Burning Questions from pop culture?

[TriBel]

Has the traditional Rock band died?

Probably.

DJ's or hip-hop artists are the new rock stars for many.

You mean people who a) can't sing and b) can't play instruments?

At the same time, there's been a massive surge of interest in Queen on YouTube since the Bohemian Rhapsody film was released (many by young black guys calling themselves "rap reactors"). I'm cynical about some of the positive responses but some seem genuinely enthusiastic and they've gone on to investigate more of the old school Rock groups. I'm wondering if we'll see a similar resurgence of Soul/R&B when the new Aretha film comes out? Maybe it'll motivate people? IDK...how many aspiring Freddie/Arethas can the world take? Then there's K-pop. BTS - I've no idea who these very pretty babies actually are - new single Butter* borrows the bass line from "Another One Bites the Dust". Perhaps they're just re-inventing the wheel.

Look at what Funko Pops are being produced...that might give you an idea. 😄

*I hate myself.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

I have one. Which television show more effectively torched it's fan base with a questionable final season? How I met your Mother or Game of Thrones?

 

[Skanky Vamp]

can't play instruments?

Turntables are most certainly an instrument.

 

[TriBel]

Turntables are most certainly an instrument.

I don't dispute that (I was being a bit facetious)...and I don't dislike all rap. In fact, I think I've got Dave's Psychodrama and some other stuff somewhere. I kinda get sampling but it bothers me that while they're sampling they're not writing new stuff. Ultimately, it probably boils down to money. It's cheaper to spend hours with a computer than hours in a studio... let alone the years taken to become as proficient as some of the top guitarists and to hone the voice even if it's a natural gift. The number of reactors who discover people can actually sing is quite shocking. It's not just rock...I kinda miss soul too. Maybe it's just nostalgia... maybe 'cos I was wandering around Mathew St in Liverpool at the weekend.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

let alone the years taken to become as proficient as some of the top guitarists and to hone the voice even if it's a natural gift.

It takes years to learn how to turntable too. I spent years doing it and was just a novice. When you see people with real skill do it, it's just crazy how much skill and music understanding they have to have.

like this here feller

or this feller... it's still mastering an instrument

 

[TriBel]

or this feller... it's still mastering an instrument

Don't disagree...the youngest used to do it (or at least I bought him set of decks...God knows where they are now). But someone had to produce the records etc...and it's a very solitary experience. IDK, maybe it's natural progression but it sometimes feels a bit like writing a best selling novel by quoting verbatim from every best selling novel that's gone before. It becomes a copy of a copy of a copy. It's like Baudrillard on speed...or rearranging furniture in the room because you can't be bothered to buy new. As I said...perhaps I'm just being nostalgic for something that never existed...though I think it did. I bought this a couple of weeks ago.

Hit Factories: A Journey Through the Industrial Cities of British Pop

Hit Factories: A Journey Through the Industrial Cities of British Pop : Whitney, Karl: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Hit Factories: A Journey Through the Industrial Cities of British Pop : Whitney, Karl: Amazon.co.uk: Books

www.amazon.co.uk

It's described as "The vibrant story of how the sound of British pop music was shaped by its industrial cities". It locates the music in time and space, which I find interesting. Some modern music seems to de-historicise - which I think is a shame.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

But someone had to produce the records etc...

And someone has to make the strings and build the guitar... it's all the same to me.

feels a bit like writing a best selling novel by quoting verbatim from every best selling novel that's gone before.

That's sorta the history of blues and rock though.

 

[TriBel]

That's sorta the history of blues and rock though.

Again...don't disagree but there seemed to be a connect to something real... (for instance, the Civil Rights movement). It just feels as though we're moving further and further away. We've gone from the street to someone's bedroom (which sounds kinda rude) - from a collective experience to a solitary one (don't twist my words).

And someone has to make the strings and build the guitar.

Brian May built the Red Special himself - with some help from his dad. John Deacon built the amp. 😄 Way, way before that, slaves were making their own drums.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

We've gone from the street to someone's bedroom (which sounds kinda rude) - from a collective experience to a solitary one (don't twist my words).

Ah. I see the disconnect that you have then. Look at them as musicians and producers. Because producers were "solitary" done in dingy and dark rooms with no fanfare.

And the actual performing is still done on and in the streets and not just in bedrooms, and is very much a collective experience.

 

[Dogs of Winter]

Has the traditional Rock band died? I recently watched a doc series where they claimed that the likes of Arcade Fire and The White Stripes were the last of the great old school rock bands. DJ's or hip-hop artists are the new rock stars for many.

