Formula

[steviespitfire.livejournal.com]

What's wrong (or right) with formula in pop? It seems to go hand in hand with the apparent 'disposability' of pop, really. I'm all for it: from Motown to, well, Lu Cont, I guess. On the other hand, I'm listening to the Coldplay remix and though I like it well enough, I do worry that JLC's just caning the same tried and tested formula again and again.

So, what do youse think? About formula? I'm sure Tom will have some stuff to say, what with all the 60s pop he's listening to for Popular. :)

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly, formula is something you mainly perceive from a distance, I look at other people's playlists and think "christ don't you get bored?" but when it's a 'formula' you like the style becomes a comfy guarantee of quality and you start noticing the differences more.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

yes I've noticed how a lot of things which I don't perceive as formulaic at all could be/are seen as such by others who don't listen to that type of music at all - eg house and the 4/4 beat, which I barely notice as a recurring quality but which is also possibly its most noticeable characteristic for people who don't listen to it much.

Also the question of generic R&B voices - I remember a thread where Tim and I couldn't think of a single R&B singer other than Ashanti who we characterised as dull and generic, and virtually everyone else disagreed.

[steviespitfire.livejournal.com]

There was a good ILM thread/post on house and partic the 4/4 beat.

'Good'.