Can You Date a Song Just By Listening? |
Post Reply |
Author | |
MortSahlFan
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 01 2018 Location: US Status: Offline Points: 2637 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: July 05 2020 at 15:29 |
If so, can you describe how you are able to do with, and if you can,
what are the characteristics? Sometimes I can't describe it using the
proper nomenclature, and have to resort to giving examples of a certain
song, sometimes comparing a re-make.
The production alone can help me identify the decade, if not closer. Even a song with just an acoustic and vocal is pretty easy for me. Hell, just listening to a vocal helps me identify around the year it was made. The drums is usually an easy giveaway, especially once the 80s came around. I notice they keep getting louder, and the vocals seem to get more quiet on average. The snare drum definitely got louder in the 80s, adding reverb. I notice less piano, and more (usually cheesy sounding) keyboards. Lots of "jangly" strat guitar sounds. I've recorded my own music digitally, but I never want that sanitized sound. I'm guessing most of it is direct recording, instead of using microphones (close and distant). I think the styles of the instruments give it away, too, but especially the vocals. I remember listening to a Marvin Gaye song that had 1984 as the date, but after listening to just a few seconds of it, I knew it had to be a mistake, and I found out it was a posthumous release. Also, maybe we could have a game where someone posts a song that is trying to sound timeless, and having others guess? |
|
https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition
https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List |
|
Tom Ozric
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 03 2005 Location: Olympus Mons Status: Offline Points: 15916 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
It’s usually the production values and instrumentation, though in many cases, it can be tricky.
Lyrical content can also pin music down to an era. |
|
Hrychu
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 03 2013 Location: poland? Status: Offline Points: 4138 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Sorta. I can usually roughly tell when a song was recorded by the drum sound.
|
|
Bez pierdolenia sygnał zerwie, to w realia wychodź w hełmie!
|
|
SteveG
Forum Senior Member Joined: April 11 2014 Location: Kyiv In Spirit Status: Offline Points: 20497 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Yep, especially if it features a mellotron.
|
|
This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State.
|
|
chopper
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 13 2005 Location: Essex, UK Status: Offline Points: 19943 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
In some cases yes. Certain sounds such as a boomy electronic drum sound or an orchestral stab sample date a song immediately.
|
|
MortSahlFan
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 01 2018 Location: US Status: Offline Points: 2637 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Anyone want to guess the date of this song? |
|
https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition
https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List |
|
Tom Ozric
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 03 2005 Location: Olympus Mons Status: Offline Points: 15916 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
You can date a woman just by listening (to her)) 🤣
Edited by Tom Ozric - July 06 2020 at 07:32 |
|
The Dark Elf
Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: February 01 2011 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 12683 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
In most cases, yes.
|
|
...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
|
rushfan4
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 22 2007 Location: Michigan, U.S. Status: Offline Points: 65937 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
|
|
|
MortSahlFan
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 01 2018 Location: US Status: Offline Points: 2637 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
https://youtu.be/u1ws_BiCtsY |
|
https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition
https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List |
|
Catcher10
Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: December 23 2009 Location: Emerald City Status: Offline Points: 17497 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Agree!! I can tell by the production meaning the mix and mastering. Today's production is highly clinical, very sterile sounding as compared to recordings of yesteryear . Today the tone, rhythm are perfect, only perfected because of computers, analog instruments do not perform that way. Lyrics as stated play a big part too.
|
|
|
|
Post Reply | |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |