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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | Ira Rosen <irosen@idttechnology.com> |
| Subject | Is Rap music? |
| Date | Tue, 10 Feb 2004 10:41:49 -0500 |
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When in doubt, I go to Dictionary.com.
Definition 2 of the word music:
"Vocal or instrumental sounds possessing a degree of melody, harmony, or
rhythm"
Rap without instrumental backing or melody fits the bill and is music.
I still find much of it boring in the same way that I'm not a fan of
poetry (though the story "Goodnight Moon" brings me near tears with its
poetc grandeur).
This definition would also include as music drum playing without any
melody. As a drummer, I can still consider myself a musician. I can
also say that drums alone bore me (maybe five minutes of a Kodo
performance might be cool, and the visual and melodic additions of The
Blue Man Group would keep me interested for a longer period of time).
The real issue, IMHO, is not what is or is not music, it's what people like.
In my experience, power-pop fans like a particular structure and music
that adheres to it. They also seem to understand music better than most
popular music fans, and will readily admit that music/musicianship is
good/high quality even if it doesn't adhere to their personal taste
constraints. They still may not enjoy the music that they feel is well
done.
I have met many classical fans that can't see beyond an orchestra,
choral music fans that enjoy the sound of the human voice in a way that
I never will, metal fans who think louder and more violent equals
better, rap fans enamored with street talk and bragging and opera fans
whom I simply don't "get". This doesn't mean that these genres are not
music, it just means that I have a set of tastes that tends to view
these types of music a certain way - not a crime - just a reality that
all of us have to deal with.
BTW - buy the new Rosenbergs CD, it's great - a little less consistent
than their previous work, but it expands their territory a bit with some
songs that rock a little harder, and some a little softer. My wife had
the ultimate compliment for the CD - I was playing some new purchases,
and was on the second CD (The Rosenbergs was the first), when my wife
said "this is OK, but the last CD was amazing." She hadn't recognized
the CD as The Rosenbergs and still had high compliments. My kids are
fighting over who gets to keep it in his or her room.
Yes, I like power-pop music. So what?
Ira
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