Why Electronic Dance Music Sucks
Contents
A close look at why the author thinks electronic dance music sucks, and how it could be improved.
The History of Electronic Dance Music
The first electronic dance music was created in the early 1970s. It was created by disco DJs who used synthesizers to create new, more interesting sounds. This new type of music quickly gained popularity and soon became the dominant form of dance music. However, as time went on, electronic dance music became more and more commercialized and formulaic.
The origins of electronic dance music
The origins of electronic dance music can be traced back to the late 1970s, when disco music was beginning to fade in popularity. As disco became less popular, a new generation of clubgoers and DJs began experimenting with new sounds and technologies. One of the most important innovations of this era was the use of synthesizers to create new, electronic sounds.
This new style of music quickly gained popularity in underground clubs and soon spread to the mainstream. By the early 1990s, electronic dance music was one of the most popular genres in the world. Today, it remains one of the most popular genres of music, with millions of fans all over the world.
The rise of electronic dance music
The origins of electronic dance music can be traced back to the early 1970s, when composers began experimenting with synthesizers and other electronic instruments. Over the next few decades, EDM slowly began to gain popularity, culminating in the late 1990s and early 2000s when producers such as DJ Tiesto and Paul Oakenfold became international stars.
However, it was not until the 2010s that electronic dance music really exploded in popularity, thanks in large part to the rise of streaming services such as Spotify and SoundCloud. Today, EDM is one of the most popular genres of music in the world, and its biggest stars are some of the richest musicians on the planet.
The Problems with Electronic Dance Music
Electronic dance music has taken over the world in recent years. It’s everywhere you go, from the radio to clubs to festivals. And it’s not just the music itself that’s popular, but the culture that surrounds it. However, there are some problems with electronic dance music. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the issues with EDM.
The lack of creativity
In recent years, Electronic Dance Music, or EDM, has become increasingly popular. However, there are many problems with the genre that make it subpar to other types of music. One of the main problems with EDM is the lack of creativity.
Many EDM songs sound the same because they use the same four-on-the-floor beat and similar synth sounds. This lack of creativity makes it easy for listeners to get bored of EDM songs quickly. Additionally, because there is so little variety in EDM, it can be hard for new artists to stand out from the crowd.
Another problem with EDM is that it is often associated with drug use. Many people believe that taking drugs, such as MDMA, is necessary in order to enjoy EDM music. This is not true for all genres of music, and it can be off-putting for people who do not want to take drugs in order to enjoy a concert or DJ set.
Lastly, EDM concerts and festivals are often very overcrowded and chaotic. This can be unpleasant for many people and can even be dangerous in some cases.
Overall, there are many problems with Electronic Dance Music. These problems include the lack of creativity, the association with drug use, and the overcrowding at concerts and festivals.
The lack of soul
Most electronic dance music is devoid of soul. It’s created using computers, not humans, and as a result, it often sounds cold, clinical and lifeless. There’s no emotion or passion in it. It’s just a series of beaten imposed on a backing track. This can make it quite boring and unenjoyable to listen to.
The commercialization of electronic dance music
Since the early 2010s, electronic dance music (EDM) has become increasingly popular in the mainstream music industry. In recent years, EDM has been dominated by a small number of mega-festivals, such as Ultra Music Festival and Tomorrowland, and a small number of superstar DJs, such as Calvin Harris and David Guetta. This commercialization of EDM has led to a situation where the music is now largely produced by a small number of people for a mass market.
This commercialization has led to a number of problems with electronic dance music. First, the music has become very homogenized. There is now a very narrow range of sounds that are considered to be acceptable within the genre. This lack of diversity means that many EDM tracks sounding alike, which can make them very boring to listen to.
Second, the commercialization of EDM has led to a situation where the music is often accompanied by drug use. Many people who attend EDM festivals or nightclubs do so in order to take drugs, such as MDMA (ecstasy) or ketamine. This drug use is often glorified in the media coverage of these events, and it can create an impression that drug use is an essential part of the EDM experience.
