THis is a thread where you try and remember the soulless pap from the eighties

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if melody is a european tradition how is it not a white tradition? if rhythm (your definition) isn't a african tradition how is it not a black tradition? if you're saying european (ie. white) traditions should be kept alive in all popular music forms how is that not putting a skin color on music? how are your arguments any different from the standard 'defending our culture' white supremacists tropes (he asks for the third time today)?

James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:31 (twenty-one years ago) link

if melody is a european tradition how is it not a white tradition?

Why does it matter where the tradition comes from anyway?

The point is that melody has proved superior to all other musical forms. And as such, it should be used universially. Never mind about ethic origin, because that isn't important. Music in itself is the only important thing here.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:32 (twenty-one years ago) link

"Geir, you don't actually exist do you? No-one can be that wrong, that consistently. There must be some fiendish computer somewhere programmed to endlessly issue absolutist piffle till the end of time."
(comment by dadaismus from another thread)

i've been forced to revise my take on the geir-as-comic-genius theory, after further viewing of these beyond-inanities that he keeps spitting out like clockwork. (oops, there i go again with the rhythm thing)

he is definitely a comic genius, but "he" is also in reality a computer program, as propounded above. the program is not fiendish, though, but is part of extremely successful AI research attempting to simulate absurd comedic personas. it's not unlike those computers that blow away the russian chess grandmasters. the geir program demonstrates a more consistent and speedier absurdist wit than any human would be capable of doing. the 'absolutist piffle' is not an earnest attempt to put forth a coherent argument but rather is meant to tickle the funny bone in a most sublime fashion.

Dallas Yertle (Dallas Yertle), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:35 (twenty-one years ago) link

Geir may be right that he doesn't practice discrimination based on skin color--he's on to a different form of bigotry.

Amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

but it has not 'proved superior to all other musical forms' (and besides - isn't melody the only musical form by definition?). if it has it wouldn't be europe wouldn't be losing the war to africa. oh, and nice dodge. and the way you only have five (maybe six) different responses to any stimulas makes me think you really are a computer program in which case I'm not going to wast my time arguing with cryptofacist eurocentric computer programs.

James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

"As long as the melodic and harmonic qualities of European music remain untouched, it doesn't matter whether other things are added in addition. There is nothing wrong with a drum pulse as long as it is kept in the background and doesn't disturb the overall total dominance of the melody and its belonging harmonies" sez Geir.

This is really funny. I read quite a few websites and newsgroups which are full of extreme right-wingers - keeping an eye on the enemy, all that sort of thing. I can *easily* imagine these (mostly British) far-right apologists writing *exactly* those words as an explanation of why the Beatles are acceptable to them but hip-hop is not.

I wonder if Geir votes for the Norwegian far-right party (is it called the Popular Party? Populist Party? Peoples' Party? whatever ...)

robin carmody (robin carmody), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

I actually belong to the left. Music isn't politics. Music is music and should be valued exclusively as music in itself.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:48 (twenty-one years ago) link

Melody isn't losing to rhythm. Grunge happened, Britpop happened, and other reactions will happen too. They will all win in the long run, causing fans of rhythm-oriented music to write nasty threads filled with hatred of Oasis, Coldplay, Travis, or even The Beatles.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 00:50 (twenty-one years ago) link

Geir - I wasn't trying to suggest that music was politics, more that your attitude has some nasty correlations with the worst aspects of your country's political past and present.

I hate the three contemporary bands you mention (although I love the Beatles, precisely because they have more than one influence, more than one song, more than one emotional mood etc, whereas the other three are one-trick ponies). But I don't feel the need to rant against them on here. Suckers who relate to the plodding emotional nothingness of "Clocks", "In My Place", "Sing", "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" and the like can appreciate it if they like - I genuinely couldn't give a shit if they do. So why do you feel the need to rant against the music that *you* dislike?

robin carmody (robin carmody), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 01:19 (twenty-one years ago) link

But I don't feel the need to rant against them on here. Suckers who relate to the plodding emotional nothingness of "Clocks", "In My Place", "Sing", "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" and the like can appreciate it if they like - I genuinely couldn't give a shit if they do.

Obviously, a lot of people think differently than you.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 08:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

Oh no! Hongro vs Carmody: ILM's final chapter has begun! Oh no!

the pinefox, Tuesday, 22 April 2003 10:06 (twenty-one years ago) link

eighteen years pass...


Pythagoras (dunno if that is the correct English spelling) was definitely among those who worked with this. He may not have been the first one, but he was the one that was closest to the harmony system still used in the West today.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 21 April 2003 21:23 (eighteen years ago)

Actually Pythagoras' tuning system is closer to Arab/african arab and asian tunings. You see dear old chap, the problem is Europe itself in a way killed melody by inventing equal temperality. An absolute development of harmony means absolute melody as pure unmodulated expression is radically underdeveloped (this is why The Beatles had to crib tips from Indian classical.) Terry Riley only half understood this, tablas are also melodic instruments. cordal counterpoint is the original sin, which was absolutely not invented by 'them Africans.' Bach's music only makes sense on harpsichord and nothing else! everyone who adapted his music for piano is to blame here. You killed melody Geir, you really did, chief.

RobbiePires, Thursday, 14 October 2021 20:28 (two years ago) link


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