Definitive Song

[stingerhs]

well, this started as a discussion i had with one of my friends. basically, i was trying to introduce him to some music, and he was pretty positive that all he needed to do was to listen to a so-called "definitive song" to see if he would like the band. by his definition, a "definitive song" is one that captures the overall sound of a band throughout every album they ever put out.

 

now, its my opinion that you could do this on a per album basis because some artists regularly change up their styles on just about every new album.

 

so, my question here is, can you define a band with just one "definitive song", or do you have to look at every album individually?? and please give some examples.

[Jeff]

I think it depends on the band / artist. I think for the most part, if it is an artist rather than a band, if you like their voice and sound in one of their better songs, you will like most of everything else of theirs.

 

I don't listen to hardly any current bands, but one band example I can think of is Pink Floyd. If you listen to a song or two from their first album Piper at the Gates, you might think wtf, this is the weirdest thing I have ever heard, I hate it. But they sound quite different when you get to Wish You Were Here. So with bands, I think it depends on if band members are changing and what their current style is.

[El Sitherino]

You could never define someone like David Bowie with even a single greatest hits album.

 

I think there are more format style bands however that can easily be identified in their style with one song. Nickelback uses the same song every track, so that's probably the easiest. Linkin Park is pretty much always the same.

Mostly teen-rock, but I guess that's why it sells, identifiability.

[Alkonium]

I think it varies from band to band, and depends on how long they last, and whether they change style over the years.

[Astor]

It's difficult to define a group with just one song, or even album, but most of the U2 songs i've listened to pretty much sound the same.

[Salzella]

you'd really struggle with some bands. radiohead, for example, have been through so many sounds it would be difficult to have just one that was representative. with some bands, though, it would be a lot easier. u2 ^^^ is a good example.

[Q]

I don't listen to hardly any current bands, but one band example I can think of is Pink Floyd. If you listen to a song or two from their first album Piper at the Gates, you might think wtf, this is the weirdest thing I have ever heard, I hate it. But they sound quite different when you get to Wish You Were Here. So with bands, I think it depends on if band members are changing and what their current style is.

Good example. Most bands go through developmental phases throughout their existence and it would be impossible to nail down their entire essence in a single song. With Pink Floyd, I could probably do it with three, though:

 

Early period:

Middle Period:

Late Period:

 

I can't consider any of the music produced without Roger Waters to be by Pink Floyd. I refer to that band as "David Gilmour & Co." Most of that stuff was crap.

[Pavlos]

You are probably better giving an overview of more creative bands, a sort of "greatest songs" collection. Especially ones like, say, the Beatles who have an incredible range, with Lennon and McCartney (and Harrison) having very different sounds to their work, even if they did collaborate on a lot of things.

 

I mean: "Eleanor Rigby" sounds completely different to "Hello Goodbye" which sounds completely different to "Got to Get You into My Life" or

or "Girl" or "A Day In the Life" or "Can't Buy Me Love" or (particular favourites) "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" or "Blackbird".

 

I don't think you can sum up some groups with one song.

[Alkonium]

I'd say with Rush, it's easier to find a definitive song for each decade.

1970's: 2112 Overture/Temples of Syrinx

1980's: Tom Sawyer

1990's: Dreamline

2000's: Far Cry

[Jae Onasi]

Heywood Banks' definitive song: "Fly's Eyes".

[Laar_Dha]

Dire Straits: Sultan's of Swing

[Q]

^Yes. That whole first album of theirs is pure guitar gold.

[Astrotoy7]

and he was pretty positive that all he needed to do was to listen to a so-called "definitive song" to see if he would like the band.

 

by his definition, a "definitive song" is one that captures the overall sound of a band throughout every album they ever put out.

 

 

stinger, I'm glad this person is your friend and not mine! What utter laziness. You are taking the time to try switch him onto some music, and his eminence must be so busy running the universe that he only has time for one track to humour his friend?

 

Unless the group is a one hit wonder, there is no such thing as a 'definitive' song.

 

Part of enjoying a musician's body of work is listening to how their styles change, for better or worse over a period of time. Whether it is Bowie, Beastie Boys or Metallica, you will be doing the hard work of the artist and their music a disservice to reduce them to a sample track.

 

I would leave this person to their own devices and let them make such musical discoveries on their own. How can one do any different on something so subjective as musical preference?

 

In many instances, music we like tends to find its way to us rather than we actively seeking it

 

mtfbwya

[ForeverNight]

@Astor: Yeah, I know, I wish that "The Edge" would learn how to play more guitar instead of playing the same over and over and over.

 

@Thread: Eh, Supertramp: Give A Little Bit., and Crime of the Century <--- pay no attention to the sidebar unless you're part of the camp that goes "ZOMG!!!!!1111!11!111 Bush is teh liar of teh century!1!11!!1 He should be teh dead!!!!111!1!1!11one" The song is good however.

[stingerhs]

I would leave this person to their own devices and let them make such musical discoveries on their own. How can one do any different on something so subjective as musical preference?

true, but i work with him everyday. so, when we're in the back, i have a choice of listening to classical (which is what he likes), nothing, or my iPod. and as much as i would love to just pop in the earbuds and be done with it, both of us are always asking each other for advise too much. plus, music aside, he's a pretty cool guy, even if he's on the older side of things.

[Rabish Bini]

No you can't judge a band with a definitive song.

 

It's like someone saying they don't like Metallica when all they listened to is "Mama Said"

[JediAthos]

Yeah, I don't think you can really define the truly transcendent bands or artists with one song because most of them change their style to some extent the longer they put out music.

 

You can go through a catalog and pick songs that people will identify with that band so I guess you might call that definitive.

[Totenkopf]

Yeah, the more prodigious a band is, the harder it is to pigeonhole them like that. With a group like Boston (Don't Look Back, Long Time, More than a Feeling), for instance, it might be a little less difficult b/c they've made so few albums.