Sometimes I frighteningly can listen to the same song for a very long time. I have cds have been blasting in my cd player for months at a time, and take forever to get old. When I have to move on, I have to decide to either go to something else that I've listened to before, or explore new territory with something I've never listened to before...to expand my aural pallet. But that takes effort and courage that sometimes I can't muster.
Now, of course, this is only referring to my cd collection. It's an entirely different matter entirely if we're talking about my computer collection of music or my record collection. Each media has a different routine and order to them..that is probably very complex when examined or tried to be put to order.
But this is a very late post just saying that I can nerd about this discussion topic for a very long time, and will probably do so in more detail later on.
I’m not sure what sends me down certain roads/allies of thought…
With music, I wonder if artists and the industry are compelled to repackage songs and sentiments… maybe new songs are about ownership… a contemporary artist may write a song that echoes the music and lyrics of older generations, but somehow, by writing and singing the words himself, owns some of the emotion and imagery… and is maybe freed through the process.
I really don’t know… that’s why I’d like to hear from all of you… I know we have a lot of audio connoisseurs in the club… why do you need new songs? What do old songs LACK? (ie. the parts of your collection that collect dust and/or the songs of older generations).
I guess for me, it's just getting tired of the old ones...
Although I admit, when buying a new CD from an artist I already listen to, I don't get as excited about the tracks on that CD then the track I already have. I mean, sure, I might come to love them just as much with time, but I generally find myself gonig back to listen to their old stuff right after I listen to the new.
I know the feeling, but I'm curious about what exactly is going on inside us when we 'get tired' of songs...
...are we just not stimulated by them any more? Is music about pleasure/hedonism... and that's it?
Do we go from song to song like some people go from lover to lover... using them as long as they entertain us, and then discard them when they lose that fresh/new/interesting vibe?
Not at all. I very nearly study various forms of popular music, think of listening to new music discovery and listening to old favorites for their artistic merit, their beauty, their catchiness, their ugliness, etc. I'm well on my way to becoming the kind of music scholar seen in the movie "High Fidelity" (The visual bible for all people who plan to live a life of records and depression.)..and take pride in my overall knowledge of music, and wanting to learn more.
I don't think it is at all shallow. It's a hobby, it's a passion, it's an artistic love.
I'm listening to Sister Ray, by the Velvet Underground. An old favorite. Download it now, you're in for a pleasant surprise.
Your last post would lead me to believe that the -current- library of world music would be more than enought to occupy and stimulate a scholar such as yourself... even if you live to 150 years old... so do you need artists out there to be creating new songs for you?
And when artists claim to create new songs... what exactly is new about them... new packaging of old sentiments?
For me, a song is like a taco... lots of ingredients and textures and tastes... all in one bite. I don't really seperate out the lyrics and the sound/instruments... it's just one big ear-full that I enjoy... mostly.
10 comments:
Sometimes I frighteningly can listen to the same song for a very long time. I have cds have been blasting in my cd player for months at a time, and take forever to get old. When I have to move on, I have to decide to either go to something else that I've listened to before, or explore new territory with something I've never listened to before...to expand my aural pallet. But that takes effort and courage that sometimes I can't muster.
Now, of course, this is only referring to my cd collection. It's an entirely different matter entirely if we're talking about my computer collection of music or my record collection. Each media has a different routine and order to them..that is probably very complex when examined or tried to be put to order.
But this is a very late post just saying that I can nerd about this discussion topic for a very long time, and will probably do so in more detail later on.
Thanks for your initial thoughts... I look forward to more, when you can...
... what about the rest of the music lovers in this club... any thoughts?
What has gotten you thinking about such things?
I’m not sure what sends me down certain roads/allies of thought…
With music, I wonder if artists and the industry are compelled to repackage songs and sentiments… maybe new songs are about ownership… a contemporary artist may write a song that echoes the music and lyrics of older generations, but somehow, by writing and singing the words himself, owns some of the emotion and imagery… and is maybe freed through the process.
I really don’t know… that’s why I’d like to hear from all of you… I know we have a lot of audio connoisseurs in the club… why do you need new songs? What do old songs LACK? (ie. the parts of your collection that collect dust and/or the songs of older generations).
Are new songs really about anything new?
-mrb
I don't know how I'd explain that...
I guess for me, it's just getting tired of the old ones...
Although I admit, when buying a new CD from an artist I already listen to, I don't get as excited about the tracks on that CD then the track I already have. I mean, sure, I might come to love them just as much with time, but I generally find myself gonig back to listen to their old stuff right after I listen to the new.
"just getting tired of the old ones..."
I know the feeling, but I'm curious about what exactly is going on inside us when we 'get tired' of songs...
...are we just not stimulated by them any more? Is music about pleasure/hedonism... and that's it?
Do we go from song to song like some people go from lover to lover... using them as long as they entertain us, and then discard them when they lose that fresh/new/interesting vibe?
Is our relationship with music that shallow?
-mrb
Not at all. I very nearly study various forms of popular music, think of listening to new music discovery and listening to old favorites for their artistic merit, their beauty, their catchiness, their ugliness, etc. I'm well on my way to becoming the kind of music scholar seen in the movie "High Fidelity" (The visual bible for all people who plan to live a life of records and depression.)..and take pride in my overall knowledge of music, and wanting to learn more.
I don't think it is at all shallow. It's a hobby, it's a passion, it's an artistic love.
I'm listening to Sister Ray, by the Velvet Underground. An old favorite. Download it now, you're in for a pleasant surprise.
Your last post would lead me to believe that the -current- library of world music would be more than enought to occupy and stimulate a scholar such as yourself... even if you live to 150 years old... so do you need artists out there to be creating new songs for you?
And when artists claim to create new songs... what exactly is new about them... new packaging of old sentiments?
do you[plural] place importance on the sound or the lyrics and whywhy why?
For me, a song is like a taco... lots of ingredients and textures and tastes... all in one bite. I don't really seperate out the lyrics and the sound/instruments... it's just one big ear-full that I enjoy... mostly.
-mrb
Taco in the ear.
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