Fame sucks

[vicarz]

For the record, the name of this LJ is apt.

I'm famous for being...negative! My empty warehouse post has been noted in at least 4 LJs, and a cut from my response to one of the posts made it as a separate post entirely: http://www.livejournal.com/users/defektiv/25968.html Am I drama yet? Have I become enough of a flaming ass to be noteworthy? I sure hope not...
It was probably polite to cut my name from the post, but I'm not bashful. I think the comment lost something in the translation - I mean if I posted that as a heading in a DJ community it would be one thing, but as a joking response to a comment in my LJ I tend to think it's another. I've been wrong before - you vote on that one.

The usual disclaimer that should not even be necessary: generalizations are not meant to be all inclusive. I voice my opinion and do not actually expect the world to roll over and wag the way I want it to - nor should it. On the other hand, a generalization is not refuted by the existence of an exception - if I say remixes suck, and there is 1 in 20 that does not suck - I still say remixes suck and I'm right.

I hate remixes. They suck. If a group of people likes a song, or not, the remix may be good. Even if it is good, what the holy hell is wrong with playing the original once in a while?

I think DJs are biased - they get sick of hearing the same shit 3 times a week for 10 years. Those of us who just play what we like in the car and maybe hear the song in a club once a week don't get sick of it like the DJ does. So...the DJ likes the remix because they are 100% burned out of the original. The remix may be ok, but many of us prefer the original work. DJs seem not to know this OR it's just my opinion.

I'm not DJ though - I could give a fuck less what 'packs the dance floor.' So some moronic 20 year olds dance to VNV - I hate VNV so much I'd acquire a rash just to avoid hearing it. Doesn't mean it needs to be wiped off the planet - if more people like it than not they'll make money and people will blow money where it's played. I just won't be one of them, nor it would seem will many of my friends. I hate synth-pop as a rule...but while whorishly dancing to dead stars I was accosted by a friend who noted the contradiction between my dancing to a synthy club-cliche song and my usual bitchy whining about club cliches! I told them there was no contradiction! My complaint was about playing 20 of the damn things in a row, not that they were played ever. I like SOME synth songs, aigh! A ska song now and then would fucking rock - and make a wave of people spend money at the bar. Those 20 year olds who dance non-stop just pay cover...not good for running a club when you need to keep an eye on revenue. Playing obscure music once in a while wins you snob points here and there, though not as effectively if you just play "80s" or "Richard hung himself" each time as the token.

Speaking of DJs - beat matching takes talent (well it used to on vinyl, can't speak for cds). Guess what? Nobody cares! The club scene has been dancing to non-matched beats for ages. DJs care a lot about that sort of thing...it's so cute to hear the talk about it.
Oh dear those were more statements that could be cut and posted on the web...I'm doomed!


I can't believe I actually spent minutes of my life talking about people who play other people's music from CD players in clubs. My god, how important. Uh, don't forget to vote after you finish whining about club music or whining about people who whine about club music.

Comments

[joanarkham.livejournal.com]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: good music and dance music are often (though not always) inherently different. Dance music should be...dancey! It may not be deep or meaningful or original but it doesn't always have to be.

I don't mind remixes on the dance floor...although I'd never bother buying a remix album to listen to at home.

[tony-laetrile.livejournal.com]

It's times like this that you read today's Achewood, (http://www.achewood.com) throw on some rap music and do something that actually matters, like check your email.

[lilkender.livejournal.com]

Heh heh.
Hey some 32 year-olds dance to VNV too.

I don't care much about the beat mixing. For one thing I get tired from dancing to songs in a row with the same beat, and for another, I get confused if I don't know the songs and they blend together too well. (Wait.. something changed.. hey this chorus is different!) If I'm not dancing, I don't even notice whether it's there or not.

I do like some remixes, but from what I've heard the original is usually the best.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Doesn't load.

Sweetie I love you!

[ex-djsolarie664.livejournal.com]

Did you see my comment about that?? Now "SOME" people are pissed that I explained my feelings on it. We need to have you over for dinner soon.

--Carolynn

Re: Sweetie I love you!

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I thought I did but didn't see anything to be mad about. How odd!

I love people up in arms about...playing cds. I bitch and whine, but for fuck's sake it's about music played in clubs. It's about as important as what's on tv - 100 channels and nothing on. Oh wait, Adam's family re-runs! Who-hoo!

[lilkender.livejournal.com]

Johnny Cash's mindblowing cover of the already good "Hurt

Wait, are we talking covers or remixes?
I have remix cds from NIN and Gravity Kills where they redo their own songs. I thought those were remixes, and if someone else does the song, that's a cover.

Still, the original is usually better. I've heard loads of cover songs on the radio lately and while interesting to hear (once), they don't do justice to the original.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Dood Cash's cover was like...a meeting of cultures. THAT was incredible, some very big credibility points scored by Trent on that one for the recognition alone.

Covers I think are more fun - it's very different, but a tribute to the original artist. You can say the same thing about a mix. Still - I like to hear both, and usually the original is what wins out.

But I'll take Cash over Trent any day.

[2501.livejournal.com]

This is why we've started doing the "alternative format" on the deck recently--to have a space at the club where "danceability" isn't necessarily a qualifying factor in whether something gets played. The deck is a nice enough area to just hang out, if the music is just good music, it doesn't have to drive people to dance...

[vicar.livejournal.com]

but you can dance if ya really want to. I like this idea! Then again, I've shown up for metal night, and um...some of the other 'off' music nights. I think there was a goth night? Can't recall - it's been a while since I was regular at alchemy (in the non-fiber sense of the word).

You know some day I need to attempt to DJ if only so I can get bitched about - turnabout fair play! "Dood that song is old enough to fuck legally." "No continuity whatsoever!" "Way to clear the dancefloor, loser." "I can't believe he's fucking another skinny pink-haired teenager..." "Who did he suck off to get a spot on the lineup?"

[tony-laetrile.livejournal.com]

[vicar.livejournal.com]

OMG WHERE DO I GET THE BAUHAUS TALKING CODPIECE!? 1337!

[eac.livejournal.com]

Hey some 32 year-olds dance to VNV too.

And the occasional 33 year old.

[kelowna.livejournal.com]

Speaking of DJs - beat matching takes talent (well it used to on vinyl, can't speak for cds). Guess what? Nobody cares! The club scene has been dancing to non-matched beats for ages. DJs care a lot about that sort of thing...it's so cute to hear the talk about it.

Actually, unless its a real upsetting glaringly obvious train wreck - the people that CARE are those that are other DJs, friends of other DJs (so they can go back to their DJ friends and hiss about the mixing abilities) or want to be DJs. I can admire transitions - but transitions are NOT always "beat matches".

Let me toss you this quote :
"The other great misunderstanding is the obsession with mixing. Today's styles place an unhealthy emphasis on the mechnaical side of things, and most of the best DJs do have impressive technical abilities. But don't let this overshadow their more fundamental talents - for discovering music and playing exactly the right record at exactly the right moment. Sure, you need some technical skills to play records, but not that many, and these skills are far less important than the records themselves and the order you put them in. Some of the world's greatest ever DJs have been pretty ropey mixers. They might have stumbled their way from one track to the next, but the next track was so amazing and perfect for the moment that you didn't care. And the next, and the next...

IF YOUR MUSIC IS BORING OR BADLY CHOSEN, THE BEST BEATMATCHING IN THE WORLD WON'T SAVE YOU."

--kelowna

[kelowna.livejournal.com]

Dude, I can so see you doing that.

--kelowna

[kelowna.livejournal.com]

If you ever think about becoming a DJ let me know ;)

--kelowna

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Very good quote - I think this also describes why many technicians are shitty managers...(talking IT work-world, not clubby stuff)

[kelowna.livejournal.com]

It is a very interesting book over all and much of the subject matter, although focused on DJing, is applicable to multiple artist talents and the exploration of said interests.

I'm glad i picked it up, i am all about multiple form of further education on topics i find interest in. Not just reading what other people think on livejournal.

--kelowna

[vicar.livejournal.com]

You've got to be kidding! I'd be a huge MOUTH liability with any place I would work for. Imagine the awful stigma of my MOUTH on a club. All that negativity might make a building implode!

I tried to DJ in dollhouse but I forgot my skirt.

Thanks though. It's a funny thought. Perhaps if you're ever really pressed I could fill in - but I'm really not interested in it as something regular. Still, DJ would be cooler on my
OH MY GOD

DJ WOULD BE COOLER ON MY RESUME THAN JD!!!

I may never stop giggling...Hey Chris & Seth...

[oontzgrrl.livejournal.com]

I think people need to chill the hell out. It's a club. It's not something that's going to change the world or cure world hunger, and just as DJs are welcome to play what they want to, you're allowed to have opinions on em.

Then again it's your ornery behaivior that makes me adore you so much so whatever.

[oontzgrrl.livejournal.com]

Well actually while it's true that I don't much care about beat matching at a night like alchemy (not because it sucks or anything, just because that type of club has always been more of a style of concentrating on the individual songs rather then DJing as an art form) for most of the other styles of music I listen to, it is really important to me that they mix well. Because that's a huge part of the experience. Knowing when to drop the beat, mixing two songs together in an incredible way, etc. But for the type of club where you are more concerned with individual songs I think it is more important to know your audience then to be a technically brilliant Mixmaster.

[shadow27.livejournal.com]

for another, I get confused if I don't know the songs and they blend together too well

That's the point. A good beat math is often the only way to get folks to dance to songs that are new or that they don't know.

Re: Sweetie I love you!

[shadow27.livejournal.com]

but for fuck's sake it's about music played in clubs. It's about as important as what's on tv

No shit man. I can't believe I waste my time spinning. Could be worse I guess, I could'a studied law

HAIL TO BOOTSY

[tony-laetrile.livejournal.com]

The only person cool enough to pull off being a goth, DJ, or livejournal author is Bootsy Collins.

[tony-laetrile.livejournal.com]

I want to be a rap DJ.

[sunnyfunny.livejournal.com]

blah blah skills blah blah vs. programmming blah blah genres blah...

dood you got any hip-hop?

[joanarkham.livejournal.com]

I loved metal night and I love the Alchemy patio. Too bad my current schedule makes it nearly impossible to go out during the week.

Hey, maybe I'll finally make it to Chiaroscuro this Saturday.

(Ack, hope I didn't jinx it!)

Re: Sweetie I love you!

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Nah - you have standards and ethics.