Apreche.net » music

What’s up with mash-ups?

Apreche — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 17:00:57 +0000

If you’re net savvy in any sense of the word you probably know what a mash-up is. It’s when someone takes multiple works of art and mixes them together to create a new work. Mash-ups are a great example of how technology is enabling average people to easily create digital content. It’s all good creative commons style action.There is one thing about mash-ups that’s been bothering me. All mash-ups seem to be disposable. Repeated consumption is a very strong indicator that some work of art is particularly good. If you listen to a song more than once on purpose it’s probably a good song. If you watch a movie more than once, holy crap it’s a good movie. But if a work is ingested only once and then disposed of, that does not speak well of its quality.

Every mash-up I’ve heard so far, with one exception, has received just one chance. What’s strange is that most mash-ups I enjoyed, yet I still did not go for a second helping. The entertainment of a mashup comes from the cleverness of the combination. Once you’ve discovered that combination all the mystery and excitement is lost. Experiencing it again doesn’t add anything new, and it is therefore less enjoyable. Think of it like a joke heard a second time. It’s not always funny if you know the punchline beforehand.
I think there is a way to solve this problem. Notice that most mashups, especially musical ones, are comprised entirely of sampled content. Very rarely does someone add their own original work to a mashup. I think if people started making more mashups with their own original work they could begin to create art worthy of repeat consumption.

Take Dread Zeppelin for example. Their music is a combination of Led Zeppelin, Elvis Presley and Reggae. But they don’t copy and paste beats together, they get out their instruments and play. The words and basic rhythms are taken from the other sources, but they recreate them rather than taking them outright. The result is a very enjoyable and original sound I can listen to over and over again.

So, this is to all you mash-up artists out there. If you’re going to mix hip-hop master A with rock god B then put the computer away. Grab a guitar and rock out while you rap some mad rhymes. And if you’re going to mash up two paintings, don’t just scan two prints and combine them with Photoshop. Use that Wacom tablet and draw it. I guarantee your results will be a much higher quality contribution to the community. People will enjoy not only the novelty of the combination, but the art in and of itself. And they will enjoy it many times over.

Super Eurobeat on Fire

Apreche — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 01:49:03 +0000

You may or may not be aware, but there is a genre of music known as eurobeat. It’s not music that’s meant for everybody. You either love it or hate it. If you have seen the anime Initial D, then you have heard Eurobeat music before. If not, then I can only describe it as very high energy techno/dance music. Empasis on the very high energy.

I have been a fan of Eurobeat music ever since my early college years. I was introduced to it view Initial D, Dance Dance Revolution and ParaParaParadise. As you can imagine, I have been able to acquire quite a bit of this music in all those years. I can tell you it wasn’t easy though. This music is only easily available in Japan where Super Eurobeat CDs are $40. And as peer to peer networks die out it gets harder and harder to get this stuff. But recently, by some miracle, I was able to obtain the first one hundred and sixty albums of Super Eurobeat. That’s right, 160 albums.

Well, the real story here is not the 18 gigabytes of music I obtained. The story is what I did with it. You see, we have a running joke about eurobeat music. An insanely large proportion of the eurobeat songs out there have the word “fire” in the title of the song: Night of Fire, Made of Fire, Fire Fire Fire, you get the idea.

Being a Linux nut I immediately made a nice regular expression and used various tools like grep and locate to make a list of every song with the word “fire” in the title that is on Super Eurobeat volumes 1 through 160. Let me tell you, the list is quite impressive. Here it is.

