| | | |
RedRobin
|
2/17/2008 3:31:53 AM
How do YOU judge whether a song is good or not?....
In my opinion, the fact of whether a song has lyrics or not is NOT a measure of how well a song is 'written'. By the term "songwriting" I think we mean "creating".
The measure of a good song is surely whether it has SOUL or not.
It's not even how well arranged or mixed or mastered it is, though I would be the first to say that I enjoy a polished product.
Music is expression, inner expression from the very soul of the artist. It doesn't matter if you like the song or not, but I think it does matter if it has soul or not. Even purely commercial Pop music can have soul - I think Kylie has soul (and a nice bum!) and an inner happiness which shines out. I can't stand Leonard Cohen's depressive ramblings but he has soul.
So do you folks agree or disagree about the importance of soul?....
|
|
The CODE
|
2/17/2008 4:43:51 AM
Soul! - Is what you put into it!!!
Angst! is what I get out of it!!!
|
|
Jack Heinicke
|
2/17/2008 6:53:40 AM
Does the expression of another's soul reach through and touch my own?
What touches one's soul leaves anothers untouched.
For instance, a lot of the sappy pop love songs of the day may reach my 14 year old daughter's soul but might make me want to destroy her stereo.
And the music that touches me makes my kids scream in mortal agony.
Ifind the music of artists like U2 and Springsteen to be at times extremely soul stirring. Goose pimples and rushes down the spine kind of thing especially when I've seen them live. But for many others no such response.
So it's kind of in the soul of the beholder I guess.
I just hope my own stuff touches somebody (and some have said it has) in that same way. That's what I strive for more than anything elses.
|
|
reverse
|
2/17/2008 7:21:47 AM
Interesting. On those terms, I don't think our stuff has any soul at all! At least that gives us a classification at long last - soul-less pop music!
|
|
Larz Boah
|
2/17/2008 8:23:40 AM
i agree with the Kylie (nice bum) comment; if you're speaking of Kylie Minogue.......
and if so, one things for sure.......she's no bum.....he he he
|
|
RedRobin
|
2/17/2008 8:29:47 AM
....Jack, you make a good point about the 'soul of the beholder' but I still maintain that whether you like someone's music or not you can nevertheless recognise the soul in it.
Yes, and some Pop indeed sounds soul-less.
As Larree says - Soul lasts forever. [We seem to be agreeing again!!]
|
|
Tony Vani and Debbie Hoskin
|
2/17/2008 10:06:01 AM
I go for the soul thing..................................as in Soul Retrieval........for soulful songs on IAC.
|
|
Verity
|
2/17/2008 11:43:13 AM
I always think it odd that there is a genre designated as officially "Soul" Every soul is different and looking for music to match it. So whether your soul is passionate or compassionate, joyous, contemplative, peaceful or rebellious you need to be touched by the appropriate music. Veexx
|
|
satch
|
2/17/2008 11:46:21 AM
Soul matters - of course it does - and if you combine soul in the music with soul in the lyrics and soul in the vocal delivery... now that's powerful!
|
|
RedRobin
|
2/17/2008 12:34:55 PM
Vee wrote: "I always think it odd that there is a genre designated as officially "Soul".
....But when the word Soul is used as a genre doesn't it only mean Soul as in RnB?
|
|
SILVERWOODSTUDIO
|
2/17/2008 12:40:12 PM
I just visited an Artist who I believe has that quality---soul---- and has been here for a while --Roy Muniz--------have a listen to "Shine on Sun" or "Within the Hand"
that to me is "soul"
|
|
Stegor
|
2/17/2008 9:58:45 PM
To me there are 3 main types of music -
Head music
Soul music
Feet music
Of course they blur into each other. To me a song can be great if it contains aspects of 2 of the 3.
