2406 "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 03:52:31 +0000
From: Oleh Kovalchuke <oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
Tango Colorado has conducted a survey of good DJing practices. While most of
the results of the survey make perfect sense (I have pasted recommendations
below), one of the most important recommendations is missing. Namely: The
music should compel to dance, therefore do the homework and do not play
boring songs at milonga.
Even the best orchestras have many "blah" songs recorded. Sometimes DJ
forget that milonga is not a showcase of the breadth of their CD collection,
but rather a place where _dancers_ would like to _dance-_ to inspiring
music. Assuming conservatively that at least five tango superhits were
recorded per year, after hundred years of tango history one can easily
compose 5-10 irresistible The-Greatest-Hits milongas. Why play Donato (with
a notable exception of Ella es asi) or De Caro, especially considering that
milonga lasts 3-4 hours and you are playing those orchestras at the expense
of much more interesting songs?
Cheers, Oleh Kovalchuke
https://TangoSpring.com
PS
A DJ can swamped with sheer volume of recorded tangos. A simple way to weed
out dull songs is to rip them from the original CD. Before I rip I listen to
CD 5-10 times to find songs I truly like. I usually end up with 3-5
outstanding tracks per 20 track CD. When I DJ I play mp3 files from my
laptop. This way I never have to think if I will enjoy dancing to any
particular song I am going to play I know I will.
PPS
The recommendations for DJing based on dancers survey (you can view entire
message "DJ Survey comments and resulting guidlines for DJing at TC
):
---------snip--------------------
While we do not want to stifle what is a very creative task, we are asking
that they play primarily classic tango music, which affords thousands of
options. We ask that in the beginning of the evening, the music be less
complicated and geared to the beginners. We ask that for the community
dance, that up beat tangos be played, not milonga or waltz. We ask that if
the DJs want to play some tango-able alternative music, they do so toward
the end of the evening.
---------snip----------------------
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 06:35:15 EDT
From: LGMoseley@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
It should be easy to tackle this problem. Simply get someone to keep a note
of (a) what track is being played at a given time, and (b) how many couples got
up to dance to it, and stayed on the floor to the end. Of course, for this to
work, you have to have exposed the dancers to a wide range of styles during
the time of the "census".
I tried this a couple of years ago, and the "popular" numbers as I recall
were Orquesta Tipica Victor, Carabelli, Maglio, Laurenz, Pugliese (and Color
Tango), and D'Arienzo (especially for milongas and valses). There were even some
non-Argentine ones (e.g. some German and Dutch orchestras). However, I suspect
that habit has a lot to do with it, and one might get different responses at
different venues
I would hate to be bound simply the results of such an exercise, as it would
mean that new orchestras were not being tried and we would not get the Greek,
Turkish, Arabic, etc. numbers which add to an evenings entertainment. However,
it would be a useful corrective to the technique of some DJs of trying to
bully dancers into sharing their own personal musical tastes. Clearly, dancing
and listening are two quite different activities.
Laurie
In a message dated 21/04/2004 04:54:04 GMT Daylight Time, oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM
writes:
> Tango Colorado has conducted a survey of good DJing practices. While most
> of
> the results of the survey make perfect sense (I have pasted recommendations
> below), one of the most important recommendations is missing. Namely: The
> music should compel to dance, therefore do the homework and do not play
> boring songs at milonga.
>
> Even the best orchestras have many "blah" songs recorded. Sometimes DJ
> forget that milonga is not a showcase of the breadth of their CD collection,
> but rather a place where _dancers_ would like to _dance-_ to inspiring
> music. Assuming conservatively that at least five tango superhits were
> recorded per year, after hundred years of tango history one can easily
> compose 5-10 irresistible The-Greatest-Hits milongas. Why play Donato (with
> a notable exception of Ella es asi) or De Caro, especially considering that
> milonga lasts 3-4 hours and you are playing those orchestras at the expense
> of much more interesting songs?
