What do we call our kind of music?

[nightfly61]

Good beat that you can dance to that is popular I would call Dance Music-(of course that would incluse Lady GaGa, Drake, etc). Personally I think Techno is dead & gives me a headache just like House music.

 

[DJ_Perry]

I've gotta say, I think Drake (and Nicki Minaj) have the worst music on CHR Today. I'm not sure why Drake was mentioned in this topic....as he is irrelevant to Dance. Speaking of headaches, his voice and beats give me one. House and Techno? This board would not exist without the 2.

 

[nightfly61]

People at the bar I work at pack the floor to "Find Your Love". It's the only Drake I play, therefore I'll call it Dance music.

 

[Wildstyle K]

If someone who likes our music calls it "techno", they would usually stop referring to it as techno when I explain it to them. That doesn't hurt as much as someone who tells me "turn that gay techno crap off".

I've heard equally offensive stuff about hip hop, rock, elevator, and spanish music. "Turn that gay hip hop off"..

HIP HOP
Hip hop is already a well defined, established, and known genre. If I put something together and label it as "hip hop", I'd have to go out of my way to mislead or confuse anyone. No one would have any doubts on whether or not they'll like a product labeled hip hop and everyone would know right away (even without a track listing and a preview button) whether or not it is something they'd want to purchase or spend time downloading. Therefore, hip hop doesn't really need to be called anything else because most people know hip hop as hip hop, and even those who don't or choose to say "rap" still get a very clear idea of what people mean when they say "hip hop". Many people who don't know any better also call hip hop, "hip hop".

DANCE, TECHNO, WHATEVER YOU WISH TO CALL IT
Unlike hip hop, this does not happen in dance, which is why I say we might as well just let the term "techno" become official since it is a term the majority are familiar with. if this is a time for "change", then why don't we start by making "techno" official just to make things easier for everyone. Even the unclassifiable uptempo electronic influenced pop and hip hop stuff is called "techno" by those who don't know any better. Besides, I don't think people are ignorant to dance music alone, but probably ALL areas that they aren't personally mostly interested in. The only reason they seem to be more knowledgeable about those other genre's is because those other genres have established names - AND they use them! And, when you know exactly what something is called and call it that, you automatically look more intelligent about the subject by default.  Imagine all the people on Sirius/XM BPM sites complaining about dance with rap on it not being dance and saying since it's "something else" (Not knowing what it is) it should all be removed, and on the other side there are those who want dance remixes of pop songs to take over with no "real" unheard of dance artists filtering in; Imagine... what if ALL the electronic music had just ONE label... at the least? How could you discriminate "techno" from "techno" if it's techno? With the way it's set up right now, of course there would be mass confusion and a bunch of people who do not know how to classify stuff they may like or know how to even locate / search for it, so they just don't even bother to research it in the first place. At least with hip hop, there's not much to confuse it with. Two terms; 1, rap. 2, hip hop. ONE of the two terms are ALWAYS used for the sound (unlike House music), and both are simply understood.

LABELING SENSIBLY
With that being said, I'm so glad the record store closed down and internet took over because I was sick and tired of going to the store and buying mislabeled dance records and compilations then being stuck with the no return policy. I never understood how a freestyle compilation with 10 - 12 songs on it with only three out of all the house songs being freestyle became a FREESTYLE HITS or FREESTYLE compilation! Oh, and just because the advertised artists were artists usually associated with freestyle or a "Micmac" or "Metropolitan" ... etc label - that doesn't make house, freestyle! (And keep in mind that just because I use ONE example, this doesn't mean it only happened to me (or anyone else) ONE time!) At least now with internet, I can always scan EVERYTHING before paying or even downloading it so I don't end up "getting punk'd by inaccurate labels". Labeling sensibly could also stop the foolish arguments on freestyle boards about "what isn't freestyle" that you NEVER see in UK Garage and 2 Step.

IT'S ALL POP
Until correct labels are established, Nicki Minaj and Drake are just as pop as modern booty bass, freestyle, dance... electro, HIP HOUSE   ... etc. which, since half of it is unclassifiable, cannot be factually argued otherwise. As of right now, with the current dance music genre situation, Drake and Nicki Minaj... or anything pop really, could fit in with dance, if half of the unclassifiable dance itself is pop. With no name, there's no definition, which means it can be whatever. Also, if the unclassifiable is going to be called pop, but those same unclassifiable things in pop are considered dance by some, then there's nothing separating Nicki Minaj and Drake from modern dance music, really.

TECHNO
If we all just officially adopted the word "techno", then it would become less offensive and more normal. it only remains offensive as long as it's resisted and refused. Once it becomes normal, then anyone else who bashes it will sound no worse than the people who bash all the other genres. I think using "techno" is better than just having a bunch of people always telling you "everything is not... something" then never being able to tell you what it is after telling you what it's not. By definition, something that isn't anything makes it nothing, and saying "nothing" when people ask "what do you like / play?" ...well, for very specific reasons, I kinda don't think that will fly very well.

 

[TonySantiago]

Heck, call me whatever you want dude, I've been beaten up enough. It's just sad when it's within....

