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Mon, 12 Nov 2001 07:55:06 -0600 |
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Mark Ehlert replies to Jocelyn Wang:
>>Classical music requires concentration, an intellectual effort
>>that is almost never required of pop.
>
>"...Almost never..." I'm curious what the exceptions might be.
Perhaps Jocelyn merely wished to avoid making a categorical statement.
However, I can think of a lot of pop that, while it may not require
concentration, certainly rewards it. For example,
* Irving Berlin's "Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil" -- a fiendish
duet, no pun intended, that drew the admiration of such notables as Gilbert
Seldes and Alec Wilder
* Harold Arlen's "Blues in the Night" -- a wonderful riff on blues ideas
(even though it's not a blues)
* Gershwin's "Our Love Is Here to Stay" -- just the opening three chords
repay thought
* Lennon's "Martha, My Dear" -- for its rhythmic twists; Berlin's "Puttin'
on the Ritz" for the same reason
* Any number of songs by Gillian Welch, whose lyrics actually *require*
concentration.
I've deliberately left out genres like bluegrass and jazz.
Steve Schwartz
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