>
>
> Cheers, Oleh Kovalchuke
> https://TangoSpring.com
>
>
> PS
> A DJ can swamped with sheer volume of recorded tangos. A simple way to weed
> out dull songs is to rip them from the original CD. Before I rip I listen to
> CD 5-10 times to find songs I truly like. I usually end up with 3-5
> outstanding tracks per 20 track CD. When I DJ I play mp3 files from my
> laptop. This way I never have to think if I will enjoy dancing to any
> particular song I am going to play I know I will.
>
> PPS
> The recommendations for DJing based on dancers survey (you can view entire
> message "DJ Survey comments and resulting guidlines for DJing at TC
> ):
> ---------snip--------------------
> While we do not want to stifle what is a very creative task, we are asking
> that they play primarily classic tango music, which affords thousands of
> options. We ask that in the beginning of the evening, the music be less
> complicated and geared to the beginners. We ask that for the community
> dance, that up beat tangos be played, not milonga or waltz. We ask that if
> the DJs want to play some tango-able alternative music, they do so toward
> the end of the evening.
> ---------snip----------------------
>
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 13:08:46 +0200
From: Alexis Cousein <al@BRUSSELS.SGI.COM>
Subject: Re: "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
LGMoseley@aol.com wrote:
> It should be easy to tackle this problem. Simply get someone to keep a note
> of (a) what track is being played at a given time, and (b) how many couples got
> up to dance to it, and stayed on the floor to the end. Of course, for this to
> work, you have to have exposed the dancers to a wide range of styles during
> the time of the "census".
>
> I tried this a couple of years ago, and the "popular" numbers as I recall
> were Orquesta Tipica Victor, Carabelli, Maglio, Laurenz, Pugliese (and Color
> Tango), and D'Arienzo (especially for milongas and valses).
You're forgetting many - Caló, Di Sarli, Troilo, de Angelis... Di Sarli certainly
seems to be an incredible crowd pleaser here, as is de Angelis (especially the
"from Argentina to the world" EMI recording, though some of the tracks are
also on a "bandoneón" CD that would have been completely destroyed by now had
it been an LP ;) ).
Then there are inclassifiable ones like Canaro, whose style evolved so much
that you can pick anyone and he'll love half and loathe the other half -- not
that I haven't found very late mellow d'Arienzo that melts the heart of even
the most rabid early "dry" d'Arienzo hater ;).
--
Alexis Cousein Senior Systems Engineer
alexis@sgi.com SGI Brussels
If I have seen further, it is by standing on reference manuals.
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 14:09:14 +0300
From: Hakan Totkanli <hakantotkanli@GMX.NET>
Subject: Re: "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
Couples staying on the floor also depends on the previous song. Many couples
when they started once, try to finish the song. I prefer to count the
percentage of couples that leave the dance floor after I try a new or less
played song.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
> It should be easy to tackle this problem. Simply get someone to keep a
note
> of (a) what track is being played at a given time, and (b) how many
couples got
> up to dance to it, and stayed on the floor to the end. Of course, for this
to
> work, you have to have exposed the dancers to a wide range of styles
during
> the time of the "census".
>
> I tried this a couple of years ago, and the "popular" numbers as I recall
> were Orquesta Tipica Victor, Carabelli, Maglio, Laurenz, Pugliese (and
Color
> Tango), and D'Arienzo (especially for milongas and valses). There were
even some
> non-Argentine ones (e.g. some German and Dutch orchestras). However, I
suspect
> that habit has a lot to do with it, and one might get different responses
at
> different venues
>
> I would hate to be bound simply the results of such an exercise, as it
would
> mean that new orchestras were not being tried and we would not get the
Greek,
> Turkish, Arabic, etc. numbers which add to an evenings entertainment.
However,
> it would be a useful corrective to the technique of some DJs of trying to
> bully dancers into sharing their own personal musical tastes. Clearly,
dancing
> and listening are two quite different activities.
>
> Laurie
>
> In a message dated 21/04/2004 04:54:04 GMT Daylight Time,
oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM
> writes:
>
> > Tango Colorado has conducted a survey of good DJing practices. While
most
> > of
> > the results of the survey make perfect sense (I have pasted
recommendations
> > below), one of the most important recommendations is missing. Namely:
The
> > music should compel to dance, therefore do the homework and do not play
> > boring songs at milonga.
