Karaoke Forums

We were at a Retro gig some time ago doing 80s stuff and depending on the crowd sometimes we will sneak in 50s, Beatles, 70s, Jewel, Alt, you name it as well as originals.

Sometimes, jokingly I will mention I have been around a long time - 437 years - sheesh what happened in that dark alley in Prague with Syber in the middle ages. Lots of snow, Mozart, the ballroom dancing. Sigh.

And of course through the centuries, classical, the many periods of musical development and memories of Paris, London, and Rome. Not a lot of upbeat tunes in the Vatican throughout time although I still get interesting chills when I listen to Gregorian chants or Baroque dancy stuff with the drum.

After Elvis, and then the Beach Boys (thanks to the net even music neophytes can listen to music all the way back to A LONG TIME ago) there was this lull. Really, crusing the dial, (well not like the dial I remembered in the forties, but don't be shocked by this, I remember the 20s as well) it was a mixture of Charleston and then a time jump to big bands, and ..
rambling- yes - the lull before the Beatles.

We are in a lull now. There are a few bright stars which come out just like movie stars, but it is time for something new and late at night a tweak around on my pod (not the one by my bed) and agonize over alternate and hip hop and feel lances of pain during rap listening sessons. Sorry.
Deborah Harry was doing it in a potato sack in Rapture a long time ago.

Then I dug out some old country records, the get down and drunk - my woman done me wrong and my horse is my only true friend kind of thing - although Ghost Riders in the Sky and Charlie Daniels (saw) and the violin bow did smoke and broke all kinds of fiber, and he could have been in Georgia trying to outfiddle him and I think, country is changing.

The whole music scene is changing. How many versions of American Idol can I survive, either on T.V. or on line. How many voice coaches behind
singers straight from Star Search that get the cheers and "this girl's gonna make it and cut an album and top the charts." But no. They vanish.

Have you kinda got the feel here?- this is a thread asking you all - where is music going and where is it and what has it been. Just a very specific topic.

So I listen to Jewel and I think, well this is a country girl and then I listen to Tori Amos and I think, damn, listen to that piano and that voice and Cornflake Girl - Rabbit -where'd you put the keys girl?

So I hear new country. Saw Jackson Brown in person back on the time track somewhere and I thought - saw the Eagles to- in those days of rock n' roll performers we all kinda mixed about and tried to figure out who was doing what. I thought, this is rock n' roll, but Sweet Alabama, this is country.

The Goths and Bowie and Boy George have touched us (some of us) and we are getting new Alt type things which grunge and guitar and industrial strength Goth, and then in the midst of it (like in Stairway to Heaven _ Zeplin) you have classical fine piano and unbelievable high quality voice.

Saturday afternoon, tweaking with this new guitar which is handmade ovation kind of electric thing, which makes sounds, I will sub this someday, which are unique and could create some kind of new music.

Well how fast can today's new original pop up in a club as a Karaoke track.

Fast.

I have seen no rap posted here. I am not complaining. Just curious. There are subs which are kind of like what I would call Hop Rock - Spears-
etc.

Just wondering, what you think is about to happen in the music world. Be kinda cool if it was us. One can dream.

Jean Valjean

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There are no accidents in a perfect world   - Blondie

My mind just exploded

There is rap posted here.. I've posted a song or two of rap in the past and we've even had rap as a genre of the week. If you'd like to hear more I'll be more than happy to post some more for you (if anyone feels like being assaulted with it!).

Yes, music is constantly changing. Gregorian chants were often considered the first 'true' music, which gave way to a variety of composers using first simple melodies and then more complex ones. It's the composer's of the early periods that moved the music so far forward.

Over the years the music people sang became mainstream. From the songs of the fields came blues, and strong southern gospel. Big bands were a natural extension of early classical music with a modern twist. As a teenager I listened to lots of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller and wonder what happened to the composers and songwriters that could really jam out those tuns.

Jazz has even changed greatly. From the dixieland jazz of yesteryear through the acid jazz of the 70's to todays's contemporary jazz and smooth jazz, the free form masters of music are moving forward. We're seeing lots of musicians on the jazz front advancing but it's less free form and more mainstream than jazz should truly be.

