So I was watching VH1 storytellers with John Mayer last night. I Love/Hate John Mayer. He was singing Your Body is a Wonderland, so I quickly changed the channel when he started singing. That is the John Mayer music that I hate, but thats a discussion for a whole other time. He was talking about how he wrote the song, and he compared the process to his first love. He said that when he was writing this song, he tried to compare it to nothing. He wanted the song to stand alone as a piece of art, rather than come at it from a familiar angle. He played the riff over and over for hours so that there was only the riff. It had shed all context except it's inception. It existed only in that creative moment, and held no relationship to any other music. He wrote the song about his first girlfriend, and he also approached the song like he approached that initial relationship. He had no other relationship to compare it to since it was his first, so there was only what they had together.
Now, I don't think that he had really purely shed all musical context, but I really like the idea, and hearing him describe the creative process adds to that part of John Mayer that I love.
Showing posts with label music business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music business. Show all posts
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Live Music
How can you change how a person hears a song that you are playing live? If you play a song by counting it off and playing it exactly the way that it is on the recording, then the person who is hearing it is still retaining their original perception of that song. When they hear it, they are relating it to all the other times that they heard the song in the past. This can be comfortable and familiar to the listener. It can also be boring and predictable at the same time. Different listeners are going to have different relationships with the same song.
There can, however, be simple and subtle ways to introduce the song in a way that make the song your own without changing the original song too much. One example of this is to use an introduction for the song that leads into the beginning of the song. This uses something that is unfamiliar, yet pleasing, to the listener, to set up a familiar song. If you do it correctly, it can make the listener hear the song in a new way because you added an intro that complimented the song. When the original song drops in or blends in, and the listener recognizes the song, it can create a moment in the listeners musical mind that is exciting. Another subtle way to change a song to make it more interesting is to try not to sing it exactly like the original singer on the recording. Use your own singing voice, and your own genuine emotion to present the song. This can backfire if the listener does not like your interpretation, but it can also make a listener take notice of a song that they may not of taken notice of before. Then, maybe the next time they hear the song on the radio, they will appreciate it more because they relate it to the experience of hearing you do it.
There are also ways to rework a song that are not subtle, but drastic, that can also make the listener take notice. There are lots of examples of this in reggae music. Lots of times, a reggae band will take a song that is rock, doowop, soul, etc... and change the feel of it to a reggae feel. This can be very effective in making the listener hear the song in a different way. Another example would be to blend two song together, or "mashup" two songs. This would be when you find two songs that have similar feels, melodies, or grooves, and essentially playing them at the same time. Maybe singing the verse of one song while playing the groove of another song. There are plenty of ways to do this. Wikipedia gives the following definitions for mashup. "A mashup, bootleg or blend[1] (also mash up and mash-up) is a song or composition created by blending two or more songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the music track of another.[2] To the extent that such works are 'transformative' of original content, they may find protection from copyright claims under the "fair use" doctrine of copyright law.[3]". There is even a video game called "DJ Hero" where you create your own mashup. In doing this, you can present the song in a whole new way, that creates a new context for the song. This can also be exciting for the listener, but it can also, in some listeners musical minds, not be effective at all. It is all subjective.
The most effective way to increase a listeners enjoyment is to have fun, try to make the other musicians have a good time, and make the audience have a good time.
There can, however, be simple and subtle ways to introduce the song in a way that make the song your own without changing the original song too much. One example of this is to use an introduction for the song that leads into the beginning of the song. This uses something that is unfamiliar, yet pleasing, to the listener, to set up a familiar song. If you do it correctly, it can make the listener hear the song in a new way because you added an intro that complimented the song. When the original song drops in or blends in, and the listener recognizes the song, it can create a moment in the listeners musical mind that is exciting. Another subtle way to change a song to make it more interesting is to try not to sing it exactly like the original singer on the recording. Use your own singing voice, and your own genuine emotion to present the song. This can backfire if the listener does not like your interpretation, but it can also make a listener take notice of a song that they may not of taken notice of before. Then, maybe the next time they hear the song on the radio, they will appreciate it more because they relate it to the experience of hearing you do it.
