try it.
Most music nowadays can be listened to just in the background while doing some other task - you don't even listen to it, it's just a comforting buzz in your headphones.
Now, please do not think that this is my view on all music. Far from it, I love many modern songs, and what I've just made a thread about is not true for all songs, but it is for a lot of them.
I hope this thread makes you think next time you put on a track, and maybe just makes you sit there and listen to it properly.
Thanks for reading.
there was shitty music in the 50s there's just nobody to remember it
rose-colored glasses, etc.
[img]http://izismile.com/img/img2/20090708/selection_193_71.jpg[/img]
[b]Need I say more?[/b]
[QUOTE=ImBill;16554059]there was shitty music in the 50s there's just nobody to remember it
rose-colored glasses, etc.[/QUOTE]
Read again: I didn't just say that "modern music is shitty".
[QUOTE=Thorny;16554044]
C: The Rat Race - Humanity is nowadays always trying to find ways to make things quicker, less time spent on anything. When was the last time you sat down and actually listened to your music properly? No, I don't mean while playing a game or such, I mean simply sitting there, with no distractions, and just listening. I recommend you try it.
Most music nowadays can be listened to just in the background while doing some other task - you don't even listen to it, it's just a comforting buzz in your headphones.
[/QUOTE]
And if you can multitask?
[QUOTE=Thorny;16554087]Read again: I didn't just say that "modern music is shitty".[/QUOTE]
There's decent music today. It just isn't popular, and that really hasn't changed since the 50s
[QUOTE=pie_is_good;16554118]And if you can multitask?[/QUOTE]
That has nothing to do with it.
[QUOTE=Thorny;16554136]That has nothing to do with it.[/QUOTE]
Listening to music, like actually listening to it. While going on the computer. i guess so.
you seem to be under the (false) impression music is totally different now
songs were being written about smokin' lots of weed and killin people since forever
[QUOTE=pie_is_good;16554155]Listening to music, like actually listening to it. While going on the computer. i guess so.[/QUOTE]
I meant, not while playing a game, reading a book or whatever.
[editline]05:26AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=ImBill;16554177]you seem to be under the (false) impression music is totally different now
songs were being written about smokin' lots of weed and killin people since forever[/QUOTE]
of course music is totally different now, how can you even think otherwise?
[QUOTE=Thorny;16554203]I meant, not while playing a game, reading a book or whatever.[/QUOTE]
Oh okay. Well it works if it's ambient music.
There was shit back in the day, too.
See: disco.
[QUOTE=ImBill;16554177]you seem to be under the (false) impression music is totally different now
songs were being written about smokin' lots of weed and killin people since forever[/QUOTE]
This song's called A to Z blues, and it's by Blind Willie McTell. it was made in '56.
[quote]I'm gonna cut your head four different ways;
That's long, short, deep and wide.
When I get a rhythm of this rusty black handle razor;
you're gonna be booked out for an ambulance ride;
Cause I'm gonna cut A, B, C, D on top of your head;
That's gonna be treating you nice like mama you ain't gonna be dead.
I'm gonna cut E, F, G right across your face;
H, I, J, K, that's where runnin' bound to take place;
Cut L, M, N cross both your arms;
You'll sell an' peddle gal your whole life long;
Cut N, O, P, Q that's gonna be trouble too;
Cause I'm gonna grab you mama and turn you every way but loose;
Cut R, S, T to hear you cry;
That'll be the last time tears a run from over your eyes;
Cut U, V, W on the bottom of your feet;
That'll be the last time you walk up an' down 25th street;
Marking cross your bosom with X, Y, Z;
When I get through with this alphabet;
You'll quit your messing with me.[/quote]
yeeeaaaahhh
i'm suddenly having a case of severe deja vu
:rolleyes:
I don't know if even in the 50s everyone would just sit down and listen to music. I mean there's been background music ever since music started. Back then, like today you'd have people that would just casually listen to music and people that really spent a lot of time and passion and actually spending time listening to it.
[QUOTE=pie_is_good;16554219]Oh okay. Well it works if it's ambient music.[/QUOTE]
I do that for the Oblivion soundtrack. Makes good study music.
On the flip side, I'm probably going to see Beethoven's 9th at the Boston symphony later this year, which is over an hour of nothing but music.
