Author Topic: Generic Songwriting (Read 10266 times)

willo · « **on:** January 27, 2006, 03:22:12 PM »

I got this off another board.

If you ever needed yet more proof of the incredibly generic songwriting that creates 'radio smashes', then check this out. It's two Nickelback songs mixed together, one in the left channel and one in the right ("Someday" and "How You Remind Me")

I remember sitting next to the radio as a kid and predicting where chord/key changes etc would happen in a song, and nearly always being correct; and I'm well aware of how simplisitic modern succesful music is, but this is actually quite scary!

http://archive.wfmu.org:5555/archive/BL/BL_Nickelback_-_nickelbackthing.mp3

(right click and save as

)

One of the things that sticks in my mind about learning music was the moment I was told that the reason that 90% of people won't like a piece of music is simply because they don't understand the conventions, be they structural, melodic, or harmonic, of that particular genre. That's why most commercial rock bands stick rigidly to a very specific formula - and the ones who do mess around with it a bit and still achieve some commercial success (e.g. Wilco, R.E.M. earlier Radiohead) still retain most of the harmonic, melodic and rhythmic conventions of their genre. It's like when a band is successful and 'different', they aren't really that different.

I just said to my mate, 'Try doing that with two Zappa songs', although apparently Zappa did use to get half the band playing 'Black Page pt.2' under 'Ya Honza', and apparently it worked 'quite well'. Given that Ya Honza is in 5/8, I'm guessing its not quite as smooth as Mr. Kroeger and co!

sambo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2006, 04:02:37 PM »

woah.....that is scary....having said that nickleback are still one of my favourite bands.

jt · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2006, 05:19:28 PM »

:D You`ve just given away my success in songwriting you B******D !!! :lol:

Ok explain why it is that Prog Rock works then smart arse !! :P

:D 8)

indysmith · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2006, 05:32:47 PM »

Quote from: jt

Ok explain why it is that Prog Rock works then smart arse !! :P

people are only attracted to prog rock because its fresh and different, and because of the sometimes AMAZING musicianship in it. technically people love its, musically people hate it.

as for nickelback... they need to die - i don't believe how exactly the same those songs are, LOL - i hate music wen its all about making money :shock:

sambo · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2006, 05:48:26 PM »

you cant say that they're music is jsut for making money just because two of their songs sound similar!!!! look at paradise city and knocking on heavens door- they're even more alike!

Ratrod · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2006, 05:50:13 PM »

Pop music can now be composed by running mathematical equasions into a computer. Just mark your target group and hit enter.

:shock:

sambo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2006, 05:54:30 PM »

yer i spose thats because most people nowadays dont care or appreciate for the technicalities of music- i.e the skill involved- they just want a catchy tune that sticks in their heads. i think theres a fundamental difference between the brains of guitarists/musicians and all other people who listen to music lol. i mean how often is it you get a pop-fan saying- WOW thats such a good synth-riff!!!

indysmith · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2006, 06:22:17 PM »

Quote from: sambo

you cant say that they're music is jsut for making money just because two of their songs sound similar!!!! look at paradise city and knocking on heavens door- they're even more alike!

They obviously havent written the songs themselves - i think their record label has seen that "How yu remind me" was a hit, so they write "someday" exactly the same because that should be a hit aswell. They make money

sambo · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2006, 06:27:48 PM »

and i think.. your having a laugh! i HIGHLY doubt that nicklebacks record label wrote a song for them!?!? if i was a pro-musician and a label asked me to take a song they had written and play it as my own i would be insulted!!! theres no possible reason why nickleback would do it- you may say its for money- they have MORE than enough money already- you may say that they did it to please the record company- theres MORE than enough other record companys that would happily take on such a successful band... if you have any more theories ill be happy to prove them wrong :P

badgermark · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2006, 07:27:01 PM »

nickleback wrote someday to sound almost exactly like this is how(...) on purpose. they saw it was a hit and apparently based the whole song as a rip off of themselfs. the bridges/choruses/breakdown sections are all roughly at the same place, it has the same sorta progressions, and the same lyrical subject matter.

nickleback are money loving whores :D

Ratrod · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2006, 08:01:34 PM »

Nickelback = the new Bon Jovi. :twisted: PDT_006

sambo · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2006, 08:06:47 PM »

lol ok badgermark...whatever you say :? i'd like to see you prove that theory...

EDIT: same lyrical subject matter??? ermmm... dont think so!?!?!

Searcher · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2006, 08:34:03 PM »

Heard this one before. It's pretty funny.

You can also do this with a couple of Britney Spears songs (surprised?) and probably a bunch by Kylie Minogue, Madonna, etc. Not to mention entire albums of country and western (and punk for that matter) songs that are pretty much identical.

indysmith · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2006, 08:42:37 PM »

Quote from: sambo

i HIGHLY doubt that nicklebacks record label wrote a song for them!?!? if i was a pro-musician and a label asked me to take a song they had written and play it as my own i would be insulted!!! theres no possible reason why nickleback would do it-

Why not? just about every other pop-group does it. they want money. its all about money - not necessarily for just the band but also for the record label. Wake up and smell the coffee sam!

sambo · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2006, 08:45:35 PM »

thanks for cropping half my post...richard... but if hadnt i think you would have realised that i said they have more than enough money... why would you produce generic hits for money when you already have so much... thats all im saying....