DJ "Bands"

#1 02-09-2016, 08:57 AM

I'll admit to not having kept my finger closely on the pulse of popular music in recent years. My wife left the TV tune to a movie channel last night, and upon turning it on I caught part of a documentary about a pop band, The Swedish House Mafia, their last tour or something. OK, I'll watch for a bit - see what these guys do.

As far as I can tell it's not a lot, at least not live. It was these three guys standing behind a console, dancing, waving their arms in time to the music with an outrageous light show behind them. I didn't see anyone singing although I guess it's their vocals on the tracks. I saw no instruments. Mostly it's guys operating a board playing really loud dance music and thousands of adoring fans.

I understand the appeal of DJs at weddings and dance clubs, but this is essentially a bunch of people in a stadium watching a soundman. On a Jumbotron.

Is this the future of popular music? Why in the world am I messing with all this guitar stuff?

MikeBmusic · #2 02-09-2016, 10:40 AM

Yep, that's it. And the under-25-somethings love it. Sad.

redir · #3 02-09-2016, 11:12 AM

I played electric guitar in a rock band and we would go do bars and college parties with multiple bands and so on. We would play are azzes off, wrote our own songs, and were very dedicated for what seemed like a handful of fans. It was not just us either but other bands. Then a DJ would follow us and it was like he was the second coming.

Just play some Aerosmith, Bowie, and any other talented rock legends, mix it up with a 4/4 beat, cyber fart noises and pass the Molly around and you are a star.

BTW it's a known problem among good musicians

http://www.hulu.com/watch/326773

Denny B · #4 02-09-2016, 11:41 AM

I believe this is what's called EDM, electronic dance music, and they have entire festivals of nothing but what you described.

Lights, blaring electronics, no vocals, and a huge audience bouncing up and down...

It's getting really big, and unfortunately may be the musical future of todays youth.

Jusca · #5 02-09-2016, 11:56 AM

It's nothing new. It's been going on since turntables came onto the scene.

Glennwillow · #6 02-09-2016, 12:46 PM

It's the rebirth of disco. I couldn't understand it the first time around.

- Glenn

#7 02-09-2016, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jusca

It's nothing new. It's been going on since turntables came onto the scene.

Uhhh . . . . I dunno . . . . I don't think they were doing this back in Edison's day.

Denny B · #8 02-09-2016, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Mac

Uhhh . . . . I dunno . . . . I don't think they were doing this back in Edison's day.

I'm truly grateful that I'm old enough to shake my head and say "That sucks."

And now, I'm gonna get my guitar and play a little music...

martingitdave · #9 02-09-2016, 01:45 PM

We joke about someone trying to "buy a game" with new equipment. This is a whole new level. "Steal a game."

zabdart · #10 02-09-2016, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Mac

Is this the future of popular music? Why in the world am I messing with all this guitar stuff?

As I get older I become more convinced that "popular music" is a contradiction in terms.

dorable · #11 02-09-2016, 09:17 PM

Not all EDM is created equal. Some of it is crappy lazy samples made by someone who just pushes a few buttons and calls it a show. Others (like Swedish House Mafia, Avicci, or Zedd) are more composer/writer/producer types who actively create the music they play - often in collaboration with other artists (such as David Guetta working with Sia for "Titanium"). Unfortunately they all get lumped under the "DJ" umbrella even if that's not all that they do.

Anyway maybe this version of "Don't You Worry Child" will float your boats a bit more:

flaggerphil · #12 02-10-2016, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zabdart

As I get older I become more convinced that "popular music" is a contradiction in terms.

Hey...that's what my Dad said to me in the '60s! And what my grandfather said to him in the '40s!

Wow!

Long Jon · #13 02-10-2016, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denny B

I believe this is what's called EDM, electronic dance music, and they have entire festivals of nothing but what you described.

Lights, blaring electronics, no vocals, and a huge audience bouncing up and down...

It's getting really big, and unfortunately may be the musical future of todays youth.

Could not agree less Denny. Have a look at some live footage from e.g. last year's Glastonbury and see if those crazy "Young People" have stopped loving real live music.
They are not some alien species y'know ... They are us, but better looking !

Quote:

Originally Posted by flaggerphil

Hey...that's what my Dad said to me in the '60s! And what my grandfather said to him in the '40s!
Wow!

Exactly Phil.... exactly....

More young people are playing instruments today than at any previous time in human history.

Even the dreaded Folk music is being kept fresh by young blood !

. .

The future of REAL music is guaranteed for as long as the future of humans.

Play on ! (But first, go mow yer lawn!)

Denny B · #14 02-10-2016, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Long Jon

Could not agree less Denny. Have a look at some live footage from e.g. last year's Glastonbury and see if those crazy "Young People" have stopped loving real live music.
They are not some alien species y'know ... They are us, but better looking !

Exactly Phil.... exactly....

More young people are playing instruments today than at any previous time in human history.

Even the dreaded Folk music is being kept fresh by young blood !

. .

The future of REAL music is guaranteed for as long as the future of humans.

Play on ! (But first, go mow yer lawn!)

Oh, I certainly have hope, Jon...I didn't mean to sound as if I was painting the whole generation with a broad brush...I just haven't been put off so much by a genre like EDM since years ago when I ranted & railed about Disco back in the day...

And I tell all my old fart friends who say there's no good music today, that I can't believe all the good stuff I've discovered since I picked up a guitar recently...most of it by hanging around forums like this one...

tbeltrans · #15 02-10-2016, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flaggerphil

Hey...that's what my Dad said to me in the '60s! And what my grandfather said to him in the '40s!

Wow!

This ^^^ over and over and over ... again with each generation looking at the next. The funny thing is that each generation that does this forgets that these things were said about its music by the previous generation, and are convinced that this time, we really mean it.

Tony