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Soul Good Top 10 (November 2004) | 24 comments (24 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Respect (none / 0) (#4)
by bill fragos on Fri Dec 3rd, 2004 at 12:04:14 PM CST
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Thanks for posting your thoughts. What I play on Soul Good does not always reflect how I would play a "live" set. The intention of SoulGood is to push new music and it is a difficult task to play all new music in a fluid and seamless way, especially when working within the confines of sponsorship/advertising breaks. Ben, I don't agree with you that you place more importance on the skill of track selection than I do. However, I would gladly accept a challenge in a club to see who has the better "set construction"! (Feel the testosterone building up!).

As I stated in November 2003 at the start of the post, the Soul Good (Top 10) Charts are a list of my top (ten) tracks for a particular month. These tracks were played either on SoulGood or at my sets. They are retrospective. I agree that I don't disclose the tracks I am after. There are many reasons for this. These include that I have not "tested" the tracks myself and from a practical point of view it is very difficult to do, as the list of tracks would frequently change. I do share what I have played and I believe people can wait four weeks (maximum) for my next chart. The alternative of course is people can simply listen to SoulGood, my extended radio sets or come to my "live" sets. It is an interesting request (for a "desired" tracks chart), considering very few DJs (in Adelaide) post a chart! (Where's the Ben James chart or the Jon Whiley Chart?). I will add that many secretive DJs aren't one step ahead at all; in fact they are several steps behind to those who do know what they are playing. That is my experience.

I was very clear to specify that I have an "each to their own" attitude. I am not particularly concerned if a DJ plays one "popular" track after another. I wouldn't play one "popular" track after another as it is not "me" (or my identity or how I am identified). Do "popular" track playing DJs hinder the promotion of new or better or cooler tracks? Of course, as after all, such a DJ would play a "popular" track in place of another new or better or cooler track.

Does this ruin the scene? Not necessarily. It makes other DJs more desirable to those with an acquired taste (and less desirable to those with "popular" tastes). This creates a distinction between DJs and thus reinforcing their "identity". However, I would not disrespect another DJ simply because they do play "popular" tracks. DJs should learn the meaning of respect; both for each other and for a crowd. The crowd will inevitably vote with their feet as to whether they like and identify with tracks and a DJ. Who is in that crowd depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to the DJs, the owners, the promoters and the door staff. If you are concerned about receiving "cheesy" or "popular" requests then you should ask yourself why are such people requesting tracks and why are they there anyway? If they are listening to SAFM (a popular radio station in Adelaide) they are unlikely to be "clubbers", or at very least, do not appreciate a "clubbing mentality". Of course, it really depends on whether the venue in question is a club or bar or is a "night" that shares a "club" mentality or whether it is simply there to make as much money as possible from the door and at the bar and have some "enjoyable" music on at the same time.

The question was asked "are we not in danger of over estimating the intelligence of our audiences?" Not at all. I think such an attitude is condescending and patronising to many people. Intelligence is not only what someone knows but also their ability to learn, appreciate and grasp issues. There are many things one can do to ensure an "intelligent" or appreciative audience, and if this is a real concern to a DJ then they should do something about it and make certain decisions and choices.

The point whether a well-recognised DJ and an unrecognisable DJ play the same set (not sure how this would be possible) and this leading to a different response from an audience is an issue that has little to do with the music, as it is the only constant in the equation. The same could be said about U2 playing the same gig as an unrecognisable band. It's not so much about the music or intelligence of the audience, but has more to do with an image or "simulation" and a history, anticipation and the excitement that follows from the image associated with that person/group. (Yes I was a bloody arts student and have studied post-modernism/post structuralism, deconstructionism and the writings of Jean Baudrillard). If you are concerned about "image" then start promoting yourself and create a "name" or "branding" etc. Just don't call it "SoulGood" or "Soul Generation" as you'll be infringing on certain intellectual property rights and I'll get nasty. : )

I hope these thoughts give you something to think about and discuss.

Respect.

By the way Jon Whiley, not all DJs are male, and Zamaleya (Afro EP) by Copyright first came out in August 2004. ; )

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Soul Good Top 10 (November 2004) | 24 comments (24 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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