Totally hypothetical and academic question:
If John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" were released today, would it be considered a "rap" tune ---
1) given the definition of the genre itself, and
2) the rhythmic non-melodic style the song was written and performed in?
Or would it be given a more conventional label, such as a "recitation/ballad"?
In comparing the song to more contemporary compositions and recordings, it could easily fit the definition in a literal and clinical sense. Yet the thought of a hoodied Lennon "workin' the wheels of steel" is all but encroaching on blasphemy.
Opinions, clarifications and further definitions welcome. Flames and abuse ignored.
Reclassifying "Give Peace a Chance"
-
- KVRer
- 26 posts since 23 Nov, 2011 from Washington DC
-
- Banned
- 2033 posts since 19 Jun, 2011 from a world of Black Thunder chocs
Notwithstanding:
a) the hypothetical nature of this question, and
b) the scope of different people's interpretations of rap,
I would argue that it can not be rap.
If it were released today, I would classify it as either folk music or a pop song (I could see the Polyphonic Spree having recorded it).
Equally, if it were released today, I'm not sure that it would be so widely received as it was approx 32 years ago.
a) the hypothetical nature of this question, and
b) the scope of different people's interpretations of rap,
I would argue that it can not be rap.
If it were released today, I would classify it as either folk music or a pop song (I could see the Polyphonic Spree having recorded it).
Equally, if it were released today, I'm not sure that it would be so widely received as it was approx 32 years ago.
-
- KVRAF
- 6272 posts since 25 Mar, 2004
...you would never hear it.Matthew Morse wrote:Totally hypothetical and academic question:
If John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" were released today...
The only reason this ever saw the light of day was due to a confluence of unique circumstances: Lennon was a member of the most popular group of all time and became one of the crossover faces of the emerging hippy/alt/counter-culture movement. His particular solo brand of performance art (heavily influenced, for better or worse, by his spouse), groundbreaking in some ways at the time, is now tame by today's standards.
Perhaps if accompanied by a video of him taking a hit to the crotch by a monkey wielding a baseball bat, it would go viral on YouTube.
BTW, I'm a big fan of the Beatles, both group and solo. But context is important, especially with political material.
Cheers
-B
Berfab
So many plugins, so little time...
So many plugins, so little time...
-
- KVRAF
- 16823 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
Sure, why not... Lennon rapping on some sick beats!
We are the KVR collective. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. 
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
My MusicCalc is served over https!!