[QUOTE=DamagePoint;16554268]I don't know if even in the 50s everyone would just sit down and listen to music. I mean there's been background music ever since music started. Back then, like today you'd have people that would just casually listen to music and people that really spent a lot of time and passion and actually spending time listening to it.[/QUOTE]
Of course, but back then we didn't have the kind of stuff we do today, which we can do instead of just listening to music.
[quote]
Music used to be something people danced to, enjoyed and remembered.
Today it's just something in the background, something to listen to while you do something else.
It's all about sex and drugs, a way to advertise and it's almost heartbreaking.
How can civilization go from beautiful melodies and lyrics to what we have today?
Could Bobby Darin have ever imagined that music would degrade the way it has when he sung Beyond the Sea?
Never in his wildest dreams.[/quote]
the song i am listening to right now isn't about sex and drugs
goddamn, just don't listen to really mainstream shit
[editline]04:42AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Thorny;16554203]I meant, not while playing a game, reading a book or whatever.
[/QUOTE]
why would i want to do that
[QUOTE=pie_is_good;16554236]This song's called A to Z blues, and it's by Blind Willie McTell. it was made in '56.
yeeeaaaahhh[/QUOTE]
if you're a viper - stuff smith
[quote]Dreamed about a reefer five feet long.
Mighty Mezz, but not too strong.
You'll be high but not for long
If you're a viper.
I'm the king of everything.
I've got to be high before I can swing.
Light a tea and let it be
If you're a viper.
When your throat get dry you know you're high
Everything is dandy
Truck on down to the candy store
Bust your konk on peppermint candy
Then you know that you're body's spent.
You don't care if you don't pay rent.
Sky is high and so am I
If you're a viper.[/quote]
recorded 1936
Oh boy another opinion being presented as fact
[QUOTE=ImBill;16554451]if you're a viper - stuff smith
recorded 1936[/QUOTE]
Five foot long joint. Wow.
[QUOTE=Thorny;16554354]Of course, but back then we didn't have the kind of stuff we do today, which we can do instead of just listening to music.[/QUOTE]
But how so exactly? People did stuff back then too. It's not like they just sat around doing nothing because they didn't have internet.
[QUOTE=DamagePoint;16554592]But how so exactly? People did stuff back then too. It's not like they just sat around doing nothing because they didn't have internet.[/QUOTE]
They had internet back then. There's just more websites now.
Progress is cool.
Hate to break it to ya dude but this isn't a new thought. I'd be willing to bet my first born child that every generation thought that [i]"The world is getting worse"[/i] or [i]"People are getting dumber"[/i] or [i]"Society is degrading"[/i]. Things aren't any worse than they were 50 years ago, they're just different. So stop your bitching.
Thank you for this wonderful thread, the first 500 didn't get the point across well enough.
[QUOTE=Thorny;16554044]
A: Society is getting dumber - it's undeniable, with the brainless junk we have in today's media (as an example) humanity is degrading in terms of intellectuality. This kind of thing appeals to the lowest-common-denominators in society, the council - house 'chavs'.[/QUOTE]
It's really easy to say this, especially since now people are getting more bitchier and more bitchier. But we both know a teen today is a lot smarter then a teen 20 years ago. If you think other wise you've been sucking your dads dick too much.
[editline]01:03AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Thorny;16554044]B: Computerization - don't get me wrong, I love technology, but it has given us synthesizing (as an example) which means people don't need to play instruments to make music any more. Any moron with a keyboard can make millions from his tracks (lookin' at you Soulja Boy).
[/QUOTE]
So you go fucking do it hot shot, in before "I don't want that million dollars cause thats not me!"
[editline]01:07AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Thorny;16554087]Read again: I didn't just say that "modern music is shitty".[/QUOTE]
Actually you did, you took Soulja Boy out of context and used him to identify modern music as an object. You should probably read your thread again
My personal belief is, if south park can make this song:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAxailJPU5Q[/media]
Simply as a [U]joke[/U], then anybody can make it. This song is about the same quality as much new music of the same type. Much of the modern rap/hip hop is just so bland and boring, it's dribble.
There have always been stupid people, and they have always listened to stupid music.
A lot of people on Facepunch read Cracked...
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;16554940]There have always been stupid people, and they have always listened to stupid music.[/QUOTE]
What he said.
However, more so in this generation and increasing. In whatever decade you live in it's guaranteed there's lots great music somewhere. You just have to find it.
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