What do DJs do?

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#2001505 24-Apr-2018 11:35

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kryptonjohn:

Rikkitic:

I think I missed out on a couple of musical generations. I don't follow contemporary pop music and certainly not hip-hop and I really don't understand what DJs do that makes people want to pay money to see them. The news about Avicii was what put it into my mind and made me start wondering.

I'm a grumpy old man so am coloured in my perspective, but I think it's a cult of personalty. Such-and-such is cool and all the cool people go to his shows so he's super popular. Kind of empty - a bit like all the other celeb culture crap around people who are famous mainly for being famous (and rich) such as the Kardashians. Ick.

So the Beatles, Kiss, AC/DC, Meatloaf, The Rolling Stones, Led Zep the list could go on are not the same as Avicii's following?

Not even close to what I am talking about. Those bands became famous because of their artistic talent and musical innovation. I would argue some guy queuing up tracks while looking the part has none of those attributes. Nor do the Kardashians for that matter.

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Fred99

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#2001533 24-Apr-2018 12:05

kryptonjohn:

ResponseMediaNZ:

kryptonjohn:

Rikkitic:

I think I missed out on a couple of musical generations. I don't follow contemporary pop music and certainly not hip-hop and I really don't understand what DJs do that makes people want to pay money to see them. The news about Avicii was what put it into my mind and made me start wondering.

I'm a grumpy old man so am coloured in my perspective, but I think it's a cult of personalty. Such-and-such is cool and all the cool people go to his shows so he's super popular. Kind of empty - a bit like all the other celeb culture crap around people who are famous mainly for being famous (and rich) such as the Kardashians. Ick.

So the Beatles, Kiss, AC/DC, Meatloaf, The Rolling Stones, Led Zep the list could go on are not the same as Avicii's following?

Not even close to what I am talking about. Those bands became famous because of their artistic talent and musical innovation. I would argue some guy queuing up tracks while looking the part has none of those attributes. Nor do the Kardashians for that matter.

I think it's been reasonably argued here that Avicci had talent and was musically innovative - not queuing up music tracks to belt out on a PA.

I can't think of much more to say on the matter, so excuse the rant. My son plays in bands and studio semi-professionally (he definitely needs a day job - the pay is a lousy and "work" sporadic). Probably one of the things that helped him (and his friends in bands etc) was to be taken under the wing of older and experienced musicians, and almost forced to jam and play small live gigs.

Many of them also seem to have an assortment of synthesisers, laptops, home studio stuff, but I'm suspicious that these can be a huge geeky distraction from the hard slog needed to learn how to play live. Nothing like audience feedback to steer you in the right direction.

Coil

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#2001535 24-Apr-2018 12:06

Some really talented stuff is what they do. Here are some of the best.
Your real DJ's are the underground Drum and Bass and House sorta genres. Not some knob end called DJ Khalid or David Guetta lol...

I challenge you to mix all this music on the fly as perfectly as they do.

https://youtu.be/Y2vIPdhPb3k?t=7m18s

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#2001537 24-Apr-2018 12:09

kryptonjohn:

Not even close to what I am talking about. Those bands became famous because of their artistic talent and musical innovation. I would argue some guy queuing up tracks while looking the part has none of those attributes. Nor do the Kardashians for that matter.

But you quote "I think it's a cult of personalty. Such-and-such is cool and all the cool people go to his shows so he's super popular."

I am merely backing up my comments in saying these are one in the same. They started becoming popular because word of mouth and such and such is cool and snowballed from there.

Also, most of the "DJ's" these days do way more than just queue tracks... Just like Josh and others has said.

JoshWright:

The modern definition of a DJ is shifting towards a producer who makes their own music (and DJs when performing live), rather than the traditional role of just playing pre-recorded music live or on the radio.

Most of the big names like Avicii, David Guetta, Calvin Harris spend most of their time producing tracks and songs and colobing with other musicians.. Very few of them are doing live sets just "queing tracks"

Coil

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#2001552 24-Apr-2018 12:34

ResponseMediaNZ:

kryptonjohn:

Not even close to what I am talking about. Those bands became famous because of their artistic talent and musical innovation. I would argue some guy queuing up tracks while looking the part has none of those attributes. Nor do the Kardashians for that matter.

But you quote "I think it's a cult of personalty. Such-and-such is cool and all the cool people go to his shows so he's super popular."

I am merely backing up my comments in saying these are one in the same. They started becoming popular because word of mouth and such and such is cool and snowballed from there.

Also, most of the "DJ's" these days do way more than just queue tracks... Just like Josh and others has said.

JoshWright:

The modern definition of a DJ is shifting towards a producer who makes their own music (and DJs when performing live), rather than the traditional role of just playing pre-recorded music live or on the radio.

Most of the big names like Avicii, David Guetta, Calvin Harris spend most of their time producing tracks and songs and colobing with other musicians.. Very few of them are doing live sets just "queing tracks"

They also do remixs.

Take Hybrid minds for an example. They DJ other peoples songs, They also produce their own and then they remix others.
They do a LOT more than Stevie Nicks singing.

Here are some of my favorite remixs. Take the time to see how Hybrid Minds have changed the original.

Some of their own:

kryptonjohn

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#2001557 24-Apr-2018 12:38

ResponseMediaNZ:

kryptonjohn:

Not even close to what I am talking about. Those bands became famous because of their artistic talent and musical innovation. I would argue some guy queuing up tracks while looking the part has none of those attributes. Nor do the Kardashians for that matter.