Super Eurobeat 140 – Non-stop megamix/Disc1/Disc1-20 – MADISON – YOU CAN LIGHT MY FIRE
Super Eurobeat 140 – Non-stop megamix/Disc2/Disc2-33 – D.Essex – Boom Boom Fire
Super Eurobeat 140 – Non-stop megamix/Disc2/Disc2-19 – Dave Rodgers – Wheels Of Fire
Super Eurobeat 140 – Non-stop megamix/Disc2/Disc2-50 – Nuage – Baby Get My Fire Tonite
Super Eurobeat 140 – Non-stop megamix/Disc2/Disc2-24 – De La Vega – Sex On Fire
Super Eurobeat 140 – Non-stop megamix/Disc2/Disc2-48 – Niko – Night Of Fire
Super Eurobeat 140 – Non-stop megamix/Disc2/Disc2-21 – Matt Land ft. Kiko Loureiro – The Road Is On Fire
Super Eurobeat 140 – Non-stop megamix/Disc3/Disc3-03 – NIKO – NIGHT OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 130/Disc1/Disc1-26 – Madison – You can light my fire
Super Eurobeat 130/Disc2/Disc2-50 – Niko – Night of fire
Super Eurobeat 130/Disc2/Disc2-42 – D.Essex – Boom boom fire
Super Eurobeat 130/Disc2/Disc2-40 – Matt Land feat. Kiko Loureiro – The road is on fire
Super Eurobeat 130/Disc3/Disc3-07 – Atrium – Supersonic fire
Super Eurobeat 131/09 – Mega NRG Man – In the flame of fire
Super Eurobeat 132/05 – Nuage – Baby get my fire tonite
Super Eurobeat 133/25 – Matt Land feat. Kiko Loureiro – The road is on fire
Super Eurobeat 134/11 – De La Vega – Sex On Fire
Super Eurobeat 138/01 – Lou Turner – Spitfire
Super Eurobeat 141/01 – Dusty – The Fire and the Rain
Super Eurobeat 141/18 – Jimmy Bravo – Queen of Fire
Super Eurobeat 142/04 – MAD MAX – CRIMINAL FIRE
Super Eurobeat 148/07 – Powerful T – Blood And Fire
Super Eurobeat 150/Disc1/35 – D.essex – Boom Boom Fire
Super Eurobeat 150/Disc1/02 – Niko – Night Of Fire
Super Eurobeat 150/Disc2/44 – Dream – Night Of Fire
Super Eurobeat 150/Disc2/13 – Max – Love Love Fire
Super Eurobeat 151/18 – LOLITA – SET YOUR HEART ON FIRE
Super Eurobeat 151/09 – TAM ARROW – FIRE TO THE EUROBEAT
Super Eurobeat 152/02 – MARCUS – MAN OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 155/05 – Giacomo Caria – Light My Fire
Super Eurobeat 156/05 – Terence Holler – Dance Into Your Fire
Super Eurobeat 156/13 – The Girls – Hold Back The Fire
Super Eurobeat 156/09 – Ace Warrior – Fire On The Beat
Super Eurobeat 157/01 – Lolita – My Heart Burns Like a Fire
Super Eurobeat 160/Disc 1/29 – Nuage – Baby Get My Fire Tonite
Super Eurobeat 160/Disc 1/22 – Lolita – My Heart Burns Like A Fire
Super Eurobeat 160/Disc 1/18 – Ace Warrior – Fire On The Beat
Super Eurobeat 160/Disc 1/09 – Niko – Made of Fire
Super Eurobeat 160/Disc 2/33 – D.Essex – Boom Boom Fire
Super Eurobeat 160/Disc 2/18 – Lolita – Riding On Fire
Super Eurobeat 160/Disc 2/50 – Niko – Night Of Fire
Super Eurobeat 143 – Non-stop megamix/19 – Criminal Fire (Mad Max)
Super Eurobeat 143 – Non-stop megamix/03 – The Fire And The Rain (Dusty)
Super Eurobeat 143 – Non-stop megamix/23 – Queen Of Fire (Jimmy Bravo)
Super Eurobeat 137 – Non-stop megamix/24 – DE LA VEGA – SEX ON FIRE
Super Eurobeat 117 – Non-stop megamix/22 – DAVE RODGERS – WHEELS OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 117 – Non-stop megamix/25 – MAD MAX – DANCE IN THE FIRE
Super Eurobeat 113 – Non-stop megamix/04 – Powerful T. – My fire
Super Eurobeat 127 – Non-stop megamix/Disc1/Disc1-23 – MAKO – Shellfire
Super Eurobeat 108 – Non-stop megamix/22 – Atrium – Fire fire fire
Super Eurobeat 100/Disc 1 – MST Side/38 – MEGA NRG MAN – INTO THE FIRE
Super Eurobeat 100/Disc 1 – MST Side/43 – LOLITA – YOU SET MY HEART ON FIRE
Super Eurobeat 100/Disc 2 – Y&Co Side/50 – NIKO – NIGHT OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 100/Disc 2 – Y&Co Side/45 – D.ESSEX – BOOM BOOM FIRE
Super Eurobeat 101/03 – Ace Warrior – Baby I’m on fire
Super Eurobeat 102/12 – Dave Rodgers – Black fire
Super Eurobeat 106/16 – Atrium – Fire fire fire
Super Eurobeat 110/DISC 2 – Second Step & To The Future/Disc2-21 – D.ESSEX – BOOM BOOM FIRE
Super Eurobeat 110/DISC 2 – Second Step & To The Future/Disc2-44 – NIKO – NIGHT OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 110/DISC 1 – First Step/Disc1-10 – RODGERS,CONTINI & SINCLAIRE – NOT FIRE
Super Eurobeat 111/17 – POWERFUL T. – MY FIRE
Super Eurobeat 115/03 – MAD MAX – Dance In The Fire
Super Eurobeat 115/16 – LOLITA – Light Your Fire
Super Eurobeat 115/17 – DAVE RODGERS – WHEELS OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 120/SEB120 [1of3] – 09 – LOVE AND FIRE
Super Eurobeat 120/SEB120 [3of3] – 24 – NIGHT OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 120/SEB120 [2of3] – 09 – NIGHT OF FIRE – NIKO
Super Eurobeat 120/SEB120 [3of3] – 19 – BOOM BOOM FIRE
Super Eurobeat 120/SEB120 [2of3] – 02 – DANCE IN THE FIRE – MAD MAX
Super Eurobeat 120/SEB120 [1of3] – 05 – YOUCAN LIGHT MY FIRE
Super Eurobeat 121/17 – POWERFUL.T – FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE
Super Eurobeat 122/09 – MEGA NRG MAN – KUNG FU FIRE
Super Eurobeat 124/Disc1/Disc1-14 – MATT LAND – IN THE LINE OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 124/Disc1/Disc1-15 – MAKO – SHELLFIRE
Super Eurobeat 124/Disc2/Disc2-20 – DAVE RODGERS – WHEELS OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 124/Disc2/Disc2-05 – NIKO – NIGHT OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 128/Disc1/Disc1-09 – POWERFUL T. – GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 128/Disc1/Disc1-18 – MATT LAND feat.KIKO LOUREIRO – The Road is on Fire
Super Eurobeat 128/Disc2 – Autobacs Special Megamix/Disc2-03 – Tommy K. – Rock Of Fire
Super Eurobeat 128/Disc2 – Autobacs Special Megamix/Disc2-01 – MATT LAND feat.KIKO LOUREIRO – The Road is on Fire
Super Eurobeat 022 – Non-stop megamix/23 – Leslie Feat. Rick Wild – Fire Desire
Super Eurobeat 003/02 – MARK FARINA – GUNFIRE
Super Eurobeat 004/20 – Mark Farina – Gunfire
Super Eurobeat 011/01 – THE BIG BROTHER – RED FIRE
Super Eurobeat 012/04 – THE BIG BROTHER – RED FIRE
Super Eurobeat 014/12 – Leslie Feat. Rick Wild – Fire Desire
