Sing that Song Again
Turntables and vinyl records are back in style. Now people appreciate every little fudge made during recording that makes a record unique. The problem is they're coming back with current-day prices. I bought my husband a basic turntable for Christmas so he can hear some of the records he has been treasuring ever since casettes became universal. Along the way we have also bought old records at vintage sales. Mostly for their value as something from our childhood at first. Later, waiting to buy a turntable.
It's strange how music listening has come around to its origins. The casette once made the LP old and useless. You could take the music you wanted anywhere, and record whatever you heard on the radio, creating your own music list. Then the CD came around. One of the arguments in favor of recording on CD's was that the sound would be pure. The music would be perfect, as intended by the artists. But, in the end, we're all human, artists included. We like to hear the recording as it was done, without any tweaking. A song develops according to when and why it is being sung. Much like Bob Dylan, who never sings his songs the same way twice. Sometimes, it will be a different accord on the guitar, much like Angus Young of AC/DC, who takes a song during their concerts and prolongs it with his guitar. And always differently. Other times it will be a different note popped in a lyric, changing the song, making it more personal.
Some say we're becoming more inhuman, becoming too roboticized, and that that is why we are starting to appreciate the human element in music and other arts that have been taken over by technology. Perhaps, but I just know humans are imperfect, and noticing little imperfections and changes in art that is supposed to be perfect, makes that art more inspiring. When we reach for perfection we show our humanity.
It's strange how music listening has come around to its origins. The casette once made the LP old and useless. You could take the music you wanted anywhere, and record whatever you heard on the radio, creating your own music list. Then the CD came around. One of the arguments in favor of recording on CD's was that the sound would be pure. The music would be perfect, as intended by the artists. But, in the end, we're all human, artists included. We like to hear the recording as it was done, without any tweaking. A song develops according to when and why it is being sung. Much like Bob Dylan, who never sings his songs the same way twice. Sometimes, it will be a different accord on the guitar, much like Angus Young of AC/DC, who takes a song during their concerts and prolongs it with his guitar. And always differently. Other times it will be a different note popped in a lyric, changing the song, making it more personal.
Some say we're becoming more inhuman, becoming too roboticized, and that that is why we are starting to appreciate the human element in music and other arts that have been taken over by technology. Perhaps, but I just know humans are imperfect, and noticing little imperfections and changes in art that is supposed to be perfect, makes that art more inspiring. When we reach for perfection we show our humanity.
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