JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Dated

So, someone recently told me I sound "dated" and said but that's cool if that's you.

This is amidst me taking extra time to do some intense ear training, sight reading to develop the other parts of my music. At first I was taken a back but then I decided, what the heck I'm going keep developing my aural abilities and vocal technique, maybe I might still sound dated but, I have something to say. I'm going say it the only way I can, I'm not the mega star but I know what I can realistically do.

Hey Stephen,

Can you put up a "dated" track, so we can see what you mean ?

I suppose I use the term "dated" to refer to an older production and arrangement style which places a song in a certain era.

Popular music really hasn't changed since the 1890's, just the way it is presented.

Are you using musical methods which people are over with ? There's a lot of the old mixed in with the new these days. Some think it's new, only because they can't remember 20 or 30 yrs ago. i.e. they're too young and still wet behind the ears.

Nothing is new really, it's just been adapted from what's come before it.

Pick a track, put up a link, and maybe you can get some positive feedback.

cheers, niteshift

Whatever this person meant, in my opinion having a "dated" sound isn't necessarily a bad thing. Mark Minelli does a very old time folk style and Wolfmother sounds like their straight out of the 70's. But both are modern acts. Heck, I love Joni Mitchell and her vocal style is very "oldschool". Nothing to be ashamed of or worried about. Just keep on doing what you do!

Took a listen to a few of your songs and I can kinda see where the comments are coming from.....the songs I heard all seem to have that classic 80s ballad sound and arrangements. It was popular back then but perhaps might not hold up in todays market. You have a good voice and obviously have musical talent....my neg is they all sound pretty similar to each other and offer nothing new..... perhaps you should try for a more up to date original style if you want to make an impression. Maybe composing with a more up tempo beat would be a starting point.

Being "dated" can take a variety of ways. Most of the time the formula, say verse, verse, then getting to a chorus, is one. We don't have that long with the general public anymore. Attention spans have shortened considerably. Of course, this is nothing new as well. Most of the early Beatles songs were in the 2:50 minute range.

A lot can have to do with production, the era of the "canned drums, synths and "faux" strings" have kind of run their course. Most people listening to songs prefer more "real" sounds, which has been a lot in the "unplugged" phenomenon over the past 10 years.

Subject matter is also a big giveaway. Going over things that are cliched' and overdone are very difficult to pull off. With so much music out there, it is very difficult to keep up with the times. And with things like current events, they pass so fast that we are on to a new "crisis of the moment" before we can get something with a "shelf life" out in the pipeline. Today's top news story is tomorrrow's trivia question.

Most of it will have to do with the genre of music you are attempting to go for. Pretty much all music now has some form of chart, and leaders in that particular genre. A close study of who is doing what will usually reveal some weaknesses in songs that people say are "dated."

Stephen, the person telling you "That is okay if that is you" is generally giving you a stock answer of "There is really nothing we can do with this." There is a way to make "dated" work for you, and that would be to be "Retro." This is done in some forms of music, kd lang, for instance, came out in the 90's with a very throwback vocal style and production to the 50's and 60's. Artists like the late Amy Winehouse have been able to recapture a certain era and craft their music around that.

If you were to come to Nashville, and visit dozens of clubs, you would see a LOT of throwback bands with the wild upright bass player, twangy Duanne Eddy guitars and small snare drum set up for a minimilistic Elvis honky tonk sound of the 1950's. They often dress the part and you would think you walked back in time to 1959.

But you don't see many of those make the transition to recording success, is usually much more of a live thing.

If you do song and artist study, you have the endless resources of the Internet to research a way to craft your music.

Good luck,

MAB

Stephen,

Yeah, they sound very 80's ballad-ish. I believe they are Christian songs so you might want to listen to what is on Christian radio today to compare. What I have learned is there's a timeless style or current style which are both acceptable. "Dated" means a sounds very identifiable with a specific technological era in music production. (Right now we've got the vocal-auto-tune era which I hope is gone sooner than later. In a year people still using that will be "dated" and if they use it in 25 years, it will REALLY be dated unless you're doing retro music but that usually requires a mix of the dated WITH today's sound (whenever today is). Your song that plans when someone visits your page sounds like a Peter Cetera style from the mid 80's. It's really all about production. Current christian music sounds like current pop/rock/singer-songwriter/r&b music only with Christian lyrics.

Brian

Thanks guys. I am in no way daunted by the fact of being terms dated. My last major recording was back in 2006, my latest release was done in March and it was more of to wet my feet in the recording bizz.

I am working on improving my sound, not changing who I am and or what I have to say, but just making the sound relevant. I have always been one for the live sound. Most of my recording have been either entirely done studio live or a mix of synth and live.

I continue to work hard at my craft, image and message. Not for mega stardom but to be an agent for change.

Also think producers have a part to play. So I'm working with a few different producers. I have a arranger working on my tunes before I hit the studio. Think this is a step in the right direction.

For what it is worth it is not the lyrics or melodies that are dated it is the production and arrangements. Try to make your own arrangements rather than use someone who might produce something that is not your style or your era. Most melodies and words can be arranged to fit different genres styles and eras....Nowadays it is the production and arrangement that sells not so much the lyrics melody and performance. You look quite a young guy maybe the problem is you are working with people from outside your age group who have not evolved musically. That will make things sound dated.