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arguing electronic music
 

offline napoleon from littleton on 2004-06-09 02:46 [#01230538]
Points: 75 Status: Regular



i hate when i'm talking to a friend who's hardcore "real
instruments" as he puts it and refuses to acknowledge that
electronic music amounts to anything, says anyone can do it,
etc etc. what's the best concise argument i can come up
with? everything i ever try to say to make him understand
electronic music always comes out sounding kind of stupid

i'm sure i'm not the only one who runs into this problem
when talking to people. what are some of your tactics?


 

offline mappatazee from ¨y¨z¨| (Burkina Faso) on 2004-06-09 02:47 [#01230540]
Points: 14294 Status: Lurker



Classical composers. They don't PLAY the whole fucking
orchestra at once. They compose the music and conduct it.


 

offline horsefactory from 💠 (United Kingdom) on 2004-06-09 02:50 [#01230542]
Points: 14867 Status: Regular



Generally try not to bring it up. Most people will dismiss
it completely and there is nothing you can do to convince
them otherwise. You always do end up sounding stupid because
no one should ever have to explain why they enjoy a certain
music. So don't bother.


 

offline big from lsg on 2004-06-09 02:52 [#01230545]
Points: 23728 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



it's a matter of taste im afraid

but: music is just moving air this way or the other


 

offline morge from United Kingdom on 2004-06-09 02:56 [#01230548]
Points: 859 Status: Lurker



compare it to abstract art...
abstract artists don't paint REAL, concrete objects but the
form, beauty, emotion, originality (etc etc) is all still
there.
if they say that abstract art amounts to nothing, well
they're a philistine


 

offline Ophecks from Nova Scotia (Canada) on 2004-06-09 02:56 [#01230549]
Points: 19190 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag



I know a couple of people like that, and I've made no
progress trying to convince them otherwise, and I can't be
bothered to try converting them. That's never a good idea,
with any music. I've tried every argument in the book, even
thoguh I shouldn't have... even stupid ones like ''guitars
are no different than arranging in a program, those frets
are a frickin' program. Do you think you invented that
sound, that note? Fuck you, it's even less inventive than
when I plunked a piano sample into Reason and adjusted the
pitch and echo and tone to my liking''.

The only way they'll ever change their stripes is if they
hear a track that impresses them... and depending on the
person, they may be actively trying NOT to like
''computerized bullshit'', anyway.


 

offline Aesthetics from the IDM Kiosk on 2004-06-09 02:58 [#01230551]
Points: 6796 Status: Lurker



throughout the years I learned to give up, most of them
don´t like electronic music and never will...
they are musically polluted, that counts for 96%

people who do listen to electronic music are the opposite is
discovered, throught electronic music(IDM) I started to like
more and more different styles of music, like Jazz, Classic,
downtempo and many more

in my opinion you have to be very open minded to give
electronic music a chance, or the music should be brought to
you in a way like most pop music is, if they broadcast it on
the "normal" radio a lot of people will starting to like it,
I almost know that for sure because my girlfriend started to
like my music throughout the years..


 

offline mappatazee from ¨y¨z¨| (Burkina Faso) on 2004-06-09 02:59 [#01230553]
Points: 14294 Status: Lurker



There are some electronic music only dorks around here
though, I know that much.


 

offline morge from United Kingdom on 2004-06-09 03:01 [#01230557]
Points: 859 Status: Lurker



people's reasons for liking music are usually least
dependent on the music itself.
it usually depends on who else likes it, who they hear it
off, if its cool to like it, can they buy cheap fashion
items to go with it etc
some people are open-minded but most aren't and there's not
that much that can change that


 

offline Ophecks from Nova Scotia (Canada) on 2004-06-09 03:03 [#01230558]
Points: 19190 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag



Most electronic music that you hear on TV, in video games,
in movies, etc, is really shallow, a diluted sound. I know I
wasn't fond of the idea of electronic music before I dug
deeper. These people haven't dug deeper, and now they don't
want to admit that they're wrong, that this is beautiful
art.


 

offline Anus_Presley on 2004-06-09 03:04 [#01230559]
Points: 23472 Status: Lurker



Most people that I talk to class Bob Dylan as wacky
experrimental shit. They all listen to music in the charrt,
and it's not an issue forr me.


 

offline napoleon from littleton on 2004-06-09 03:07 [#01230564]
Points: 75 Status: Regular



god i'm impressed by the usefulness and relativity of the
replies. i should log on to xltronic at 3am all the time

"...no one should ever have to explain why they enjoy a
certain
music..." damn good call. i should probably try this one. i
was even talking about this earlier with my girlfriend (who
is hardcore "real instruments" as well) and she was saying
how it isn't hard to make things on computers; guitar/drum
is much more skilled, etc. i think i made her mad when i
told her that saying electronic music isn't music is like
saying photography isn't art because you use a machine (she
loves photography) :\


 

offline morge from United Kingdom on 2004-06-09 03:08 [#01230565]
Points: 859 Status: Lurker



when you say that you listen to drum'n'bass or techno people
think you're some kind of e-munching gonzoid who goes
clubbing every week in day-glo pants.
no offence if that's what you like doing, but most people
think thats all their is to electronic music


 

offline mortsto-x from Trondheim/Bodø (Norway) on 2004-06-09 03:08 [#01230567]
Points: 8062 Status: Lurker | Followup to napoleon: #01230538



I don't discuss electronic music with people who doesn't
care. If they use arguments like that, I just let it go.


 

offline horsefactory from 💠 (United Kingdom) on 2004-06-09 03:24 [#01230586]
Points: 14867 Status: Regular | Followup to napoleon: #01230564



She kind of has a point, I mean, it is physically
more difficult to play a guitar than to click a mouse and
turn some knobs. What annoys me is that there are so many
bog-standard guitar-based bands around it's hard to believe.
Bands where they just seem to have memorised the absolute
fundamentals of music and get by on playing this uninspired
bullshit. But these bands will generally get a lot more
respect than even the best electronic artists simply because
they are playing real instruments instead of "letting a
computer do all the work". Anyway, it really is a futile
argument, as Ophecks said - not many people are willing to
spend the time looking further into electronic music, but
that's fine with me.


 

offline polygonwrong from United Kingdom on 2004-06-09 03:26 [#01230590]
Points: 132 Status: Addict



It's not as if 'electronics' are used to calculate the music
though is it? Someone still need's to compose the music
regardless of what the instruments or in this case sounds
that are used and how they do that isn't really an issue
here. The arguments in favour of electronic music are so
simple and true (because it's still music) that , like many
here have pointed out, if the other party cannot accept them
then why tf argue with 'em, they're already convinced.
Futile and annoying although it can be enertaining.


 

offline acrid milk hall from United Kingdom on 2004-06-09 03:33 [#01230598]
Points: 2916 Status: Lurker



who cares?
i wouldn't bother trying to convince them.
everyone's entitled to their opinion.
imagine how boring it would be if we all thought the same
way about life.
besides, there's nothing worse than an evangelist.
just enjoy what you enjoy rather than wasting your energy
trying to get people to see the world through your eyes and
ears.

bob dylan WAS cutting edge for his day. And some time in the
future, our kids listen to the records of our youth and
laugh; saying, "yeah, it was pretty advanced for when it was
made, but it sounds so dated. Now listen to this.."
and I, for one, will be all ears..


 

offline KEYFUMBLER from DUBLIN (Ireland) on 2004-06-09 03:48 [#01230613]
Points: 5696 Status: Lurker



its even scarier to think there are folk out there who's
idea of a good guitar band is U2 but hey also like "the
electronic stuff ... like Pete Tong"

*shivers

anyway... fuck em. plenty of folks eat in mcdonalds too...
its not my ass swelling up


 

offline The_Funkmaster from St. John's (Canada) on 2004-06-09 03:48 [#01230615]
Points: 16280 Status: Lurker



a friend of mine is like that... he always tells me he could
do it... yeah fucking right he could... such a stupid thing
to say really... listen to some squarepusher and some shit
like that and claim you can do it... kind of surprising
cause this guy is really a good musician... he listens to
classical music and is an excellent piano player, so you'd
think he'd have a good ear to hear the complexity of some of
this stuff... but no...


 

offline The_Funkmaster from St. John's (Canada) on 2004-06-09 03:50 [#01230617]
Points: 16280 Status: Lurker | Followup to KEYFUMBLER: #01230613



U2 IS a good guitar band... how can anyone deny that?


 

offline morge from United Kingdom on 2004-06-09 03:54 [#01230621]
Points: 859 Status: Lurker



there are loads of guitar bands who are a helluva lot
better, just there are electronic musicians a helluva lot
better than pete tong


 

offline KEYFUMBLER from DUBLIN (Ireland) on 2004-06-09 03:55 [#01230623]
Points: 5696 Status: Lurker



fair enough... but i'm saying they'd go no further than
U2.... mogwai, tortoise, smashing pumkins, faith no more, no
means not, wormholess etc.


 

offline The_Funkmaster from St. John's (Canada) on 2004-06-09 04:00 [#01230629]
Points: 16280 Status: Lurker



I think it just comes down to how into listening to music
you are... me, I listen to music all the time... so I think
it was just natural that I would eventually want to delve
deeper and find more intereting stuff... cause if you're
always listening to music, you get used to what's on the
radio and stuff, and you want something new... that's how I
am...

I think most people are medium listenings or lower...
meaning they're not as crazy about it... so to them, pop
music is fine... I do like pop music a lot, but it's not
something I want to always listen too... but for some people
it might be fine... shrug


 

offline Raz0rBlade_uk on 2004-06-09 04:02 [#01230633]
Points: 12540 Status: Addict | Show recordbag



say to him, "yeah sure. anyone can do it, but who says it'll
be any good? Anyone can play the piano, but can they play
well?"

