107th Obsequious Banter Thread: Ugly Sweaters Edition

[Magua]

Music is way less monolithic today given how we consume it. Much as we remember iconic, time eternal bands and artists from the 20th century, I think it's unchangeably fractured today. And that also means way more options, so it's not a negative connotation necessarily. We consume culture a la carte.

The top movies gross more money than ever, and yet I don't think 50 years from now that Marvel movies (or shared universe movies in general), not that I'm a hater, will be treated the same as Raiders of the Lost Ark or The Wizard of Oz. We consume so much in so many different ways that lasting power in general is probably archaic. The idea of Great Novels even seems antiquated — do those exist now? Will they exist? And it’s not about quality.

 

[Runner77]

I have a peloton and have around 900 rides completed this year. Looking at options for a rower next. That's a fantastic full body workout...the Peloton rower is like 3k though...maybe the Hydrow Wave...A body of mine lost 50lbs in 6 months doing the row.

Kudos to you for making great use of equipment that most others probably use to hang coats and scarves.

 

[Jack Straw]

The vast majority of pop music from the 60s and 70s was putrid, time just filtered it out

When it comes to pop/rock (and probably every other genre), this is true of every decade. But the best stuff of the '60s and '70s was legendary.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

@Strawberry Fields -- get 'em

That Connor McDavid?

 

[Jack Straw]

Music is way less monolithic today given how we consume it. Much as we remember iconic, time eternal bands and artists from the 20th century, I think it's unchangeably fractured today. And that also means way more options, so it's not a negative connotation necessarily. We consume culture a la carte.

The top movies gross more money than ever, and yet I don't think 50 years from now that Marvel movies (or shared universe movies in general), not that I'm a hater, will be treated the same as Raiders of the Lost Ark or The Wizard of Oz. We consume so much in so many different ways that lasting power in general is probably archaic. The idea of Great Novels even seems antiquated.

Music now, and I'd say this became most noticeable in the '80s, is much more "Balkanized" than it was in the '60s and '70s. Back then you could hear the Beatles, Dylan, and the Four Tops, all on the same radio station. It was much easier (and unavoidable really) to be exposed to different musical styles.

 

[ajgoal]

But they were a 60s band, who, contrary to 70s hockey players, are still good today

Considering that they're dead, I don't think this is true.

 

[DancingPanther]

The vast majority of pop music from the 60s and 70s was putrid, time just filtered it out

Bif, that's the point. Does anything stand the test of time from today?

You’re out your damn mind.

Billie is so magnificently different from everything else in pop music, and is also wildly successful. Anyone can recognize her music in an instant, even if you only slightly know who she is. And she's still very young. When it's all said and done she could have an all time legacy, like her or not

 

[Jack Straw]

Also, while it's true that there was plenty of stuff from the 60s/70s that has deservedly been forgotten, there is also good stuff that kind of got lost in the shuffle, or was never quite in the shuffle to begin with, because it was ok to be blatantly non-commercial then. For example, QMS. Hell of a band that most people probably have never heard of.

 

[Chicken N Raffls]

View attachment 618766

I do agree with @DancingPanther 's premise though, and I've often pondered his question myself. Maybe it's just because I don't listen to much of it, but there just aren't many artists/songs these days I look at/listen to and think, "this has staying power"

It's hard to have staying power when they all sound the same, no?

Music is way less monolithic today given how we consume it. Much as we remember iconic, time eternal bands and artists from the 20th century, I think it's unchangeably fractured today. And that also means way more options, so it's not a negative connotation necessarily. We consume culture a la carte.

The top movies gross more money than ever, and yet I don't think 50 years from now that Marvel movies (or shared universe movies in general), not that I'm a hater, will be treated the same as Raiders of the Lost Ark or The Wizard of Oz. We consume so much in so many different ways that lasting power in general is probably archaic. The idea of Great Novels even seems antiquated — do those exist now? Will they exist? And it’s not about quality.

