How does it feel dance song


200 Greatest Dance Songs – Rolling Stone

What do we mean by “dance songs”? Good question. In a sense, any song that ever got any one person moving in any perceptible direction is a dance song. The Beatles made great dance songs — as did Slayer. Nearly all the hip-hop and reggae ever made is great dance music. But to make our list of The 200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time, a song had to be part of “dance music culture.” It’s a more specific world, but an enormous one too, going back nearly fifty years and eternally evolving right up to today and into the future.

After paying homage to the godfather of the extended groove, Mr. James Brown, our story of dance music begins in the mid-1970s with disco, and moves into early Eighties club sounds like electro and Latin freestyle. It gets born again when disco is re-engineered as house music in Chicago and techno in Detroit, and mutates with almost comic velocity into the Nineties rave explosion that produced everything from jungle to trance to gabba to garage, and eventually the EDM and dubstep bonanzas of the 2000s. These sounds all had peak moments of exposure, but they never fade away: drum ”n’ bass is having a new moment right now, and there are house songs here from the past few years.

The list doesn’t attempt to incorporate every ripple in this oceanic confluence of sub-genres. We were looking for tracks that seemed to transcend and feel more universally canonical, and we were especially mindful of the moments where dance music has intersected with the wider musical world– with synth-pop, hip-hop, funk, Miami bass, R&B, indie-rock, Latin music and pop. That’s why you’ll see Prince, Robyn, Britney Spears, Shakira, and Justin Bieber in here bumping up against Adonis, Frankie Knuckles, Moodymann, Goldie, and SOPHIE.

If you’re wondering how we got to a summer where Drake and Beyonce are suddenly releasing house records, this is that story — or, at least, our version of it.

Video Editor, Brian Lynch for Rolling Stone

Visual Credits (in order of appearance): Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head, Crystal Waters – Gypsy Woman, Beyonce – Blow, Corona – The Rhythm of the Night, Madonna – Sorry, Britney – Till the World Ends, Madonna – Vogue, Daft Punk – Get Lucky, Robyn – Dancing on my Own, Joey Beltram – Energy Flash, Azealia Banks – 212, Rihanna & Calvin Harris – We Found Love, DJ Snake & Lil Jon – Turn Down for What, Sylvester – You Make Me Feel, Piri – Soft Spot, Chic – Le Freak, Dee-Lite – Groove is in the Heart, Donna Summer – I Feel Love, Prince – When Doves Cry, Erik B & Rakim – Paid in Full, First Choice – Let No Man Asunder, Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ’Til you get Enough, A Guy Called Gerald – Voodoo Ray, Grace Jones – Bumper, Marshall – Move Your Body, Internet sensation kid 1997 in Berlin, Whitney Houston – It’s Not Right. Licensed Tracks/SFX (in order): Biodynamic modulated stutter riser, Dance like crazy – Ikoliks, Our Vibe – Superlative, Dance Out There – Alejandro Molinari, Pineapple Disco – Audiopanther, Bring It – Naems, Blurry Stars – Nbdy Nprtnt, Dark Future – Skygaze, Taika Promo (Rolling Stone VO). Song Samples (in order): Erik B & Rakim – Paid in Full, Dee-Lite – Groove is in the Heart, Madonna – Vogue, Azealia Banks – 212, Sylvester – You Make Me Feel, Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ’Til you get Enough, Marshall Jefferson – Move Your Body, DJ Snake ft. Lil Jon – Turn Down for What, Dee-Lite – Groove is in the Heart, Whitney Houston – It’s Not Right

The Truth Behind “Just Feel It” – The Dancing Grapevine

“Just feel it.” It’s a phrase meant to be a catch-all for expression in dance. It’s supposed to speak to an intrinsically natural sensation of being ‘in-tune’ with the music and dance.

But, what exactly are we supposed to ‘feel’, and how do we use our ‘feelings’ in dance?

More than a ‘Feeling’

Most of the time, the word ‘feeling’ gets conflated with the idea of ’emotion’. You feel happy, sad or angry. But, a ‘feeling’ isn’t limited to an emotion. It can also encompass a state of being, or a texture.

For example, being tired is a ‘state’ of being – as is being ‘in pain’ or ‘well rested’. You may feel tired, but it’s not an emotion.

Similarly, you can ‘feel’ smoothness, sharpness, or other ‘textures’. These textures are not limited to physical items; it can include musical texture. For example, is a song smooth or sharp? Does it have ‘hard’ hits, or is it ‘soft’ and ‘flowing’?

Your expression of the music is how you interpret the feeling the music generates in you.

When we’re talking about ‘feeling’ the music, we’re talking about a combination of these different types of feelings. Yes, a song can make you feel ‘happy’ or ‘sad’ (an emotion). But, you can also feel like a song is energetic (a state) or smooth (a texture).

