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sopsych 08-12-2012 10:42 AM

Anyone Else Dislike Most Long Songs?
 
I dislike most songs that exceed 6 minutes. Usually they're boring and repetitive or rambling. Anyone else agree?

Janszoon 08-12-2012 10:45 AM

Can't say I agree. Some are boring, others aren't, but that's true of all songs regardless of length.

Unknown Soldier 08-12-2012 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wisdom (Post 1217806)
I dislike most songs that exceed 6 minutes. Usually they're boring and repetitive or rambling. Anyone else agree?

In this day an age, 6 minutes is not really considered long for song.

Duraddict 08-12-2012 10:54 AM

Depends. I listen to them less because they take more concentration, but I wouldn't say it's a rule of thumb.

Trollheart 08-12-2012 10:57 AM

Absolutely not. If I like a song, then the longer it is the better (within reason). Songs like "Supper's ready" by Genesis, "Grendel" by Marillion, "Freebird", "Stairway to Heaven", "Bat out of Hell"... I could go on. Brevity is by no means any measure or guarantee of quality. Sometimes you have to let the song have time to develop to fully appreciate it, and that's seldom (though not never) possible with a 3/4 minute song.

14232949 08-12-2012 11:09 AM

Depends if the song needs to be that length.
Creating long-winded pretentious 20 minute pieces for the sake of making them long helps nobody.
But a longer running time can help tell a story;





Words don't even need to be included, a story can be told through musical progression.




Burning Down 08-12-2012 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wisdom (Post 1217806)
I dislike most songs that exceed 6 minutes. Usually they're boring and repetitive or rambling. Anyone else agree?

Depends on the genre. I listen to lots of jazz and classical, where something under 6 minutes is considered short, especially with classical music. I mean, some orchestral pieces can be an hour or more in length (this is rare and mostly occurs with choral works for the Church.)

Quote:

One important difference comes in regard to duration. Popular songs are usually brief; most of them are under five minutes long. Classical compositions, on the other hand, range from 20-second pieces to works that last several hours. The average symphonic concert work lasts perhaps half an hour, and this requires a change of perspective for those accustomed to listening to popular songs. How does a composer make such a large piece of music hang together? It's a question worth asking of any piece of music, but for classical compositions it's one of critical importance.
Classical vs. Popular Music

Some of my favourite music is over 6 minutes long, and it is NEVER boring. Examples:

Spoiler for youtubes:

George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue


Maurice Ravel - Boléro


Franz Liszt - Totentanz


Some jazz songs:

Spoiler for youtubes:

Charles Mingus - Haitian Fight Song


Thelonius Monk - Blue Monk


Miles Davis - Flamenco Sketches



But you won't listen past 6 minutes because it'll get boring for you, so....

Salami 08-12-2012 12:13 PM

I'm going to completely disagree with the OP - for me the longer the better. There's little I dislike more than an idea I'm starting to appreciate being snuffed out too early. I'm not saying I like sounds to be repeated and carry on forever, but I do like to be able to really get a feel for what I'm listening to. Six minutes and upwards I think is best because that gives time for experimentation within the idea of the song, or in the case of Bob Dylan type songwriters the opportunity to build up to a climax.

I'll give an example of a song that ought to be a lot longer that is not selected for any particular reason but because I happen to be listening to it:
"Personal Jesus" - Johnny Cash: Johnny Cash is indisputably one of the greatest country artists of all time and his wonderful voice inimitable. The nearest song I can think of which sounds like it is "Whorehouse Blues" by Motorhead, but the point is it's a great idea, well written song but damn it only lasts for three minutes. Perhaps some sort of instrumental section in the middle further exploring the dark aesthetic the song has been producing, even a little guitar solo, but it's over too quickly.

Goofle 08-12-2012 12:27 PM

The better the better. Regardless of length.

Paedantic Basterd 08-12-2012 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goofle11 (Post 1217833)
The better the better. Regardless of length.

I came in here more or less to make this point.


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