Diffusing a bomb

Posted by Michael at 15:10 on July 24th, 2009.

"I only play what the song needs"

I f*cking hate it when people say that. You think you're so high and mighty to "know" what a song needs? What makes you think you're so clever?

Music absolutely does my head in. When an idea springs to me, I have to exhaust every single possibility imaginable. From there I can hear what a song doesn't need. How can anyone know what a song "needs"?

A listener couldn't know, they can only rate a song by what a song has, because they're not going to be able to change it to what they think it needs... And besides, the listener standing to that guy's right may think a totally different thing.

A songwriter could never know what a song needs! Why wouldn't he/she give everything they have?

Maybe they know what a song doesn't need, but my opinion is that music is so, so infinite and confusing and beautiful and terrifying, there's so many directions you could turn, so many options and ideas... ARGHH! How the hell am I supposed to know? How could anyone know?

I COULD SAVE EVERYONE IN THIS BUILDING, OR I COULD BLOW THEM ALL UP, INCLUDING MYSELF!!! I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME!! DO I CUT THE RED WIRE, OR THE BLUE??!

Where credit is due. »

« Inspiration's a funny thing...

Damn straight. There's so many possibilities how
can you be arrogant enough to know exactly what
fits the best?

That reminds me of a Simpsons moment. Lisa is
at a jazz bar where a violinist is doing a solo.

Man: "Sounds like she's hitting a baby with a cat"

Lisa: "You have to listen to the notes she isn't playing"

Man: "I can do that at home."

Posted by Lach at 15:10 on July 24th, 2009.

I think I can be so arrogant... check this out:

"I AM SO GREAT, I AM SO GREAT... GIVE ME A SONG AND I'LL TURN IT INTO A MASTERPIECE!!!"

"MOZART??? MORE LIKE BOATSART!"

PRSM x