These feelings are then transcribed into expression.

Expressing the Music

Your expression of the music is how you interpret the feeling the music generates in you.

‘Expression’ doesn’t have to be an ’emotion’. It can be any feeling. You can express the music through dancing to display a texture – like smooth or sharp. You can also express music by dancing to display the emotion the song inspires in you – like happiness or sadness. Or, you can express music by displaying a particular ‘state’ – like ‘being romantic’ or ‘intensity’.

The best expressive dancers include facets of all types of expression, and they vary the expression within a single song.

For example, they may switch from smooth or sharp movements, depending on the sound of the music. Or, they may vary between small, intimate movements and larger, demonstrative steps based on the ‘size’ of the sound.

They may also include an ’emotional’ journey that mimics the emotions of the song. For example, if it is a song about love, they may favour soft, gentle touches. Or, an intense song may utilize a lot of counterbalance and power.

Extroverted vs. Introverted Expression

There’s a misconception that expression must be extroverted, like in a performance. This is false.

Expression can be shared with only a partner (or yourself), or shared with a room. You can express by how you move your wrist, or by how you hold your partner.

If you are creating a visual representation of the feeling, it’s extroverted expression. You are displaying it outwards. The size of the expression doesn’t matter; it’s still externally perceived.

This can include how you choose to execute your steps or styling. This is the type of expression that is visible to outsiders, like during a performance.

If you are creating a connection based representation of the feeling, it’s introverted expression. Your partner generally will feel it, and an observant outsider may pick up on what you’re doing. But, the expression is more based on creating a moment with your partner.

This can include the amount of tension you use in your movements, how you breathe, and how you choose to touch a partner. For example, a dancer who never leaves close hold can still be expressing the music – it’s simply a more private form of expression.

Musicality vs. Expression

Musicality differs from expression. Whereas expression is the interpretation of a feeling the music gives you, musicality is the interpretation of the song’s structure. It’s deciding what to accent, instead of how to accent it.

Good musicality typically features a strong grasp of expression, and vice versa. It’s hard to be musical without expression, and it’s hard to be expressive without understanding the music. Because these two skills are so linked, they’re frequently conflated as the same thing.

Why Expression is Important

Expression is what gives depth to your dancing. It’s what allows a dancer to use simple movements, but create an unforgettable experience.

No matter how technically proficient you are, a lack of expression will create a ‘flat’ dance. It doesn’t mean the dance will be bad – but it won’t be memorable, either. It can be ‘nice’, but not groundbreaking.

As a result, expression is typically a feature of a ‘good dance’. Additionally, the stronger your expression on multiple levels, the more partners you will have who ‘connect’ with your dance style.

Some people denounce expression because they don’t feel comfortable using ’emotion’ while dancing. They see emotion and feeling as the same thing – even though emotion is merely a subset of feeling. While emotion can be used to heighten the quality of expression, it’s not mandatory for an expressive dance.

Finding Your Expression

Even if you are not comfortable with emotion in your dancing, you can still dance ‘with feeling’. You can still choose to emphasize things like smoothness, flow, sharpness, or intensity – even if it’s not specifically linked to a feeling.

Spend the time to learn how you ‘feel’ music. What are you drawn to most? What do you struggle with? For me, I enjoy smoothness – and struggle with sharpness. Lyrical emotions speak to me, while the intensity of hip-hop is more difficult. Other dancers are the complete opposite.

Start thinking about

how you want to do a step, rather than what step you want to do.

When you’re starting on the expression journey, first figure out how you want to interpret music that already ‘speaks’ to you. It’s easier to find the feeling when you like the song.

Once you’ve accomplished that, push towards genres or sounds that may not be your favourite. Can you find something to work with? What feeling can you apply? Is it an emotion, state, or texture?

From there, figure out if your default expression is extroverted or introverted. Do you ‘go deep’ with only your partner? Or, do you prefer open, visual movements? Do you prefer to communicate your expression through touch, or visual cues? Challenge yourself to use both, for the best results.

You can begin developing your own ‘voice’ at any time. Start thinking about how you want to do a step, rather than what step you want to do. How do you want the basic to flow? How do you want to hold your partner?

The sooner you start, the faster your expression will grow.

Some genres of music and their distinctive features

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At present, it is quite difficult to make an ordered list of existing musical genres. There are too many of them, and two random (and at first glance unrelated) genres can create a third, completely new one, which can then be combined with another one - and so on ad infinitum. nine0026

Today the Strunki. ru team will tell you about musical genres - their definition, features and key differences.

Bonus: at the end of the article you will find a small checklist that allows to determine the musical genre of .

What is a musical genre? Excursus into history

A musical genre is a system of style, arrangement, text and performance platform.

