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#287212 - 05/15/10 01:07 PM
Re: What songs are you playing to fill the dance floor?
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Registered: 04/25/05
Posts: 14242
Loc: NW Florida
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I'm with Hellboy on this one (and that WAS kinda the point I was making). Basically, 'pop' music has always had its up and down moments, and in the big picture, I think doo-wop isn't exactly the zenith of pop music. Little in the way of harmonic complexity, lyrics as banal as anything today, formulaic beyond belief... But don't get your panties in a wad - it has LOTS of company through the years! And, just like any music (including hiphop and rap) it DOES have its' high moments... Thing is, I'm surprised that Donny DOESN'T cover any of that list. I was always under the impression (that he points out so often) that 'by any means necessary' was his mantra. And, as willing as he is to use karaoke MP3's, the difficulty of getting an arranger to sound that contemporary is kinda moot... The problem with walling yourself off from contemporary pop is that you are restricted to audiences that are, let us just be kind and say 'getting on a bit', and usually slowing down as far as going out at night and supporting live music. You may be doing well now, but eventually, that demographic is dwindling. Stay capable of doing classic stuff AND contemporary, no problems. The band I am in right now (a 5 piece with a sax player) does everything from Ipanema and It had to be You, to the Cuban Shuffle and Get Low. Best of all possible worlds - particularly as I don't have to program the stuff! I've got a world class drummer, and at least that will make you realize, no matter HOW good you think your arranger is, it has a LONG, long way to go before it is a fraction of the versatility and inventiveness a good player brings to the table...
_________________________
An arranger is just a tool. What matters is what you build with it..!
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#287214 - 05/15/10 02:33 PM
Re: What songs are you playing to fill the dance floor?
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Senior Member
Registered: 09/29/05
Posts: 6703
Loc: Roswell,GA/USA
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Originally posted by Dnj: not only dont I cover that list or do I care to...it doesn't even exist in my world. I respect the music and the peopel that like it and who produced it, it's just not my cup of tea or is it any of my audiences.
This is really scary. Everything Donny said above applies to me as well. Plus, I agree with every word, but for a different reason. In my case, most of the clubs I play in don't even have dance floors and (like Donny) only one in a hundred would know a single tune on that list (I, myself, have only heard of ONE of them - and couldn't even hum that one). In Donny's case, he obviously is able to pick and choose his audiences and venues, and THAT is the key to what you are able to play or not play. It's not just whether it's a dance venue or not, but it actually gets down to WHAT KIND OF dance venue it is. In some, that list would be 'must play' and Donny's list would go over like a lead balloon. In others (the ones he chooses to play in), the reverse would be true, and that play list above would generate nothing but blank stares from the patrons and a pissed-off owner. As always, you have to play what's called for. If you can't (or won't), don't take the gig. Simple as that. chas
_________________________
"Faith means not wanting to know what is true." [Nietzsche]
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