Today's contemporary pop music is pitiful. The image of the singer is more important than the voice talent. I remember when we had singers like 'Charley Pride' who had dozens of albums released and lots of radio airplay and no one ever saw his face. Yes, it was because he was black and it was because of the bigotry rampant throughout country music fans (remember this was the 50's and 60's) at the time who couldn't accept this was the voice of a black man.

The answer is simple. Music has left the mainstream world as a true art form of expression. Music is now regulated by a small group of companies that forcefeed the crap in every genre looking for the next cookie cutter hit to make the almighty buck. Fortunately, there are still a few artists out there that are trying to make a difference and some that are even releasing wonderful new music. Don Dorsey wrote the composition for the light show at Epcot and continues to write new classical music as a 21st century composer. Russ Freeman and many other are still writing contemporary jazz pieces. His group the Rippingtons are a group of musicians that change from year to year and every album to album (with some members dropping out after touring a while to be replaced with others - I saw them right after Eric Marienthal replaced the saxaphonist - great show at House Of Blues in Orlando).

The independent labels are still advancing though - possum records has started mixing blues with rap which has resulting in some very impressive works.

Stop examining the mainstream for advancements in music. You won't find them there. When a small investment will put a recording studio in your home the average person can sing their heart out mimicking their favorite singer or write the next great new piece of music. In Alaska we still see large numbers of artist that self promote. The light hearted tune of yesteryear is still alive in Yukon Ryder (thought they broke up but still sing the songs every once in a while as another group), The Denali Cooks (aka Half Baked when 2 of the 4 of them play together) are still playing and kicking out some great tunes. We see all sorts of variations of music come through produced by artist who are concerned with the music and would like to make it big but would settle for a chance to sing and write music for a living instead whatever they're doing now. We sometimes do open mic nights during the season and I've seen some truly talented artists come and play. We have one guy who does some pretty raunchy stuff that's so funny you forget he's raunchy (mostly stuff about breakups and ex girlfriends).

If you want advancement look to small independent labels. Look at services like eMusic where mainstream shows up occasionally but it's mostly smaller labels with great artists cranking it out.

*blinks*


$.02 on the cookie cutter topic. Once you didnt have to look like shania twain to sing a country song on radio...now..its all model perfect for videos..and sadly..every new voice sounds strangely like..the one before it. not that they are bad...or cant sing..just that they lack originality..but what they heck ..they look good

p.s.. and for the record i love shania..but she AINT country.

Nodding in agreement with A New Day

"They" are looking for the "whole package" today. It's NOT who can sing the best.... its who sings "above average to good" ... and has the "look" .

So Sad..... but it seems to be what sells!

I remember when a couple spoiled jewish kids from NY could shake up the rap scene (Beastie Boys), a band could single-handedly revive a sub-genre (as GNR did with 'heavy metal/rock' in late 80's), and appearances weren't so important - Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, the list goes on....

Look at what happened to Heather and her auditions for AI. She was kicked because she was 'too old' at what, 28? Please.... Opera singers take a long time to get their voices to mature to the point you rarely find a decent opera singer under the age of 35. What happened to actually having talent?

Ahhh... the shameful state of the music industry is enough to drive one to drink....

BTW, I FULLY support independent labels and artist doing self promotion. I've gotten plenty of EXCELLENT music that I wouldn't have found otherwise. Besides, where else can you find polyethinic cajun slamgrass besides on an independent label? (Leftover Salmon).

yanno?

Talent? Who needs that? If it weren't for electronics there'd be no Britney Spears, and Justin TimberLake, etc.

True enough!! (at least if American Idol is any indication - God forbid!!)

When does that start anyway? Soon I think...

Very true. I'll have you know I thought Mama Cass was one of the sexiest women alive when she did "Dream a little dream of me." Many plain Jane types - i.e. Suzy Quatro have morphed over the years. Suzanne Vegas and Joni Mitchell's were hold outs.

