skankdelvar Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 (edited) Thing is, many contemporary sub-cultures are sprawling genres derived from a single pre-existing band or even just [i]one single song[/i] by a single band. As a consequence, those who have grown up listening to bands inspired by a wide range of influences may be pardoned if they find it difficult to differentiate between one modern sub-genre band and any other of the same ilk. The Pop charts at one time - perhaps from the 50's to the 70's - incorporated ballads, comedy songs, orchestral 'pops', novelty acts, country music, blues, jazz and 'rock' music. About the only stuff that didn't get into the charts was classical music (a form with its own long established sub-genres). The focus of mainstream Pop has narrowed while 'underground' or un-signed music has diversified into an unnavigable archipelago far beyond the point of rewarding exploration. Add in the explosion of copy-cat self-produced 'original' music and one is tempted to conclude that matters have got wildly out of hand. The government should do something. [color=#ffffff].[/color] Edited February 16, 2015 by skankdelvar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 [quote name='Weststarx' timestamp='1423876690' post='2690098'] I constantly wish that I was born in the 60s, or 70s because the state of the music industry and the way its using sex to sell absolutely awful records nowadays is devaluing music. Some of you will probably argue thats always been the case but I don't think it is nowhere near as hilariously bad as it is now. Its seems now that the bigger 'booty' you have and the more you shake it on your music video, the more records you sell. [/quote] It really has always been the case. You would have hated it just as much if you had been around then. There was a huge amount of mass-produced identikit pop music being produced that had little to do with the music from that era that you love. If you were lucky there was one good band on each week on TotP, The Old Grey Whistle Test was on ridiculously late at night and that was about it on the TV. Same with the radio the odd decent track during the day and a few hours each week of Peel and Freeman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 [quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1423924633' post='2690420'] Thing is with rock, you can tell by fashion if a rock fan is in to Gunge as opposed to say Thrash. Easy genre of rock had its own fashion and scene; punk; glam; goth; etc. Clothing associated with the rap scenes, or dance scenes seems to be generic. [/quote] Dance music genres are just as fashion image and scene conscious as rock. Just because you're not tuned into the nuances doesn't mean it's not so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1424111797' post='2692771'] You would have hated it just as much if you had been around then. There was a huge amount of mass-produced identikit pop music being produced that had little to do with the music from that era that you love. If you were lucky there was one good band on each week on TotP, The Old Grey Whistle Test was on ridiculously late at night and that was about it on the TV. Same with the radio the odd decent track during the day and a few hours each week of Peel and Freeman. [/quote] Tru dat - it has always been the case that if you want to listen to original and interesting music you have to look for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 [quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1423924633' post='2690420'] Thing is with rock, you can tell by fashion if a rock fan is in to Gunge as opposed to say Thrash. Easy genre of rock had its own fashion and scene; punk; glam; goth; etc. Clothing associated with the rap scenes, or dance scenes seems to be generic. [/quote] I would have no idea whatsoever about telling grunge fashion from thrash fashion. In fact I couldn't even tell you what was grunge and what was thrash musically. I also couldn't do it for rap or dance scenes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 I asked 21 year old son 'will there ever be another music sub-culture?' Short answer: 'There are loads of music sub-cultures but there is no pretence to being socio-political movements either by themselves or by mass media.' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted February 16, 2015 Author Share Posted February 16, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1424111898' post='2692773'] Dance music genres are just as fashion image and scene conscious as rock. Just because you're not tuned into the nuances doesn't mean it's not so. [/quote] Yup, having never been a fan of dance music and it's derivatives I wouldn't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1424087192' post='2692358'] Perhaps it could be said that X-Factor, The Voice, the TV talent shows are a new culture. Not one that I particularly approve of myself, but they are widely watched and perhaps have hoovered up a proportion of consumers who otherwise might have been screaming at The Beatles. [/quote] Reality/Celebrity endorsed music must be the biggest sub-culture for a long time. There are hordes of people out there who only ever buy music from people who have appeared on these TV shows. Their concerts sell out in minutes and they can be huge exports into other 'territories' as well. It may not be very 'sub' but it's definitely a big cultural movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1424086064' post='2692321'] To be fair, a lot of su-genres are anorack territory. I remember having a surreal conversation with some young rockers years ago; we like speed metal but we don't like death metal... WTF? Hard Rock vs HM etc etc. NWOBHM. It gets harder to tell the differnce. [/quote] To be fair, there is quite a large difference between speed metal and death metal... you'd know em if you heard em. Regarding the thrash vs grunge fashion, as far as I know thrash is all leather and spikes and grunge is... I dunno, dirty jeans and flannel? Be right back, just going to take off my anorak... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happynoj Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 There are plenty of subcultures, they just aren't as mainstream as previous ones. Popular music radio stations seem to have banished rock music to specialist late-night shows, and accordingly the music and associated scenes are far less visible, but they are there. 15 years ago when Nu-Metal was big, it was being played on Radio 1 regularly, during the day, and there were loads of kids dressing in baggy jeans and Slipknot hoodies and studded belts and big chains with their wallets on the end. Then a few years later the emo scene hit, and suddenly it was all about skinny jeans and straightened hair and facial piercings and guyliner. Fast forward to today, and for some reason there doesn't seem to be any mainstream heavy music, so the subculture is less mainstream, but it's definitely still there. Walk into any independant coffee shop or craft ale bar in Leeds and you'll see it. Swept back hair, Danish architect glasses, charity shop clothes, checked shirts, denim jackets, tattoo sleeves, shirts buttoned to the top with no tie, tweed, bow ties, oversize knitwear, organic craft-roasted single-origin coffee, knitting, fixed gear bikes, hummous, real ale, vinyl (records, not outfits), tape decks, artisan sourdough, veganism, etc.... The music listened to by the hipsters covers a broad spectrum, from twee mandolin-based neo-folk, through more traditional guitar-based indie bands, to electronic and rap music, and finally to the more extreme end of things with post-hardcore and mathcore. While fans of all scenes utilise the same basic fashion principles, there do tend to be noticable differences between them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 One's got glasses and the other's got tats. Is that it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happynoj Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 (edited) Sweepy hair with shaved sides, awful shirt buttoned up to the top, large but groomed facial hair, juxaposition of tattoos with relatively smart attire. Edited February 17, 2015 by happynoj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 [quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1423865892' post='2690005'] You know the thing, music with a fashion and a scene. Can't think what the last one was, probably Gunge (Grunge) but that was 20 years ago. The Chav thing didn't have an associated music, but it's more than 7 years ago since that started. What's new? [/quote] What's new? Too much choice, that's (relatively) new which neatly torpedoes any chance of a new sub-culture appearing - too many splinter groups, too much stuff out there, the market is flooded and nobody cares. Or at least it's harder to get through to enough people who do care. I don't shout loud enough and I'm not proactive enough to make a success of music, so just as well it's a hobby of mine otherwise I'd probably starve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LayDownThaFunk Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 [quote name='happynoj' timestamp='1424158717' post='2693185']The music listened to by the hipsters covers a broad spectrum, from twee mandolin-based neo-folk, through more traditional guitar-based indie bands, to electronic and rap music, and finally to the more extreme end of things with post-hardcore and mathcore.[/quote] I'd say this hipster type of sub-culture has been around two years. Ever since Spotify became mainstream, hence the wide music variety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 [quote name='happynoj' timestamp='1424158717' post='2693185'] vinyl (records, not outfits), tape decks... [/quote] Damn hipsters. No wonder everyone looks down on them. Everyone knows you can't play vinyl in a tape deck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1424001493' post='2691313']... ... [/quote] [quote name='happynoj' timestamp='1424166111' post='2693251'] Sweepy hair with shaved sides, awful shirt buttoned up to the top, large but groomed facial hair, juxaposition of tattoos with relatively smart attire. [/quote] I'm sorry; what was that you were saying..? I got slightly distracted for a moment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHW Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I could never keep up with the sub cultures when i was a teenager, I've got no hope now. It was only a couple of years ago that I found out that a load of the bands I liked when I was a teenager fall under the "grebo" subculture label. I just liked some of the music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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