It should be shmaltzy but it's actually cool
I thought I'd do a little musical challenge . It was inspired by the Mamas & Papas group from the '60s . But the subject isn't restricted to them . It's about shmaltzy vs cool .
For that group the music should have been shmaltzy but it wasn't . Was that because of the tempo variations ? I don't know what it was exactly but it worked .
My challenge to you my fellow NTers is to come up with other music which might have been perceived as shmaltzy but it was actually cool . This may be a very tough challenge outside of the M&P but if you've got ideas , let's hear them . And as usual please post a title and link .
Here's mine : "I call your name "
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In general I think that much of what Journey came up with was shmaltzy; but, it was a formula that worked well for them and was one of my favorite groups when I graduated High School ('82)...Here was one of the most shmaltzy...
I welcome your observations John . You are certainly right about the appreciation of music as being personal .
Perhaps I should broaden my definition somewhat . I have never thought of the Fifth Dimension as even remotely shmaltzy but invariably found them both entertaining and cool . However , I could see where some people might consider their music as square or at least unhip . But as I said I didn't perceive them that way . To me there was something transcendent about what they did and that is the height of cool .
As to Glenn Campbell , I think you have again fulfilled the task of this challenge . His music could have been in some ways considered to be uncool but there was something about his performances which was exquisitely intense . And I don't even know anyone who found it boring in any way . Thanks for playing and for your contributions .
BTW could you link to a song which really showed off Marilyn's voice ?
Larry ,
Yes , that's the idea . Like the M&P sometimes their melodies could have been considered schmaltzy . But they made up for it with their intensity and rhythmic variations . Nice choice ...
John,
I love the Bee Gees but I they did folk and pop and then when into the R&B stuff to disco. I think you were much more on the track with Michael Buble. "Everything" is a wonderful example of that.
The 5th Dimension was R&B pop and so I am not sure that they could be schmalzy.
Glen Campbell made country popular with the rock and roll people. Some of the best songs ever written.
Hey Max,
You better watch it or you will end up in the pool with Mike!
OK... here are two of mine.
Scmaltzy that turned out cool!
and
Randy ,
That was the other main song by the M&P I had in mind . Nice .
Shelly ,
You are making me really work ! I was initially going to reject your choice because it wasn't shmaltzy enough . But on second thought the lyrics made up for the edgy melody and hard beat so YES ! Nice work .
Good choice John . She has great pipes .
Perrie ,
I'm actually starting to like Buble from that selection . Amazing !
Thanks! I love that song. Schmultzy but cool.
I love her doing that song!~
Great song Shelly! Schmultzy and cool! Also one of faves!
He also has a great last name.
Perrie ,
That 4 seasons # , yes . That is another song that really captures the essence of the challenge . I'm not sure about that Raspberries song . Frankly , I'm getting confused here . Initially I thought the shmaltz was in the melody and the coolness was in the other stuff . But then Shelly threw me a curve ball with a song that had an edgy melody but shmaltzy lyrics . So I'm losing my bearings here ...
I think you should be looking for the contradiction. When the music is one thing and the words are another. Both are equally relevant.
OK , I like your explanation and framing . But explain to me where the contradiction is in the Raspberries song ...
Schmaltzy over the top singing for a love asking a girl you love to sleep with you. So muchbravado.
OK ,
You are adding a 3rd shmaltzy element , the performance . But where is the cool part ? All I heard was overheated lust . That is just standard guy stuff ...
OMG... John we must be old together... I can't believe you remember that song. I loved it when I was but a wee girl.
NIce one John . I do vaguely remember it from my youth and frankly I was confused about it then , both the music and the lyrics . Now I think I at least understand the lyrics .
BTW , that was an awesome blog . Thanks much .
I've now listened to it 4 times in a row and it was like I was transported to a different time.
Odd story to go with this song. My mom had just opened a children's clothing store and there was a dry cleaner next door. We used to play in the back ally of the store. I used to love to sing this song. There was a teenage girl who worked in the dry cleaners and she was nice to me, so my mom asked her if she could babysit my sister and me (I was 6 at the time). She was babysitting me at the house when her friends came by... and soon they had taken my sister ( age 4 ) and me to a party full of teens. They kept playing this on one of those record players that you stacked 45's on. It was pouring rain outside and I thought that my mom would be mad at me for being at the party, because I had not remembered to wear my Mac. When the girl brought me home, my mom was angry all right, but not at me, but the teen who had taken two little girls out in the rain, without permission, to a teen party.
But I associate that song with that time and place, and I haven't thought about it in so long. I am going upstairs to put it on my ipod. How ironic ...45's to ipods.
OMG.. you must be on my wave length, because I at first I posted that clip to the Deer Hunter and then decided that someone might be bummed, since they were going of to Nam and deleted the clip. So funny that the same movie came to your mind.
A lot ofKismettonight!
Now that's a nice example...and many performers re-did the song.
:~)
Unforgettable John ...
Oh, I love youtube for that reason. I don't want to get Rich's article off track, because he runs a tight article, but I think I will do one on 60's music and we can all share, except for Peter and Shelly. They are too young...
Ah... youth. How wonderful!
My wife is in a group called " The 60's Chicks " (Arlene is the hot redhead with the blue scarf)and they are constantly scouring YouTube for ideas. And they're pretty daggone good too ! This was there first official performance, since then they have gotten into true vintage clothing, make-up hair and LOTS of shows.
Larry,
They are really great. Nice song choice. Haven't heard Johnny Angle in the longest time, and they have really nice harmonies.
That is one fun hobby!
Thanks Perrie!
When they first started it was for a fundraiser by the education foundation. , that was a couple of years ago or so. This last year they had over a dozen shows and made about 10 grand! Not enough to give up the day-job, but enough to pay for gas and food on the road and purchase a new sound system.
I really liked that song then and still now . I didn't know who recorded it . But that's not surprising considering that Vietnam was going on at the time and I was in the service . Such memories !