Sure hope the future of music is not Buffy with a Spears voice cloned to the nth power. I listen with amazement at the sacchrin identical sounds of a lot of pop vocalists. We had a few 15-16 year old female vocalists working with us for awhile - we are timeless in our own way - and one of them kept trying to sound like American Idol and I kept telling her - like - find your voice - your style - you and sing it with pain.

Sometimes I try to 'splain Lucy - list of items for a singer - 1- rejection 2- betrayal 3- insane obsessive love 4- craziness 5- depression 6- animal lust 7- disgust with the world 8- the ability to do a song 50 times and then listen to another 50 becaue it came out so good.

I have hope for the future and music, but surprise, you are going to find a lot of real kicker right here in this little cyber island. Without the gloss and glitter, there are some seriously original and moving subs put up. (not to over sachhrinize - some are for fun and some hurt a little) but there are some shiners.

Thanks for some great posts on what music was, is, and will be.

Jean Valjean

_________________
There are no accidents in a perfect world   - Blondie

well pop idol where it was born has died a death here...but ya know as much as people slag it off ..myself included.....i bet many of us would like to be able to perform live as well as some of those youngsters.

there would be no need for ratings and critique here if we could all sing like whats her name that won it last year...lassie who's name starts with a V....can't remember i just thought american idol was a bit over done and a lot different to how it ever was in UK ...more commercial is perhaps a description a bit full on in your face type of thing

music is very different in the uk, we do have a good variety and there are some real good bands hitting the charts at the moment...of course we still hear the rap with a c in front of it...but its not the stuff that people are buying just those under 16...and they don't take up all the record sales here.

i do agree with all the artists you mention above they sure gave us some good music that will last forever, but times change ... music goes in cycles, take most of the techno you hear...much of it is stuff that was underground disco of the 70's and early 80's..nothing new. Anyways i thank god my kids ain't hitting me with rap and ghetto music i would be soundproofing their bedrooms hehehe my lad plays guitar so i can cope very well with hearing van halen, gary moore and hendrix pumping out and shaking the ceiling hehehe and my little lassie she likes fluffy music which is your average pop music which i can also cope with

MY GAWD! SPEAKING OF SHANIA'S "LOOK"
Did you see her last video? I don't even know what the song's called. It's a slower one. She's in a looooong red dress and riding a horse. There's also scenes where she's in a Victorian style dress...
As much as they try to make the video look all romantic and pretty.... THE ENTIRE VIDEO IS ABOUT HER BOOBS!!!!! the whole time she sings she's leaning forward to let 'em pop out, and when she's riding the horse... oh lord.... it's in slow motion, and I swear her boobs are gonna pop right outta the dress!!! It's FAR more bouncy than ANY baywatch episode, GUARANTEED!
the leaning forward thing.... she did that a lot in the "forever and for always" video too.... Did she think nobody noticed she was just tryin to show off the cleavage?

I mean... sure it's nuthin compared to most of the POP videos out there, but at least they're just flat out and open about it... it seems like Shania's trying to be all innocent about it "what? who me? showing boobs? nah! I don't mean to be sexy"
BLEAH!

anyways.... my point.... I really hoped we could turn on CMT and not see everything completely sexed-up, we get enough of that everywhere else, but it certainly is headed that way, ain't it?

don't get me wrong.... I'm certainly no prude, but ya know.... the sex-pot image plastered all over every channel is a bit over-loaded. and the guys are no exception.

K I'm done
WHEW! rant much? !

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We recently here in the UK had a remix of the 80s song "Call me" (which was a great song) in the charts... all it was was the line"call me" over and over, with the occasional addition of the line "I'm the same boy I used to be"... all sampled, no singing....

It went to #1 in the charts!!!

Wouldn't have anything to do with the vidoe, whic featured scantily clad women doing an aerobics workout, do you think.....?