Very well said. I can't stand most modern music, regardless of genre, for (see above). That said, I'm sure there are plenty of bands/artists that I would enjoy, if I took the time to find them. It's definitely a different world than the days where you had to have a "label" to be successful. People can produce their own product, and music options are more readily available than ever before. Maybe it's paralysis by analysis for me, I should search more. But I'm also pretty comfortable with my music up until the mid 2000's or so, and bitching about modern music.

 

[Beef Invictus]

When it comes to pop/rock (and probably every other genre), this is true of every decade. But the best stuff of the '60s and '70s was legendary.

And also this masterpiece

 

[ajgoal]

Fun prompt: what music from the 2000s, if any, will love to the year 2075?

OK, technically 1999.



Genius has no limits.

 

[Strawberry Fields]

But I'm also pretty comfortable with my music up until the mid 2000's or so, and bitching about modern music.

Ditto my friend!

Also yeah, I hear some of this stuff and I swear it's all being performed by the same person/people, lol

 

[Lord Defect]

System of a Down is definitely going to be on oldies 98 in 65 years

 

[Strawberry Fields]

OK, technically 1999.



Genius has no limits.

Part of the beauty of Weird Al is how many of his parodies have become better known than the original.

Also he's an underrated writer of original material in his own right.

 

[Beef Invictus]

A timeless classic:

 

[Chicken N Raffls]

Ditto my friend!

Also yeah, I hear some of this stuff and I swear it's all being performed by the same person/people, lol

*The same computer

Part of the beauty of Weird Al is how many of his parodies have become better known than the original.

Also he's an underrated writer of original material in his own right.

Now that is some goddamned staying power. The GOAT of his profession.

 

[ajgoal]

A timeless classic:

I am disappoint. There used to be a video of this song that was just the Sheldon Brown hit on Reggie Bush over and over, but it appears to be gone.

 

[Striiker]

 

[ajgoal]

Part of the beauty of Weird Al is how many of his parodies have become better known than the original.

Also he's an underrated writer of original material in his own right.

Not many people know but

Spoiler: Weird, the Al Yankovich Story

Eat It wasn't a parody of Beat It. It was the other way around.

 

[ajgoal]

I'd also be interested to see whether even the biggest pop artists since the advent of contemporary recordings are as popular in 200-300 years as Vivaldi, Bach, etc. are today. Obviously it's not directly comparative, since the composition is being played vs. "the song," but the concept remains.

 

[Chicken N Raffls]

I'd also be interested to see whether even the biggest pop artists since the advent of contemporary recordings are as popular in 200-300 years as Vivaldi, Bach, etc. are today. Obviously it's not directly comparative, since the composition is being played vs. "the song," but the concept remains.

I get your concept, answer is no. This started as a joke about music the last couple decades, but it is interesting to think about. How many great musical minds have we never heard of for one reason or another, over the course of 1000 years? Go back longer and who knows? You start to get into myth territory at that point.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

The vast majority of pop music from the 60s and 70s was putrid, time just filtered it out

A lot of great music came out of the 60s and 70s. Legendary song writers. The 80s were great as well. The standards of what is considered good music has been lowered in the last 15-20 years.
Yes I know, I am showing my age

Must have been exam time.

In the pre-social media days, students resorted to stink bombs and triggering fire alarms.

I have serious doubts that is the case. We just live in a f***ed up society

 

[wankstifier]

Music now, and I'd say this became most noticeable in the '80s, is much more "Balkanized" than it was in the '60s and '70s. Back then you could hear the Beatles, Dylan, and the Four Tops, all on the same radio station. It was much easier (and unavoidable really) to be exposed to different musical styles.

Are you talking exclusively about radio? Listen to NPR music or the local college radio station. You'll get a pretty good mix.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

As someone both cruel and wise once asked me, "Are you sure that's a great album? Or did it just come out when you were 15?"

Now pop music has homogenized for sure. But the time periods when bands were doing interesting things musically are mostly the exceptions to the rules. And no one except nerds like me cares that Soundgarden was out here writing songs in 15/8 and 7/16. They just want to know if it's memorable. 4/4 gets the job done.

 

[Rebels57]

Every single era / decade has GREAT music, including today. The best music just hasn't been the most mainstream music since the Late 90's. Any other take is false. No further questions.