toymaker Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 I don't know why - it sucks - but I find myself growing increasingly irritated by too much repetition in music. It could be my tendency to fixate on repetition. I'm talking about songs that repeat the song title or a key line in the song over and over and over as the song fades out. "Sending out an S.O.S.! Sending out and S.O.S.!..." I dig Daft Punk, but there's that one song that drives me nuts, Lose Yourself to Dance. Whodunnit by Genesis is annoying, too. I recently listened to Mike Rutherford's album Acting Very Strange, and I swear every song on this record does it at the end. At least when Rush does it, they sort of change it up melodically a bit, don't they? "Closer to the Heart"... It's okay if you all think I'm bent out of shape over nothing much - just wondering if anyone else has noticed this, or noticed other repetitive riffs or things that kind of get old fast. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughedatbytime Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Everybody's got to deviate from the norm.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordgalaxy Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 I don't know why - it sucks - but I find myself growing increasingly irritated by too much repetition in music. It could be my tendency to fixate on repetition. I'm talking about songs that repeat the song title or a key line in the song over and over and over as the song fades out. "Sending out an S.O.S.! Sending out and S.O.S.!..." I dig Daft Punk, but there's that one song that drives me nuts, Lose Yourself to Dance. Whodunnit by Genesis is annoying, too. I recently listened to Mike Rutherford's album Acting Very Strange, and I swear every song on this record does it at the end. At least when Rush does it, they sort of change it up melodically a bit, don't they? "Closer to the Heart"... It's okay if you all think I'm bent out of shape over nothing much - just wondering if anyone else has noticed this, or noticed other repetitive riffs or things that kind of get old fast. There are way too many songs that are ridiculously repetitive as the result of poor or lazy songwriting. Best Of You by the Foo Fighters and New York Groove by Ace Frehley are but two examples. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toymaker Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 Everybody's got to deviate from the norm.... I was actually thinking about this song, too - but I don't find it repetitive at all, at least not melodically - or maybe you meant I am deviating from the norm... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toymaker Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 I don't know why - it sucks - but I find myself growing increasingly irritated by too much repetition in music. It could be my tendency to fixate on repetition. I'm talking about songs that repeat the song title or a key line in the song over and over and over as the song fades out. "Sending out an S.O.S.! Sending out and S.O.S.!..." I dig Daft Punk, but there's that one song that drives me nuts, Lose Yourself to Dance. Whodunnit by Genesis is annoying, too. I recently listened to Mike Rutherford's album Acting Very Strange, and I swear every song on this record does it at the end. At least when Rush does it, they sort of change it up melodically a bit, don't they? "Closer to the Heart"... It's okay if you all think I'm bent out of shape over nothing much - just wondering if anyone else has noticed this, or noticed other repetitive riffs or things that kind of get old fast. There are way too many songs that are ridiculously repetitive as the result of poor or lazy songwriting. Best Of You by the Foo Fighters and New York Groove by Ace Frehley are but two examples. That's what I think it is, too - it's kind of lazy. Work in some different melodies and ways of delivering the line, if it absolutely has to be repeated, or throw some countermelodies overtop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toymaker Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 It could be that I'm more prone to irritation because of my tinnitus. When it's too quiet I hear this constant shoooo-eeee-shoooo-eeee-shoooo-eeee. Too much loud rock n' roll, I guess.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Analog Cub Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 One example that works really well is Dangerous Type by The Cars. "she's a lot like you" keeps on going but the vocals and the synth keep building and building into a wall of sound 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toymaker Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 One example that works really well is Dangerous Type by The Cars. "she's a lot like you" keeps on going but the vocals and the synth keep building and building into a wall of sound Weird. I just listened to that album. Love that tune! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 I don't know why - it sucks - but I find myself growing increasingly irritated by too much repetition in music. It could be my tendency to fixate on repetition. I'm talking about songs that repeat the song title or a key line in the song over and over and over as the song fades out. "Sending out an S.O.S.! Sending out and S.O.S.!..." I dig Daft Punk, but there's that one song that drives me nuts, Lose Yourself to Dance. Whodunnit by Genesis is annoying, too. I recently listened to Mike Rutherford's album Acting Very Strange, and I swear every song on this record does it at the end. At least when Rush does it, they sort of change it up melodically a bit, don't they? "Closer to the Heart"... It's okay if you all think I'm bent out of shape over nothing much - just wondering if anyone else has noticed this, or noticed other repetitive riffs or things that kind of get old fast. There are way too many songs that are ridiculously repetitive as the result of poor or lazy songwriting. Best Of You by the Foo Fighters and New York Groove by Ace Frehley are but two examples. No no no, I'm gonna have to majorly disagree on Best Of You. Yes! It's very repetitive. The main melodic line sticks to one note almost the whole way! However that song lives and dies by its dynamics. If you sing it monotone with an acoustic guitar, it's going nowhere. But put it in the hands of a tight band with excellent dynamic control and it's an anthem through and through! For my money Taylor Hawkins' drumming is what really sells the song. And I would NOT call it lazy or poor songwriting. It's a desperate lyric about the struggle to persevere when outside forces are actively trying to use you and keep you down, and the music perfectly embodies that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorraine Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 :musicnote: Love is all you need [repeat endlessly] :musicnote: 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 :musicnote: Love is all you need [repeat endlessly] :musicnote: And very far in the background... "She loves you yeah yeah yeah! She loves you yeah yeah yeah!" 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordgalaxy Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 I don't know why - it sucks - but I find myself growing increasingly irritated by too much repetition in music. It could be my tendency to fixate on repetition. I'm talking about songs that repeat the song title or a key line in the song over and over and over as the song fades out. "Sending out an S.O.S.! Sending out and S.O.S.!..." I dig Daft Punk, but there's that one song that drives me nuts, Lose Yourself to Dance. Whodunnit by Genesis is annoying, too. I recently listened to Mike Rutherford's album Acting Very Strange, and I swear every song on this record does it at the end. At least when Rush does it, they sort of change it up melodically a bit, don't they? "Closer to the Heart"... It's okay if you all think I'm bent out of shape over nothing much - just wondering if anyone else has noticed this, or noticed other repetitive riffs or things that kind of get old fast. There are way too many songs that are ridiculously repetitive as the result of poor or lazy songwriting. Best Of You by the Foo Fighters and New York Groove by Ace Frehley are but two examples. No no no, I'm gonna have to majorly disagree on Best Of You. Yes! It's very repetitive. The main melodic line sticks to one note almost the whole way! However that song lives and dies by its dynamics. If you sing it monotone with an acoustic guitar, it's going nowhere. But put it in the hands of a tight band with excellent dynamic control and it's an anthem through and through! For my money Taylor Hawkins' drumming is what really sells the song. And I would NOT call it lazy or poor songwriting. It's a desperate lyric about the struggle to persevere when outside forces are actively trying to use you and keep you down, and the music perfectly embodies that. Noted. FYI, I'm a huge Foo Fighters fan, but that song and a few others by them are way too repetitive, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 I don't know why - it sucks - but I find myself growing increasingly irritated by too much repetition in music. It could be my tendency to fixate on repetition. I'm talking about songs that repeat the song title or a key line in the song over and over and over as the song fades out. "Sending out an S.O.S.! Sending out and S.O.S.!..." I dig Daft Punk, but there's that one song that drives me nuts, Lose Yourself to Dance. Whodunnit by Genesis is annoying, too. I recently listened to Mike Rutherford's album Acting Very Strange, and I swear every song on this record does it at the end. At least when Rush does it, they sort of change it up melodically a bit, don't they? "Closer to the Heart"... It's okay if you all think I'm bent out of shape over nothing much - just wondering if anyone else has noticed this, or noticed other repetitive riffs or things that kind of get old fast. There are way too many songs that are ridiculously repetitive as the result of poor or lazy songwriting. Best Of You by the Foo Fighters and New York Groove by Ace Frehley are but two examples. No no no, I'm gonna have to majorly disagree on Best Of You. Yes! It's very repetitive. The main melodic line sticks to one note almost the whole way! However that song lives and dies by its dynamics. If you sing it monotone with an acoustic guitar, it's going nowhere. But put it in the hands of a tight band with excellent dynamic