Alright, so I realize that my recent post about iPods/iTunes changing music might make me sounds like a techno-phob, but I promise I’m not. I mean, I’m not an early adopter, but it’s mostly because I can’t afford most of the price tags associated with the new technology. However, I am back to talk about a new technological trap in music. I like to call is the 30 second trap.
I’m talking about the 30 second clip of a song given to a potential music buyer. You have 30 seconds to decide whether or not that song is worth downloading. It may even be that you have 4 and 1/2 minutes of music to decide you want to buy an entire album (assume 15 songs to an album, which is probably a little high). Now, it’s important to say that it’s not the first 30 seconds of the song. Often times, it is just a random clip. Being the music student that I am, it is like the old needle drop quizzes done with records.
This is a small sample of music to make a decision. The following are a couple of examples of how the 30 seconds could be misleading about a song:
- Hey Jude: Start the song at the 4:00 minute mark. (It is a really long song after all.) Here are the following lyrics: (Random whoas, wows, etc.; Na, na, na, na-na-na-na), Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude (Na, na, na, na-na-na-na); You know you can make it… Not exactly the greatest selling point of the song, but I should remind you that this song was the longest number 1 single on the chart for the Beatles. This is a song that is loved by millions, but if you were to sell it off of the wrong thirty seconds, less people would have heard it.
- Piano Man: This is a beloved song for lots of people. If you don’t believe me, than just go to a piano bar. I promise you’ll hear that song at least three times. Just start the song at the beginning: Piano and harmonica. That’s about it. Now, if you didn’t know anything about the song. You might say, “hey, it’s an instrumental. You know, if it were guitar and harmonica I might give it a chance.” Just imagine what you would be missing out on.
- In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida: I don’t even have to pick a specific time with this one. Just pick thirty seconds of any where in the massive drum solo during this 17 minute long song. By passing by, you’d miss a major classic rock song.
Now, the can also go the other way. Imagine if a terrible song has 30 seconds of being pretty good? We’ve been watching ad companies come up with 30 seconds of infectious music for years. Just look at the Free Credit Report guys. What level of surprise would you have for thinking you got this great song, and it’s only 30 seconds of greatness. It would be a sad day indeed.
I don’t have an answer, but just a warning. Don’t be caught in the 30 second trap. Do your research, see if there’s a full version on youtube, but just make sure you know the song. Those are steps that you can take to make sure you are downloading on quality music.
Until next time, dear reader, stay out of the 30 second traps.
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