> >
> > Even the best orchestras have many "blah" songs recorded. Sometimes DJ
> > forget that milonga is not a showcase of the breadth of their CD
collection,
> > but rather a place where _dancers_ would like to _dance-_ to inspiring
> > music. Assuming conservatively that at least five tango superhits were
> > recorded per year, after hundred years of tango history one can easily
> > compose 5-10 irresistible The-Greatest-Hits milongas. Why play Donato
(with
> > a notable exception of Ella es asi) or De Caro, especially considering
that
> > milonga lasts 3-4 hours and you are playing those orchestras at the
expense
> > of much more interesting songs?
> >
> >
> > Cheers, Oleh Kovalchuke
> > https://TangoSpring.com
> >
> >
> > PS
> > A DJ can swamped with sheer volume of recorded tangos. A simple way to
weed
> > out dull songs is to rip them from the original CD. Before I rip I
listen to
> > CD 5-10 times to find songs I truly like. I usually end up with 3-5
> > outstanding tracks per 20 track CD. When I DJ I play mp3 files from my
> > laptop. This way I never have to think if I will enjoy dancing to any
> > particular song I am going to play I know I will.
> >
> > PPS
> > The recommendations for DJing based on dancers survey (you can view
entire
> > message "DJ Survey comments and resulting guidlines for DJing at TC
> > practicas" here:
> > ):
> > ---------snip--------------------
> > While we do not want to stifle what is a very creative task, we are
asking
> > that they play primarily classic tango music, which affords thousands of
> > options. We ask that in the beginning of the evening, the music be less
> > complicated and geared to the beginners. We ask that for the community
> > dance, that up beat tangos be played, not milonga or waltz. We ask that
if
> > the DJs want to play some tango-able alternative music, they do so
toward
> > the end of the evening.
> > ---------snip----------------------
> >
>
>
>
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 14:00:14 +0200
From: Alexis Cousein <al@BRUSSELS.SGI.COM>
Subject: Re: "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
Hakan Totkanli wrote:
> Couples staying on the floor also depends on the previous song. Many couples
> when they started once, try to finish the song.
They'd better finish the *tanda* to be polite, not the song, unless the DJ
is an utter crock or uses tandas that are 10 songs long - even without
cortinas, tandas are usually quite recognizeable.
Stopping in the middle of a song will get me to throw rocks at them: if they
don't like the song, they should never start dancing to it...only terminal
exhaustion[1] or personal injuries count as an excuse for *that*.
[In case some Castellano irony-impaired people are here: tongue in cheek
implied]
--
[1] I shall have to confess I can be cruel that way - I've been known
to schedule tandas with fast milongas fit for fast-forward "They shoot horses,
don't they?" contests. On purpose, and fortunately everyone got the tongue
in cheek.
--
Alexis Cousein Senior Systems Engineer
alexis@sgi.com SGI Brussels
If I have seen further, it is by standing on reference manuals.
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 17:10:56 -0300
From: Alberto Gesualdi <clambat2001@YAHOO.COM.AR>
Subject: Re: "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
Hello Tango listeros
I keep reading the several postings, about this subject.
I have been out of the dancing floors for two months due to a minor injury, so I keep listening to a lot of tango music, old, new , bad quality recording , good quality recording.
One thing I found, at least here in Buenos Aires milongas, is that the mood of the dancers is not the same everyday . So sometimes, the tanda that works one day filling the dancing floor with dancers, other day let them sitting at their chairs.
I was a person convinced that it was good to play many short tandas with different styles . But now , after listening so many music, I am thinking that it may be better to found a good recording of a group, and to play 5 or 6 tracks from this group, even if the tanda starts with tango and ends with a 1 valsecito or 1 milonga.
There is a recording made by Sexteto Mayor, "Tangos para bailar/ Tangos to dance" , that fits into this class. It is good music from track number 1 ( El internado ) up to last track 17 (Verano porteqo ).