control and it's an anthem through and through! For my money Taylor Hawkins' drumming is what really sells the song. And I would NOT call it lazy or poor songwriting. It's a desperate lyric about the struggle to persevere when outside forces are actively trying to use you and keep you down, and the music perfectly embodies that. Noted. FYI, I'm a huge Foo Fighters fan, but that song and a few others by them are way too repetitive, imo. Fair enough. All I can say to that is Dave knows how to write hits! I do get a little tired of people dunking on the Foos from time to time, so apologies if I seemed a little over-zealous in my response. To me they're basically the modern equivalent of Aerosmith, and I love Aerosmith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepphead Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 So Lonely by The Police 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taurus Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 (edited) A bunch of John Cougar Mellencamp songs oh and just thought of another one Yes - I've Seen All Good People Edited October 12, 2021 by taurus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepphead Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Long live Rock N Roll by Rainbow 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepphead Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 I Wanna Rock by Twisted Sister 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segue Myles Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Brave New World era Iron Maiden apparently has verses 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malignant Narcissist Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 That's why when one learns to play, say, classical guitar, tutors tell you to change the phrasing when repeating sections e.g. play brighter, softer, louder etc (near the bridge or up the neck etc). I've seen a lesson Joe Satriani gave to a very accomplished guitarist playing one of his tunes and he basically said the same thing about varying the way a repeated phrase or section is played. But is this done with vocals? And if it is done on some of these examples, does the repetition of the words still sound annoying? Maybe. But isn't pop and/or popular rock music built around simple, repeated phrases??That's why we've all migrated to Rush (presumably) because we've outgrown most of the simple, repetitive stuff. Because they 'tried' to make their music a little bit more sophisticated for the most part :P :Neil: :rush: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush Cocky Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 Na-na-na, na-na-na-nahNa-na-na-nahHey Jude..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 "I'm getting closer to my home..." from I'm Your Captain. :zzz: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ST3V Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 A bunch of John Cougar Mellencamp songs oh and just thought of another one Yes - I've Seen All Good PeopleAll Good People is different though, i.e., the presence of Steve Howe 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 That's why when one learns to play, say, classical guitar, tutors tell you to change the phrasing when repeating sections e.g. play brighter, softer, louder etc (near the bridge or up the neck etc). I've seen a lesson Joe Satriani gave to a very accomplished guitarist playing one of his tunes and he basically said the same thing about varying the way a repeated phrase or section is played.But is this done with vocals? And if it is done on some of these examples, does the repetition of the words still sound annoying? Maybe. But isn't pop and/or popular rock music built around simple, repeated phrases??That's why we've all migrated to Rush (presumably) because we've outgrown most of the simple, repetitive stuff. Because they 'tried' to make their music a little bit more sophisticated for the most part :P :Neil: :rush: IMO most of the songs listed so far are repetitive but have enough variation throughout the song to keep them enjoyable. The deal with pop music is you want the familiarity of repeated sections, but you do want to subtly change the arrangement of them to make the song seem to progress even as it's coming back to the same theme. I think Muse do this very well in many of their poppier tracks, as they usually include an element in the second verse that wasn't there in the first, which then takes the second chorus to another level. More recently they've been doing extended sort of outro's with extra words on pop songs too, sometimes before a final chorus, which I think really brings them home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IbanezJem Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 In defence of lazy songwriting, wouldn`t it be a weird time to introduce a brand new idea in the song, right at the end? It`s more appropriate to be reinforcing the central concept. The only songs that immediately come to mind are "Heaven Is A Place on Earth" and "It`s So Easy". I think I`m stuck in 1987 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 No, No, No - Def Leppard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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