Reverse (above) is Head music (nice to see you again). They aren't Soul, but there's a smattering of it here and there, enough to keep them from being soul-less, like Kraftwerk. But Kraftwerk is great too. A mix of Head and Feet.
|
|
Steve Ison
|
2/18/2008 12:55:56 AM
I really like that de_scription Stegor..Tho i'd prob make it Head heart and sensual..
Head music is still soul music imo,since its a product of the imagination-and our imaginations are surely a quality of our 'soul'
Autobahn by Kraftwerk is supremely evocative head music...
T.Rex is sensual,sexy good-time music-but the aura of strangeness with it makes it head music too....
I think 'heart' music is very open to abuse..There's incredibly soulful beautiful songs that seem to come straight from the heart and then there's the 'cod-soul' of so much modern rnb,'emo' indie, modern country n celine dion etc..
All these would claim to be from the heart,but the feeling i get is incredible irritation-and i don't feel thats 'cos i have no 'heart'..
Are self-indulgent whining, n self pitying, self-centred ultra-emotionalism qualities of the empathetic generous-spirited 'heart' i wonder?
Maybe we need a new category for that...I suggest 'Anus'
So that makes 4 main types of music then..
|
|
fly on the wall
|
2/18/2008 3:18:32 AM
Which of your own songs would you put in the anal genre, Steve? :~D
|
|
Steve Ison
|
2/18/2008 3:39:07 AM
I'll let you decide that fly...;)
|
|
the kozy king
|
2/18/2008 5:50:21 AM
Shouldn't the question be:
How dare you judge whether a song is good or not?
:-))))
|
|
|
2/18/2008 10:54:57 AM
Years ago I took songwriting classes from a famous songwriter named Jack Segal (Scarlet Ribbons, When Sunny Gets Blue) .
He said a good song is one the makes the heart skip a beat, the toe to start tapping, or the tear to well up in the eye.
So I guess I agree with the "soul" concept as well.
Dave
|
|
the kozy king
|
2/18/2008 3:39:22 PM
"To me there are 3 main types of music -
Head music
Soul music
Feet music
Of course they blur into each other. To me a song can be great if it contains aspects of 2 of the 3."
STEG: That is pure genius!
|
|
Steve Ison
|
2/18/2008 4:49:03 PM
You don't wanna add anus music to the list then? ;)
|
|
Hugh Hamilton
|
2/18/2008 5:53:49 PM
I'll join the chorus of folks who approve of Stegor's categories...
Perhaps people would find "Sphinctral" a more palatable fourth category, Mr. Ison...lol...
Cranial
Spiritual
Sphinctral
Pedal
Nah, Stegor's are better...
As for me, I don't judge songs with my head - it's all about the gut reaction, very visceral. The music either draws me in (success) or repels me (next!) - it's that simple. And I admit, the initial negative judgment can occur in about two seconds - though I'm trying to become a little more patient...
|
|
|
2/18/2008 6:21:34 PM
Songs serve an endless amount of purposes in my life, if i were to break it down there'd probably be 30 or 40 categories. The anus designation might be used for songs to play when I'm in the bathroom. heh
|
|
Stegor
|
2/18/2008 8:33:13 PM
Ha ha!
Sphinctral songs are the ones that have none of the qualities that appeal to your head, soul or feet. They're just crap!
But really, I'm a fan of Progressive Rock. Head music. But some Prog Rock is soooo dreadfully booooooring! If it only appeals to your head it just sucks. It's gotta have some soul. King Crimson used to have soul. When Tony Levin and Bill Bruford left they lost their soul. It goes into your head but it stops there.
I'm not a fan of dance music, but I sure have loved some great dance music that has Head. Yello used to produce some of the coolest dance beats that hit your feet immediately, but it could also completely hijack your head if you let it.
Soul music with Feet and vice versa, well I guess that would be the R&B dance hits that dominate the mainstream. If it ain't got Head I got no time for it.
I probably should have used "Brain" instead of "Head". Too late now!
|
|
| |
�2015-16 IndieMusicPeople.com All Rights
Reserved
| |