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please send link to the video so those of us outside the UK can judge that video ourselves hehhehe - tig

do agree with all the artists you mention above they sure gave us some good music that will last forever, but times change ... music goes in cycles, take most of the techno you hear...much of it is stuff that was underground disco of the 70's and early 80's..nothing new. Anyways i thank god my kids ain't hitting me with rap and ghetto music i would be soundproofing their bedrooms hehehe my lad plays guitar so i can cope very well with hearing van halen, gary moore and hendrix pumping out and shaking the ceiling hehehe and my little lassie she likes fluffy music which is your average pop music which i can also cope with Music is very different in the uk, we do have a good variety and there are some real good bands hitting the charts at the moment...of course we still hear the rap with a c in front of it...but its not the stuff that people are buying just those under 16...and they don't take up all the record sales here


One of the cool things about this place is that it is global. Sometimes I just sit and think about that. I would like to do a little share here which is way off topic for this feeling I keep picking up on of being "older"

http://www.discover.com/issues/nov-04/f ... -research/

That aside and the fact Elixir Pharmeceuticals is working on something very interesting - with a little luck you should reconsider going back into concert performance mode because you may be around a little longer than you thought you would.

BACK TO TOPIC

Kazaa and Napster were a nightmare for the recording musician. Madonna made the supreme error of taking on the cyber assassins and complaining about the piracy and and her new album was sliced and diced, pirated and forgotten. Poor Mick Jagger, saw his new album sales beyond pitiful in the U.K. (I heard)

and yes, the oldy moldy icons of former decades - cranks up Watchtower on 10 - and meditates on deafness - (it's more fun when you play it on a Strat)

There was payola once you know, and that was in the 50s. Things haven't changed. You can only Videodrome to a point. It is a big thing to me when my little 6 year old niece - hauls my CD into her room, and plays it night after night a loves it. This type of devotion you cannot buy or force. She just likes it on a gut level.

Syber and I bought her a guitar for XMass. Kinda of a nostalgia thing. I started playing guitar when I was five years old. She has been carrying it around with her since then and strumming it and singing. She is a stunner, so I may have created a monster here, but we are seeing less and less original creative musicians who can write music and play it and sing it.

Rap is a social statement. It is a refelction of two generations without heavy moralistic ties and as it wound through the "cop killer" stage shades of Clockwork Orange and the Milk Bar came to mind. Only - and I could rant - females were reduced to hoes - geez is that the right spelling - and sex became many times lust minus lust. Now figure that one out.

So we have Barbie and Ken singers, and then for the outfringe at lot of angry young men who don't quite have the prose of Dylan or the leather of James Dean, but they are angry enough - with schooling that is ludicrous due to poor funding and culture for those who are determined to find it.

Now let's go see who can make my day on Showcase before I bury myself in work.

_________________
There are no accidents in a perfect world   - Blondie

MY GAWD! SPEAKING OF SHANIA'S "LOOK"
Did you see her last video? I don't even know what the song's called. It's a slower one. She's in a looooong red dress and riding a horse. There's also scenes where she's in a Victorian style dress...
As much as they try to make the video look all romantic and pretty.... THE ENTIRE VIDEO IS ABOUT HER BOOBS!!!!! the whole time she sings she's leaning forward to let 'em pop out, and when she's riding the horse... oh lord.... it's in slow motion, and I swear her boobs are gonna pop right outta the dress!!! It's FAR more bouncy than ANY baywatch episode, GUARANTEED!


Just a note on "hot" videos and northern exposure - although the hormonal rampant still stalk the net - there are a few of us who are reaching the "put your clothes back on" and lay off the tape on the low cut stuff to avoid a total tumble of the full item.

The word saturation comes to mind and thoughts of truly evil beautiful women when I used to tell myself (just close your eyes and listen to this girl's voice without the visuals) and it was was sometimes a horror story.

Of course for me, beauty is in the ear of the beholder, much like sex truly lives and breathes between your ears.

But we put our stuff up, lots of originals sometimes and people still do listen and like purely with their heart. People still listen to music and cry. People still sing music and cry.

It is still about love, freedom, loneliness, and searching - and sometimes just listening to a song or singer that just takes you away - eyes open wide and shut.

_________________
There are no accidents in a perfect world   - Blondie