Also tell him that electronic music unites all music genres.
You can mix any style you want and make it your own. The
fact that it's electronic only means that it has been
produced from the computer. Tell him that the computer is
the new instrument of the 21st century.


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-06-09 04:04 [#01230634]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to napoleon: #01230538 | Show recordbag



Ha ha, I've just written a 2000 word essay on the subject.
It's mainly about turntabilism, but it covers electronic
music too.

It should be up at scratchworx.com in the next week or so.
I'll bump this and post a link when it's up.


 

offline KEYFUMBLER from DUBLIN (Ireland) on 2004-06-09 04:04 [#01230635]
Points: 5696 Status: Lurker



my sister had the worst ear for music ever... its scarey.
Its like she's programmed into herself that if its not on
the most popular radio station, its crap.....

i played her a bit of "music had the right...." and she
just looked confused. Shes a friggin disgrace....


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-06-09 04:05 [#01230637]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



well.. first of all: don't fall for rhetorics. when people
argue about shit like that, they often try to diminish your
arguments by saying you're using a word wrong and stuff like
that.. just dismiss that as meaningless nitpicking (is that
the word?), and blame them for evading the point at hand
with semantic babble!


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-06-09 04:10 [#01230644]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag



The best argument I can think of is that Electronic music as
a whole is the only genre that even begins to approach
accurately getting the "sound in the head" of the writer to
tape. Think of how much more detail you can specify a track
in even something as simple as Reason, compared to how a
classical composer could. Even in a band where you know the
other musicians well and have played with them for years,
there's less actual precise control over it. Imagine if you
kept asking them to replay the same part over and over,
dozens of times, so the muting of the guitar strings occured
exactly when you wanted (talking milliseconds here).
Or with a drummer, asking them to constantly hit a cymbal at
an exact point to get the exact pitch you wanted... You
bandmates wouldn't take too kindly to it.


 

offline acrid milk hall from United Kingdom on 2004-06-09 04:13 [#01230649]
Points: 2916 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01230644



true, but then even with electronic music you have to be
careful not to try and excercise total control, or you
stifle the magic of accident.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-06-09 04:15 [#01230652]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



also: make sure your friends aren't talking about gabba or
plain tekkkkkkkkno.

point out examples of bands that used electronics.. like ask
them if they think Beach Boys are good, and if they say yes,
remind them that beach boys were the first band ever to use
a synth (a moog, actually) in their music (it's in that
"wish they all could be californian" song). Tell them how
they had to record one note in a chord at a time because the
synth wasn't polyphonic!


 

offline DJ Xammax from not America on 2004-06-09 04:17 [#01230655]
Points: 11512 Status: Lurker



People's taste in music doesn't really bother me at all.
What bothers me is how these people have come to have the
tastes they do, via the mainstream media and 'fashion' they
have been either completely sold into what they like, or
been told what they like because it is fashionable, rather
than a musical upbringing which has given them a less biased
view of music. I usually hate discussing musical interests
with people because it just reminds me how money has
corrupted art, and it's not as if they will have heard of
who I like anyway.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-06-09 04:19 [#01230659]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to DJ Xammax: #01230655 | Show recordbag



much like a person that listens to something, doesn't like
it, discover that the critics like it, and then listen to it
until he gets used to it so that he can say "they're great!"
and be in a cool crew!


 

offline KEYFUMBLER from DUBLIN (Ireland) on 2004-06-09 04:21 [#01230662]
Points: 5696 Status: Lurker



best exxamples of early electronic music are on that classic
BBC2 70's show "the old grey whistle test". It totally mixed
traditional instruments with early electronic synths, moogs
etc

It was all about the music. When i saw the one with Biran
Eno twiddling knobs with Roxy Music i was absolutely
amazed.

Plus they ner talked about the how it was done, it was just
enjoyed. <- the crux



 

offline acrid milk hall from United Kingdom on 2004-06-09 04:27 [#01230668]
Points: 2916 Status: Lurker | Followup to KEYFUMBLER: #01230662



the crux indeed my friend.

and for everyone else, beware the curse of intellectual
snobbery.


 

offline Mertens from Motor City (United States) on 2004-06-09 05:46 [#01230770]
Points: 2064 Status: Lurker



Classical String insturments - rubbing horse hair on wood
wind and brass - blowing into a tube
drums - banging on animal skin
piano - ancient form of typing
electronic music - twiddling knobs, clicking mouse



 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-06-09 05:54 [#01230775]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to KEYFUMBLER: #01230662 | Show recordbag



In relation to Drunken Mastah's point, a hell of a lot of
what we think of a "classical" music on TV/movie theme
tracks (written specifically for a film/show) uses, as well
as a full orchestra, a couple of synths to give a more full
sound. Most people don't realise and assume it's all real
instruments.

Acrid: Yes, certainly, I find that as my production skills
improve and I can "make" the sound I want a lot quicker,
there are fewer happy accidents. I tend to do that sort of
thing when learning a new synth etc. so staying on the
learning curve helps keep it fresh.


 


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