Super Eurobeat 018/11 – LESLIE feat.RICK WILD – Fire Desire
Super Eurobeat 019/12 – Leslie – Fire Desire
Super Eurobeat 021/01 – Big Brother – Dancing In The Fire
Super Eurobeat 024/07 – RODGERS.CONTINI & SINCLAIRE – HOT FIRE(SATURDAY NIGHT VERSION)
Super Eurobeat 025/12 – RODGERS & CCONTINI & SINCLAIRE – HOT FIRE
Super Eurobeat 043/17 – MEGA NRG MAN – FIRE
Super Eurobeat 049/13 – DELTA FORCE – RELIGHT MY FIRE
Super Eurobeat 049/11 – LOVE & PRIDE – IN THE LINE OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 080 – Non-stop megamix/Disc2 – SK FACTORY SIDE/Disc2-14 – ATRIUM – SUPERSONIC FIRE
Super Eurobeat 080 – Non-stop megamix/Disc1 – MST SIDE/Disc1-40 – VICKY VALE – STOP THE FIRE
Super Eurobeat 076 – Non-stop megamix/14 – Atrium – Supersonic fire
Super Eurobeat 090 – Non-stop megamix/DISC 1 – FEMALE SIDE/Disc1-34 – LOLITA – YOU SET MY HEART ON FIRE
Super Eurobeat 090 – Non-stop megamix/DISC 2 – MALE SIDE/Disc2-45 – NIKO – NIGHT OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 090 – Non-stop megamix/DISC 2 – MALE SIDE/Disc2-08 – MEGA NRG MAN – FIRE
Super Eurobeat 090 – Non-stop megamix/DISC 2 – MALE SIDE/Disc2-03 – ATRIUM – SUPER SONIC FIRE
Super Eurobeat 090 – Non-stop megamix/DISC 2 – MALE SIDE/Disc2-44 – D.ESSEX – BOOM BOOM FIRE
Super Eurobeat 070 – Non-stop megamix/04 – ROXANNE – LOVE LOVE FIRE
Super Eurobeat 052/12 – Roxanne – Love Love Fire
Super Eurobeat 052/10 – Sally Rendall – On Fire
Super Eurobeat 053/21 – DELTA FORCE – RELIGHT MY FIRE
Super Eurobeat 053/23 – ROXANNE – LOVE LOVE FIRE
Super Eurobeat 060/Y & CO.SIDE/Disc2-19 – ROXANNE – LOVE LOVE FIRE
Super Eurobeat 060/ISD SIDE/Disc1-04 – DELTA FORCE – RELIGHT MY FIRE
Super Eurobeat 065/06 – ANN SINCLAIR – LOVE AND FIRE
Super Eurobeat 066/CD1/13 – MEGA NRG MAN – FLAME ON THE FIRE
Super Eurobeat 068/10 – DENISE – EMOTIONAL FIRE
Super Eurobeat 068/05 – VIRGINELLE – LOVIN’ LIKE A FIRE
Super Eurobeat 072/12 – VICKY VALE – STOP THE FIRE
Super Eurobeat 074/09 – KL Jones – Spitfire
Super Eurobeat 075/18 – ATRIUM – SUPERSONIC FIRE
Super Eurobeat 077/13 – TENSION – I’M ON THE FIRE
Super Eurobeat 082/11 – NIKO – NIGHT OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 083/CD1/26 – Niko – Night Of Fire
Super Eurobeat 086/CD2/01 – Niko – Night Of Fire (New Generation Remix)
Super Eurobeat 087/CD1/16 – LOLITA – YOU SET MY HEART ON FIRE
Super Eurobeat 087/CD1/14 – MADISON – YOU CAN LIGHT MY FIRE
Super Eurobeat 088/CD1/01 – D.ESSEX – BOOM BOOM FIRE
Super Eurobeat 089/CD1/13 – MEGA NRG MAN – FIRE FIRE
Super Eurobeat 092/Disc2/04 Leslie Feat. Rickwild – Fire Desire
Super Eurobeat 096/Disc1/23 – MEGA NRG MAN – INTO THE FIRE
Super Eurobeat 096/Disc1/21 – TOMMY K. – ROCK OF FIRE
Super Eurobeat 098/Disc1/Disc1-10 – ROSE – DON’ T STOP MY FIRE
Super Eurobeat 099/Disc1/Disc1-10 – Mr M – Run Into The Fire
Super Eurobeat 099/Disc2/Disc2-08 – Madison – You Can Light My Fire (Extended)
Super Eurobeat 099/Disc2/Disc2-09 – D-Essex – Boom Boom Fire (Old Generation Mix)