I think they are still out there its just you have to look harder than before to find them as rock/indie are less fashionable at the moment. As I get older I tend to spend less time actually looking for new music but if i speak to my nieces they can name plenty of bands I have never heard of !
Music has always gone through phases. I remember before The Stokes first record people were saying Rock'N' Roll is dead, and in the mid 80's NME claimed it was already dead.
Although Hip Hop, Dance etc are so ubiquitous I doubt Rock will ever reclaim the place it once had

At the same time, there's been a massive surge of interest in Queen on YouTube since the Bohemian Rhapsody film was released (many by young black guys calling themselves "rap reactors"). I'm cynical about some of the positive responses but some seem genuinely enthusiastic and they've gone on to investigate more of the old school

I sometimes listen to these reaction vids and its nice to see people get so enthusiastic about music you like, but I share your doubts about whether it is all genuine.
On the ones I have seen they react to every single song as if its the best song they have ever heard ever - no-one can like everything !
Plus they rave about a song and then a few months later will rave about another song from the same artist as if they havent heard it yet. But if I like a song that much I will check out their other stuff straightaway

I kinda get sampling but it bothers me that while they're sampling they're not writing new stuff.

People used to accuse bands like the Stones and Led Zep of exactly the same thing 🙂

 

[The Bronze]

Has the traditional Rock band died? I recently watched a doc series where they claimed that the likes of Arcade Fire and The White Stripes were the last of the great old school rock bands. DJ's or hip-hop artists are the new rock stars for many.

I doubt it'll die anytime soon. Might not be fashionable at the moment but people will still listen. It'll come back around at some stage with an evolved sound. Genres tend to have a bit of time in the mainstream and then carry on out of the spotlight.

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

I doubt it'll die anytime soon. Might not be fashionable at the moment but people will still listen. It'll come back around at some stage with an evolved sound. Genres tend to have a bit of time in the mainstream and then carry on out of the spotlight.

It's alive and well...

 

[whatdBuffyDo]

It's alive and well...

It doesn't seem to live in Minneapolis tho 😀

Spoiler

 

[DeadlyDuo]

I have one. Which television show more effectively torched it's fan base with a questionable final season? How I met your Mother or Game of Thrones?

Game of Thrones. As far as I know, the only real issue with the final season of HIMYM was the very last episode which then basically made the whole season a waste of time. Up until that point it was fine.

 

[The Bronze]

I have one. Which television show more effectively torched it's fan base with a questionable final season? How I met your Mother or Game of Thrones?

Game of Thrones final season was good. Some of the fan base just torched itself.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Some of the fan base just torched itself.

The problem with fans in general is they make their own ending in their head and when the object of their fandom fails to live up to their dream scenario they get, I believe the professional term is butthurt. Now, considering how long Song of Ice and Fire fans had been wanting to find out more, and all of the ideas in their head, and knowing that George might very well pass on before they get any sort of ending, I think the final 3 seasons of the show just compounded the butthurtness. I mean, people waited a literal decade just to find out - from the show - whether Jon Snow lived or died.

 

[Priceless]

I have one. Which television show more effectively torched it's fan base with a questionable final season? How I met your Mother or Game of Thrones?

Personally, Game of Thrones, because I never watched How I Met Your Mother.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

This may be more of a question for the Americans on the board, but since I know this from TV only, I think it fits; why, in gods name, do everyone always say 'yes' when someone asks 'do you mind...?'!!! I drives me insane. "Do you mind if I sit there?" "Yeah, sure." That means THEY MIND!!!

Why is this a thing?

I'm an American and yes it happens all the time and I correct people about it constantly. The most common version of it is when people say "I could care less" when what they really mean to say is "I couldn't care less". I don't know why so many people do this.

Game of Thrones. As far as I know, the only real issue with the final season of HIMYM was the very last episode which then basically made the whole season a waste of time. Up until that point it was fine.

This made me recall my experience of reading Charlotte Bronte's ending to Villette. It was an amazing book overall, but literally the very last page ruined everything for me! Among literary types the ending to that book is controversial.

 

[Taake]

I have one. Which television show more effectively torched it's fan base with a questionable final season? How I met your Mother or Game of Thrones?

GoT. Any show where two out of three dragons die is one I won’t finish.

How I met your Mother didn’t kill any dragons, so their final season sins are more excuseable.

I may be too attached to the dragons. Maybe.

 

[TriBel]

People used to accuse bands like the Stones and Led Zep of exactly the same thing

LOL! Never liked the Stones or Led Zep so I don't care!😄 Oh I'm fed up with covers...I'm blaming Simon Cowell for everything. 😒

Any show where two out of three dragons die is one I won’t finish.

That's a very good point. I'm attaching "survival rate of dragons" as a caveat to every show I watch. It used to be..."do I like the main character's feet when he - it's always a man - isn't wearing socks and shoes?" but "the welfare of dragons" seems more objective. Thank you.