Electro-Swing or: How I Learned to Stop Complaining and Love Modernity

[Shangas]

I've heard a lot of these "jazz-fusion" thingies. Like 'jazz-rap' (what the HELL is that anyway?). To me, nothing will beat the sound of the real thing. The sound of music that was written, performed and recorded back in the 20s, 30s and 40s, before an age of synthisizers, electronics and computers, when only the best of the best of the best musicians ever made it anywhere beyond the piano in their grandmother's front parlour. These days, anyone who can pluck a guitar-string and has a web-cam thinks they're an artist...

Just because it gets a lot of views on YouTube doesn't necessarily mean it's good. That Rebecca Black song "Friday" got millions of views. But only because people couldn't believe how bad it was.

[V.C. Brunswick]

I've heard a lot of these "jazz-fusion" thingies. Like 'jazz-rap' (what the HELL is that anyway?). To me, nothing will beat the sound of the real thing. The sound of music that was written, performed and recorded back in the 20s, 30s and 40s, before an age of synthisizers, electronics and computers, when only the best of the best of the best musicians ever made it anywhere beyond the piano in their grandmother's front parlour. These days, anyone who can pluck a guitar-string and has a web-cam thinks they're an artist...

Just because it gets a lot of views on YouTube doesn't necessarily mean it's good. That Rebecca Black song "Friday" got millions of views. But only because people couldn't believe how bad it was.

Rebecca Black -- Friday
168,000 likes, 640,000 dislikes

Is it just me or does it seem that most song lyrics today do not even rhyme??? And once again I had to switch to Smith Ballew after listening to Friday.

[LizzieMaine]

Rhyming's for squares, man.

[vitanola]

"that smooth-as-whiskey, ultra-sexy roaring twenties sound..."

No.

THIS is the "Roaring Twenties Sound":



Or this:



Or perhaps this:



The stuff that you posted in indeed interesting, and it will hopefully introduce youngsters to the concept that dance music does not inevitably include electric guitars, which would be all to the good.

The insistent, pounding beat evident in many of the electro-swing sides which you posted may be found primarily in some 1930's swing records, most notably the first (1930) version og the "Casa Loma Stomp" which was originally a dance number, not the high-speed "Barn Burner" that it later became.



Note the insistent, pounding rhythm, almost metronomic, similar to much modern dance music, but note too the building excitement in the final choruses. Without any increase in tempo, the repeated, building call-and-response choruses in this Gene Gifford chart build to a climax which usually sends the dancers bouncing off the walls. Modern dance music does not often include this sort of emotional release, the build of tension and its eventual release being left in the hands of the disc jockey.

[mummyjohn]

...the repeated, building call-and-response choruses in this Gene Gifford chart build to a climax which usually sends the dancers bouncing off the walls. Modern dance music does not often include this sort of emotional release, the build of tension and its eventual release being left in the hands of the disc jockey.

I will definitely agree with you on that, it's a complaint of mine as well. But that's the thing I love about this world: there's enough music in it to choose a lifetime's worth of what you like. I'd rather live in a reality where we can be musical gluttons than one where we starve from lack of it.

[Lafayette]

mummyjohn,

I usually lurk on The Fedora Lounge but thought I’d drop in to say a ‘thank you’ that is long overdue.

Some Fedora Loungers are vintage inspired and some tend to be a bit more into vintage as a complete way of life. I understand the majority of the latter Loungers will look down upon electro-swing for its lack of authenticity. I wouldn’t expect a genre such as electro-swing to be welcome with open arms by many Loungers.

I was looking for music that would be a reflection of my personality as well as inspiration for my lifestyle. In other words, a sonic feedback loop. I want the music I listen to to be the soundtrack for my lifestyle.

You gave me what I was looking for.

Your post inspired me to check out (via YouTube) Parov Stelar and Caravan Palace.

I’ve had one of Parov Stelar’s album playing constantly around the house for my evenings’ ‘getting ready to go out’ soundtrack. It’s also perfect for inviting people over for drinks in the evening.

Classic music (non-electro manipulated, e.g. Django) still plays during the day but now I have electro swing as my go-to modern swing soundtrack.

You have literally given me the soundtrack for my life (well, my nightlife anyway!).

Now, if I could find a literary equivalent of F. Scott Fitzgerald for the 21st century. Alas, that’ll need its own thread.

[mummyjohn]

I’ve had one of Parov Stelar’s album playing constantly around the house for my evenings’ ‘getting ready to go out’ soundtrack. It’s also perfect for inviting people over for drinks in the evening.

Classic music (non-electro manipulated, e.g. Django) still plays during the day but now I have electro swing as my go-to modern swing soundtrack.

You have literally given me the soundtrack for my life (well, my nightlife anyway!).

This is almost exactly what happened to me. One Friday, a friend walked in and said "stop whatever you're doing, you have to check this out." And the rest was history. I was hooked from the word go. A soundtrack to suit me, couldn't have phrased it better myself. I'm so glad to have helped someone else realize the same satisfaction from this music as I have.

[mummyjohn]

Of course it's hard to be familiar with pop music and not be familiar with Bei Mir Bist Du Schön, so I had to include this interesting, quieter, downtempo take on it. The thread's been rather Parov Stelar heavy (nothing wrong with that though), so I wanted to introduce a little variety. This is one of Waldeck's tracks; they are more "sit around and listen" than "my muscles refuse to do anything but dance" as the others typically are.



And here's Memories for free:

[LolitaHaze]

This electro-swing is great! It's a perfect way to entertain my non vintage friends as well as my vintage friends at the same party. It's also a great way to slyly introduce vintage style music to those who think all old music is bad music.

[MikeBravo]

I have to admit to having a hard time finding the "swing" in a couple of those numbers. For me it seems a little lost underneath.

Though I quite like how modern musicians keep the spirit of jazz alive. The reason jazz has lasted so long is due to improvisation (otherwise we'd still be listening to tuba and banjo, not that there's anything wrong with that). Adding electronic components to it is just that, improvisation.

More to my taste is where musicians add layers of electronic and sampling to existing music. For example I love the Verve Remix series.

There is also a Serbian group, Gramaphonedzie, who have done similar work with Peggy Lee:


And then there's UK group Belleruche who have done the same with Django: