I want your semi-philosophical opinion on something...

When a melody in a song sounds cheesy to you, would you say that's because of the melody itself or the way it's "presented"?

*Of course* it's not black or white, rather complex even maybe. If a melody sounds cheesy, it could be both too hum-along-friendly and played in a too simple or too pretentious manner or something. And a melody that sounds lame to one person... etc.

*Still*, generally, what do you think? How would you e.g. improve a melodic song of yours which turns out to sound too cheesy? Would your main focus be improving the melody/composition, or your production and use of instruments and such?

I'm wondering cause when I listen to music (which I'd call melodic), it often fascinates me how some melodies just feel right, while others just sound lame. I'm thinking "I don't like this stupid melody" but I can never really put my finger on whether it's the actual melody or something else that makes the big difference between "great & catchy" and cheesy.

BTW, let me try to define cheesy in this context: Simple sounding, uninteresting, maybe somewhat pathetic (think bad schlager - no offense schlager fans!)

God, you must all think I'm drunk... But I seriously think it could be an interesting topic for discussion (or for making fun of me maybe, which I'll just have to live with then. )

cheesy is good, but accepting that can be a bitch

Interesting topic... I was just thinking the other night about how a lot of melodies seem very natural and "obvious". I seem to struggle personally with doing the obvious - by which I mean doing the thing that the listener almost expects. Yet, I can admire the same attribute in music I listen to. I don't know if this is the same as cheesiness, but it seems like it's the same thing, but a lot less extreme.

For me, I think I need to get over this problem I have with doing the obvious, simple thing...

Yeah, this is a tough thing to discuss because cheese is in the eye of the beholder.


. o O ( Darned food fight, must remember to wear goggles next time. )

I think you can make anything sound cheesy

Both. Firstly, I think 'cheesy' is hard to define, but I also think that it's not (necessarily) a bad thing.

I would say 'cheesy' to me, is almost like saying something's 'camp' (also not necessarily a bad thing). It can also be elements of predictability and cliché, - like a big key change at the end for example.

I often find it the sort of 'pop' music that you can sing and dance to; for example, the product of 90's boybands and similar groups. Octave leaps for some reason often sound 'cheesy' to me, as do backing vocals that just go 'Ahhhh'. - It's a combination of lots of things though; melody, instrumentation, arrangement, groove etc.



Well, I actually quite like cheese, so I wouldn't necessarily want to improve a song of mine which turned out that way.
All just my opinions of course.

I *always* strive for cheese.
And cheese comes in different flavors.
I don't like all the flavors, but I like most.

i make the cheese. i like the cheese

It's in the arrangement & presentation. The main theme for Lord of the Rings sounds mighty, epic, and timeless... in the original score. Many people would agree. Now look at "They're Taking the Hobbits to Isengard!" on YouTube. Same melody... now cheesy!

OMG. Thats f**ked up!

Using clichéd melodies, chord progressions and sometimes sounds and rhythms sound cheesy to me ... I suppose it depends on the context as well as to whether it comes across as cheesy, but there you go.

Aha, that's a good example! I wish I'd never watched that video, but good example nevertheless.

Come to think of it, it would be cool do a little test. To come up with a corny melody and try different arrangements to see how much it's possible to change the feeling of it. Maybe even the cheesiest of melodies can actually sound great in a song?

Just listened to "The Price Fighter Inferno". Half the song "A Death in the Family" is based on the old classic teaser melody (you know which one I mean?). Must be the corniest and most cliché melody ever, still in this song it sounds really really cool I think. Mainly because of the arrangement, the fascinating voice of Claudio Sanchez and the whole "My Brother's Blood Machine" context.

What do you think, won't vocals (if any) play a large part in whether a melody comes across as cheesy (in a bad sense) or not? If two different singers sing the same melody, using the same arrangement, you can still get very different results.

I think that could also indicate that presentation is more important than melody.

It is the way it is presented, no doubt.
Lots of artist can take a simple, otherwise cheesy melody and make it sound interesting.

I just put up a new song which has a very simple melody, but it's not cheasy, and it's only a 3 chord song too:)

www.bluelife.de/music.php

Song is Daddy Don't You Worry.

blue

Beautiful song blue!!!

Brilliant way to prove your point there. It's simple, yes, but the whole mood and your vocals (which kinda proves my point above too) make the melody sound great and not at all cheesy. This would also be an example of the kind of melody Gargoyle was talking about. It's sort of an obvious melody, which only makes it even better.