If Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart walked in...

[RobMoney$]

what 5 songs of the past 50 years would you play them?

Let's say these three walked in and wanted to know what's up with music, (Let's also assume Beethoven can hear). What songs would you play them to show talent, melody, dynamics, etc. so that they would say, "That's pretty good!" This occurred to me while driving to work and listening to some Classical wherein there are some incredibly complex pieces of music and some stuff that sounds like the same simple progressions you hear in today's pop music.

- Would you any play R/B, Rap, or Reggae to demonstrate timing and rhythm?

- Would you play any blues to show how improve and free-form made an impact? What about jazz?

- Would you play any country or blue-grass to show how the violin, a favorite of classical composers, is used in modern music?

- Would you play any heavy metal to show them that complicated music still exists, even if they would probably find the distortion and vocals annoying?

[Nygel]

beck

[abcdefz]

I might start with Thomas Ades. He's a contemporary classical composer who hasn't gotten too far off the nut. "Living Toys" would be
a good place to start.

[DipDipDive]

I've thought about this long and hard. Picking just 5 is extremely difficult, but here 'goes.

Inner City Blues - Marvin Gaye: socially relevant, excellent demonstration of harmonies, song arrangement, and integration of more classical elements. Some motown, some soul/funk.

Paranoid Android - Radiohead: an example of a modern-day epic, complex chord progression and vocals. A solid combination of harder and softer rock.

Got 'Til It's Gone - Janet Jackson: not an obvious choice, but a great marriage of hip hop and jazz. Exhibits the art of the sample and the record scratch. I think a Dilla beat is a quality exemplification of hip hop production. And these men would need to know about how hand claps on a beat can take a song to a whole new level when done correctly.

Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash: is there a better example of country singing-songwriting? Really? Is there?

Bring it on Home - Led Zeppelin: sure, there are better Led Zeppelin songs, but I don't think there is even a comparable example of the combination of blues and heavy metal.

I'll probably think of about a hundred more in the next few hours, but I think these are all good examples of the cross references of several different genres that exist in modern music.

[kaiser soze]

I would play Johnny Greenwood, Yann Tiersen YoYo Ma, Plastikman, and some Thievery Corporation for them. I think they would like that

[kleptomaniac]

b-boy bouillabaisse :cool:

[funk63]

the fresh prince of bel-air theme song.

[mickill]

In an attempt to out-nerd DipDipDive, who's choices overlap a lot of what I was going to suggest, I'm going to try and only go with music that (to some degree) could be attributed to the efforts of these composers, as well as their peers.

Ike's Mood by Isaac Hayes or The Edge by Dave McCallum. I can't really decide which one better illustrates the complex structures inherent in a lot 70s soul and r&b music, of which Hayes was clearly a master of. David Axelrod, who wrote and recorded The Edge, integrated elements of r&b and jazz with a lot of what were, essentially, classical compositions.

Night Of The Living Baseheads by Public Enemy. This is the best example I could think of in regards to sampling; they took a small piece of a composition, which itself was layered with endless variations in rhythm, timbre and musical phrases, and looped just one small fragment of it, then piled on layers of percussion, drum sounds, vocal samples, scratches and created a composition of equal (if not greater) sophistication. Even though the song itself relies on repetition, it still manages to convey almost a fabricated form of modulation and counterpoint through all the combined elements, which in itself is characteristic of classical music.

Battery by Metallica. There are other songs by the band that demonstrate equal complexity and classical influences, but Battery features an overture, recurring motifs, polyphonic elements and what I'm sure these guys would agree is a pretty sweet solo.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles, Layla by Derek And the Dominoes or All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix. Again, I don't know which one best demonstrates the broad range of emotions (sadness, aggression, regret, joy) one can evoke within a single song, by use of an electric guitar. But these all come to mind. Also, there's a narrative present in each of these songs, which is/was a feature quite prevalent in the works of most composers.

River Deep - Mountain High by Ike and Tina Turner. I just wanted to include a Phil Spector/Jack Nitzsche composition of some sort, which in some way is more about the sound achieved through the recording process, rather than the actual arrangement of the song itself. This tune in particular (which is nowhere near my favorite Spector-produced song) sounds immense, but the intonations deviate from anything natural sounding because of how it was recorded...which is cool.

[Guy Incognito]

I've been thinkin about this for a day and its very difficult to do in 5 songs,
I first thought of picking 5 tunes that made them think a bit or get a reaction from them.
Then i thought about playing a tune from each of the last 5 decades until i just thought fuck it
and just picked 5 great records without trying to cover loads of styles because its too big an ask to cover all genres in 5 tunes so:

Protection - Massive Attack - soulful, great vocal.

Da Funk - Daft Punk - Electronic dance monster!

Can I Kick It? - ATCQ - Beats, samples and rhymes

Paranoid - Black Sabbath - ROCK!

Good Vibrations - Beach Boys - Has a bit of everything and is just one of the best tunes ever.



I'm gonna try and not think about this anymore cos it hurt my head! I have changed this post twice cos i couldnt decide.

Good idea Mr Money.

[DipDipDive]

Good Vibrations - Beach Boys - Has a bit of everything and is just one of the best tunes ever.

As a whole, the Beach Boys annoy the shit out of me, but this really is an excellent choice.

And Mike, you succeeded in out-nerding. Congratulations. :cool:

[Kid Presentable]

Beethoven would keep asking you to turn it up.

[RobMoney$]

"Traveling Riverside Blues" or "Love in Vain" by Robert Johnson - You have to start with early Blues or Jazz, and Robert Johnson is as good a place to start as anywhere. I know I'm bending my own "past 50 years" rule, but read on and you'll see the reason.

"Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry - This will demonstrate how Chuck Berry took blues and merged it into Rock and Roll. I think they'd get a kick out of it for obvious reasons.

"Traveling Riverside Blues" by Led Zeppelin, "Love in Vain" by The Rolling Stones, or "Roll Over Beethoven" by The Beatles - Any one of these will demonstrate the next step in the evolution from early Blues to Rock & Roll.

Off the Grid by The Beastie Boys - It demonstrates a simple, yet complex layering. I also think they'd enjoy the interesting way each instrument is given it's own moment to sort of shine during the progression.

Something by Shoenberg - Yeah, I know he wasn't alive in the last 50 years but you'd have to put something in the 12 tone variety since it's really the only major breakthrough in musical theory since they were around. I hate that crap, so I couldn't tell you a particular song.



I'm leaving off a bunch of important people such as the Gershwin's and Bernstein, maybe even Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. I'd love to squeeze in some Floyd and Hendrix too, "Echoes" or "The Star Spangled Banner".

[Guy Incognito]

Anything by Wyld Stallyns especially for Beeth-Oven

[Tzar]

stairway to heaven is the only thing i can think of right now.

[yeahwho]

"A Day in the Life" the Beatles. (a studio masterpiece)

"Fire" the Jimi Hendrix Experience. (Wild, just over the edge out of control)

"Let's Stay Together" Al Green. (One of the most beautiful soul songs ever)

"Back in Black" AC/DC. (Dudes need to know about the rock, the hard rock)

"Down on the Corner" Creedence Clearwater Revival. (Great beat, Great rhythm)

As far as the Beatles that was ab automatic choice, especially the full scope of the song, which makes for a listening experience.

The other songs were much harder and all of them had equal songs as well.

If it were full albums I really think those cats would thrive on "Dark Side of the Moon" or perhaps Miles Davis the "Birth of Cool"

Hip Hop didn't make my list, Run DMC's "Rock Box" would be an excellent primer though.

My take is this, Bach would balk, Beethoven well roll over, but Mozart would thrive.

