I had this idea - what about a chart (of modern music, not "golden oldies" or something...), ONLY of music which has no electronics or computers in it?? What do all of you think of this idea?
D'you think it'll find takers??

Yea! Absolutely! Totally go for it! An unplugged acoustic music chart. Folk, classical, jazz, acapella, etc., music representing their own level of popularity. Let's have it!

ALL MUSIC has computers involved. EVERYTHING.

Even if it's recorded with live intruments, it's edited with computers. It's 2019.

^^^I'll bet that my point was more in line with that of the OP's, but of course people will want to take an idea and run with it in whichever way it can wind toward! Of course, most music of today is digitally produced in one way or another. That said, I'll just slip into the subtle hiss and crackle of the production standards of yesteryear...

Pretty pointless to be honest.

What does having or not having 'computers' involved have to do with the quality of the music.

You might as well start a chart for music that has no guitars, or no drums...

You would single out the tracks that had no guitars or no drums and pitch them against each other... but what would be the point?

Interesting, I often wonder if Nick Drake were still alive, would he have adopted Logic Pro X

Björk would like to have a word with you.

An article citing various instances in which she used new technology to make new and interesting music: https://www.factmag.com/2...-software/

Also, check out snippets of her iPad and Android app "Biophilia" which translates musical theory concepts (scales, time signatures, arpeggios, etc.) into minigames, allowing the player to literally build up musical compositions by interacting with the game:

tough to do... but i like the idea

Good idea, but a nightmare to prove without a shadow of a doubt.

Live performances would be the easiest to 'chart' and even then we'd have to get a more solid definition of 'computer'.

Rimshottbob said:

What does having or not having 'computers' involved have to do with the quality of the music.

From what I can see of "The Charts, circa 2018/2019", plenty! It seems to me that a ton of people out there who had computers in their houses, and some kind of "music making software" on them, decided to, well, use them. To make money. Art..... - you know, things like Learning An Instrument, or Learning To Sing, went out the window! Modern songs have no tune in them! If it's at the point where DJ fucking Khaled is not only on the charts, but has plenty of company there, well.....someone has to Do something!
I don't want it to sound like a cliched "old guy ranting", and I'm not - there were, and are, PLENTY of people who can use computers to make art - *one* example from today's charts would be Years N Years, who I really like, but there are others who do NOT. Modern radio is almost Unlistenable.

Hence the idea.

I'm a fan of Bjork btw, especially her videos, and I was aware that Biophilia was an app, but I've never checked it out myself. Sounds Fascinating.

domainator2010 said:

Rimshottbob said:

What does having or not having 'computers' involved have to do with the quality of the music.

From what I can see of "The Charts, circa 2018/2019", plenty! It seems to me that a ton of people out there who had computers in their houses, and some kind of "music making software" on them, decided to, well, use them. To make money. Art..... - you know, things like Learning An Instrument, or Learning To Sing, went out the window! Modern songs have no tune in them! If it's at the point where DJ fucking Khaled is not only on the charts, but has plenty of company there, well.....someone has to Do something!
I don't want it to sound like a cliched "old guy ranting", and I'm not - there were, and are, PLENTY of people who can use computers to make art - *one* example from today's charts would be Years N Years, who I really like, but there are others who do NOT. Modern radio is almost Unlistenable.

Hence the idea.

I'm a fan of Bjork btw, especially her videos, and I was aware that Biophilia was an app, but I've never checked it out myself. Sounds Fascinating.

Problem is, you're confusing two vital elements... the charts and 'art'. The charts are not - and have never been - dictated by art... they are dictated by record labels and how much money they want to spend promoting a particular artist and/or sound that they know they can flog to the masses, mostly to kids, to make a hit.

Why are you listening to/paying attention to charts if you're interested in music's artistic elements?

I didn't know they even still had charts, it's just not on my radar, who gives a crap? I have no interest in listening to what everyone else is listening to...

Also, it's not the computers or lack of that are the problem. You mentioned Years & Years. A band you like. Fair enough. To me they are dreadful. Nothing to do with the instruments they use, but because their songwriting to me is juvenile and empty, and their performances limp and lifeless. There's nothing to listen to. It's about songwriting, not instrumentation.

But we're in a place now where songwriting isn't as valued by those who influence the charts - the record labels, etc. So it's a no-win situation if you want art in your chart.

Fundamentally, charts are pointless, other than for sales. I really don't know why anyone cares about them.

Now if you were to start a chart that somehow focused on songwriters.... maaaaaybe there'd be something interesting there... but 'policing' it/organising it would be a nightmare.

Rimshottbob said:

Why are you listening to/paying attention to charts if you're interested in music's artistic elements?

OK, so where do I find the GOOD music? (And I love pop songs btw, at least, Good ones - which is why all this discussion about "charts"... )

domainator2010 said: