independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Is the sound of LIVE instruments outdated?
« Previous topic  Next topic »
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 05/07/05 12:22pm

LoveAlive

Is the sound of LIVE instruments outdated?

In this age of computer programmed music and beat machines, do you think that the sound of live instruments(a band) is considered outdated by the masses?
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 05/07/05 12:36pm

Rhondab

LoveAlive said:

In this age of computer programmed music and beat machines, do you think that the sound of live instruments(a band) is considered outdated by the masses?




Well, I remember going to a bar after the prince concert and one criticism from another person at the bar was that "Prince had too many instruments". eek
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 05/07/05 12:43pm

DorothyParkerW
asCool

Rhondab said:

LoveAlive said:

In this age of computer programmed music and beat machines, do you think that the sound of live instruments(a band) is considered outdated by the masses?




Well, I remember going to a bar after the prince concert and one criticism from another person at the bar was that "Prince had too many instruments". eek


That doesn't surprise me...Hell thinking is outdated for the masses.
lol
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 05/07/05 12:45pm

Rhondab

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

Rhondab said:





Well, I remember going to a bar after the prince concert and one criticism from another person at the bar was that "Prince had too many instruments". eek


That doesn't surprise me...Hell thinking is outdated for the masses.
lol


lol
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 05/07/05 1:15pm

anon

avatar

Rhondab said:

LoveAlive said:

In this age of computer programmed music and beat machines, do you think that the sound of live instruments(a band) is considered outdated by the masses?




Well, I remember going to a bar after the prince concert and one criticism from another person at the bar was that "Prince had too many instruments". eek
Perhaps they meant that they would have preferred a more scaled down show. Not that they didn't like the live instruments.

I personally think it's the right time to go "live". It's refreshing.
You can't worry about the masses. They always catch on later.
Like they don't get in when it's on the runways in Milan. But a year or so later when it's in K-Mart, it's suddenly hot. Of course you're onto something different then...but that's the way it is with marketing to the masses.

It's so much better to do your thing.

The time to worry is when the masses get it right away. That must be a scary place to be.
Why do you like playing around with my narrow scope of reality? - Stupify
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 05/07/05 1:48pm

728huey

avatar

It's all ebb and flow. Remember when they made a huge fuss when Bob Dylan first plugged in his electric guitar? They said that he sold out real musicians then. Then the Beatles and Beach Boys experimented with loops, distortion and weird sounds, and then they said that would put bandmembers in the poorhouse. Then Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton showed what they could do with guitars and suddenly, everyone wanted to pick up a guitar. Afterward, everyone had huge bands, either with multiple guitars like Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath, or the funk bands like Earth, Wind and Fire, Kool and the Gang, and KC and the Sunshine Band. I think the mid-1970's was the salad days of live instrumentation.

Then came disco, punk and new wave. The early disco was actually more R&B and funk based, but when Giorgio Moroder introduced synthesizers and electronic drum beats to the groove, it took away a lot of the live instrumentation and made it cheaper to produce danceable music. The whole punk astethic was about just making a lot of noise and not using multiple instrumentation, and the new wave bands experimented with synthesizers to produce sounds that used to take band or orchestral arrangements to reproduce. It became real prevalent in R&B by the mid-1980's, as many of the previous funk bands eliminated their horn and rhythm sections for synth keyboards and 808 drum machines.

The grunge and alternative movement, while nothing like the rock of the early 70's, was about going back to basics, so live instrumentation was important, albeit on a smaller scale. However, hip-hop and techno was all about sampling, so it got to a point where one didn't even need a band to produce records; it could all be done on computer.

Right now, we're at a low point for live instrumentation, but I have a feeling that it will come back, mostly because people can connect to the sound of live instruments. Electronic beats and samples, while more lifelike than ever, still leave many people with a cold feeling. I think people would be more willing to overlook someone messing up a guitar lick by playing the wrong chord or striking the wrong key on the piano or missing a beat on the drums then they would some singer who lip-synchs over a skipped backing vocal. ("Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]")

typing
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 05/07/05 2:22pm

vainandy

avatar

Live instruments have been outdated by the masses for many years. So has uptempo music.
Andy is a four letter word.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 05/07/05 3:15pm

funkpill

728huey said:

It's all ebb and flow. Remember when they made a huge fuss when Bob Dylan first plugged in his electric guitar? They said that he sold out real musicians then. Then the Beatles and Beach Boys experimented with loops, distortion and weird sounds, and then they said that would put bandmembers in the poorhouse. Then Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton showed what they could do with guitars and suddenly, everyone wanted to pick up a guitar. Afterward, everyone had huge bands, either with multiple guitars like Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath, or the funk bands like Earth, Wind and Fire, Kool and the Gang, and KC and the Sunshine Band. I think the mid-1970's was the salad days of live instrumentation.

Then came disco, punk and new wave. The early disco was actually more R&B and funk based, but when Giorgio Moroder introduced synthesizers and electronic drum beats to the groove, it took away a lot of the live instrumentation and made it cheaper to produce danceable music. The whole punk astethic was about just making a lot of noise and not using multiple instrumentation, and the new wave bands experimented with synthesizers to produce sounds that used to take band or orchestral arrangements to reproduce. It became real prevalent in R&B by the mid-1980's, as many of the previous funk bands eliminated their horn and rhythm sections for synth keyboards and 808 drum machines.

The grunge and alternative movement, while nothing like the rock of the early 70's, was about going back to basics, so live instrumentation was important, albeit on a smaller scale. However, hip-hop and techno was all about sampling, so it got to a point where one didn't even need a band to produce records; it could all be done on computer.

Right now, we're at a low point for live instrumentation, but I have a feeling that it will come back, mostly because people can connect to the sound of live instruments. Electronic beats and samples, while more lifelike than ever, still leave many people with a cold feeling. I think people would be more willing to overlook someone messing up a guitar lick by playing the wrong chord or striking the wrong key on the piano or missing a beat on the drums then they would some singer who lip-synchs over a skipped backing vocal. ("Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]")

typing


Well said.... biggrin
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 05/07/05 11:21pm

Luv4oneanotha

728huey said:

It's all ebb and flow. Remember when they made a huge fuss when Bob Dylan first plugged in his electric guitar? They said that he sold out real musicians then. Then the Beatles and Beach Boys experimented with loops, distortion and weird sounds, and then they said that would put bandmembers in the poorhouse. Then Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton showed what they could do with guitars and suddenly, everyone wanted to pick up a guitar. Afterward, everyone had huge bands, either with multiple guitars like Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath, or the funk bands like Earth, Wind and Fire, Kool and the Gang, and KC and the Sunshine Band. I think the mid-1970's was the salad days of live instrumentation.

Then came disco, punk and new wave. The early disco was actually more R&B and funk based, but when Giorgio Moroder introduced synthesizers and electronic drum beats to the groove, it took away a lot of the live instrumentation and made it cheaper to produce danceable music. The whole punk astethic was about just making a lot of noise and not using multiple instrumentation, and the new wave bands experimented with synthesizers to produce sounds that used to take band or orchestral arrangements to reproduce. It became real prevalent in R&B by the mid-1980's, as many of the previous funk bands eliminated their horn and rhythm sections for synth keyboards and 808 drum machines.

The grunge and alternative movement, while nothing like the rock of the early 70's, was about going back to basics, so live instrumentation was important, albeit on a smaller scale. However, hip-hop and techno was all about sampling, so it got to a point where one didn't even need a band to produce records; it could all be done on computer.

Right now, we're at a low point for live instrumentation, but I have a feeling that it will come back, mostly because people can connect to the sound of live instruments. Electronic beats and samples, while more lifelike than ever, still leave many people with a cold feeling. I think people would be more willing to overlook someone messing up a guitar lick by playing the wrong chord or striking the wrong key on the piano or missing a beat on the drums then they would some singer who lip-synchs over a skipped backing vocal. ("Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]Girl you know its..[skip]")

typing




Co-siggity

Its an ongoing cycle
Popular music is riddled with electronic instruments and digi-pop beats which was revolutionary in the 70's and 80's but started getting tired during the 90's. The thirst for live instrumentation has been increasing and now music such as Alternative Rock and grudge are gaining mass appeal because they have more live instrumentation.

Its an ongoing struggle
Digital Versus Analogue or Live Instruments
Pick and choose your side
but both tools can be masterful depending on your vision...
When it comes to actual production its preferred you use digital to gain mass appeal
but their are many who choose to use analogue and still wow people
Case and point D'angelo...
Voodoo was an album with a major portion of analogue on it!

It's a matter of taste...
But the X-factor is the dullness of digital music...
now don't get me wrong i love digital music, but these engineers are not churning out hits that groups like Kraftwerk use too...
no!
Digital music is a CHEAP way to churn out music
all you need is a drum machine and a midi keyboard and you have your album
you can churn out 2 albums in one year.
is it really a good idea?
No...
but you'll surely make a hell of alot more money that way!

But this is pop music, which in my opinion sucks!

