Using Samples in Rock Music

Violent & Funky · 10-11-2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

and it just doesn't seem like musicians are using it innovatively. They play a few seconds here or there in a song and often the song seems to have nothing to do with the clips.

I just have to ask: have you listened to any of the videos in this thread other than jackhammer's?

**Janszoon** · 10-11-2010, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

I get what you're saying about the mass media detritus combining into something new. Maybe my gripe is that the detritus wasn't appealing to me the first time around, and it just doesn't seem like musicians are using it innovatively. They play a few seconds here or there in a song and often the song seems to have nothing to do with the clips.

Also, the connection of which you speak is often lost on me, since I usually don't know where it came from or what its broader significance was.

A lot of time it being mass media detritus is the point, where it comes from isn't particularly relevant. Think of it as the equivalent of building a percussion kit out of found junk. Does it matter which junkyard you found that oil drum at? No. It's the the simple fact that you're playing discarded oil drum from anywhere that's interesting.

But if you prefer your sampling to have a more literal connection, how about someone like Negativland? The samples in this particular track come from televangelist in the 80s going on some rant about communists taking over America and outlawing Christianity.

sidewinder · 10-11-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

And wasn't there some post 9/11 song using clips of various people talking. Ugh! History set to icky patriotic music. Here...here it is:

That's just corny bull**** aimed at making the masses cry.

VEGANGELICA · 10-13-2010, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Violent & Funky

I just have to ask: have you listened to any of the videos in this thread other than jackhammer's?

Besides jackhammer's, I listened to four Dillinger Four's songs (since someone in the thread recommended this group), as well as "Japanther," half of "Butthole Surfers," and part of the "hippo" song. It's hard to get myself make it through a whole song,

but I've tried, because I want to figure out what it is you fans of this music appreciate about it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

A lot of time it being mass media detritus is the point, where it comes from isn't particularly relevant. Think of it as the equivalent of building a percussion kit out of found junk. Does it matter which junkyard you found that oil drum at? No. It's the the simple fact that you're playing discarded oil drum from anywhere that's interesting.

But if you prefer your sampling to have a more literal connection, how about someone like Negativland? The samples in this particular track come from televangelist in the 80s going on some rant about communists taking over America and outlawing Christianity.

You're right, Janszoon, I do prefer the sampling to have a more literal connection, like in this song...but doesn't it seem horribly repetitive to you?

Your explanation about the discarded oil drum helped. Thanks. I realize now that some of the music in this genre is the sound equivalent of industrial sculptures such as:

**Janszoon** · 10-13-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

You're right, Janszoon, I do prefer the sampling to have a more literal connection, like in this song...but doesn't it seem horribly repetitive to you?

I think the repetition is what makes it so funny!

sidewinder · 10-13-2010, 12:27 PM

May I present...a video not safe for your eyes, complete with excellent movie samples.

There aren't that many, but I think they fit the song very very well.

I'm curious what VEGANGELICA thinks of it.

This one is LOADED with samples. They really dominate the song, but that's the point. It's an audio collage, and I find it great.

I just can't explain the connection I have with vocal samples in the music I grew up with. Out at night with friends, driving around, sometimes on hallucinogens, these samples appear to come from out of nowhere and just added to the soundtrack of my life. I wish I could relive those days sometimes.

Violent & Funky · 10-13-2010, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

Besides jackhammer's, I listened to four Dillinger Four's songs (since someone in the thread recommended this group), as well as "Japanther," half of "Butthole Surfers," and part of the "hippo" song. It's hard to get myself make it through a whole song,

but I've tried, because I want to figure out what it is you fans of this music appreciate about it!

Dillinger Four and Japanther are a bit noisy, so I can see why they might be more inaccessible, as well as the obviously weird Butthole Surfers. But what about the Incubus song is so off putting?

VEGANGELICA · 10-13-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidewinder

May I present...a video not safe for your eyes, complete with excellent movie samples.

There aren't that many, but I think they fit the song very very well.

I'm curious what VEGANGELICA thinks of it.

I just can't explain the connection I have with vocal samples in the music I grew up with. Out at night with friends, driving around, sometimes on hallucinogens, these samples appear to come from out of nowhere and just added to the soundtrack of my life. I wish I could relive those days sometimes.

I feel Skinny Puppy's "Worlock" works well as a song without the samples, such as the main one saying repeatedly, "Now is the only thing that's real." For example, the song has real drive and energy when the beat comes in at 0:29. And the lyrics are interesting. The samples just didn't add anything for me and instead distracted me. The video was a nice mish-mash of horror flicks, just like the "Rivers" video. They both seem about the same to me. Meh.

Maybe I'm not taking enough hallucinogens!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Violent & Funky

Dillinger Four and Japanther are a bit noisy, so I can see why they might be more inaccessible, as well as the obviously weird Butthole Surfers. But what about the Incubus song is so off putting?

I liked the sound of the Dillinger Four songs, V&F. I just didn't feel the samples added much. The samples seemed to be tacked on rather than merged into the music. I'd prefer more intricate interweaving of samples and original sounds.

The Incubus song, "Magic Medicine," irritated me because of the samples used. I wouldn't want to hear them as part of children's shows, and so I don't care to hear them again in a song. I assume the song is intended to mock the silly, stupifying emptiness of media aimed at young kids: "On this page you see a little girl giggling at a hippopotamus. I wonder why. I found a sow in the house one day. Hyena, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you."

The song makes me want to go shoot a puppet.

sidewinder · 10-13-2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

Maybe I'm not taking enough hallucinogens!

Yeah, get with the program!

I think it's true what Worlock could work very well without the samples, but I've always known and loved the song with the samples, so they're a distinct part of the song for me. Rivers obviously depends on the samples for its current. I have no doubt it would sound very nice without them, but I like it just the way it is too. It makes it more creepy.

**Janszoon** · 10-13-2010, 05:53 PM

As far as Skinny Puppy goes, I'm a pretty big fan of the sampling on Last Rights and Too Dark Park. I find it more abstract and it adds a very fucked up edge to things. Unfortunately I'm having trouble finding good examples on YouTube though.

10-13-2010, 12:27 PM	#36 (permalink)
sidewinder Engorged Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,536	May I present...a video not safe for your eyes, complete with excellent movie samples. There aren't that many, but I think they fit the song very very well. I'm curious what VEGANGELICA thinks of it. This one is LOADED with samples. They really dominate the song, but that's the point. It's an audio collage, and I find it great. I just can't explain the connection I have with vocal samples in the music I grew up with. Out at night with friends, driving around, sometimes on hallucinogens, these samples appear to come from out of nowhere and just added to the soundtrack of my life. I wish I could relive those days sometimes. __________________ last.fm \| my collection on RYM \| vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

10-13-2010, 05:53 PM	#40 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	As far as Skinny Puppy goes, I'm a pretty big fan of the sampling on Last Rights and Too Dark Park. I find it more abstract and it adds a very fucked up edge to things. Unfortunately I'm having trouble finding good examples on YouTube though. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm