#1864663 - 09/19/23 11:48 AM
Does a song have a shelf life?
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Al
songwriter
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 04/16/99
Posts: 70284
Loc: Walmartville
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When I was in college I bought the album Hotel California. Loved it right away, especially the musical depth of the title track. The first single was New Kid In Town so I sort of thought that song was my own little secret. Course it eventually came out as a single, reached #1 and found its place in the ranks of iconic songs with Stairway and Free Bird and Gimme Shelter and so on. What continues to surprise me though is that still, today, the song is everpresent, you hear it on hold on the telephone, when you walk into various stores, and all over radio, I'd go as far as to say it's easily the most played song of all time now, probably double the airplay of any song that came before it. I no longer love it, or like it. It kinda makes me queasy to be honest once I hear the intro. If Neg Ten were the Eagles with an albatross that size, I'd be so frustrated that I can't just rip it out of circulation because they've gone way too far with the song, they've destroyed it. I'd also add that the thing's a lie too, cause I've lived in California several times with no residual effects. It's just not true that you can never leave, so I hate the song for that reason too.
_________________________
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"Do not allow my confidence to offend your insecurity" - Deion Sanders
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#1864671 - 09/19/23 02:27 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Al]
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Popmann
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 05/23/02
Posts: 32548
Loc: Twangville, TN
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It seems like your'e describing being over played/heard...
Ohio has a shelf life because it's a song that has little impact without the LISTENER'S personal knowledge of it's context removed...ask a GenZ'r what it's about. That's a shelf life--when you've made a song culturally relevant in a way that's too specific to it's time.
I LOVE both Hotel Cali and Manic Monday, but holy hell--when I hear the opening piano riff of either, there IS a part of my brain that goes "again?"
Tao recently professed his love of a Hall&Oates song (One on One) I probably loved more when I was 10 than I do now. Now I find it hokey.
Sweet Child O Mine got that way by say 1989...what was a "out of place" song on that heavy rock record that I liked in 87...became "turn that off" after several years of constantly being in every store...TV...radio...car I got in...
Edited by Popmann (09/19/23 02:28 PM)
Edit Reason: clearer?
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#1864674 - 09/19/23 04:05 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Popmann]
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motown59
Planeteer/Artist # 238
Planeteer
Registered: 03/01/04
Posts: 17431
Loc: California
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Songs don’t have a shelf life, like a novel or movie. We may get burnt out and not want to hear something again. There’s an important difference between music and a book or movie. Music is omnipresent, in the car, the store, on TV, besides the passive exposure from other people, like my neighbor each night.
I really don’t care to hear Hotel Ca again. But, it’s certainly another experience while at a concert, whether I’m watching Felder/Steuart Smith or at the mixer for some tribute band. Six notes in, the audience goes berserk and a whole venue is filled with energy, over and over at every show. People still go. I love that but instantly transform back to not wanting Hotel Ca again.
Songs have a relevancy life. Topically, some things just don’t play well anymore or the theme that was once current, isn’t.
_________________________
kel
"I love what you guys are trying to do up there" ...from an audience member at one of my gigs.
Gear: Fender Medium pick
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#1864675 - 09/19/23 04:18 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: motown59]
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Jazzooo
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 05/18/02
Posts: 54688
Loc: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico ...
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What Kelly said. Sometimes when I’m reaching to listen to a favorite song, I catch myself thinking “ should I wait until the next time I want to hear it so I don’t burn myself out? I’ve put off, listening to albums for a few months in that circumstance, actually. Then, when I finally listen, I’m totally in the mood.
I wrote a couple of songs about Covid love affairs. Kelly actually did amazing background vocals on one of them. I wish they would become obsolete and nostalgic but I have a couple of friends with Covid right now.
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Dougrobinson.com
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#1864676 - 09/19/23 04:31 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Jazzooo]
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Marty Gilman
Official Planet Sax Monster - Planeteer/Artist # 117
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 04/05/00
Posts: 26135
Loc: Palm Beach, Florida- U S A
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It is sad that contemporary tunes have a shelf life of about two weeks.
I often play Jazz tunes that are between 60 and 80 years old.
Many R&B classics from the 1950s to 70s are still viable.
Copycat songs don’t last as long as innovative songs do.
-m
_________________________
Can you play that an octave louder?
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#1864678 - 09/19/23 04:49 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Marty Gilman]
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The Vampire Lestat
Planeteer
Registered: 01/09/00
Posts: 4456
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I think it depends on the song.
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#1864680 - 09/19/23 05:00 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: The Vampire Lestat]
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Jazzooo
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 05/18/02
Posts: 54688
Loc: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico ...
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Marty, I get what you’re saying… But if I never played song for my father, recordame, Bésame Mucho, and several other wonderful standards… I’d be really happy.
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Dougrobinson.com
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#1864700 - 09/19/23 09:33 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Jazzooo]
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Timster
Artist #'s - 130, 298, 412
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 03/06/03
Posts: 42609
Loc: Center of the Universe
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I never hear "new kid in town" Kinda wouldn't mind. I would say some topical songs have a relevancy life for sure.
I think people are still groovin to the Macarana, get happy, and some of that weird ass shit.
I also don't hear hotel california either unless I am playing it on guitar.
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#1864703 - 09/19/23 09:42 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Timster]
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flatcat
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 07/11/01
Posts: 29060
Loc: Westborough, MA, USA
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It's funny, I was just thinking about the "topical" piece because I heard "Jammin' Me" a week or two back. I mean ... Vanessa Redgrave? Joe Piscopo? What was the even about, I don't even remember.
It's still kind of a cool tune, but ... ?
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The internet, and the whole technology sector on which it floats, feels like a giant organ for bullshittery—for upscaling human access to speech and for amplifying lies. - Ian Bogost
Professor Truth T. Sweetness says,"Mind your manners!"
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#1864707 - 09/19/23 10:14 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: flatcat]
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Andy McClelland
Planeteer
Registered: 05/24/14
Posts: 11690
Loc: Commanda, Ontario Canada
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In my opinion, any work work that has artistic merit (which is, of course in the eye of the beholder  ) does not have a shelf life - be it music, visual art, movies, literature etc.
I frequently reread books. Recently I reread (probably for the third time) my Evelyn Waugh collection. He wrote from about 1920 to the late 50s. I've reread most of what I have by Rushdie at least once (Satanic Verses and the Ground Beneath Her Feet at least three times). Same with Barbara Kingsolver, Don DeLillo, Jonathon Lethem and many others. Each time provides new insight.
I'm not a big movie watcher, but I've seen Casablanca, Harvey and Blazing Saddles a few times.
I've certainly looked at The Starry Night (and listened to the song by Don McLean) a few times in my life. I've seen the original a couple of times. It's stunning.
I still listen to Beatles. And John Hiatt. Miles Davis. And many others.
Just my opinion and experience.
_________________________
Horn player tuning: Give me Bb. Never mind, Just give me a B and I'll flatten it myself. Andy on SoundCloud
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#1864708 - 09/19/23 10:26 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Andy McClelland]
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Marty Gilman
Official Planet Sax Monster - Planeteer/Artist # 117
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 04/05/00
Posts: 26135
Loc: Palm Beach, Florida- U S A
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Years ago, , I always said that radios shortened the shelf life of songs by overplaying them, so true.
-m
_________________________
Can you play that an octave louder?
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#1864711 - 09/19/23 11:08 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Timster]
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Popmann
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 05/23/02
Posts: 32548
Loc: Twangville, TN
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I also don't hear hotel california either unless I am playing it on guitar.
…to which everyone ELSE in room would rather not hear it! Ba dum-pah!
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#1864725 - 09/20/23 04:07 AM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Popmann]
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Tao Jones
Planeteer
Registered: 06/13/00
Posts: 14647
Loc: CA
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Gonna be quite some time before Moon River expires
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#1864728 - 09/20/23 08:49 AM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Tao Jones]
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Al
songwriter
Loquacious Planeteer
Registered: 04/16/99
Posts: 70284
Loc: Walmartville
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It expired for me in 1970 when it was the only song my sister learned on the piano.
_________________________
.
"Do not allow my confidence to offend your insecurity" - Deion Sanders
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#1864759 - 09/20/23 06:50 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Tao Jones]
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Hong Kong Phooey
As You Were
Planeteer
Registered: 07/27/03
Posts: 6335
Loc: Virginia
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Gonna be quite some time before Moon River expires
I can’t imagine that it would ever expire.
When did Greensleeves expire?
Sweet Georgia Brown?
Songs are not Garbanzo beans.
Sweet Georgia Brown will expire at a time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.
Not when some mere human being gets tired of it, 
HKP
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"Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that."
~Senator John McCain
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#1864762 - 09/20/23 06:56 PM
Re: Does a song have a shelf life?
[Re: Hong Kong Phooey]
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Andy McClelland
Planeteer
Registered: 05/24/14
Posts: 11690
Loc: Commanda, Ontario Canada
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And then there's Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
_________________________
Horn player tuning: Give me Bb. Never mind, Just give me a B and I'll flatten it myself. Andy on SoundCloud
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