More truth from Dave Grohl

[nataku333]

Gosh, if what Dave said is a "rant" to you guys, life must be tough.

+ 1000000000000000000000

 

[P-oddz]

Those aren't semis full of heart; they're semis full of electronic processors.

I do agree with his sentiment, but ALL modern music is digitally altered. Enhanced? Perfected? On his words, there's an argument against the use of reverb! His music both live and on CD is digitally altered, enhanced, perfected. Implying that one cannot use a turntable or a sampler and play from the heart is the same as the old men before him saying that bashing a guitar and screaming into a mic was not "real" music nor real art. His rant stank of the establishment trying to keep the young players down.

More to my point, winning a Grammy has more to do with your status in the establishment rather than the amount of heart you use.

True, those semis are not full of heart (that made me chuckle by the way, so kudos).

And I do agree that the Grammy is irrelevant in terms of musical creativity or nodding to what is good, and really only highlights what is popular, or the most marketable or profitable. But I also do think that you equating electronic processors for live sound and using reverb as a rebuttal to his opinion is kind of missing the point.

I don't care which way you slice it. There is a definitive line that we all know in our heads of what is truly creative and what takes ingenuity or thought, and what doesn't. You can justify liking it (hell, I love me some dumbed down bubble gum pop music at times), but you understand it for what it is- disposable, cheap, easy.

To that point, there is easy to reproduce (due to the advance of computer recording applications) thoughtless drivel that takes nothing more than a knowledge of software (and at times just a pretty face, because the producer can manufacture the talent for you). I personally don't take the stance that electronic is not music (I embrace technology), nor did I think Dave meant to either.

But there is a very definitive line to me of what is lazy and what is smart use of technology, and what can equate to music with "heart" or "soul" or "thought". We can clearly see what is empty use of that technology (Paris Hilton decides to put out an album so producers manufacture it for her), and we can see what takes thought our doesn't (American Idol contestants getting album deals for glorified Karaoke).

To me, he was stating a pride in his band being recognized for an award where cheap and easy seem to rule the mainstream and (to me) urging younger players to continue to put thought and passion into their music (as opposed to trying to keep them down, as you thought).

 

[dave_p]

Wait, you are saying this as a musician in a cover band?

lol

Quiet, the adults are talking.

Ok, I'm asking again... W hat are your credentials. You assume a bit of me obviously.
Did you devote a lot of time to mastering foo fighters bass lines? Are you in the foo fighters? You seem to be quite affected by my previous statements . What do you have at stake here?

According to your profile you are 38 and you teach music. Neither hold any credence with me.

I have a few years on you, so exactly what graduated you from the kids table? I'm really curious.

 

[nataku333]

True, those semis are not full of heart (that made me chuckle by the way, so kudos).

And I do agree that the Grammy is irrelevant in terms of musical creativity or nodding to what is good, and really only highlights what is popular, or the most marketable or profitable. But I also do think that you equating electronic processors for live sound and using reverb as a rebuttal to his opinion is kind of missing the point.

I don't care which way you slice it. There is a definitive line that we all know in our heads of what is truly creative and what takes ingenuity or thought, and what doesn't. You can justify liking it (hell, I love me some dumbed down bubble gum pop music at times), but you understand it for what it is- disposable, cheap, easy.

To that point, there is easy to reproduce (due to the advance of computer recording applications) thoughtless drivel that takes nothing more than a knowledge of software (and at times just a pretty face, because the producer can manufacture the talent for you). I personally don't take the stance that electronic is not music (I embrace technology), nor did I think Dave meant to either.

But there is a very definitive line to me of what is lazy and what is smart use of technology, and what can equate to music with "heart" or "soul" or "thought". We can clearly see what is empty use of that technology (Paris Hilton decides to put out an album so producers manufacture it for her), and we can see what takes thought our doesn't (American Idol contestants getting album deals for glorified Karaoke).