You may have some questions about the last item in the definition - the performance area. For example, there is an opinion that such a genre as "garage rock" appeared due to the fact that musical groups preferred to rehearse in garages, but this is nothing more than a bike. nine0026

Stadium rock, oddly enough, is distinguished by its scale, loudness and the venue of the event - the stadium. Mass is celebrated mainly in churches, etc.

Chamber music

Chamber music is performed in a small room and for a relatively small number of listeners. The simplest example of a chamber concert is a house concert.

Folk music is the most widespread genre of chamber music, since most often such music is performed in the family circle and mainly by the older generation. The words of a song can change countless times, but the melody almost always remains the same. nine0026

Romance is a lyrical song performed to the accompaniment of one instrument.

Ballad is a song that tells about a specific story or legend. As a rule, praises or describes some hero.

Requiem is a Catholic chant, performed for the dead.

Vocalise is a song without words used both as an element of a composition and as a vocal training.

Serenade is a song dedicated to and/or performed by one person. Usually a woman.

Vocal music

The main role in vocal music is played by the voice. If there are any instruments in the composition, they recede into the background. This also includes chamber music.

Oratorio is a large-scale secular or religious work performed by an orchestra or choir.

A cappella - vocal performance without musical accompaniment. Some modern a cappella bands imitate the sound of other instruments with their voice (Van Canto, Pentatonix).

Vocalise - vocal performance in which singing is a collection of specific or random sounds, but not words. Most often used as a warm-up for the voice.

Instrumental music

Instrumental music does not use vocals. Absolutely all parts are performed by musical instruments. nine0026

Symphony is an orchestral piece of music.

Sonata – solo or duet instrumental performance in the chamber genre.

Russian folk songs

Chastushki is the most popular genre of Russian folk song, which did not require special musical abilities from the performer. The repeating progression of chords and quatrains - that's the whole description of the ditty.

Labor songs - appeared in Soviet times to increase the morale of workers. As a rule, they were performed by people during work.

Legend on the topic: there is an opinion that such a technique of playing the guitar as "shuffle" (or rather, it is more of a rhythmic pattern) appeared in the USA when people traveled by trains, and the only rhythm that they had - this is the sound of wheels, under which they sang.

Songs for round dances - performed during round dances and depended on the speed of the round dance and its occasion. nine0026

Lyrical song (epic) - a song dedicated to the heavy burden of a person or an entire nation.

Modern music

There are unimaginably many genres of modern music, but most often they are derived from one genre or arising from two.

Rock music

Rock music has brought more to the world than you might think. Thanks to rock, genres such as:

Pop-rock – light music intended for a wide range of listeners, slightly weighted pop music.

Folk rock - modern sound and instruments combined with folk instruments and motifs.

Hard rock is heavy music from which many other genres stem - metal, gothic rock, thrash rock, viking rock and even black and roll (a mixture of rock and roll and black metal). For example, Kvelertak.

Punk rock is simple music that reflects the mood of the society to a greater extent. Over time, punk rock has split into dozens of sub-genres. nine0026

Pop music

Developed in parallel with rock music, but later adopted several features: the use of electric guitars with overdrive and other effects, as well as the form of performance. However, modern pop music is mostly electronic.

House - electronic music, which is characterized by its "squareness" (4/4 time signature) and speed - 120-140 BPM. Most often you can hear in clubs. Related genre - Deep House which is a slower and more melodic version of its parent.

Trance is the opposite of house, so to speak. If fast motifs and repetitive melodies predominate in house, then trance is in most cases more melodic and minor, but the performance speed reaches 160 BPM.

Disco - dance pop music designed for a wide range of people. It was wildly popular in the 70s and 80s. In the future, a genre such as New Disco , which has a modern sound, but based on the motifs of the 70s and 80s.

Hip-Hop

Hip-hop developed absolutely in parallel with rock and pop music. We can say with confidence that at the end of the last century he kept himself apart, and the music of that time is called old school.

Hip-hop is characterized by elements such as rap and electronic music. The use of live instruments is minimal.

However, modern rap musicians at their live concerts prefer to use electric guitars, bass and live drums, which together with beats gives a very rich sound. nine0026

The genre is popular, and therefore it is currently mixed with other genres:

Rapcore is a tandem of rock and hip-hop.

Alternative rap - hip hop plus any other genre (jazz rap, funk rap, etc.).

In addition, there are such genres as hardcore rap, gangsta rap, child rap (from the word Dirty - dirty).

Secular and sacred music

Sacred music can be heard in churches in 99% of cases. Since the beginning of the Middle Ages, there has been no significant change and development in church music. nine0026

Liturgy – describe sacred events and scriptures in the form of songs. Accompanied by a theatrical performance.

Antiphon - a style of choral performance in which two (or more) choirs sing alternately.

Mass - church music based on prayers.

