Old fogey opinions on modern popular music amnesty

[Sweet FA]

I'm off to see Self Esteem tonight. Modern pop music! So this thread's not for me.

Self Esteem seem very popular with the over-40s, so I should think you'll fit in very well here

Saw her/them a couple of weeks ago; a couple of 15-16 y.o's with parents (inc Lil'FA); 15-20 women aged c.18-25 and the rest (maybe another 100 or so people) all 30/40+ (er and a few 50+ )

Good gig tbf, she's got a few killer tunes and good chat.

 

[Voley]

Check out BBC6, it has loads of new music that the kids love.

This is true. Just look at how much all the old folks on here moan about it.

 

[skyscraper101]

For me it's not so much that I feel disappointed for not liking chart music of today. That's entirely understandable at age 40. It's more that there's nothing subversive or political going on and being reflected back through the charts. It's so generic and tame now like it's been run through some government approved committee. It's just such a let down.

 

[seeformiles]

I reckon that if you accept that all music is derivative then, the longer you live, the more you recognise the “original” inspiration behind current music and the more likely you are to regard this as an inferior knock-off. Add to this the notion that you “feel” music more in your teens (and how it relates to your intense emotions at that time) then modern music can rarely move you in a similar way in your 50s. I still hear the odd record that makes me go “Fuck - that’s great!” but, being a jaded old bugger, those moments are sadly few and far between. My overriding feeling as to today’s music is how bland, safe and self-absorbed it appears to be. Whatever’s wrong with writing about joyous drinking, dancing and fucking?

 

[killer b]

For me it's not so much that I feel disappointed for not liking chart music of today. That's entirely understandable at age 40. It's more that there's nothing subversive or political going on and being reflected back through the charts. It's so generic and tame now like it's been run through some government approved committee. It's just such a let down.

I don't think the charts have much relevance anymore tbh - the way they're recorded has changed radically, the way kids find out about and consume music has changed... it's a different thing altogether. You're judging the modern charts by standards that are out of date.

 

[liquidindian]

My overriding feeling as to today’s music is how bland, safe and self-absorbed it appears to be.

The basis for a whole Bill Hicks routine that must be about thirty-odd years old now.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Subversive political chart music has always been a rarity anyway hasn't it. I reckon if we all tried to list some we'd probably come up with pretty similar lists and they wouldn't be massive.

 

[Limejuice]

Off on a tangent but I recently saw this if anyone is interested. But I am an old, opinionated fogey.

Rick Beato has some serious musical chops. He was a music professor at university, top-notch band member and an award-winning producer.

His channel is a pretty authoritative, and he manages to score interviews with the likes of Sting, Brian May and Peter Frampton.

I can recommend the Beato book on music theory that he sells for sheer thoroughness.

#notoncommission

 

[killer b]

he manages to score interviews with the likes of Sting, Brian May and Peter Frampton.

wow, this guy sounds like he knows good music when he hears it!

 

[Limejuice]

wow, this guy sounds like he knows good music when he hears it!

Indeed he does!

He's certainly able to deconstruct music and explain why it's musically more or less interesting, which is a good foundation for critical analysis.

 

[liquidindian]

they wouldn't be massive

I'm sure they would be on there and I'm not sure why you're using their Gulf War name.

 

[seeformiles]

The basis for a whole Bill Hicks routine that must be about thirty-odd years old now.

Very likely - but what else would you expect from an old fogey?

 

[killer b]

Indeed he does!

He's certainly able to deconstruct music and explain why it's musically more or less interesting, which is a good foundation for critical analysis.

But if he does this with input from Sting, Brian May and Peter Frampton, it suggests he has a very partial understanding of what makes music more or less interesting tbh

 

[Voley]

 

[killer b]

It keeps on making me laugh. Sting, Brian May and Peter Frampton. The very pinnacle of interesting music.

 

[nogojones]

Rick Beato has some serious musical chops. He was a music professor at university, top-notch band member and an award-winning producer.

His channel is a pretty authoritative, and he manages to score interviews with the likes of Sting, Brian May and Peter Frampton.

I can recommend the Beato book on music theory that he sells for sheer thoroughness.

#notoncommission

I stopped watching the second he pulled his guitar out. I think the reason he finds so much modern music boring is because he listens to boring music.

 

[rutabowa]

I believe the kids are listening to polyrhythmic dubstep these days, very "interesting" not "boring" (makes me feel genuinely sick though)

 

[killer b]

I believe the kids are listening to polyrhythmic dubstep these days, very "interesting" not "boring" (makes me feel genuinely sick though)

there's a good music theory clip where a drummer breaks this all down, which is also pretty confusing tbh

 

[killer b]

here's Brian May playing the national anthem on top of Buckingham Palace btw





(unfortunately footage of Sting singing on the roof of the Barbican seems to be unavailable)

 

[skyscraper101]

I watch Rick Beato a lot, he certainly knows his stuff when it comes to music.

However he does like a lot of terrible American alt-rock from the early 2000s like Tool, and A Perfect Circle which always grates me when he's doing his top ten lists etc.

 

[Bus Honeygun]

This is a good bit of social commentary performed by some of those young people and it's had 750,000 views, so that must mean something:

 

[Jeff Robinson]

I'm not one of these people who hates all new hip hop and harks back to the 'good old days' of boom bap. I really like some of the trap stuff but I really despise all forms of 'mumble rap' and especially the really heavily autotuned stuff. I find the popularity of artists like 'Future' and 'Young Thug' utterly baffling.

 

[Storm Fox]

there's a good music theory clip where a drummer breaks this all down, which is also pretty confusing tbh

Drummer guy: A long, complex and informative explanation for extremely a highly skilled piece of drumming.
My ears and brain: Well it's someone basically randomly hitting a drum.

I wish I was more musical.

 

[marshall]

Whenever I go and see a ‘young’ guitar band who I imagine are going to have a big live following with the yoot - Starcrawler, Shame etc - I’m always surprised that the majority of the crowd are old gits like myself - the grey hairs and bobbing bald heads - I think we just got into the habit of seeing live bands back in the day and it’s a habit we, well I, never broke. Just can’t imagine kids following a band round the country as my bro and I used to do with the Clash. Better things to do I guess.

 

[ska invita]

I believe the kids are listening to polyrhythmic dubstep these days, very "interesting" not "boring" (makes me feel genuinely sick though)

Math-Step, just what the world really doesnt need.

(i haven't heard it yet, but as this is a cranky thread I think its safe to say its terrible and they're doing it wrong )

 

[farmerbarleymow]

so many of our northern members look irl like the denizens of last of the summer wine, i hear

* gets flat cap and coat *

Norah Batty is a style icon, tbf.

 

[killer b]

Math-Step, just what the world really doesnt need.

(i haven't heard it yet, but as this is a cranky thread I think its safe to say its terrible and they're doing it wrong )

Its kind of great tbh

 

[rutabowa]

I'm really undecided, it is not exactly enjoyable to listen to but it is definitely out there and unique.

It is just a music school novelty experiment rather than any kind of new direction though, for sure.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

Math-Step, just what the world really doesnt need.

(i haven't heard it yet, but as this is a cranky thread I think its safe to say its terrible and they're doing it wrong )

Cake music, for sure.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

This is a good bit of social commentary performed by some of those young people and it's had 750,000 views, so that must mean something:

The sort of thing pushed by 6 Music DJs who are well into their 50s and 60s.