Comments on Playing For Change: Song Around the World "Stand By Me"
Before you check out the video on this one, how about a sample of just the audio recording:
Audio-only recording (sample)
An arbitrary feel to it (the finale doesn't really result from the development of individual parts), but still holds up, I'd say. The cool thing about it is that it lacks that "studio magic" sheen. The instruments are more isolated than we're used to hearing them (a bit like they're coming through a PA system) and don't sound the way we're used to hearing them. Why that is has to do with two things.
The first, and most significant from my perspective, is that none of the parts were recorded in a studio, but outside with a single microphone. The engineering challenge of this fact alone is substantial, not to mention all of the other considerations apparent on the video (different locations, background noise, tuning and temperaments, use of headphones- no eye contact, etc).
The second reason it doesn't really sound like what we're used to hearing is that music, quite simply, is not really the point after all. Now to the music + video:
Now you SEE the point, I suppose. Per engineer-producer of the project, Mark Johnson, "Playing for Change was born out of the idea that we have to inspire each other, to come together as a human race, that music is the best way to do this" (ref). What, what! The same song and dance we've heard a thousand times from a thousand 80s rockers. Its one of those timeless themes, I guess, like unrequited love, constipation and taxes.
The 'getting together as a species' is an urgent message, but let's keep it straight: making music is not "the best way" to do anything but make music, not when 1 billion of us are doing worse off than the species was doing 10,000 years ago. That's something no song and no video are going to do anything about. Let's change the hearts of those who are in a position to help; let's show there is something worth helping, but let's be less concerned with entertainment and the touchy-feelies and more concerned with mosquito nets, vaccines, military protection, sanitation, and commerce.
We've had enough songs and funding of music schools, already. How about a clean drink of water?
Posted by MacSoundhine at 5/11/2009 12:34 PM 
Categories: blog post
Tags: music cool stuff soundscape recording
Categories: blog post
Tags: music cool stuff soundscape recording
I agree that in general we should be "more concerned with mosquito nets, vaccines, military protection, sanitation, and commerce" and that we shouldn't need music to inspire us to do it, but most people aren't very self-motivated. They need something to draw them into action. For that, I still think the project is a good one. People who wouldn't normally be motivated to think about ways in which they could make the world better might read about this project and start thinking about ways they could shake down some of the barriers they put up around themselves. There will always be more pressing issues than coming together "as a human race," but coming together and accepting people's differences is a really beautiful thing, and I'm glad this group is working towards it.
Plus I like the song.
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