Didn’t believe me, did you?

Open Music

Apreche — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 15:43:39 +0000

There have been lots of developments lately in the music industry. More accurately, there are developments in the lack of a music industry. The old ways of charging for albums and having a controlled radio are going away. Mp3 download services and podcasts are out in full force. Despite this important and beneficial shift in models there is still a major problem that needs to be rectified. Music is still a one way street.

Look at open source software, wikis, social networks and all the things which are really taking off on the Internet. Every single person involved with these things are givers and takers, contributors and benficiaries, authors and users. With music the listener is still the listener and the musician is still the musician.

Of course, there are differences between code and music. Having people collectively modify a song as if it were a wiki is not the greatest idea. Not everyone has musical skills, talents and knowledge. You would probably just end up with a jumbled mess of sound if you operated in this fashion.

But just because music can’t be open in the same way that software is open doesn’t mean it can’t be open in some other fashion. Not only can music be more open, but it needs to be. How many times have you heard an awesome song only to find out that the other songs by the band are not as good or even in the same genre? How many times have you heard a song that has a good part, but the rest of the song is boring or even painful? Those are only problems because music is a one way street.

Here’s one way I propose for opening up music. Artists write songs and just record yourself trying to write the song. In fact, record everything every time you use your instrument. Who says the only thing people want to hear are finished studio recordings? Then your fans can listen and give you some advice. Like “hey, that bit is really good but that other one sounds a little off”. Artists absorb the user input and go back to the drawing board. Eventually there will be a finished product created by combining the musical skills and talents of the artist and the input of the listeners.

Death to authoritarianship (is that even a word?). Music, movies and everything else can be authored via collaboration rather than by a single author. If you have musical skills you should create music which more people will enjoy. If having the listener participate in the authoring process will help achieve this goal, then you should do it.

The last thing I want to mention is how this will change music listener habits. In the current environment people are spending their time trying to find new artists and new songs that they enjoy. In a more open environment listeners will do this less and instead spend that time influencing artists they know to get them to create better music. I’m not a musician and maybe I’m wrong. But I know that if I create anything it always helps to have more eyes and ears review it before I put the final seal on it. Why is music not that way?

Lastly, from a financial point of view this is a much better model than the one we are headed for. With the advent of people buying single tracks for a meager price musicians will not be able to sustain long term financial success unless many of their songs are wildly popular. Most bands I’ve found trying the new model are one hit wonders or zeros. Under the current model only the greatest musicians will quit their other jobs and the rest will be poor. With the model I suggest a few of the one hit wonders will be able to survive on their music thanks to the loyalty generated by the interactive fanbase.

Music is all about creating good feelings in those who hear it. We all know the ways in which music can make us feel good. But let’s add one more way in which music can make us feel good. Imagine going to a concert and hearing a song played that you helped to create. Then you hear a part in the song that you suggested. That “I did that” feeling is great, the same feeling you get when a big podcaster says your name or you see yourself on TV.

RSS is the new M3U

Apreche — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 15:36:11 +0000

With the advent of sites like The Hype Machine, del.icio.us tags like for:joshua and RSS feeds on torrent sites I think it is time to get rid of the M3U and other playlist formats in favor of RSS. It would take so little effort to take existing media players and add RSS playlist support to them. I’m imagining a world where everyone stores their playlists in RSS and shares them so people end up listening to music by aggregating the playlists of others and listening to cool music as people discover it. This looks like the direction we’re headed, let’s move there faster.