Wasn't callin ya anything Tony. I respect your words. I just think sometimes we get off topic, myself included. I think anybody on this board would agree the whole debate is a bit nerdy (takes one to know one). I just think there's more important things to worry about.

I agree with you there! There are more important things to worry about then getting offended because someone called the music "techno".

To me, techno will always be those beats emanating from Detroit (Transmat Records). The UK version that came out a few years later (T-99, etc.) is "techno rave" which to me was never close to what original "techno" was.

Honestly, I don't really see this need to label things because too much of it further confuses the average person. To a certain extent I'M CONFUSED because it's one thing to call a genre "house" (using house music as an example). But then this need to go specific (let's see...deep house, progressive house, tech house, electro house, soulful house, minimal, etc.) IMHO is just too much. Let's just enjoy the music and stop this incessant need to label every single thing out there....or at the very least stick to basics (house, trance, etc.)

 

[DJ_Perry]

Glad we can agree on that. I just feel Techno's roots go deeper than that....if it wasn't for the Alternative synth bands from Europe, Detroit wouldn't have such a trophy. But you do bring up a good point. The UK Techno sound was quite different from Detroits. But I also think it was too underground in the 80s to get on the map. For whatever reason, the 90's movement is what brought it to the masses, and then created the negative stigma. Kinda like Disco. However, none of it has died. Today's Dance is a combination of it all (Disco, House, and yes Techno too). I call it Club Music. Simple as that.

 

[CHRles]

As Dr. Evil once said "I Shall call him...Mini-me" ;D

 

[Tom Wells]

I have a lot easier time with "Dance Club Music" than any other term flying around here.

Here's why: At 49, I've been listening to some of everything since I could crawl, and like SOME of every type of music,
love some of all types, and hate some of all types. And I'm tired of people asking what "kind" of music anything is.
No matter what you call it, immediately squirms out from under the name , if it's good music.
I know I like it if I want to dance.
Don't care what "kind" it is.

But DJ_Perry's note that today's dance is combined of Disco, Techno, and House is valid.

But the great Divide that sets this as a group was about 1973 with George Mc Rae's "Rock Your Baby".
It was pretty much the moment disco was born. At last as heard by most people hearing it on radio as a hit.
I can't remember anything ever sounding quite like that before, yet it can still pack a dance floor.

Before that were some hints of the styling, but not widely heard.

Where this puts Kraftwerk, I don't know because more than part of the trunk of the tree, they seem like part of a branch
that didn't grow much, compared to the disco branch. The Kraftwerk sound was not exactly what packed most dance floors at the time. I can think only the most eclectic little clubs I was ever was in played that sytle of music. And many actively hated the techno sound in preference to pure blossoming 1975 Disco. To see them somehow grown together in this discussion is kinda ironic to me, having been a teenager at the time, and paying primary attention to the radio and music.

 

[DJ_Perry]

Good points. However, I do realize Kraftwerk (and anything experimental) is not mass appeal and is certainly not for the dancefloor. BUT, it was this style that influenced the HiNRG sound (like Sylvester or Donna Summer's "I Feel Love"). I remember one time I was mixing up some New Order records as a youngster. My dad came in and said it sounded like Disco. I would say he was right, even though I was confused at the time. New Wave just adopted the Rhythm of Disco and the synth sound of Techno. Its the continuous evolution of Club Music....and now its history repeating with Pop and Urban jumping on board.

 

[CHRles]

Let's just call it something simple like Techno-Electro-Futuristic-BodyRockin-Gabber-Trance

 

[Wildstyle K]

Similar to my reggaeton story, there was also a time when I didn't know what freestyle was. As a matter of fact, I didn't know any better, so I just genuinely thought everything uptempo - it was ALL house music. As a result, when people asked what I liked, I always said "house", thinking that everyone else was thinking the exact same sound I was. It was only later on (I forgot how I learned) I began to learn that what I was truly in to and what I was calling it were two completely different things, hence why I never got into freestyle or even started supporting or purchasing it until 1995. Of course, living in the "anti-freestyle & house town" I was living in at the time, I had no choice but to get into the closest thing that was available - which was booty bass. It was only once I knew what to look for and what it was called I was able to go to the stores, search, and find specifically what I wanted. It's not like the radio helped much in promotion, and even worse, it wasn't like any of the store employees could help me find the sound I was looking for..

I was completely 100% on my own having to literally go through every single single record and look for specific remixes, remixers, producers, or remix name keywords - OR - go through every single cd compilation in the small dance/techno section and search for certain terms, such as "freestyle", bass remix", "planet hype remix", cibola"..etc. Now...  imagine me growing up and just starting out having to do this TODAY! It's a good thing I knew this stuff and memorized all the sub things that were associated with my favorite genre (this couldn't happen if there was no genre for the sound) back in the 90's to be able to get as far into the sound as I am today, or else... I probably would not be in the dance section right now talking about dance music and maintaining a deep interest in electronica all these years, based on house music alone. A lack of being able to locate a specific sound you like can cause people to lose interest or think "well no one else is listening to this so why should I keep trying to find it?"

