Same remakes over & over....

[gabe0725]

Why do bands record & use the same remakes over & over & over again?

With all the music out there, why don't they go for a song that's a little lesser known but probably has more swing?

I'll tell ya, one day, I would like to make an album of remakes. BUT, remakes that haven't been heard a million times over.

 

[DJ Ara]

I share your sentiments, eventhough I appreciate remakes that are creative and imaginative in their arrangments so much so that it is almost like listening to another song.

However, you are right, there is so much music out there that bands can choose from and it will make sense that they expanded their repetoire to encompass the lesser known music out there.

 

[flowrite]

Like La Vida Es Un Carnaval for instance? As if I don't hear it enough already. But no doubt if asked why they are playing this, the reply would be about pleasing the crowd with familiarity. The problem with that reasoning is that familiarity becomes monotony becomes a despondence with salsa.

 

[DJ Ara]

Like La Vida Es Un Carnaval for instance? As if I don't hear it enough already. But no doubt if asked why they are playing this, the reply would be about pleasing the crowd with familiarity. The problem with that reasoning is that familiarity becomes monotony becomes a despondence with salsa.

Very good point.

As a salsa DJ, I can just say whenever one has to play a couple of extra "over-familiar" songs (sometimes because of constant requests), then it is best to compensate with extra additional new music during that very night. This will avoid the usual, "oh, he always plays the same music", from the people who have no idea how DJ-ing works, while keeping happy the musically challenged who are fixated on a few songs which they must hear every night or they will say that DJ X is a bad DJ.

 

[el_flaco_rumbero]

Why do bands record & use the same remakes over & over & over again?

With all the music out there, why don't they go for a song that's a little lesser known but probably has more swing?

I'll tell ya, one day, I would like to make an album of remakes. BUT, remakes that haven't been heard a million times over.

Totally agree......'tis the reason why I refuse to buy alot of the new music that comes out....b/c it ends up being so damn boring. How many versions of bilongo can a guy have in his damn collection? Or how many times do we have to pay $15 dollars for a new cd to hear some band totally chop El Cantante into crap.........*sigh*......where the heck is the talent pool????????? Do bands not get bored of playing Ran Kan Kan or Que Humnidad?????? argh....I'm angry now and need a walk........

 

[groovetpt]

I agree. When I look at new CD's out I look for fresh original material from the band and singer. However, sometimes, it's cool to hear a modern recording of an old obscure tune no one knows from someone like Tite Curet -- something that might never even have been recorded before.

 

[DJ Ara]

Totally agree......'tis the reason why I refuse to buy alot of the new music that comes out....b/c it ends up being so damn boring. How many versions of bilongo can a guy have in his damn collection? Or how many times do we have to pay $15 dollars for a new cd to hear some band totally chop El Cantante into crap.........*sigh*......where the heck is the talent pool????????? Do bands not get bored of playing Ran Kan Kan or Que Humnidad?????? argh....I'm angry now and need a walk........

I think that part of the answer to this lies in the typical behavior of a dance crowd whose majority will be wanting to hear familiar tracks to dance to.

As all of us DJs know, if we play too many new tracks then it we will eventually "lose" the dance floor, no matter how good the tracks are. I believe that many bands see the familar tracks as "proven tracks" and to stay on the safe side, specially in a scene rife with music pirates, they keep regurgitating well known ("proven") classic in their productions. Similarly, those who finance recordings want a return on their investment, so they may also push the bands to play "proven tracks".

Anyway, I believe that is part of the reason we see so many cover versions of older classics. I know that there are other reasons also......

 

[DJ Ara]

I agree. When I look at new CD's out I look for fresh original material from the band and singer.

Luckily there is a lot of original salsa music coming out here in Colombia. Unluckily, many of the hardcore salsa community, at least here in Cali, just want to listen to the classic era salsa and they see most stuff that came after that era as inferior. It is a weird kind of elitism, because these are the same people who see covers of old classics (no matter how good) as a kind of desecration.

However, sometimes, it's cool to hear a modern recording of an old obscure tune no one knows from someone like Tite Curet -- something that might never even have been recorded before.

I agree and talking of Tite Curet, I hear that he left a lot of unrecorded material. I am hoping that the people he left the material with will record them.

 

[el_flaco_rumbero]

I think that part of the answer to this lies in the typical behavior of a dance crowd whose majority will be wanting to hear familiar tracks to dance to.

As all of us DJs know, if we play too many new tracks then it we will eventually "lose" the dance floor, no matter how good the tracks are. I believe that many bands see the familar tracks as "proven tracks" and to stay on the safe side, specially in a scene rife with music pirates, they keep regurgitating well known ("proven") classic in their productions. Similarly, those who finance recordings want a return on their investment, so they may also push the bands to play "proven tracks".

Anyway, I believe that is part of the reason we see so many cover versions of older classics. I know that there are other reasons also......

I agree with you.......and wouldn't mind too much if a 10 track cd would contain 3 smoking remakes of these repetitious little bloodsuckers.........and maybe a bolero or two to balance out......that's still 5 songs to impress us.....even if half of the remainder, rounding down........2 songs to impress us with crazy wild and impressively original stuff..........the others can be filler.....instead we end up with 5 or 6 so-so remakes and 4 or 5 crappy fillers.......

*sigh* I need another walk.....

 

[DJ Ara]

I agree with you.......and wouldn't mind too much if a 10 track cd would contain 3 smoking remakes of these repetitious little bloodsuckers.........and maybe a bolero or two to balance out......that's still 5 songs to impress us.....even if half of the remainder, rounding down........2 songs to impress us with crazy wild and impressively original stuff..........the others can be filler.....instead we end up with 5 or 6 so-so remakes and 4 or 5 crappy fillers.......

*sigh* I need another walk.....

I agree and that the reason for that could be laziness and/or lack of creativity.