I've struggled in trying to define the difference between art and entertainment, if there is in fact a difference. In other words, is the music Brittany Spears* makes, for example, not art, or is it just art that i don't particularly like? (The subsequent question is, is all differentiation between "good" and "bad" art subjective, or can we definitively say that some music is bad? This is all sophomore dorm room philosophy stuff, ofc, but i'm not that sophisticated.) Well, looking at what's now coming to light in the teen book industry, i can tell you this - if what you produce was defined by a marketing department before you were ever commissioned to produce it? That's not art. And i think that defines the majority of the music that you hear on the radio or mtv.
*I know that at this point, Brittany Spears probably isn't the best example of what pop music is up to today, but she was what was playing the last time i even paid attention to the radio.
By fnord12 | April 28, 2006, 11:03 AM | Music|Link
Except this time, i guess. According to Wikipedia, when Courtney Love tried out for the part of Nancy in Sid & Nancy, she "is reported to have pleaded, 'I am Nancy Spungen.'" Someone should have told Kurt.
Also that story you heard about that guy who heard a song and didn't realize that there were two guitarists playing on it, so he learned to play both parts at once? Probably not true. Although i bet a lot of interesting techniques have been developed by people attempting stuff like that. Or by people trying to emulate different instruments, like Tom Morello playing like a James Brown horn section or a turntable scratch.
The lyrics to both tracks made the driver fear his passenger was a terrorist.
The words of the Clash track begin: "London calling to the faraway towns, now war is declared and battle come down." And Led Zep's Immigrant Song goes: "The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands, to fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!"
...
Mr Mann said he was 'frog-marched off the plane in front of everyone, had my bags searched and was asked 'every question you can think of'.
If only i could get people arrested for the type of music they listened to. But seriously, i don't want to live in this world anymore.
I Don't Wanna Be Learned/I Don't Wanna Be Tamed
I Don't Want You Around
I Don't Want To Live This Life (Anymore)
I Wanna Live
We Want The Airwaves
Now I Wanna Be A Good Boy
I Just Want To Have Something To Do
I Wanted Everything
I Don't Want You
I Wanna Be Sedated
I Wanna Be Well
I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
Now I Wanna Sniff Some Blue
I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement
I Don't Wanna Walk Around WIth You
Gee, those damn studios are really ripping people off aren't they!
So - you will build me a studio in my house that will get me
the kind of results a studio that gets 5 grand for a demo would get me?
So this must assume a few things eh?
Like: You will sell me a can o' expertise/ability/experience
I can snort that will magically give me the recording
chops, and aesthetic sense, plus technical expertise of
these guys who "rip me off" - right?
Or do I have to spend many many frustrating hours (more
like years) learning how to get GOOD at USING all that gear?
And of course this assumes I have a space available that
is worth all this $$$ gear... Or does that 5 grand include
structural and acoustical renovations to my space?
Nah...You can just get "acoustics in a can" nowadays -
with plugins and convolution modeling ANYbody's bedroom
is a great concert space!
Look...I am ALL in favor of "home studios" and "D.I.Y" recording
but it is disingenuous bullsh*t to market your services on the
premise that it is "just that easy". Many artists do not have the
technical aptitude or disposition to deal effectively with the
nuts and bolts of recording and are happier when the process is
made as transparent and user friendly as possible. NOT every
artist wants to spend countless hours poring over software help
menus, looking for plugin updates, or wasting more time on learning
to record - than he spends making his music!!!
To all you fellow Craigs musicians - Think it through!
IF you want to embark on the adventure of recording and
control the whole process - GO FOR IT, but remember that is
time NOT spent on your craft. For those that "just want a great
recording" consider a more modest home studio and go to a
REAL studio to get serious results you can hand around without
having to make excuses or apologies for!
