Monday, November 2, 2009

Musical Pet Peeves: Compilation Cds

I try my hardest not to be a music snob, but certain things just get under my skin (and not in a fun, Cole Porter, "I've got you under my skin/I've got you, deep in the heart of me/So deep in my heart, that you're really a part of me" kind of way).

Cole Porter trying to decide if "I've got you under my skin" sounds creepy

However, one of the biggest peeves of mine: compilation cds of classical music meant to induce a certain mood. "Rachmaninoff for Lovers," "Classical Music for Romantic Reading Evenings" (what does that even mean?!?!?), "Mozart so your baby will get a higher SAT score," "Penderecki for Relaxation" (I'm joking about two of those). Also, an amazon search provided me with about 12 different "relaxation" compilations: Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Mozart, Beethoven, etc. Yikes. I hate the stereotype of classical music putting people to sleep. All of the examples on those cds are second movements; slow, lulling, beautiful.

I want to see more interesting collections at the local Barnes & Noble or Borders:

"Even-Numbered Beethoven Symphonies"
"Shostakovich to Contemplate Communism"
"Mozart that hasn't been made into a ringtone"
"Serialism to Sing in the Shower"
"Stravinsky to Riot To"

I'm thinking I should make some of these cds, make professional labels, and leave some in a music store. Guerrilla art! Who's with me?

2 comments:

  1. We have been using a Dollar Store CD in general music the last few days titled "The Magical Piano." The tag line on the back is something along the lines of: Filling the air with sounds of the piano's magic. Awful.

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  2. I'd riot to Stravinsky!

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