Is Remixed Music Art? (listening to music, album, tracks, quote, artist)

HolidayG1 · 02-24-2009, 12:17 PM

It's true, there are a lot of dance/club mixes that blend together, but every now and then, there's a remixer who does something interesting, takes things to another level.

Nowadays, in R&B music, at times a "remix" ends up sounding very different from the original (even emlodically)- but that's another story.

I'd say it's an art form- after all, in regular musicmaking, there's stuff that's generic and bland, as well, in every genre.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 02-24-2009, 12:26 PM

It's no less a valid art form than using a riff that's probably been used in hundreds of songs before.

**Janszoon** · 02-24-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

It's no less a valid art form than using a riff that's probably been used in hundreds of songs before.

Exactly. I wonder if people who look down on sampling realize how much quoting other songs has been a staple of genres like jazz since time immemorial.

jackhammer · 02-25-2009, 11:12 AM

Kruder & Dorfmeister are some of the best remixers out there and their mix albums are fantastic. The K & D Sessions double album is a must have if you love Electronic music.

ixtlan22 · 02-25-2009, 10:36 PM

I think of sampling as musical collage. If its all you do then you're an amateur. If you use it sometimes it can be great. If you alter what you use, you are introducing originality and making it your own. Its not a problem that people are sampling... its a problem when people get rich adding nothing to whatever they are sampling. In hip-hop there are original lyrics even if everything else is stolen. And by the way... I'm sorry but its not enough to throw your own ****ty MIDI 4/4 grove underneath one or two samples and call it your own.

NYKnick1015 · 02-26-2009, 11:56 AM

thanks again all.. i am still intrigued on where this conversation is going because a lot of you brought up a lot of strong points. If i use a couple, i will make sure that you are quoted in my piece, i will for sure send you a PM to do so.

Also another question do discuss is has the evolution of music and technology and the way it is created today changed the way we view music or at least remixed music?

Has remixed music been looked at as better or worse than the original song? (can i even ask that question being that it has to do with subject matter?)

Somewhat_Damaged · 02-26-2009, 12:25 PM

I'm a massive Nine Inch Nails fan....they (He) has lots of awesome remixes, I consider Trent Reznor to be artist in many area's of entertainmet. "Just a mainstream example"

Somewhat_Damaged · 02-26-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Somewhat_Damaged

I'm a massive Nine Inch Nails fan....they (He) has lots of awesome remixes, I consider Trent Reznor to be artist in many area's of entertainmet. "Just a mainstream example"

I should put down the pipe

jdm11b · 02-26-2009, 01:09 PM

A friend of mine who was working on his music performance degree (percussion) had an argument with a coworker (a part-time DJ) while working at a music store. The DJ claimed what he did- spinning records- was no different than any other musician. My friend argued that a "real musician" requires years, even decades, of practice to master an instrument. It requires extensive knowledge of theory and thousands of hours of practice. Being a DJ, or remix artist, does not.

To prove his point, my friend spent his spare time at the store in the DJ room for a couple days. In a very short amount of time, he could do everything the DJ could- if not better because of his background. In turn, he asked the DJ to play some of his college percussion music, some of which were drumset solos and 4-mallet marimba pieces that even grad students spend months practicing.

Obviously the DJ couldn't do it.

It might take some skill and talent to do a remix or be a DJ at a club, but don't kid yourself and pretend you're in the same league as an actual musician.

**Janszoon** · 02-26-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdm11b

A friend of mine who was working on his music performance degree (percussion) had an argument with a coworker (a part-time DJ) while working at a music store. The DJ claimed what he did- spinning records- was no different than any other musician. My friend argued that a "real musician" requires years, even decades, of practice to master an instrument. It requires extensive knowledge of theory and thousands of hours of practice. Being a DJ, or remix artist, does not.

To prove his point, my friend spent his spare time at the store in the DJ room for a couple days. In a very short amount of time, he could do everything the DJ could- if not better because of his background. In turn, he asked the DJ to play some of his college percussion music, some of which were drumset solos and 4-mallet marimba pieces that even grad students spend months practicing.

Obviously the DJ couldn't do it.

It might take some skill and talent to do a remix or be a DJ at a club, but don't kid yourself and pretend you're in the same league as an actual musician.

One of the biggest things I got out of going to art school was learning the difference between technical ability and artistic ability. Sounds like your friend still confuses the two.

02-24-2009, 12:26 PM	#32 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	It's no less a valid art form than using a riff that's probably been used in hundreds of songs before. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

02-25-2009, 11:12 AM	#34 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Kruder & Dorfmeister are some of the best remixers out there and their mix albums are fantastic. The K & D Sessions double album is a must have if you love Electronic music. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

02-25-2009, 10:36 PM	#35 (permalink)
ixtlan22 Loves Jan Terri Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 184	I think of sampling as musical collage. If its all you do then you're an amateur. If you use it sometimes it can be great. If you alter what you use, you are introducing originality and making it your own. Its not a problem that people are sampling... its a problem when people get rich adding nothing to whatever they are sampling. In hip-hop there are original lyrics even if everything else is stolen. And by the way... I'm sorry but its not enough to throw your own ****ty MIDI 4/4 grove underneath one or two samples and call it your own. __________________ "Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God." -Bockonon-

02-26-2009, 12:25 PM	#37 (permalink)
Somewhat_Damaged Groupie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 29	I'm a massive Nine Inch Nails fan....they (He) has lots of awesome remixes, I consider Trent Reznor to be artist in many area's of entertainmet. "Just a mainstream example" __________________ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Something kinda sad about The way that things have come to be. Desensitized to everything. What became of subtlety? .............Maynard J K

02-24-2009, 12:17 PM	#31 (permalink)
HolidayG1 Groupie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 24	It's true, there are a lot of dance/club mixes that blend together, but every now and then, there's a remixer who does something interesting, takes things to another level. Nowadays, in R&B music, at times a "remix" ends up sounding very different from the original (even emlodically)- but that's another story. I'd say it's an art form- after all, in regular musicmaking, there's stuff that's generic and bland, as well, in every genre.

02-26-2009, 11:56 AM	#36 (permalink)
NYKnick1015 Groupie Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3	thanks again all.. i am still intrigued on where this conversation is going because a lot of you brought up a lot of strong points. If i use a couple, i will make sure that you are quoted in my piece, i will for sure send you a PM to do so. Also another question do discuss is has the evolution of music and technology and the way it is created today changed the way we view music or at least remixed music? Has remixed music been looked at as better or worse than the original song? (can i even ask that question being that it has to do with subject matter?)

02-26-2009, 01:09 PM	#39 (permalink)
jdm11b Groupie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 23	A friend of mine who was working on his music performance degree (percussion) had an argument with a coworker (a part-time DJ) while working at a music store. The DJ claimed what he did- spinning records- was no different than any other musician. My friend argued that a "real musician" requires years, even decades, of practice to master an instrument. It requires extensive knowledge of theory and thousands of hours of practice. Being a DJ, or remix artist, does not. To prove his point, my friend spent his spare time at the store in the DJ room for a couple days. In a very short amount of time, he could do everything the DJ could- if not better because of his background. In turn, he asked the DJ to play some of his college percussion music, some of which were drumset solos and 4-mallet marimba pieces that even grad students spend months practicing. Obviously the DJ couldn't do it. It might take some skill and talent to do a remix or be a DJ at a club, but don't kid yourself and pretend you're in the same league as an actual musician.