And also it is possible, as I have seen , to start with different tracks each time , from track 8 (Derecho viejo) to track 14 ( La yumba), or different startings , and so on , since it is a good assorted selection of 14 tangos, 2 milongas /Bailonga & Al galope) and 1 valsecito (Palomita blanca)
Warm regards
Alberto Gesualdi
Buenos Aires
!Navega y ayuda a los chicos!.
Conectate ya aqum.
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 13:19:27 +0200
From: Peter Wenger <Wenger-Lehrmittel@T-ONLINE.DE>
Subject: [Fwd: Re: [TANGO-L] "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?]
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To: Oleh Kovalchuke <oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
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Hello Oleh,
> Namely: The
> music should compel to dance, therefore do the homework and do not play
> boring songs at milonga.
Yes, right
> Sometimes DJ
> forget that milonga is not a showcase of the breadth of their CD
> collection,
> but rather a place where _dancers_ would like to _dance-_ to inspiring
> music.
Yes
> . Why play Donato (with
> a notable exception of Ella es asi)
No, Donato is one of the greatest Orchestra. "Una Orquesta con mucho ritmo"
You now, Pobre sonador, or Hay que Acomodarse? If you play it at he
milonga, the dance-floor will be crowded.
But often the sound of this old music is bad, so it should be good
restaureted. See: Todotango Nr. 10 or see: ToTango
peter
--------------080102040407080105090204--
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 07:42:02 -0700
From: Marisa Holmes <mariholmes@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
Alexis Cousein wrote:
They'd better finish the *tanda* to be polite, not the
song...
My observation is that in many relaxed milongas in the
States at least, this "rule" is not followed. The
music may not be played in tandas, or the tandas may
be of very unequal length, or the cortinas may be
absent or quite short. Or there may be the strictest
sort of tandas with cortinas - whatever. Where many
people know one another and dance together frequently
(and the mating impulse is not driving the majority of
them), what I often see is people agreeing to dance at
virtually any time and dancing for the number of songs
that pleases them. I regularly see people leave
between songs if either of them wants to, regardless
of the place in the tanda. I also see couples where
the partners are friendly agree to quit during a song
which turns out to be unpleasant for both of them (I
have seen mass desertion from the floor when a song is
very unpopular.) I also see women who are dancing
with a very new leader suggest that they leave the
floor if a tanda of milongas come on and the leader is
totally at sea or panicked - although they usually
suggest that they dance again when music the leader
understands a little bit returns. Some people often
dance in tandas - but many do not, at least some of
the time. And it works out OK.
I know that these are not traditional patterns - and
that hearing about them will offend and enrage some of
our listeros. But I find it disingenuous to repeat
over and over a "rule" which one would prefer is
followed - if it is not followed in fact. We are
describing our communities on this list, for better or
worse, and I prefer to separate facts from opinions.
In addition, I sometimes hear newer dancers repeat
these rules, even though they are not what they see
going on around them - and the result is often that
the newer dancer takes offense when none is meant.
And, of course, the bottom line about courtesy is that
real friendliness and concern for other people always
trumps the rules.
For truth in advertising,
Marisa
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 11:36:51 EDT
From: Mallpasso@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
There's nothing wrong with Donato. I consider him in the same league as
D'Arienzo and DiSarli.
El Bandito de Tango
In a message dated 4/20/2004 20:54:04 Pacific Daylight Time,
oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM writes:
Tango Colorado has conducted a survey of good DJing practices. While most of
the results of the survey make perfect sense (I have pasted recommendations
below), one of the most important recommendations is missing. Namely: The
music should compel to dance, therefore do the homework and do not play
boring songs at milonga.
Even the best orchestras have many "blah" songs recorded. Sometimes DJ
forget that milonga is not a showcase of the breadth of their CD collection,
but rather a place where _dancers_ would like to _dance-_ to inspiring
music. Assuming conservatively that at least five tango superhits were
recorded per year, after hundred years of tango history one can easily
compose 5-10 irresistible The-Greatest-Hits milongas. Why play Donato (with
a notable exception of Ella es asi) or De Caro, especially considering that
milonga lasts 3-4 hours and you are playing those orchestras at the expense
of much more interesting songs?
