WEEK 10 - Forum: Construction and Deconstruction #1

Freddy May: A Recipe For Success?

If only it were that easy. But songs come along which have no obvious connection with the current mainstream. Mostly certain recipes work at certain times but occasionally, a song is like, everyone wanted to say it but just couldn't think how to put it. Until some Joe came up with 'Shaddap You Face'. He obviously struck a vein; the single to date has sold over 4 million units worldwide (1). The single. Didn't check the album unit sales.

(2) Check out Joe Dolce's website for his comprehensive recipe list … seriously!

We were treated to some Jean Michel Jarre in a tutorial recently. Same thing. Where the hell did he come from? Tubular Bells. Mike who? Oldfield you say? Seemingly emerging from the ether a song in a style unfamiliar changes things for always. Cult becomes culture. The Smiths, David Bowie, Queen, Supertramp. Supertramp! No one can tell me they expected Supertramp to come along and massacre the charts as they did (I couldn't nail an exact figure, but let's just say it's in the millions). One word: Yanni. The list of misfits goes on. Some songs take awhile and simmer on the back burner until folk have had a chance to get used to them and perceive no danger, then suddenly, Joy Division are the hip thing! Not quite. The Cure perhaps.

(3) Joy Division – their usual high spirited selves

Dragos Nastasie: Layer Upon Layer

Now this sounds like the perfect recipe for the Eurovision Song Contest five or ten years ago. The way the songs start with a gentle wash, or a sinister wash in a minor key. Then the build, more layers, then layer upon layer for the spectacular middle bit. Usually not enough time to repeat the really big bit so it is then a slow de-layering back to a sense of calm or despair, cue applause/ goofy English gent commentary.

"If this Eurovision song contest said anything, it's that people are fed up with the boring "commercially viable" music that is being fed to them on TV/Radio/Commercials."

Aaron Wormus @ 9:26 am, 21/5/2006 (4) on last year's spectacular.

Thought provoking, indeed.

References:

Whittington, Stephen. "Music Technology Forum: Construction and Deconstruction #1." EMU Space, University of Adelaide, South Australia. May 17, 2007.

Harris, David. "Music Technology Forum: Construction and Deconstruction #1." EMU Space, University of Adelaide, South Australia. May 17, 2007.

1/ "Australia Day Ambassadors." Australia Day - Victoria. April 14, 2007. http://www.australiaday.vic.gov.au/events_ambassadors_details.asp?view=248 (accessed May 22, 2007).

2/ Joe Dolce. May 18th, 2007. http://www.joedolce.net/ (accessed May 22, 2007).

3/ Worns, Photos taken by Pierre-Rene. "Joy Division." WorldInMotion.Net. Dec 18, Les Bains Douches, 1979. http://www.worldinmotion.net/joydivision/pictures/professional/paris1979.htm (accessed May 22, 2007).

4/ "Klingons Win Eurovision Song Contest." A Day in Paradise. May 21, 2006. http://www.wormus.com/aaron/stories/2006/05/21/klingons-win-eurovision-song-contest.html (accessed May 22, 2007).