But you quote "I think it's a cult of personalty. Such-and-such is cool and all the cool people go to his shows so he's super popular."

I am merely backing up my comments in saying these are one in the same. They started becoming popular because word of mouth and such and such is cool and snowballed from there.

Also, most of the "DJ's" these days do way more than just queue tracks... Just like Josh and others has said.

JoshWright:

The modern definition of a DJ is shifting towards a producer who makes their own music (and DJs when performing live), rather than the traditional role of just playing pre-recorded music live or on the radio.

Most of the big names like Avicii, David Guetta, Calvin Harris spend most of their time producing tracks and songs and colobing with other musicians.. Very few of them are doing live sets just "queing tracks"

Yeah well that's why I prefaced my opinionated opinion with the 'grumpy old man' tag!

Coil

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#2001566 24-Apr-2018 12:46

Some more Vocal Drum and Bass if someone wants it.
I could sit here and post music to this thread all day or create a new one.

Rikkitic

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#2001571 24-Apr-2018 12:53

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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#2001582 24-Apr-2018 13:05

Rikkitic:

"Insert grumpy cat photo" (Save thread Space)

? Unsure what your point is by this photo?

You asked questions about what made Avicii fill stadiums. We have responded... Yet you come back with this?

Ge0rge

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#2001587 24-Apr-2018 13:06

Rikkitic: image

Funny. I often agree with many of your posts and find them interesting to read.

In this particular situation though, you've asked a perfectly reasonable question, which in turn has been answered in significant detail as to the amount of talent required to do the job some of these DJ's do. We're not talking the chump-change morning radio clowns, but people who can earn a small countries GDP in an evening.

I think you do those who have bothered to reply to your initial question quite a disservice with your cat - just because you don't find the content of the music to your liking, "yawning" at their post is a bit rude.

My 2c. Thanks to those who have provided their responses, I've certainly learned a thing or two.

Rikkitic

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#2001618 24-Apr-2018 13:12

I sincerely apologise if my intention was misunderstood. I asked a genuine question and it was fully and seriously answered by most. I appreciate that. The cat was intended only as a humorous reply to @kryptonjohn's 'grumpy old man' comment. I am sorry if that was interpreted otherwise. I was not taking shots at anyone.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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#2001619 24-Apr-2018 13:12

Ge0rge:
Rikkitic: image

Funny. I often agree with many of your posts and find them interesting to read.

In this particular situation though, you've asked a perfectly reasonable question, which in turn has been answered in significant detail as to the amount of talent required to do the job some of these DJ's do. We're not talking the chump-change morning radio clowns, but people who can earn a small countries GDP in an evening.

I think you do those who have bothered to reply to your initial question quite a disservice with your cat - just because you don't find the content of the music to your liking, "yawning" at their post is a bit rude.

My 2c. Thanks to those who have provided their responses, I've certainly learned a thing or two.

Thanks Dude :) Yes Agreed.

@Coil has just scratched the surface of the Underground D&B / House Scene with a small insight.

There is some amazing and talented guys out there, even in NZ there is some great DJ's. Some of these guys you could pass in the street or meet around the board room table and would never know they are mixing in their spare time.

Like you say some people do earn a small countries GDP and enjoy seeing the crowds turn up time and time again to the gigs

kryptonjohn

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#2001620 24-Apr-2018 13:15

Rikkitic:

I sincerely apologise if my intention was misunderstood. I asked a genuine question and it was fully and seriously answered by most. I appreciate that. The cat was intended only as a humorous reply to @kryptonjohn's 'grumpy old man' comment. I am sorry if that was interpreted otherwise. I was not taking shots at anyone.

The cat considers your comparison to be extremely unflattering... to the cat.

Coil

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#2001651 24-Apr-2018 14:02

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@Coil has just scratched the surface of the Underground D&B / House Scene with a small insight.

There is some amazing and talented guys out there, even in NZ there is some great DJ's. Some of these guys you could pass in the street or meet around the board room table and would never know they are mixing in their spare time.

Chicorelli is a fav of mine, Local guy too.

Keep an eye out for Fraser Dimond, Good friend of mine whos an up coming house DJ.

If anyone says Dan Aux I'd keel over and die.

chevrolux

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#2001664 24-Apr-2018 14:30

kryptonjohn:

ResponseMediaNZ:

kryptonjohn:

Rikkitic:

I think I missed out on a couple of musical generations. I don't follow contemporary pop music and certainly not hip-hop and I really don't understand what DJs do that makes people want to pay money to see them. The news about Avicii was what put it into my mind and made me start wondering.

I'm a grumpy old man so am coloured in my perspective, but I think it's a cult of personalty. Such-and-such is cool and all the cool people go to his shows so he's super popular. Kind of empty - a bit like all the other celeb culture crap around people who are famous mainly for being famous (and rich) such as the Kardashians. Ick.

So the Beatles, Kiss, AC/DC, Meatloaf, The Rolling Stones, Led Zep the list could go on are not the same as Avicii's following?

Not even close to what I am talking about. Those bands became famous because of their artistic talent and musical innovation. I would argue some guy queuing up tracks while looking the part has none of those attributes. Nor do the Kardashians for that matter.

You've totally missed the point. These "DJ's" are mostly playing original tracks. They have made these tracks with "artistic talent and musical innovation".

This might interest you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT40_00AGQU

Skrillex making a track with The Doors (or at least two of them)

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