Cheers, Oleh Kovalchuke
https://TangoSpring.com
PS
A DJ can swamped with sheer volume of recorded tangos. A simple way to weed
out dull songs is to rip them from the original CD. Before I rip I listen to
CD 5-10 times to find songs I truly like. I usually end up with 3-5
outstanding tracks per 20 track CD. When I DJ I play mp3 files from my
laptop. This way I never have to think if I will enjoy dancing to any
particular song I am going to play I know I will.
PPS
The recommendations for DJing based on dancers survey (you can view entire
message "DJ Survey comments and resulting guidlines for DJing at TC
):
---------snip--------------------
While we do not want to stifle what is a very creative task, we are asking
that they play primarily classic tango music, which affords thousands of
options. We ask that in the beginning of the evening, the music be less
complicated and geared to the beginners. We ask that for the community
dance, that up beat tangos be played, not milonga or waltz. We ask that if
the DJs want to play some tango-able alternative music, they do so toward
the end of the evening.
---------snip----------------------
_030104_lovehandles
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 19:43:19 +0000
From: Oleh Kovalchuke <oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
Donato might have more worthwhile songs recorded. I have not heard them. I
did have to dance to quite a few "blah" tangos by Donato or by Biagi or by
Canaro or D'Arienzo or... Hence my reaction.
Cheers, Oleh K.
https://TangoSpring.com
>From: Mallpasso@aol.com
>To: oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM, TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
>Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] "Blah" tangos - why do people play them?
>Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 11:36:51 EDT
>
>There's nothing wrong with Donato. I consider him in the same league as
>D'Arienzo and DiSarli.
>
>El Bandito de Tango
>
>
>
>
>
>In a message dated 4/20/2004 20:54:04 Pacific Daylight Time,
>oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM writes:
>Tango Colorado has conducted a survey of good DJing practices. While most
>of
>the results of the survey make perfect sense (I have pasted recommendations
>below), one of the most important recommendations is missing. Namely: The
>music should compel to dance, therefore do the homework and do not play
>boring songs at milonga.
>
>Even the best orchestras have many "blah" songs recorded. Sometimes DJ
>forget that milonga is not a showcase of the breadth of their CD
>collection,
>but rather a place where _dancers_ would like to _dance-_ to inspiring
>music. Assuming conservatively that at least five tango superhits were
>recorded per year, after hundred years of tango history one can easily
>compose 5-10 irresistible The-Greatest-Hits milongas. Why play Donato (with
>a notable exception of Ella es asi) or De Caro, especially considering that
>milonga lasts 3-4 hours and you are playing those orchestras at the expense
>of much more interesting songs?
>
>
>Cheers, Oleh Kovalchuke
>https://TangoSpring.com
>
>
>PS
>A DJ can swamped with sheer volume of recorded tangos. A simple way to weed
>out dull songs is to rip them from the original CD. Before I rip I listen
>to
>CD 5-10 times to find songs I truly like. I usually end up with 3-5
>outstanding tracks per 20 track CD. When I DJ I play mp3 files from my
>laptop. This way I never have to think if I will enjoy dancing to any
>particular song I am going to play I know I will.
>
>PPS
>The recommendations for DJing based on dancers survey (you can view entire
>message "DJ Survey comments and resulting guidlines for DJing at TC
>practicas" here:
>):
>---------snip--------------------
>While we do not want to stifle what is a very creative task, we are asking
>that they play primarily classic tango music, which affords thousands of
>options. We ask that in the beginning of the evening, the music be less
>complicated and geared to the beginners. We ask that for the community
>dance, that up beat tangos be played, not milonga or waltz. We ask that if
>the DJs want to play some tango-able alternative music, they do so toward
>the end of the evening.
>---------snip----------------------
>
>waist.
>_030104_lovehandles
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