Music [3]

bit of latin sunshine on a dark winter day.



portugweezer version

Bluebottle wrote:One does get why people go on about Kendrick Lamar, doesn't one.

That actually has rhythmic interest (you can hear patterns developing and playing off each other), and though the lyrics are going by rather fast it sounds like true poetry. This is traditional style rap I can respect. My typical ire is reserved for those who have tedium in both aspects...all too common alas.

Speaking of hip hop ... I heard about the musical Hamilton last fall and have listened to a few of the songs but I'm listening to the whole cast album now and it's fucking amazing. As popular history its incredible, emotionally its very affecting for me, and as an artistic achievement its almost unbelievable. I can't recommend this enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp9HUc9HraQ&list=PLUSRfoOcUe4avCXPg6tPgdZzu--hBXUYx&index=1

The opening track (the entire musical is sung/rapped-through so the playlist above is basically the entire play):



Genuinely curious what you think of it, Halfy, if you're inclined to give it a listen.

It's a proper mix of straight rap for the recitative sections and a sort of delightful rap/melody blend for thematic sections.  The rhythms in the rap sections follow speech rhythms in a very pleasing way.  If Miranda hadn't elevated rap above the most popular forms, Hamilton would not have been the well deserved success it is.

You have to understand, I don't have problems with hip-hop per se, just the fact that the most popular forms are often the most artistically lacking (gangster rap being the main offender).  If what I heard people chanting along to in the streets were the best rap I wouldn't have a problem with it, but the populace seems to home in on the most tedious songs, and they always chant along almost mindlessly without emotion to the earphones.  It's that mindlessness that drives me batshit crazy.

I'm not totally sure I follow. Miranda has been very open about influences, especially '90s hip hop, including many so-called "gangsta rappers". This influence pervades the style of the show, but there are plenty of direct lyrical and musical references to popular and influential artists. For example, "Ten Duel Commandments" is practically a remake of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ten Crack Commandments", and "My Shot" directly quotes Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones Part II" at one point, and the instrumental includes a violin piece intentionally reminiscent of the sirens in the original track. I mean, there are plenty of bad rappers out there, including many under the "gangsta" label, but that's true of all genres. It's not like Biggie or Mobb Deep are at all obscure either.

I can't pretend to be educated in the genre, all I know is that what I hear being played on the streets most often has a paucity of invention that sets my teeth on edge. Whether Miranda is being influenced by the stuff I don't like or is finding influences in stuff I would like, I'm not instantly bored stiff when I hear what he's done. I in fact find his stuff rather pleasant, and get the feeling that he has put thought and feeling into his work that I often haven't heard in others. There's other examples you've posted that I enjoy as well. But it's usually not what you hear people playing.

So when you play me something, I can say almost instantly "there's nothing there, I hate it", and it seems to happen more with hip-hop than with other genres. This may have more to do with public tastes than with the artistic community. That's where my real complaint lies.

It may also have a lot to do with the message. Notorious B.I.G. is mainly talking about gold and girls and self aggrandizement, and I have no interest. Miranda is telling a story about yearning and growth and history.

This is really really good.

Nice, Blue. Is that anyone we know? Or is it even someone we all know, except fiftygenirians like myself?

We don't like to use bad three letter words like that, Azriel, we prefer words like 'mature' or 'wise'!

Orwell wrote:Nice, Blue. Is that anyone we know? Or is it even someone we all know, except fiftygenirians like myself?

Well, everything is realtive, of course. I think he's quite well known in some circles. (He won a Grammy for best new artist.. for his second album.. worked with Kanye West.. (Don't tell Halfwise..)) And he's really big in the context of the whole Indie rock scene.

Either way, I really like his music.

You can listen to his first album (recorded all on his own in a frozen cabin in Wisconsin) from here..

https://youtu.be/LuQrLsTUcN0?list=PLsDfwWzqBgmj3V9P7a8V8wVR19e1Bd-D_

And his second, Grammy winning album, from here..

https://youtu.be/bo6lKQYVUBU?list=PLq7WK01oto53-MVqnQGHaLGyUpRqC6OGc

The difference is quite astonishing, but i think they're both gorgeous.

Thanks Blue. I'll put that on my to-do list immediately.

Bluebottle wrote: (He won a Grammy for best new artist.. for his second album.. worked with Kanye West.. (Don't tell Halfwise..))

I suppose you didn't catch the post when I related being in a cafe, hearing some rap music I felt was actually expressive and progressive, and my shock when hitting the 'Shazam' button to find out it was the ego-meister himself, Kanye West!

So though I think he still has way too much ego, quite a bit of his music I have to admit to respecting.

Haha. Well, I guess that's often the case with preconceptions.