Generally the people don't know what they want to hear...
they are told what to listen to by the masses of radio stations and peers which virtually programs them!
Sure its a matter of taste but as a person ages statistics show that they yearn at times for live instrumentation...
because an improvisational solo on a guitar can't be programmed.
Live instrumentation is varied
Digital is dull cause the majority consist of a 4 bar loop, riddled with samples which can sound cool for a day but by the next week its old.
Live instrumentation can last generations
its based on raw expression.


Generally what's going to happen is those who mix digital with live instrumentation are going to be deemed geniuses...
when basically they are mirroring what pioneers like Prince and a handful of others have done...
But who's going to know?
Urban youths will forget Prince just like they're forgetting about Miles Davis and Duke Elington

Its a cycle...
Digital music is for flash
but live instruments always win
because live instruments can make music without the use of a computer
and who want's to depend on a computer?
i'd take my guitar any day
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 05/16/05 10:04am

DorothyParkerW
asCool

vainandy said:

Live instruments have been outdated by the masses for many years. So has uptempo music.

nod
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 05/16/05 10:35am

OdysseyMiles

An open mind realizes that these things go in cycles. Live instruments will always be the hub that many artists come back to and learn from regardless of technological innovations.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 05/16/05 11:27am

andyman91

avatar

CD's are one thing, but most hip hop artists have some live musicians behind them when they play concerts nowadays.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 05/16/05 11:35am

3121

Live instruments have been here since...erm..well since music began, i guess! they are still here today. How many modern songs, which utilise the latest technology, programs etc.. sound dated a few years later? nearly all.

I don't think its what you use to record or perform but more a case of how you utilise your tool of choice.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 05/16/05 12:04pm

CalhounSq

avatar

Rhondab said:

LoveAlive said:

In this age of computer programmed music and beat machines, do you think that the sound of live instruments(a band) is considered outdated by the masses?




Well, I remember going to a bar after the prince concert and one criticism from another person at the bar was that "Prince had too many instruments". eek


omfg I can't believe someone actually said that!!! disbelief sigh
heart prince I never met you, but I LOVE you & I will forever!! Thank you for being YOU - my little Princey, the best to EVER do it prince heart
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 05/16/05 12:08pm

MrRedbell

NO! Think for yourself, trying to appeal to fad-based commercial radio & video outlets, that's what's outdated!
If you wanna get higher, ya gotta get DEEP!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 05/16/05 12:11pm

blackguitarist
z

avatar

Hell nah! Keep your eyes open, you've be forwarned!
SynthiaRose said "I'm in love with blackguitaristz. Especially when he talks about Hendrix."
nammie "What BGZ says I believe. I have the biggest crush on him."
http://ccoshea19.googlepa...ssanctuary
http://ccoshea19.googlepages.com
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 05/16/05 12:37pm

vainandy

avatar

blackguitaristz said:

Hell nah! Keep your eyes open, you've be forwarned!


Now, what are you up to? You've got something up your sleeve. You wouldn't be trying to plug an upcoming release by a certain black guitarist would you? biggrin
Andy is a four letter word.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 05/16/05 12:39pm

blackguitarist
z

avatar

vainandy said:



Now, what are you up to? You've got something up your sleeve. You wouldn't be trying to plug an upcoming release by a certain black guitarist would you? biggrin

Aaah, u were always one of the smartest ones on here!
SynthiaRose said "I'm in love with blackguitaristz. Especially when he talks about Hendrix."
nammie "What BGZ says I believe. I have the biggest crush on him."
http://ccoshea19.googlepa...ssanctuary
http://ccoshea19.googlepages.com
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 05/16/05 1:14pm

vainandy

avatar

blackguitaristz said:

vainandy said:



Now, what are you up to? You've got something up your sleeve. You wouldn't be trying to plug an upcoming release by a certain black guitarist would you? biggrin

Aaah, u were always one of the smartest ones on here!


biggrin Just be sure and let us know the name of it and when it drops so we can pick it up.
Andy is a four letter word.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 05/16/05 1:26pm

blackguitarist
z

avatar

vainandy said:



biggrin Just be sure and let us know the name of it and when it drops so we can pick it up.

You'll know before that.
SynthiaRose said "I'm in love with blackguitaristz. Especially when he talks about Hendrix."
nammie "What BGZ says I believe. I have the biggest crush on him."
http://ccoshea19.googlepa...ssanctuary
http://ccoshea19.googlepages.com
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 05/16/05 5:04pm

MsLegs

blackguitaristz said:

vainandy said:



biggrin Just be sure and let us know the name of it and when it drops so we can pick it up.

You'll know before that.

OK now, you Mslegs AKA Hotlegs will hold you to that BG Baby!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Is the sound of LIVE instruments outdated?