[Lex Diamonds]

Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues

Frank Sinatra - New York, New York

The Beatles - Love Me Do

Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street

Run-DMC - Sucker MC's

[Lex Diamonds]

5 isn't really enough, I think 10 would be a better number.

[yeahwho]

5 isn't really enough, I think 10 would be a better number.

Yeah 10 would probably be better, I was right down the middle with "Rock Box" and "Sucker MC's", both are brilliant. Also I wasn't able to get any Otis Redding in there, "Sitting at the Dock on the Bay" is pretty much a showstopper upon first hearing.

[Kid Presentable]

What's Going on as an album has that social commentary/harmony/motown shit on lock the whole way through, so I'd choose Mercy, Mercy Me just as a personal favourite. I'd just share some shit with these guys. I don't really know any of their stuff beyond the Greatest Hits, although Mozart's S/T is supposed to be a banger.

Marvin Gaye - Mercy, Mercy Me

Serge Gainsbourg - Je t'aime....moi non plus

The Beatles - Happiness is a Warm Gun

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean ( shamooonnnn you knew it was coming )

Aphex Twin - Come to Daddy (may be better with the video)

[Guy Incognito]

Aphex Twin - Come to Daddy (may be better with the video)

(y)This was going to be one of my choices for a bit when i was thinking of making a more intense list! I think the video would send them over the edge tho dude.

The intense list went:

Come To Daddy - Aphex Twin
Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols
The Message
Atmoshpere - Joy Division
Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus This is in the list cos I wanted to play them something so unbelievably shit to warn them that a load of dross had also been made in the last 50 years!

[hpdrifter]

I guess I'd say God Only Knows for a Beach Boys choice I'll have to think on the others. Why are so many choosing songs based on how they were recorded? I would think for this group (who wouldn't know what recording is or why it is important) the arrangements and melodies would be most important.

That said I don't really have any picks. Its tough to nail down.

[yeahwho]

I guess I'd say God Only Knows for a Beach Boys choice I'll have to think on the others. Why are so many choosing songs based on how they were recorded? I would think for this group (who wouldn't know what recording is or why it is important) the arrangements and melodies would be most important.

They recording studio is an instrument. If they're coming over to my house to hear these songs I'm going to present them on these new-fangled items I call "Speakers".

[Tzar]

alot of iron maiden too

[Guy Incognito]

alot of iron maiden too

Good idea - its gotta be "phantom of the opera" just for the start alone. I reckon they would love that.

[DipDipDive]

Bigtime bump because I'd like to add a 6th:

Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth

Okay bye.

[EN[i]GMA]

Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich.

I don't know if they would like it, but I think they could appreciate it and see that we're doing new stuff.

Maybe Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Some of their more symphonic pieces really are impressive and showcase modern composition and instrumentation (rock drums, guitar, electric bass).

I think it would be hard to showcase standard pop music to them, simply because I don't think they'd like it that much. Most pop music takes simple chord progressions and just repeats them.

Also a lot of the genius in modern pop music comes from lyrics, which weren't as often used in 'classical' music (except, of course, operas).

It's hard to actually explain pop music in terms they would understand. When it's good, it's more of a poem with musical accompaniment.

And the emotions pop music employs aren't, I don't think, commonly expressed in classical music.

Also, they might appreciate Sunset Rubdown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N166bG76o24

So: Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich

Blaise Bailey Finnegan III by Godspeed You! Black Emperor (but only if they can speak English so they can understand the spoken word part)

The Mending of the Gown by Sunset Rubdown

Good Girl / Carrots by Panda Bear (Great vocal melodies and harmonies)

You Made Me Realize by My Bloody Valentine (Fuck your old ass ears, this is the future)

EDIT: Actually, I'd probably just give them a John Fahey record. For example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ_ay0p2_vo

[Planetary]

This. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckMvj1piK58) No question.

[lolkat]

id play em your fucking balls on a spit

[EN[i]GMA]

This. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckMvj1piK58) No question.

Over this? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTek4AdPkik)