Least Successful UK Top 40 artist

[billywho]

Originally Posted by Jeff H

I still don't get the Armand Van Helden clue (did he do a remix of the song?), but I do agree with Graham's assessment of his "talent."

"Dance With You" was sampled in "You Don't Know Me" by Armand Van Helden, a huge tune in the UK, though I'm not sure how big it was elsewhere.

I can't quibble with Graham's assessment because I haven't heard much else by Armand Van Helden, and anyway I have little interest in today's dance music "personalities". But, for me, "You Don't Know Me" was a fabulous tune.

[markydefad]

I bought one thing by Mr. Van Helden--"The Funk Phenomena" (repititious but catchy) which they used to play on Groove Radio. Everything else I ever heard sucked like Monica Lewinsky on her knees in the Oval Office. :oops: :P :oops: :P :oops: :P

[BrunoRepublic]

Originally Posted by billywho

I can't quibble with Graham's assessment because I haven't heard much else by Armand Van Helden, and anyway I have little interest in today's dance music "personalities".

The success of blandfill like AVH's work is the reason why you (and I) have no interest in today's dance music. Funny how someone who's considered a "personality" makes music that is so boring, monotonous, unimaginitive, and utterly lacking in personality.

Was that my outside voice?

[billywho]

Originally Posted by Graham Start

The success of blandfill like AVH's work is the reason why you (and I) have no interest in today's dance music. Funny how someone who's considered a "personality" makes music that is so boring, monotonous, unimaginitive, and utterly lacking in personality.

I'm probably not as anti today's dance music as you are, Graham, in fact, I like some of the stuff I hear very much. But I have no interest in it. Even for tunes I enjoy, I couldn't care less who the artist is, or whether he produces another song in the remainder of his career. Armand Van Helden's "You Don't Know Me" is a case in point. There is so much stuff out these days, and there's many a modern dance tune I've heard and enjoyed, then never heard it again, because I simply don't have the desire to find out who the artist is or even what it's called. It's musical wallpaper (or "blandfill" as you called it), but it enables my gym sessions to pass pleasantly enough. Yes, I'd prefer to have Cocomotion on instead (in fact I'd prefer anything pre-85 to all of today's dance music output), but I don't think it would please the other gym occupants...

[SandraDee]

I know I'm late with this Billywho but I had to say I feel so much the same as u do re post-1990 (I go a bit further than '85 :) dance music; I've got a passing interest in what's happening & i actually quite like some acid jazz & nu-disco/house stuff but I just can't get interested in the artists or music like I do with the older dance/disco stuff. Today's stuff, even the classier stuff, just seems so disposable, while older disco, even the cheesier stuff is so much more INTERESTING, dont u think?!

[billywho]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

I know I'm late with this Billywho but I had to say I feel so much the same as u do re post-1990 (I go a bit further than '85 :) dance music; I've got a passing interest in what's happening & i actually quite like some acid jazz & nu-disco/house stuff but I just can't get interested in the artists or music like I do with the older dance/disco stuff. Today's stuff, even the classier stuff, just seems so disposable, while older disco, even the cheesier stuff is so much more INTERESTING, dont u think?!

I suppose it's just a specific case of the universal law that when you get a surfeit of anything, then you gradually lose interest in it. Today we're being subjected to a massive overdose of similar sounding songs, and the resulting lack of interest and passion on behalf of the audience is entirely predictable. This is an extremely hypothetical question, I know, but I wonder what the reaction would have been if [insert any moderately decent modern trance track here] had been released in 1983.

I'll let you off about the 85/90 thing (!); I think you're right about there being a cut-off point around 1990, when techno and rave music started to completely take over (that's not to say I didn't enjoy it - I have a huge number of techno and rave CDs that I'll get around to selling one of these days). As regards "dance", things went gradually downhill between 85 and 90 (I don't really have any big favourites after 85), but of course in 86 House music took off in a big way, and I still remember well the excitement I felt on hearing the early Farley Jackmaster Funk stuff.

[SandraDee]

Oh yes, I thought house music in '86 was tremendously exciting & different, & I too loved Farley Jackmaster funk's 'Love Cant turn Around' but can u believe its still around 17 years later in a slightly different format (come on, admit that current 'nu -disco' such as the Hed Kandi stuff isn't that much different to the '86 stuff). It really is about time for something different but I s'pose the technology today doesn't allow for originality!

[billywho]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Can u believe its still around 17 years later in a slightly different format (come on, admit that current 'nu -disco' such as the Hed Kandi stuff isn't that much different to the '86 stuff). It really is about time for something different but I s'pose the technology today doesn't allow for originality!

I certainly think trance, which still seems to be popular, hasn't changed one iota in at least 10 years. Amazing longevity, really, when you think about it. I can pick up and play one of the trance compilation CDs I bought in, say, '92, and you couldn't tell any difference between it and the tracks you hear today. I still remember when Gat Decor's "Passion" and Jam And Spoon's "Stella" appeared, and how radical and exciting they were at the time, probably the first two trance tunes I ever heard.

Things will change when "the buying public" (whoever they may be) get bored and want something different. You can't force the issue. Things take their natural course. Doesn't really matter to me, since, when I have the choice, I listen to late 70s/early 80s music, and will continue to do so.