Pandora Goes Its Own Way

[michelej1]

This is an article about Pandora Internet Radio

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/55157/pandora_internet_radio.html

Music is a very personal experience, and the folks at Pandora understand this. That’s why they created the Music Genome Project. Six years in the making, the Music Genome Project involves 30 musician-analysts listening to thousands of songs and placing them into unique categories based on melody, harmony, rhythm, vocals…etc. In 2006 the project was officially launched on www.Pandora.com.

What’s so great about Pandora?

Firstly, it’s free to join. Users can create a profile and store up to 100 “stations” based on a particular band of interest, and each song that follows will have elements similar to the chosen artist’s. For example, in a search for REO Speedwagon, the musician analysts included in the band’s station music with “basic rock song structures, a subtle use of vocal harmonies, mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation, a vocal-centric aesthetic and major key tonality.” One of the songs chosen by the analysts was Fleetwood Mac’s “Go your own way” because it shares the above elements. To show how expansive the music of the project encompasses, a search for Depeche Mode turns up songs that have “electronic influences, subtle use of vocal harmony and synthetic sonority.” Eighties one-hit wonders A-Ha are one of the artists chosen in comparison to Depeche Mode’s sound, as they also have an electronic sound and use synthesizers.

[David]

Firstly, it’s free to join. Users can create a profile and store up to 100 “stations” based on a particular band of interest, and each song that follows will have elements similar to the chosen artist’s. For example, in a search for REO Speedwagon, the musician analysts included in the band’s station music with “basic rock song structures, a subtle use of vocal harmonies, mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation, a vocal-centric aesthetic and major key tonality.” One of the songs chosen by the analysts was Fleetwood Mac’s “Go your own way” because it shares the above elements. How interesting. But I would have chosen HOLD ME as exemplifying those particular characteristics more closely than does GO YOUR OWN WAY, where the vocal harmonies aren't by any stretch of the imagination "subtle" & the major-key tonality is compromised by the powerful chorus in a minor "key" (really a modal or natural minor that continues through the fade-out).

Incidentally, is HOLD ME the only tune from the band's stage shows that ended on the dominant?

[michelej1]

But I would have chosen HOLD ME as exemplifying those particular characteristics more closely than does GO YOUR OWN WAY, where the vocal harmonies aren't by any stretch of the imagination "subtle"

Now to me, the vocal harmonies on Hold Me aren't subtle at all. They are beautiful, but they are rather, I'll assault you in a blind alley, agressive.

Incidentally, is HOLD ME the only tune from the band's stage shows that ended on the dominant?

Nah, they have a whole boatload of songs that end on dominant 7th chord arpeggios.:p

Michele