Anyway, I guess today, with online stores and shops where you can purchase single tracks and sounds you like without having to buy an entire album, it really doesn't matter what you call things anymore because lets say you find a pop cd, but the only tracks you like are the ones that sound like Akon's "beautiful", Jay Sean's "Down", and Flo Rida's "in the ayer". It's not like you'll have to buy the entire pop & hip hop cd of Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Usher, Lil Wayne, Daughtry, Eminem, Travie McCoy, Lady Gaga.. just to get the other type of breakbeat style uptempo techno pop you like today, so I guess specific genre sound labeling isn't as important anymore. You can just click on whatever you like in any cd or compilation within an online shop and get those specifics regardless of what the producer decides to label it... and still enjoy the same sounds in your Zune mp3 player as it says:

Artist: Jay Sean
Song title: "down"
GENRE: Blues

next artist: Debbie Deb
Song title: "When I hear music"
GENRE: Freestyle

just played
artist: Fareast Movement
Song title: "Like A G6"
GENRE: Pop/Rock

In reality, whatever people wish to call it does not change the quality of the music. I just hope that if any of these people searching for this stuff are new to music, they don't start looking for this type of sound in pop/rock or blues and get confused. Back in the day, La Bouche, Amber, ...or even Debbie Deb, Lisette Melendez, ..OR even Freak Nasty, Quad City Dj's.. and all those folks were pop, but it was easy to identify each specific sound and support them because they all had a name of their own as well, which is why many people still remember those sounds and groups of artists & buy them independently today (WITHOUT Adina Howard, Skee-lo, Montell Jordan, Melissa Ethridge, TLC.. mixed in). Maybe everyone didn't call it what it was, and maybe they didn't start out with names, but the bottom line is that someone got on it quickly, labeled it, and the result meant now, at least the true fans of each sound knew specifically how to locate, support, and introduce it to other people so others could also go research and find a specific sound they particularly love on their own, creating a fan base. Today, that would never work... "Oh go look in Itunes under pop...." Imagine that! You could say that freestyle wasn't always freestyle- it was once latin hip hop. Well, bottom line... people still knew how to find and promote the sound since it still had it's own name- under LATIN HIP HOP!

 

[Wildstyle K]

There will always be a problem with defining yourself with labels. 
They never mean the same thing to different people.
DON'T confine yourself by a label definition.  Let people decide what it is.
You call it dance, I call it DISCO.  You don't play any hot jazz from the 1920s, do you?
Well, guess what?  That's dance music.  Lots of "punk" music is DANCE music, but you don't play any of that either, probably.
Texas Swing 1930s, ditto.  Proto-punk from the mid 60's? ditto. Polkas? ditto.  Tangos?  You get my drift.

Let people listen and decide what you are TO THEM.  Let THEM label it in their heads, for themselves.

Labels are just too confining.

Don't "call" it, just play it.  If pressed, roll your eyes, and offer suggestions but never limit yourself in such a way.
Certainly never declare it on the air, unless you make up your own new label that has no "preconscrewed notions", to borrow a phrase from Archie Bunker.

...But yes, this is all correct - but specifically in regards to defining and labeling people by what they play!  ;D

However, when it comes to the music itself, THAT is what needs to be defined by the pros and shouldn't be left to the general public themselves to all come up with their own 132 genres & definitions. I think Nick and I are in many ways talking about the same subject, but in regards to different aspects of it. Tom and I are also talking about two different things as well. He's talking about labeling yourself as a person. I'm talking about labeling certain types of styles of music that are currently not labeled and needs to be independently recognized as a specific recognizable genre. Maybe no one noticed, but what I did was combine Nick's question with Tom's point of views, made it ALL about the music and not about the person playing the music, and after creating the illusion that I was in total disagreement with Tom, I slid right into my rebuttal. Not sure if many people noticed this "talk radio style" technique, but it sure did take this discussion to another level and get people a little emotional, and best of all, it made it more convenient to slip in my point of views and bring it back to being about labeling the music and not the person playing the music!

 

[Techno Kelvin]

I could care less what they call it. My forum handle comes from high school because back then I first got into Dance music and to everyone else it was "Techno", you know, that European trash that should have stayed there. I just went with it instead of fighting it.

I rarely educate people on calling it "Dance" as the majority of people would look at you like a "nerd" if you pulled out a chalkboard, Glenn Beck style, and educated them on proper terminology.

Call it whatever your heart desires, just listen to it and support the artists that make it.

The End. ;D

 

[TonySantiago]

I rarely educate people on calling it "Dance" as the majority of people would look at you like a "nerd" if you pulled out a chalkboard, Glenn Beck style, and educated them on proper terminology.

Call it whatever your heart desires, just listen to it and support the artists that make it.

The End. ;D

Okay, to everyone here (pointing at myself).....


GEEK! GEEK! GEEK! GEEK! ;D Though I ain't into Glenn Beck!

It's dance to me and as long as I can give the artists the opportunity to get heard, then it's a great for everyone