There are also ways to rework a song that are not subtle, but drastic, that can also make the listener take notice. There are lots of examples of this in reggae music. Lots of times, a reggae band will take a song that is rock, doowop, soul, etc... and change the feel of it to a reggae feel. This can be very effective in making the listener hear the song in a different way. Another example would be to blend two song together, or "mashup" two songs. This would be when you find two songs that have similar feels, melodies, or grooves, and essentially playing them at the same time. Maybe singing the verse of one song while playing the groove of another song. There are plenty of ways to do this. Wikipedia gives the following definitions for mashup. "A mashup, bootleg or blend[1] (also mash up and mash-up) is a song or composition created by blending two or more songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the music track of another.[2] To the extent that such works are 'transformative' of original content, they may find protection from copyright claims under the "fair use" doctrine of copyright law.[3]". There is even a video game called "DJ Hero" where you create your own mashup. In doing this, you can present the song in a whole new way, that creates a new context for the song. This can also be exciting for the listener, but it can also, in some listeners musical minds, not be effective at all. It is all subjective.
The most effective way to increase a listeners enjoyment is to have fun, try to make the other musicians have a good time, and make the audience have a good time.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I heard that!
How you perceive, appreciate, like, dislike music can have a lot to do with your initial exposure to that music. How you first heard it. Was it a friend that gave it to you? Did you hear it on the radio? Did you hear the band live? Did you seek it out? Was it requested to you by an internet radio station? It is the original context for your relationship with that song, and can have a great effect on how relate to that song in the future. This especially applies to times when you have never heard the type of music, and you cant immediately relate it to other music that you have heard in the past.
Sometimes, I will hear music that I really like that I found for myself. Then, when I show it to my friends that I listen to music with, their reaction can also have an effect on how I relate to the music. If they say that they like it, it validates my impression of the music. Sometimes I will show music to a friend and they say they don't like it. That makes me question why I liked it, my taste in music, and whether the song is actually good or not. Sometimes, a friend will say that they don't like the music, and it will make me not want to listen to it anymore.
Sometimes, I will hear music that I really like that I found for myself. Then, when I show it to my friends that I listen to music with, their reaction can also have an effect on how I relate to the music. If they say that they like it, it validates my impression of the music. Sometimes I will show music to a friend and they say they don't like it. That makes me question why I liked it, my taste in music, and whether the song is actually good or not. Sometimes, a friend will say that they don't like the music, and it will make me not want to listen to it anymore.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Why do we laugh at music?
Why do we laugh at music? Maybe it's just me. It's not because it's funny. Have you ever been on a roller coaster laughing the whole time? Sometimes I laugh at music like that. When it is so good that I am amazed that I am hearing it, I laugh. Sometimes it's a chuckle, sometimes it's hysterical.
I saw a show recently that made me laugh. It was the band Them Crooked Vultures. It is a group made up of people from different bands, all of which I worship. Queens of the Stone Age, Led Zeppelin and Nirvana. As the show started, it was every bit as good as I hoped it would be. The music was energetic, loud and well written. Nobody in the crowd had ever heard the music before since they had not yet released any of it yet. Josh Homme, the front man, even mentioned that he was having a great time playing music for people that they had never heard before. I laughed through the first two songs while jumping up and down, because I new I was in for a treat. By the third song, I just watched with my jaw on the floor as they continued to go above and beyond my expectations.
An interesting side note. I saw a DVD of Radiohead one time where the crowd that they were playing to had not heard the music before. When the band would play a song from an older album, they would cheer loudly before and after the song. There was little response to the songs that they played that were from the album that they hadn't released yet, since no one had heard it before. When they released that album, it ended up being the album that cemented their place as a musical powerhouse. I bet if you went to a Radiohead show today, the crowd would cheer more for the songs of that album more than their previously released stuff.