To me, he was stating a pride in his band being recognized for an award where cheap and easy seem to rule the mainstream and (to me) urging younger players to continue to put thought and passion into their music (as opposed to trying to keep them down as you thought).

+Forever!!!! haha

So well said.

 

[noetical1]

foo fighters are just safely agressive formulaic pop music. not that inspiring.

nail hit squarely on head: bravo

 

[pnut166]

foo fighters are just safely agressive formulaic pop music. not that inspiring.

While I agree, they are just about the last men standing in the rock slot. Comparatively speaking to the past and current popular music landscape, rock is all but dead. So I found his comments to be worthwhile - and possibly a mild-mannered shot at his fellow award - winners and their fans.

 

[nortonrider]

I think the fact that both Dave and Deadmouse are doing their jobs and making money with their product (music) proves that there is more than one way to get it done.

It's the music BUSINESS, the entertainment BUSINESS, the goal of the industry is to sell a product and generate income.

In my mind, the end justifies the means in this case.
Make some noise and get others to pay you for it.

 

[dave_p]

While I agree, they are the last men standing in the rock slot. Comparatively speaking to the past and current popular music landscape, rock is all but dead. So I found his comments to be worthwhile - and possibly a mild-mannered shot at his fellow award - winners and their fans.

I really like grohl as a drummer and I really like pat smear. Bragging about recording the foo fighters on magnetic tape is like bragging about the elevator in your outhouse. I don't think it changes the end result all that much.

But I agree with you, his comments were mild mannered and inspirational. Especially to those starting out and feeling overwhelmed by all the tech.

 

[projectMalamute]

Ok, I'm asking again... W hat are your credentials. You assume a bit of me obviously.
Did you devote a lot of time to mastering foo fighters bass lines? Are you in the foo fighters? You seem to be quite affected by my previous statements . What do you have at stake here?

According to your profile you are 38 and you teach music. Neither hold any credence with me.

I have a few years on you, so exactly what graduated you from the kids table? I'm really curious.

Well, I don't say demonstrably idiotic things. So I got that going for me.

Let's hear your band. Show us how it's done.

 

[thomashawk]

To that point, there is easy to reproduce (due to the advance of computer recording applications) thoughtless drivel that takes nothing more than a knowledge of software (and at times just a pretty face, because the producer can manufacture the talent for you). I personally don't take the stance that electronic is not music (I embrace technology), nor did I think Dave meant to either.

But there is a very definitive line to me of what is lazy and what is smart use of technology, and what can equate to music with "heart" or "soul" or "thought". We can clearly see what is empty use of that technology (Paris Hilton decides to put out an album so producers manufacture it for her), and we can see what takes thought our doesn't (American Idol contestants getting album deals for glorified Karaoke).

To me, he was stating a pride in his band being recognized for an award where cheap and easy seem to rule the mainstream and (to me) urging younger players to continue to put thought and passion into their music (as opposed to trying to keep them down, as you thought).

I really agree with everything you said, and that may have even been exactly what Grohl meant. However, across the entire spectrum of working musicians I know, his statement was interpreted like this:

"I play guitar, and that is important, and that is art. You play a Mac, and, that is not art and you are not important."

I'm not talking about the Paris Hilton's of this world, and I am more than confident that he had Skrillex and deadmau5 in his sites for this one. I can say I doubt anyone in The Roots is going to have his back on this one, and you can't tell me they don't play from the heart and bring it every night. Anyone who's seen the BRC Facebook posts knows what I'm talking about.

To me he sounded like so many old men before him complaining about what the kids are listening to these days. Even if you heart's in the right place, that's a lame sentiment for any professional musician. Again, my opinion blah blah.

 

[thomashawk]

Make some noise and get others to pay you for it.

And there's the answer to every question regarding the music business. Brilliant!

 

[DigthemLows]

I like music. Some kinds not as much as others, and I don't care how it was made. Maybe we should go after anyone who plays a pbass with a maple fretboard, cause ebony is the sh#t. If we all liked and admired the same things life sure would be boring.........quit trying to force your music down my throat by explaining things, and just let me listen and decide.

 

[Eublet]

I really agree with everything you said, and that may have even been exactly what Grohl meant. However, across the entire spectrum of working musicians I know, his statement was interpreted like this:

"I play guitar, and that is important, and that is art. You play a Mac, and, that is not art and you are not important."

Oh yeah, you made him say something he didn't say, and then held that against him. Cool!

 

[manghu67]

I think what Grohl is talking about is fundamental: Do your thing. Do your best. Have it in your head and your heart, and work it. It doesn't have to be prefect, it just has to be real. If you don't have that, if it's vapid and fake, people will notice, and there's no hardware or production in the world that can help you. If you're real about it and you believe in what you're doing, you'll do your best work, and people will glom onto that.

I can't believe so many people got their panties all in a bunch over this. What he's saying seems pretty obvious to me. But what do I know.

 

[thomashawk]

Oh yeah, you made him say something he didn't say, and then held that against him. Cool!

I am only saying how his words were interpreted across a relatively wide spectrum of professional/working/touring musicians.

 

[diglo]

Can't agree with him. I love the Foo Fighters and the ideas Dave has, but this did seem to be a bit of a stab at electronic artists to me. Electronic music, like it or not, has its place for a reason, regardless whether you consider them musicians or not. Like said above, this does feel a little bit like snobbery, to me. They did throw electronic music right out after his speech, which I found funny.

Agree. I believe I saw him "crowd participating" during Dead Mouse dubstep performance too. Yeah, make up your mind Dave. Also, the song they performed right before Dead Mouse had a syncopated disco rhythm thing going on.

 

[diglo]

I don't think that he was so much bashing computerized music as he was the entire musical production process these days, which can basically put any number of musical hacks in a studio for several weeks with a good producer and a lot of hard drive space and get something decent to pop out on the other end. Add to the fact that so many artists today don't have instrumentalists in the band at all, but simply assemble a bunch of folks to record an album, and then assemble another slew of folks to go on tour, and it leaves many folks wanting for the old days when there where more bands than there were entertainment acts. In that regard, I think Dave was being positive and not really slamming anyone. If he took a moment of self-pride, then so be it. He has worked hard throughout his career, and has gone through all the real ups and downs that it seems most bands go through. Dave has my complete respect an admiration. Whether or not someone personally likes the Foo Fighters music or not really shouldn't matter with regard to what he said.

I'm a hip-hop producer, fan and bassist. Your statement about being a lack of bands is so true. Especially in black music. I enjoy all music and NO, not for sampling. I took his statement as supporting more bands and less put together entertainers via the Internet. Go in a studio and collab, not send everything as an file.

 

[P-oddz]

I think what Grohl is talking about is fundamental: Do your thing. Do your best. Have it in your head and your heart, and work it. It doesn't have to be prefect, it just has to be real. If you don't have that, if it's vapid and fake, people will notice, and there's no hardware or production in the world that can help you. If you're real about it and you believe in what you're doing, you'll do your best work, and people will glom onto that.

What a succinct read on his speech. I Couldn't agree more.

 

[JoeVictim]

I just want hip-hop to die,at this point I liken it to where hair metal was in 1995. Its just making a fool of itself. The rappers aren't putting any effort into it, usually not even rapping or following any rhythmic patterns at all while they talk over sub-sub-par beats with material that consists of talking about their clothes, jewelry, car, punk @$$ bitches, and what girls are doing to his crotch. Just die hip hop, die.

You must be talking about rap. Hip Hop is very intellectual. You have to dig for it (unfortunately). But, you'll know when you hear a hip=hop artist vs. a rapper.

 

[Eublet]

I am only saying how his words were interpreted across a relatively wide spectrum of professional/working/touring musicians.

Well, most people are looking for an offense in everything it seems, so i'm sure many are putting words into Dave's. mouth. Few people act their age i'm afraid.