Third, the commercialization of EDM has made the music industry much more profit-oriented. In order to make money from EDM, record labels and promoters have been increasingly focused on selling tickets to large festivals and winning awards from DJ magazines. This profit-orientation has led to a situation where quality control in the genre has decreased, as record labels are more interested in releasing records that will sell well than records that are actually any good.
Fourth, the commercialization of EDM has resulted in a situation where many young people are being exposed to the music without any context or guidance. Because electronic dance music is now so easily accessible – you can find it on Spotify, SoundCloud or YouTube – there is a risk that young people will consume it without understanding its history or origins. This can lead to them having unrealistic expectations about what EDM actually is, and how it should be experienced.
Overall, the commercialization of electronic dance music has had a number of negative consequences for both the genre and its listeners.
The Solution to the Problems with Electronic Dance Music
Supporting independent artists
The solution to the problems with electronic dance music is simple: support independent artists.
The modern music industry is increasingly dominated by a small handful of major labels, which are more interested in making money than in promoting creativity or artist development. As a result, the quality of popular music has suffered, and independent artists have had a hard time getting their music heard.
By supporting independent artists, you can help to ensure that the music you enjoy is of higher quality and that the artists who make it are able to continue doing what they love. In addition, when you buy music from independent labels or directly from artists, you can be sure that more of your money is going to the people who actually created the music, rather than being siphoned off by middlemen.
Listening to underground electronic dance music
If you want to listen to good electronic dance music, you need to go underground. The mainstream music industry has taken what was once a niche genre and ruined it with commercialization and a focus on profit rather than art.
The result is that the music you hear on the radio or in clubs is often bland and uninteresting, made by producers who are more concerned with making a quick buck than making something that will stand the test of time.
If you want to hear electronic dance music that is truly innovative and exciting, you need to seek out the smaller labels and independent artists who are still creating music for the love of it. These artists are often pushing the boundaries of what is possible with electronic production, and their tracks are full of personality and character.
So don’t waste your time with the Top 40 charts – if you want to hear real electronic dance music, you need to go underground.
Appreciating the history of electronic dance music
Electronic dance music has been around for centuries, with its roots in the early 1800s. The first electronic dance music was created by Joseph Mayburg, who is credited with inventing the Theremin. The Theremin was an important step in the development of electronic dance music, as it allowed for the creation of rhythms and melodies that were not possible with traditional instruments. In the late 1800s, another important figure in the history of electronic dance music was Leon Theremin, who invented the first electronic musical instrument, the Theremin. The Theremin allowed for greater control over sound and made it possible to create more complex rhythms and melodies. The Theremin was also an important step in the development of synthesizers, as it showed that electronic instruments could be used to create realistic-sounding simulations of other instruments.
In the early 1900s, electrical engineer Hugo Gernsback started experimenting with ways to create music using electricity. He eventually developed a system called the “Gernsback Rhythmicon,” which was one of the first electronic rhythm machines. Gernsback’s machine used a variety of capacitors, inductors, and resistors to generate different sounds, and it could be programmed to play a variety of different rhythms. Gernsback’s machine was not intended for use in performance, but it did show that electrical signals could be used to create complex rhythms.
In the 1920s, engineer and composer Paul Hindemith began working on what would become one of the earliest examples of an electronic musical instrument: the thereminophone. Hindemith’s thereminphone used vacuum tubes to generate sound, and it featured a keyboard that allowed for easy note selection. The thereminphone was not widely adopted, but it did pave the way for future electronic musical instruments.
In 1948, engineer Harald Bode developed one of the first commercial electronic musical instruments: the MelodiumRhythmicon. Bode’s machine featured a built-in sound generator and mixer, making it capable of creating a wide range of sounds. The MelodiumRhythmicon was used by composers such as Edgar Varese and Olivier Messiaen, and it paved the way for subsequent developments in synthesis technology.
In 1955, engineer Robert Moog created one of the first voltage-controlled synthesizers: the Moog Synthesizer Model 55 Organ Controller. Moog’s synthesizer allowed users to control pitch and timbre by manipulating voltage levels; this made it possible to create a wide range of sounds that were not possible with previous synthesizers. Moog’s synthesizer established him as one of the leading figures in Electronic Dance Music history, and his company would go on to produce some of the most popular synthesizers ever made