What old popular music is still popular?
83- allpurposeguru
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I just posted in another topic that Stephen Foster's music remained popular a century after he died. That's because until after World War II, popular music was marketed to adults, not adolescents.
Someone, asked about Irving Berlin's place in American music, replied that "He has no place in American music. He is American music." I can remember eagerly anticipating his last musical, "Mr. President" (1962, I think).
I'm 61 now, and I've been wondering: does anyone much younger than I am know or care about any kind of pop music that's older than rock? Does anyone younger than about 50 truly appreciate the music of their parents' or grandparents' generation?
I'm really curious and hope lots of people will find this question interesting.There's a strange thing going on in some of the dance clubs in our city. Swing is back. I hear Glen Miller, the big band sound sometimes, and all the swing dancers get up and dance. I like that one, what is it? In the Mood? Is that right?
There's also a deep affection in my heart for some real old time blues. You don't hear that anywhere, though, not in the clubs, not on the radio. You have to order it specially.
My big bad old favorite is Mississipi John Hurt. Best blues man, ever, for my money.I myself love oldies--Sinatra being of my favorites. I'm not sure how far back you are wanting to take this... but the Baroque period with Bach, Handel and the like are about as far back as I go for music...
If swing came back to the clubs I would actually go.
People even the ounger generation are actually enthralled with The Monkees though they were not a real band ! I myself love the Big Band Era stuff ! Glenn Miller , Tommy Dorsey , Hoagy Carmichael and on and on . I just think It Is fabulous music .And yes I can jitterbug !
87- R P Chapman
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Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Woody Guthrie, and several Gershwin songs are all on my ipod and I've a fair old trek to 50 just yet
zadrobi wrote:
If swing came back to the clubs I would actually go.
I love watching the dancers. I might take lessons; it doesn't look too hard, and it looks beautiful with everyone doing the steps. The music is great--very mellow but with a great bounce to it. It makes you want to dance.
I just found a BB King song - Stormy Blues - with Billie Holiday on vocals. It is so smooth. I can't stop playing it.
And I was amazed to hear that Vera Lynn was recently #1 in the British charts.camlo wrote:
I just found a BB King song - Stormy Blues - with Billie Holiday on vocals. It is so smooth. I can't stop playing it.
And I was amazed to hear that Vera Lynn was recently #1 in the British charts.I love Billie Holliday, too. She did a song once, I'll never get it out of my mind, called "Strange Fruit".
You who else I think is so great? BB King. Him, too. One of the best blues guys. I love his music, still.
97- rebekahELLE
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allpurposeguru wrote:
I just posted in another topic that Stephen Foster's music remained popular a century after he died. That's because until after World War II, popular music was marketed to adults, not adolescents.
Someone, asked about Irving Berlin's place in American music, replied that "He has no place in American music. He is American music." I can remember eagerly anticipating his last musical, "Mr. President" (1962, I think).
I'm 61 now, and I've been wondering: does anyone much younger than I am know or care about any kind of pop music that's older than rock? Does anyone younger than about 50 truly appreciate the music of their parents' or grandparents' generation?
I'm really curious and hope lots of people will find this question interesting.great music never dies, in some form, it's still here.
the great classics, Beethoven, Bach, Handel
swing is popular with dance
the oldies like Kenny Vance, doo wop, romantic ballads are coming back, actually never died, it is pop music today like Justin Timberlake, etc.
you may like my recent Kenny Vance hub if you like oldies.
nice to see you here. write about what you know and love.Take a look on YouTube - you can see Billie perform 'Strange Fruit'. It's really moving.
camlo wrote:
Take a look on YouTube - you can see Billie perform 'Strange Fruit'. It's really moving.
Thanks. I will.
94- wrenfrost56
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Oh I agree, I love all that old music and I think the rat pack is still as cool as it ever was.
rebekahELLE wrote:
allpurposeguru wrote:
I just posted in another topic that Stephen Foster's music remained popular a century after he died. That's because until after World War II, popular music was marketed to adults, not adolescents.
Someone, asked about Irving Berlin's place in American music, replied that "He has no place in American music. He is American music." I can remember eagerly anticipating his last musical, "Mr. President" (1962, I think).
I'm 61 now, and I've been wondering: does anyone much younger than I am know or care about any kind of pop music that's older than rock? Does anyone younger than about 50 truly appreciate the music of their parents' or grandparents' generation?
I'm really curious and hope lots of people will find this question interesting.great music never dies, in some form, it's still here.
the great classics, Beethoven, Bach, Handel
swing is popular with dance
the oldies like Kenny Vance, doo wop, romantic ballads are coming back, actually never died, it is pop music today like Justin Timberlake, etc.
you may like my recent Kenny Vance hub if you like oldies.
nice to see you here. write about what you know and love.I agree with RebekaElle, the great music never dies...Sting covered this great old Edith Piaf tune, "My Funny Valentine". A real torch song. He put his own touch on it, Sting did, but in a weird way, he's got the voice for it.
93- Colebabie
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My dad loves The Who, Led Zeppelin and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Me too
My mom loves George Benson, Bob Seger and Billy Joel. Me too
My grandma loves Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Me too
86- theageofcake
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allpurposeguru wrote:
I just posted in another topic that Stephen Foster's music remained popular a century after he died. That's because until after World War II, popular music was marketed to adults, not adolescents.
Someone, asked about Irving Berlin's place in American music, replied that "He has no place in American music. He is American music." I can remember eagerly anticipating his last musical, "Mr. President" (1962, I think).
I'm 61 now, and I've been wondering: does anyone much younger than I am know or care about any kind of pop music that's older than rock? Does anyone younger than about 50 truly appreciate the music of their parents' or grandparents' generation?
I'm really curious and hope lots of people will find this question interesting.I like finding the unusual or progressive stuff of 20th century recorded music. Sometimes that brings me pretty far back.
I have one recording that I believe is from 1902 called The Last Castrato. For those unfamiliar with this strange breed, castrati were young men castrated before sexual maturity to maintain their soprano vocal range. It was fairly common in the 18th century, dwindled by the early 1800s, and was prohibited by the Catholic Church in 1878. The guy in this recording was in his 40s and his voice is beginning to deteriorate, but its still very much arrested at a pre-pubescent register. Its fascinating, eerie stuff.
And the recording quality improves it, in the same way that it improves 30's rhythm and blues and folk tracks. The fuzz and compromised integrity of old recordings acts as an additional musical voice. For that reason I love listening to artists like Leadbelly and Robert Johnson.
Everything nowadays sounds too clean - even "low quality" home recording studios sound far more pristine than anything predating the 1950s. Whats more, people were once focused on how to record a sound. Now its all after effects, so instead of manipulating your physical surroundings for the preferred resonance, you're manipulating digitized pre-recorded audio tracks. I like both techniques, but at times I really long for the old way.- 83
- allpurposeguru
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Thanks for all these responses. Keep them coming! Not that I'm trying to limit what anyone writes on this thread, but what I have in mind is specifically American popular music.
Not much before Stephen Foster has been of much interest in the past century, but he makes a good beginning place. Popular music became big business with Tin Pan Alley. Some of you have mentioned blues artists of that era.
I am really glad for evidence that interest in older popular music still transcends generational lines.
How many of you enjoy Foster? George M. Cohan? Victor Herbert? Harry von Tilzer? Ethelbert Nevin? Charles K. Harris? Carrie Jacobs-Bond? Hmmm. How many have even heard of most of them? They were all very successful song writers before Irving Berlin published anything. Maybe I should list some song titles"
After the Ball
The Band Played On
A Bird in a Gilded Cage
Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway
The Fountain in the Park
Give My Regards to Broadway
Gypsie Love Song
Hello! Ma Baby
I Love You Truly
In My Merry Oldsmobile
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
Meet Me in St. Louis
My Gal Sal
My Wild Irish Rose
Sweet Adeline
Sweet Rosy O'Grady
Toyland
You're a Grand Old Flag
(Composers and titles selected from Favorite Songs of the Nineties (Dover, 1973)). - 86
- theageofcake
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allpurposeguru wrote:
Thanks for all these responses. Keep them coming! Not that I'm trying to limit what anyone writes on this thread, but what I have in mind is specifically American popular music.
Whoops - I didn't realize til after I posted that the music I was mentioning was not really "pop," nor American. At least the castrati, anyway.
97- Dame Scribe
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Uhmm....opera
91- sannyasinman
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My son is 15 and he knows the words to most of the Beatles songs by heart - from his own initiative.