Secular music

It originates in the Middle Ages, when musicians were required to present the culture of the state to its guests. Itinerant musicians were also regarded as performers of secular music due to the fact that they performed music in various cities and countries while traveling. nine0026

Specific genres

There are genres that defy description.

Firstly, if earlier music, performance style and sound could somehow be tied to a geographical location, then due to the development of the Internet, some modern music has a completely unique sound.

Secondly, new genres appear due to the development of the music industry in commercial terms. For example, a composer was given an order to write music for a video game or a movie, and as a result, music for a media product becomes no less popular. This includes various soundtracks and trailer music that can later be performed by symphony orchestras. nine0026

Of course, the description is endless, so we suggest you familiarize yourself with the following musicians and composers: Mick Gordon, Hanz Zimmer, John Williams, Akira Yamaoka, Two Steps From hell.

How to define a musical genre?

Step one : think about the instruments used in the composition. If there are no instruments in the composition, then pay attention to the sound of electronic music, drums.

Listen to which instruments are leading, what is emphasized in the sound. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the general style. For example, it may remind you of retro motifs or sound quite modern. nine0026

Step two : note the text or lack thereof. Politicized text, joyful or sad, rude or gentle, etc. Often the text can define the genre of the music. The most striking example is gangsta rap or gothic metal.

Step three : depends on your knowledge of music theory and industry. At a minimum, you need to be able to distinguish between minor and major. At the very least, you should be able to clearly distinguish blues from jazz and speed metal from metalcore. If you know how, you can combine two different genres into one. Like… jazz metal or alternative blues rave. nine0026

By combining three steps, you can analyze any creativity and draw a conclusion about the genre of the song.

Track structure - RishaManis

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Click on the picture for a detailed analysis of the track. Also there you can see what parts the track consists of.

There are many different sub-genres in edm music.

Himself House style can be divided into: Tropical House , Progressive , Melodic , Bigroom etc.

But something unites them all. This is the structure of the track, or in other words, the scheme for constructing the track.

There are many schemes, but most have a lot of the same parts. See examples of some of these schemes:

Intro, Breakdown 1, Build-up , Drop A , Breakdown 2, Build-up , Drop B .

or

Intro, Main , Breaks down , Main2 , Breaks down , Breakdown, Uplift, Main , Main2 , Outro

There are other schemes as well. However, we will analyze some in this article in order to have an idea of ​​what, in principle, parts can exist in tracks.

To get started, start listening to the track and track it in the picture below. Parts are indicated on it, their names are given, an approximate characteristic of the part, and the number of measures that they are playing.

In house style, the intro usually includes drums, percussion, and some melodic elements. But sometimes the intro is small and just introduces the listener to the track. Those. the main task of the Intro is it is to bring the listener into the track and prepare them to listen to the main parts. Melodic elements should not reveal the melody at the very beginning. These are literally a few notes of some tool. The intro sets the theme for the entire track. This part is usually underestimated. nine0026

It is also often referred to as the "pit". This should be a softer sounding part compared to other parts of the track. It introduces minimal melody and sound design and quite often strongly different from the dance part (main or drop). If your track is going to be played at a party, then this is the part where people are not very energetic and have time to rest before the next parts. And you save their energy for listening to the drop, dance part. The main purpose of the Breakdown part (pit) is to calm the listener and give him a breather before the next parts. Very often, pit put almost in the middle of the track. In some tracks, there are even several holes. nine0026

Now comes the fun part. In the swing, you enter the entire melody, plus some of the parts of the dance part (drop). This is where you build up your energy. Each of these parties must start rock the listener and prepare him for the dance part. It is worth noting that many people make the mistake of making this stage more energetic than the dance part of the track. Just endure a slightly less intense version of perception from this part than from the dance part (drop). nine0026

Tip: add a high pass filter to the master channel to boost the dance part. This will create a stronger impression.

Now the most active part of the track: Drop.

In this section, the main melody is used, the most delicious and explosive, for which the listener was prepared. There may be more percussion instruments in this part, relative to others. parts. The same applies to other parts: bass, leads, pads, etc. Just make sure that this is the brightest and most memorable part of the track. nine0026

In EDM genres, you can copy and paste the structure to your liking. But if you listen to all music (including classical), the structure of the tracks is everywhere. You can also select and enter a new melody or chord progression.

Here is an example of what a track structure divided into bars and parts might look like.

The track follows the following pattern:

Introduction (16 measures)

Lose (24 bars)

Verse (16 measures) nine0026

Lose (8 measures)

Break #1 (4 bars)

Chorus (16 bars)

Instrumental chorus (16 bars)

Break #2 (16 bars)

Break #3 (8 bars)

Chorus (16 bars)

Lose (32 bars)

Instrumental chorus (16 bars)

Ending (32 bars)

This structure uses the principles of dance music structure, namely house.


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