konaboy
Pioneer Member
Right there with you on that!!
Why don't pop songs have real drums?
- Thread starter mkidd053
- Start date
Right there with you on that!!
konaboy
Pioneer Member
Not digging my heals in at all and has nothing to do with no acro or supra in it. I just don't care of the music. Has nothing with being old, I like newer stuff and older stuff. I never liked Depeche Mode or the Ramoans, the Beetles, The Who why.... because I didn't care for the sound or the music. . Never cared for pop, I prefer music with drive an energy which this doesn't have which is I why I prefer rock. We all have our tastes which makes everyone unique. BTW no one made you read any of this ;-)
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Hollywood Jim
Platinum Member
I'm sitting here trying to think of a Who song that has no drive and/or energy............. I'm having trouble. Someone help me please.
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konaboy
Pioneer Member
Read after "why......."
" I never liked Depeche Mode or the Ramoans, the Beetles, The Who why.... because I didn't care for the sound or the music."
;-)
Hollywood Jim
Platinum Member
OK. Yeah the discussion here is about taste in music and what we like and don't like. No big deal. There is a lot of music I don't like.
Your comment just seemed a little strange. I was just bustin' your chops about the "drive and energy" part.... LOL
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Stroman
Diamond Member
For reference, here is the studio version of "Paris."
https://youtu.be/fRNkQH4DVg8
I'm an old guy, and I like the Chainsmokers, so it ain't an age thing, lol.
I do like the live version with drums better, but I think that's just because I'm a drummer. Plus, I tend to like live music, even recordings of live music, better than studio versions anyway.
https://youtu.be/fRNkQH4DVg8
I'm an old guy, and I like the Chainsmokers, so it ain't an age thing, lol.
I do like the live version with drums better, but I think that's just because I'm a drummer. Plus, I tend to like live music, even recordings of live music, better than studio versions anyway.
williamsbclontz
Silver Member
I like plenty of music from today's artists, just not this group. Too cheesy, and these guys won't be remembered 50 years from now because they aren't that good, especially compared to a lot of artists on the scene today
But that's just my opinion, and the opinion of most of the guys who posted in this thread
New Tricks
Platinum Member
But, a drum machine inspired him to write it.
I always thought he was a great talent so I discarded my hatred of drum machines after I heard him recount the story.
I like new music but, when they turn the vocal autotune up to 11. it sounds horrible. There was one rhythmic gem in the song but overall, it sucked. The live performance was also lackluster.
Damn kids!!!!
Worth mentioning....
Many of today's recordings have both digital and analog tracks, backup singers, the full monte. Some have horns and strings recorded. The digital-only tracks often prevail in the market because it's easier for DJ's to spin/remix them in dance clubs. They're also easier to talk over when you're trying to order drinks.
Is it me, or has SNL recently implemented a no-lip-sync policy since the Simpson ordeal?
Many of today's recordings have both digital and analog tracks, backup singers, the full monte. Some have horns and strings recorded. The digital-only tracks often prevail in the market because it's easier for DJ's to spin/remix them in dance clubs. They're also easier to talk over when you're trying to order drinks.
Is it me, or has SNL recently implemented a no-lip-sync policy since the Simpson ordeal?
I read an article talking about how music is written and produced to sound best through what people listen to it with. An unfortunate amount of people I know listen to music via cheap earbuds, portable Bluetooth speakers, cheap desktop speakers, overhead workplace speakers etc. Not a lot of need for nuance and tone and subtle playing when it'd never be heard anyway.
Odd-Arne Oseberg
Platinum Member
It's either because real drums suck or pop music sucks. 
Someone's Dad
Senior Member
Of all the instruments, I think that drums have the safest future.
A lot of music that the youngsters are listening to in the UK (Grime? Don’t quote me, I’m old...) seems to be deliberately avoiding real drums and using rhythmic beeps to give a low-key, guerrila, small studio feel (“keeping it real”). But it’s a fashion and at some point, someone will realise that a drum kit can inject real energy into the same songs and the fashion will change.
Anyone heard Travis Barker’s “re-mix” of “Low” by Flo Rida? Not Travis’s finest work, but the energy of his drum karaoke really brings out the angry misogyny that’s missing in the original recording.
Drums are dynamic, versatile and there’s really no substitute for the stage presence that a drummer brings. Although the posted videos show two different songs, I think the live performance illustrates that drums aren’t going to disappear any time soon.
A lot of music that the youngsters are listening to in the UK (Grime? Don’t quote me, I’m old...) seems to be deliberately avoiding real drums and using rhythmic beeps to give a low-key, guerrila, small studio feel (“keeping it real”). But it’s a fashion and at some point, someone will realise that a drum kit can inject real energy into the same songs and the fashion will change.
Anyone heard Travis Barker’s “re-mix” of “Low” by Flo Rida? Not Travis’s finest work, but the energy of his drum karaoke really brings out the angry misogyny that’s missing in the original recording.
Drums are dynamic, versatile and there’s really no substitute for the stage presence that a drummer brings. Although the posted videos show two different songs, I think the live performance illustrates that drums aren’t going to disappear any time soon.
SmoothOperator
Gold Member
I agree in some sense drums were the last to be automated. Keyboards have had player pianos for years.
I think there will be drumming Renaissance. The software has enabled composition to a degree that has never been seen before. The bar has raised in terms of what people think sounds good rhythmically. Lots of drummers cranking out same Ol' beat won't like it, but they eventually retire.
As per quality modern music is way more informed drawing on multiple cultures and highly cranial involving whole teams of sound engineers.
BertTheDrummer
Gold Member
Honestly, I think the main reason for pop songs not having drums is simply convenience, it takes a bit more effort to record drums. It is easier for producers and/or singer/songwriters to make beats and stuff in reason, import some keyboard tracks using their little midi controller and what not. Then they just need the vocalist/rapper/etc to hop in a vocal booth or put up a vocal shield even and record over the pre-made track. The "bands" a lot of times are formed after the fact. Money wise it actually makes sense, means having to split royalties less ways.
Mike Stand
Silver Member
Haven't yest listened to the tracks in the first post but it seems the discussion has gone beyond that.
The sound of acoustic drums is my first love. However, with age and maturity I have found that I like a lot of music with "electronic" sounds, including "artificial" drum sounds.
I'm not keen on electronics trying to outright copy/substitute the sound of an acoustic set, it just sounds like a cheap getout. But when someone use electronics to create entirely new sounds then it becomes intriguing.
I think of it as something that adds to and enriches the overall sound pallete instead of detracting from it. Gotta keep finding those new sounds.
Even if public taste does swing heavily in favour of such music, acoustic drums will always have their place.
Just think what could happen if acoustic drums really did become a minor niche thing, out of the wider public eye. Almost forgotten so to say.
One day some up-and-coming band or performer will feature a drummer behind an acoustic set performing on TV/internet/who-knows-what. It would become the second "Ringo moment" when the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan show and hundreds of thousands of kids acquired an instant passion and desire to play acoustic drums. Wouldn't it be really cool to experience that again?
What goes around comes around...
The sound of acoustic drums is my first love. However, with age and maturity I have found that I like a lot of music with "electronic" sounds, including "artificial" drum sounds.
I'm not keen on electronics trying to outright copy/substitute the sound of an acoustic set, it just sounds like a cheap getout. But when someone use electronics to create entirely new sounds then it becomes intriguing.
I think of it as something that adds to and enriches the overall sound pallete instead of detracting from it. Gotta keep finding those new sounds.
Even if public taste does swing heavily in favour of such music, acoustic drums will always have their place.
Just think what could happen if acoustic drums really did become a minor niche thing, out of the wider public eye. Almost forgotten so to say.
One day some up-and-coming band or performer will feature a drummer behind an acoustic set performing on TV/internet/who-knows-what. It would become the second "Ringo moment" when the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan show and hundreds of thousands of kids acquired an instant passion and desire to play acoustic drums. Wouldn't it be really cool to experience that again?
What goes around comes around...
cerendrad
Member
I just listened to a WTF podcast with Mark Maron interviewing Lord (sang that song Royals that was popular about a year or two back). Her music is all digital and she said she doesn't use real instuments because her and the kids she grew up with didn't have and or couln't afford the instruments to make the music she wanted to hear. She could make all the music she wanted with a pirated version of protools and hacked plugins. In fact she can't even play an instument but in her words she can "program the s*#t out of a drum machine". So I guess for some artists the computer becomes the instrument.
MJD
Silver Member
To be fair computers have been instruments since at least the early 60's. Milton Babbitt's work in the RCA lab comes to mind. I can't program a drum machine to save my life but i can play multiple instruments and write out musical notation. It's just another way of accomplishing the same thing. The way i know is old fashioned but has worked for hundreds of years. Near as I can tell the new methods are just as efficient. The only issue i have with them is that they are making illiteracy more prevalent in the industry but then that's been what recording technology in general has been doing since it's advent. Especially since the rock era.
Midnite Zephyr
Platinum Member
I digress. As far as computers go, it's just the nature of the beast. I do drafting for a living. I was trained in hand drafting, much like you were trained in music. To be a good drafter back then, you hand to be good with the tools of the trade in order to produce accurate and presentable drawings.
But now, with the advent of the computer, we don't use any of that stuff. It's mostly forgotten skill, much like music literacy and using old school tools. I don't need a drumset or a drummer to produce beats.
SmoothOperator
Gold Member
I think it is kind of ironic, that the people that are belly aching about this are the very same ones that created this race to the bottom in the first place, Beatles. It's not like they are arguing that big bands are better, musically speaking. They are arguing "The Who" hoping on stage and ripping stuff up are more musical, Nay!
I think the best part of this is that if you have a musical idea you can record it, which is making the industry much more diverse. People aren't limited to samples from three cymbals and five drums.
People do eventually play these tracks. Trent Reznor played "A Copy of a Copy" live for example.
8Mile
Platinum Member
The link to the studio version is for the wrong track. But I've heard the studio version of Paris and now that I've seen the live version, I can say I like both.
The use of drum machines comes down to how easy and fast it is to use them. It's economics, and in more way than one. Today's instrument is a computer. One person can write and record all the music. One person gets paid.
The use of drum machines comes down to how easy and fast it is to use them. It's economics, and in more way than one. Today's instrument is a computer. One person can write and record all the music. One person gets paid.