Fingernail on 14/12/2007 at 11:25
Quote Posted by theBlackman
As I, and most musicians, understand it a "song"
is lyrics. Else it's just a tune, a melody, or a musical phrase.
So, not being interested in lyrics must mean you just want a wild beat, with a bass and some whanging guitar instead of "a song".
A song in my mind lies in the combination. I think I'd still define music as song even if it were just wordless wailing - the point is it's the expression of (usually) a solo singer.
I also think that what sort of defines good songwriting is finding the right combination of words and music. What works for Bob Dylan songs works because they do have an impact - they probably wouldn't have the same resonance if you arranged them with a metal band. And (his earlier stuff) is very much part of a singer-songwriter tradition where one person makes all the music they need to give their words some weight.
Sometimes, on the other hand, if the music is so beautiful, the words have less importance (obviously they shouldn't be so bad or nonsensical to damage the atmosphere). But many people enjoy operas and other classical songs in foreign languages even when they don't understand every word.
paloalto90 on 14/12/2007 at 15:19
Quote Posted by Fingernail
A song in my mind lies in the combination. I think I'd still define music as song even if it were just wordless wailing - the point is it's the expression of (usually) a solo singer.
I also think that what sort of defines good songwriting is finding the right combination of words and music. What works for Bob Dylan songs works because they do have an impact - they probably wouldn't have the same resonance if you arranged them with a metal band. And (his earlier stuff) is very much part of a singer-songwriter tradition where one person makes all the music they need to give their words some weight.
Sometimes, on the other hand, if the music is so beautiful, the words have less importance (obviously they shouldn't be so bad or nonsensical to damage the atmosphere). But many people enjoy operas and other classical songs in foreign languages even when they don't understand every word.
I think that Gordon Lightfoots music is a good example of someone who can combine a nice melody with good lyrics along with musical craftmanship.
I think he is underrated in this regard.If you listen to the Live Sunday Album and listen to Canadian Railroad Trilogy you will hear one of the finest guitar accompaniments I have ever heard.
fett on 14/12/2007 at 15:40
Quote Posted by paloalto90
I think that Gordon Lightfoots music is a good example of someone who can combine a nice melody with good lyrics along with musical craftmanship.
I think he is underrated in this regard.If you listen to the Live Sunday Album and listen to Canadian Railroad Trilogy you will hear one of the finest guitar accompaniments I have ever heard.
Also Bruce Hornsby is often forgotten/overlooked as a songwriter. For anyone who kept up with him after the first two cheesy albums, he veered off into some great jazz/bluegrass/r&B tinged weirdness that manages to be very pop-centric. Also has one hell of a talented band.
Jason Moyer on 14/12/2007 at 16:13
Quote Posted by Brian T
The Who. I never understood the "mod" connection
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uFcPjILC7k)
Quote Posted by Brian T
Pink Floyd . I never understood what these guys were doing. Late 1960s stuff can be explained by the pyschedelic craze,
The psychedelic craze that they were spearheading? There isn't much Syd-era Floyd that I would consider boring, really.
A "rock pantheon" list without Tom Waits or Nick Drake is fairly silly, imho. Or uh, god bless his soul, Ike Turner. Surprised there's no Joy Division or Can/Faust/Neu! mentioned since pretty much everyone is ripping them off nowadays.
jasee on 14/12/2007 at 16:36
Queen -
I got into them when I was 7 or 8 - and saw them live in 1984 at Wembley Arena - Fuckin amazing !!!
When Freddie died I took the whole of my wages for that week and got absolutely shit faced cos i fort the world had ended..... no more Queen !!!!
Jimi Hendrix -
I saw that Freddie and Brian May noted him as their biggest influence, but that made no difference to me, thanx to The Tube on C4 (Jools Holland & Co) that had a Hendrix Special that day - I was 11 or 12 at the time I think....
.... I found God that day.
To sum it all up, if Freddie played guitar like he sang, he would sound like Jimi , and if Jimi sang like he played guitar, he would sound like Freddie ...
But thats how they sound in MY ears ... best singer - best guitarist ... and best songwriters.
Oh, by the way lolz - I love tons of music , but Jimi and Queen have always been my biggest musical influences lolz xxx
Brian T on 14/12/2007 at 16:39
Quote Posted by Jason Moyer
A "rock pantheon" list without Tom Waits or Nick Drake is fairly silly, imho.
Well I'm not known as Tarquin Fintimlinbinwhinbimlim Bus Stop F'tang F'tang Ole Biscuit-Barrel for nothing you know. Time to fess up; I haven't heard every single album ever released. If your fave band didn't get a mention, don't lose any sleep over it. It's just a casual list of my opinions..
Stitch on 14/12/2007 at 17:01
My view as a fruit fan
Apples: I've always liked these, as there's such a wide variety.
Oranges: pleasurable, I especially enjoy the fact that its name and color match.
Bananas: A little too phallic for me. Perhaps I'd like them if they were named "yellows."
Fingernail on 14/12/2007 at 17:10
you can cut the satire with a knife
Pyrian on 14/12/2007 at 20:09
Quote Posted by Fingernail
you can cut the satire with a knife
Was that an observation or the giving of permission?
Kuuso on 14/12/2007 at 21:32
Quote Posted by Jason Moyer
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uFcPjILC7k)
The psychedelic craze that they were spearheading? There isn't much Syd-era Floyd that I would consider boring, really.
A "rock pantheon" list without Tom Waits or Nick Drake is fairly silly, imho. Or uh, god bless his soul, Ike Turner. Surprised there's no Joy Division or Can/Faust/Neu! mentioned since pretty much everyone is ripping them off nowadays.
And Can/Faust/Neu! ripped their stuff off someone else. It's useless to say that "why on earth haven't they been mentioned" purely cause they were innovative forces. They weren't overly famous and Kraut Rock is quite obscure and unheard of overall.