I saw a show recently that made me laugh. It was the band Them Crooked Vultures. It is a group made up of people from different bands, all of which I worship. Queens of the Stone Age, Led Zeppelin and Nirvana. As the show started, it was every bit as good as I hoped it would be. The music was energetic, loud and well written. Nobody in the crowd had ever heard the music before since they had not yet released any of it yet. Josh Homme, the front man, even mentioned that he was having a great time playing music for people that they had never heard before. I laughed through the first two songs while jumping up and down, because I new I was in for a treat. By the third song, I just watched with my jaw on the floor as they continued to go above and beyond my expectations.
An interesting side note. I saw a DVD of Radiohead one time where the crowd that they were playing to had not heard the music before. When the band would play a song from an older album, they would cheer loudly before and after the song. There was little response to the songs that they played that were from the album that they hadn't released yet, since no one had heard it before. When they released that album, it ended up being the album that cemented their place as a musical powerhouse. I bet if you went to a Radiohead show today, the crowd would cheer more for the songs of that album more than their previously released stuff.
The timeless song...
I'd like to talk about the idea of the Timeless Song. This song could have been the biggest hit of it's time. Played on the radio for years passed it's release date. Heard by each new generation, the song goes through many different contexts for all those who hear it through time. This is the timeless song. A song that is appreciated, understood and relevant forever. It's a great song that transcends its original context.
The Timeless Song could also be a song that was not even heard, or appreciated during its time of release. 100, 200, 5000 years later, the song is listened to. The person who listens to it is intrigued, curious and moved at the same time. The song, although foreign sounding, has some element of familiarity and appeal to that future listener.
Are there songs that you can identify that have these, or similar qualities? I can't. Not off the top of my head. Remind me to tell you about the Timeless Joke sometime. You know, the one that is funny to anyone, anywhere any time in the future or the past.
The Timeless Song is not defined by it's original context. It is able to hold strong and create a place for itself in any context.
What will people think of Madonna in 100, 200 years from now. What about Elvis. No one will remember them. Maybe only a dated picture remains. What then of the music? Removed from its original context, what will be the listeners perception or interpretation of the music. Like it? Dislike it? Understand it? Laugh at it?
I guess it's hard to predict what would be the Timeless Song, but maybe we can identify some from the past. What do you think
The Timeless Song could also be a song that was not even heard, or appreciated during its time of release. 100, 200, 5000 years later, the song is listened to. The person who listens to it is intrigued, curious and moved at the same time. The song, although foreign sounding, has some element of familiarity and appeal to that future listener.
Are there songs that you can identify that have these, or similar qualities? I can't. Not off the top of my head. Remind me to tell you about the Timeless Joke sometime. You know, the one that is funny to anyone, anywhere any time in the future or the past.
The Timeless Song is not defined by it's original context. It is able to hold strong and create a place for itself in any context.
What will people think of Madonna in 100, 200 years from now. What about Elvis. No one will remember them. Maybe only a dated picture remains. What then of the music? Removed from its original context, what will be the listeners perception or interpretation of the music. Like it? Dislike it? Understand it? Laugh at it?
I guess it's hard to predict what would be the Timeless Song, but maybe we can identify some from the past. What do you think
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Where you from?
I always wondered what I, as an American, sounded like to someone from England. I mean, I know what they sound like to me, and it's different, but what do I sound like to them? I mean, I am speaking their freaking language. On the same token, when I hear someone speaking Spanish, they all sound the same to me. However, someone who speaks Spanish, and is from a Spanish speaking country, when they hear Spanish, they hear it for what country it comes from. Can't the context that you hear music in apply to your nationality and culture. This is probably the place that meaning applies most to music. When it is engrained in you culture, you derive great meaning and familiarity, where as if someone hears it who is from a different country, they are not going to get any of the same feelings that the music envokes in you. To them, it is music that is from your country, and to you, it is just music.
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