[Cap10Planet]

I agree that acoustic isn't any better than electronic, but she's sounding like a snob herself. It sounds like she's writing off acoustic pop as "easy" to big up her type of music. One is not better than the other and both take skill. Not everyone can master acoustic pop either.

[RobynYoBank]

Originally posted by Monroe

The reason why dance music largely isn't respected is probably because so many dance songs don't focus on lyrical content. A lot of dance acts simply focus on the beat and sound and while on a production side that is appreciated to mass consumers and the general public that simply isn't enough for them. People want some form of structure with their music not two verses and a chorus. That's not to say there aren't other artists who deviate from this. Moby for instance is a big artist who deviates from this way of thinking but by and large the dance scene isn't incredibly thought provoking in terms of lyricism or at least it isn't thought of this way. Disco was never seen this way and even in the 90's and today is by and large isn't. I don't think it's even apart of popularity and radio over saturation so much as it's about what is truly produced in terms of content and a lot of times the content is minimal. Rock, Country, Hip-Hop/Rap and R&B are more respected genres because of what is said and because it feels more "real" to the listeners because it's backed by what the listener believes to be substance. Dance music in large isn't respected because the focus isn't on the lyrical but is instead focused on the sound that is produced. Take that for what it is.

You're going way too far out of context now, though. The "acoustic" music the article is referring to--popular acoustic music--is generally structured in the same pop manner and almost all of it is in verse-chorus song form.

I think other genres, rock in particular, have historically built acclaim. But I certainly think electronic music has, since the beginning of the 2000s at least become one of the most respected genres in contemporary music. It's also the largest stepping stone in the progression of instrument-based rock music that's come in recent memory.

I agree that dance music is regarded poorly now, both because of dubstep and the illusion of "anyone can do it" and because of the oversaturation of similarly produced electronic radio hits, but all of that is just a shallow public's outlook on one of the biggest and most esteemed musical movements of the past decade and a half.

[MrPeanut]

Originally posted by Cap10Planet

I agree that acoustic isn't any better than electronic, but she's sounding like a snob herself. It sounds like she's writing off acoustic pop as "easy" to big up her type of music. One is not better than the other and both take skill. Not anyone can master acoustic pop either.

Sometimes you have to overcompensate to make your point in defense of a historically denigrated artform. It'll surely be no worse for wear for "real" acoustic music in the court of public opinion.

[SixWholeYears]

She spilt the true tea.

And calm your **** everyone she said it takes much more work to do an electronic song. Not an acoustic song is easy to make.

[QueenJ]

15 pages, seriously ? Over something we already knew ?
Y'all are a mess.

[Cap10Planet]

Originally posted by MrPeanut

Sometimes you have to overcompensate to make your point in defense of a historically denigrated artform. It'll surely be no worse for wear for "real" acoustic music in the court of public opinion.

Whatever, but her comment was just as cocky as someone who declares that acoustic pop is "real music" and it doesn't make her look any better than those who stand up for "real" acoustic music. One isn't necessarily better than the other, and it all boils down to preference. She could have ended it there.

[Monroe]

Originally posted by RobynYoBank

You're going way too far out of context now, though. The "acoustic" music the article is referring to--popular acoustic music--is generally structured in the same pop manner and almost all of it is in verse-chorus song form.

I don't think I am. If you put a song like We Are Young against Sexy Bitch and Set Fire To The Rain against We Found Love which songs sound more meaningful and sound fuller in terms of conception and emotion? I think it's obvious.

Again I am not saying there isn't electronic music without meaning like I said Moby's In This World for instance is the most heart-wrenching song I have ever listened to and I think Animal Collective's Fireworks is probably the most evocative song I have ever heard in my life but these acts are not by any means mainstream or what most people think of when it comes to dance music. When people listen to electronic music they aren't feeling connected to this music as they would to more stripped down songs and by and large I get that. It's not to say that electronic music doesn't have merit, it does but I think it's merit is trapped in the proverbial sound rather than the substance. Thus dance music becomes about style over substance, while instrumentation music becomes about substance over style.

Even though acoustic music is still being written in verse-chorus form there is still a belief that acoustic music is delving into something real, emotional and vital where as dance music seems more superficial based on the gloss and shine of the sparkling synths and computer based production. It's viewed as being manufactured and in a way soulless. Why do you think so many critics call dance vocalists "robotic", "mechanical" and "cold" ? But soul musicians get adjectives like "warm", "vibrant" "honest" and "sultry"? It's definitely there. Most people seem to want to acclaim the producer anyway, and discard the vocalist it seems yet people would never do that with vocalists in other respective genres.

[gagakyle]

Originally posted by Johnny

+1

He's really convinced his question was as insightful as he thinks it is with the overstated language and pointless rambling.

Oops.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this

[Pop pop123]

Music doesn't have to be a complex to be good. I agree with her on technicality part of things but how about the emotions conveying through a song from the heart and the way the singer felt the lyrics as though they have been through it a thousand times before. IMO that's the hard part of making acoustic music.

It makes the listening experience more genuine and heart felt esp with minimum instrumental just with the singer and their voice.


I am not dismissing electronic music in any shape or form. I myself enjoy it, but there are more to music than just funky beats and how it is made. Music should be from the heart.

[Callisto.]

She should have worded this better.
She sounds like she's dissing acoustic music.

[MrPeanut]

Originally posted by Cap10Planet

Whatever, but her comment was just as cocky as someone who declares that acoustic pop is "real music" and it doesn't make her look any better than those who stand up for "real" acoustic music. One isn't necessarily better than the other, and it all boils down to preference. She could have ended it there.

If you think "electronic music isn't inherently inferior to acoustic music" is just as cocky a statement as "acoustic music is inherently superior to electronic music" then I don't know what to tell you.

[TVilla]

Duh.

[Ozzy8923]

Electronic music can have emotion, just as much emotion as acoustic music.

Did any of you forget about the electronic ballad masterpiece that goes by the name of FROZEN?

[RobynYoBank]

Originally posted by Monroe

there is still a belief that acoustic music is delving into something real, emotional and vital

I think that's the precise reason Gaga felt the need to make the statement. She's not even denying that acoustic music is capable of delving into something real and emotional; she's simply stating that electronic music is just as capable of doing it in the face of people who thrust it to the top of our charts, most-played and best-of lists while acting like it's base.

In terms of popular music, it's easy to praise songs like We Are Young and Set Fire to the Rain, because they do have great lyrics, but the focus, despite what people insist, it still the production. The public does not care for the majority of tracks off of either artist's parent album, and the reason is because the other songs, though most lyrically sound, are not as accessibly and well-produced. The fact that they are well-produced allows the public to sink their teeth into what is quite a shallow belief, and I would be more than happy to defend the emotional integrity of We Found Love's electronic production, even to the point of saying that it goes head-to-head with any type of emotion that the former two songs carry lyrically or entirely.

[Monroe]

Originally posted by MrPeanut

If you think "electronic music isn't inherently inferior to acoustic music" is just as cocky a statement as "acoustic music is inherently superior to electronic music" then I don't know what to tell you.

From a PR stand point it probably would have been better to talk up electronic music instead of aiming to bring down acoustic music in an aim for equality. That's a boring distinction though and I don't get why it devolved into 15 pages.

[LDYGG]

Originally posted by Cap10Planet

I agree that acoustic isn't any better than electronic, but she's sounding like a snob herself. It sounds like she's writing off acoustic pop as "easy" to big up her type of music. One is not better than the other and both take skill. Not everyone can master acoustic pop either.

"Her type of music"

Gaga's type of music ranges from classical to jazz to electronic. Her "type of music" always starts out as acoustic pop and then is turned into electronic music. And honestly to Gaga and the way she can do what she does on the piano, it's no wonder she might think acoustic music is easy. It just comes naturally to someone as talented as her.

Originally posted by Pop pop123

Music doesn't have to be a complex to be good. I agree with her on technicality part of things but how about the emotions conveying through a song from the heart and the way the singer felt the lyrics as though they have been through it a thousand times before. IMO that's the hard part of making acoustic music.

It makes the listening experience more genuine and heart felt esp with minimum instrumental just with the singer and their voice.


I am not dismissing electronic music in any shape or form. I myself enjoy it, but there are more to music than just funky beats and how it is made. Music should be from the heart.

But now you're insinuating that electronic music isn't from the heart. There are so many electronic musicians who put their hearts and souls into their music. You don't need lyrics like "there's a fire burning in my heart" in order for your music to be deep and meaningful. You can have a blaring synth that conveys the same amount of emotion, and it's not the producers fault people just pawn it off as generic. This is Gaga we're talking about. All of her music is personal and comes from her heart.

[ZachM]

I agree with her so hard.

[Monroe]

Originally posted by RobynYoBank

she's simply stating that electronic music is just as capable of doing it.

I get that, even respect it but at the same time I don't believe people will think that regardless of if it takes forever to produce that sound electronically. I'm far more interested in trying to figure out why the prejudice exists rather than simply saying it doesn't and I think what I said is pretty sound in regards to that reasoning.

In terms of popular music, it's easy to praise songs like We Are Young and Set Fire to the Rain, because they do have great lyrics, but the focus, despite what people insist, it still the production.

I believe the production is referenced in that it sounds pleasing to the audience, but I also believe a large part of the reason for those songs success is due to the lyrics and story that is referenced in those songs.

The public does not care for the majority of tracks off of either artist's parent album

You can't make this statement for 21. It's sold 20+ million records and people have been absorbed with each story each of her songs have put out from Rolling In The Deep to Rumor Has It. People definitely responded to Adele's story telling, inner emotional text and lyrical content. Fun. might be more difficult to justify but the success of WAY was propelled by the relatability to the listener and the genuine spirit that came from the record. It's production isn't that astounding or progressive and it doesn't uphold most of the song in the way other dance records do. There is a focus on the story telling and lyricism that isn't referenced usually in most popular dance songs. Most people would say these songs sound more holistic and are better composed than other popular dance tracks in terms of accessible lyrics and meaning.

I would be more than happy to defend the emotional integrity of We Found Love's electronic production, even to the point of saying that it goes head-to-head with any type of emotion that the former two songs carry lyrically or entirely.

I can definitely see this, but again the integrity comes from the production which is sound based which comes from a computer and which is believed to be on some part artificial and computer generated. While the intergrity from other genre's seems to be coming from instrumentation, vocals, lyrics, writings or other things contributed by human expression which is what people are valuing and seeing as true personal expression.

I don't think dance music is any less impressive then acoustic music but I can see why people do think that way considering the main themes that comprise dance music: little lyricism, overabundance of processed sound, spare vocals, no or little story, etc.

[LDYGG]

Nobody has time for your Sylvia Plath narratives, Monroe.

[Nicole]

Originally posted by Cap10Planet

Whatever, but her comment was just as cocky as someone who declares that acoustic pop is "real music" and it doesn't make her look any better than those who stand up for "real" acoustic music. One isn't necessarily better than the other, and it all boils down to preference. She could have ended it there.

And thats exactly the point.