It's Easy Listening week!

Mojo · 11-16-2010, 08:01 AM

Another week down, another theme for all of you to go crazy about. Apologies for this being a little late, I know you were all eagerly awaiting it. This week is Easy listening week here at MB.

Trusty Wikipedia has this to say about the genre.

"Easy listening is a style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the mid-20th century, evolving out of swing and big band music, and related to Beautiful music and Light music. Easy listening music features simple, catchy melodies, soft, relaxing songs and occasionally rhythms suitable for couples dancing. The genre includes both instrumental forms (often played on light of tone instruments such as the Hammond Organ, violin or ukulele); and vocal forms featuring pop singers and some exotica artists. Easy listening is similar to what is called lounge music, but lounge is more jazz-oriented and dependent on musical improvisation than easy listening. Easy listening music is usually orchestrated by an arranger rather than improvised by a small ensemble.

Easy listening music is also sometimes called mood music or elevator music (lift music in the UK), the latter due to its frequent use in elevators or elevator lobbies of large buildings. The term easy listening is often incorrectly applied to other genres such as soft rock, smooth jazz, ambient music or new age music. This is because the definition is relatively broad."

Reading materials
Wiki
RYM
Easy Listening Radio

Arya Stark · 11-16-2010, 02:56 PM

I feel like I might know some examples, but I'm not so sure. I'm interested to see what other people post.

NSW · 11-16-2010, 11:03 PM

Barry Manilow...the king of Easy Listening.

Skip to 1:25:

Or listen to the entire (excruciating) thing here:

CanwllCorfe · 11-16-2010, 11:42 PM

I know nothing of Easy Listening. Well, maybe I do? I dunno. Like that excerpt from Wiki says, the term is quite broad.

This is what I think of when I hear Easy Listening. But I also imagine it being that horrible soft rock stuff with oboe and saxophone.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 11-17-2010, 06:22 AM

This has to be easy listening:

SATCHMO · 11-17-2010, 12:44 PM

RVCA · 11-17-2010, 12:47 PM

Screw easy listening, I want some really hard listening!

SATCHMO · 11-17-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVCA

Screw easy listening, I want some really hard listening!

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 11-17-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SATCHMO

sidewinder · 11-17-2010, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SATCHMO

I thought about posting that (great song). But then I read the genre description and it didn't seem to fit:

Quote:

The term easy listening is often incorrectly applied to other genres such as soft rock, smooth jazz, ambient music or new age music.

It made me realize I don't know what easy listening is. And I don't think this thread is helping much, with the wide variety of styles.

Not that I was yearning to get into easy listening.

Oh damn, that Chicago song...brings back memories. Must download and add to my nostalgia playlist!

11-16-2010, 08:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	It's Easy Listening week! Another week down, another theme for all of you to go crazy about. Apologies for this being a little late, I know you were all eagerly awaiting it. This week is Easy listening week here at MB. Trusty Wikipedia has this to say about the genre. "Easy listening is a style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the mid-20th century, evolving out of swing and big band music, and related to Beautiful music and Light music. Easy listening music features simple, catchy melodies, soft, relaxing songs and occasionally rhythms suitable for couples dancing. The genre includes both instrumental forms (often played on light of tone instruments such as the Hammond Organ, violin or ukulele); and vocal forms featuring pop singers and some exotica artists. Easy listening is similar to what is called lounge music, but lounge is more jazz-oriented and dependent on musical improvisation than easy listening. Easy listening music is usually orchestrated by an arranger rather than improvised by a small ensemble. Easy listening music is also sometimes called mood music or elevator music (lift music in the UK), the latter due to its frequent use in elevators or elevator lobbies of large buildings. The term easy listening is often incorrectly applied to other genres such as soft rock, smooth jazz, ambient music or new age music. This is because the definition is relatively broad." Reading materials Wiki RYM Easy Listening Radio __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

11-16-2010, 11:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
NSW Bigger and Better Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas girl living in the UK Posts: 2,596	Barry Manilow...the king of Easy Listening. Skip to 1:25: Or listen to the entire (excruciating) thing here: __________________ Hi.

11-16-2010, 11:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
CanwllCorfe Quiet Man in the Corner Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pocono Mountains Posts: 2,480	I know nothing of Easy Listening. Well, maybe I do? I dunno. Like that excerpt from Wiki says, the term is quite broad. This is what I think of when I hear Easy Listening. But I also imagine it being that horrible soft rock stuff with oboe and saxophone. __________________ Your eyes were never yet let in to see the majesty and riches of the mind, but dwell in darkness; for your God is blind.

11-17-2010, 06:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,181	This has to be easy listening: __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots

11-17-2010, 12:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708

11-17-2010, 12:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
RVCA （￣ー￣） Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3,270	Screw easy listening, I want some really hard listening!