Dj's......Important or not?

[Friday]

Been listening to "house music" for the last 16 years, never cared who made the song, sung it, produced etc etc.... Now as a buyer of vinyl atleast for the last 1 1/2, I find I still don't care and just buy what I like. People will be like, have you heard so and so and I will look at them and say, "Don't know, how does it go?" Of course NOW, I have a lot more knowledge of the producers and labels that are out there because I am buying, but to be honest I am not on top of every new release that is coming out. Here are my questions, should I be making a more consistent effort in remembering all this info or not? Will this make me a better DJ or not? Now with most of my records at home, I know most of them but sometimes I forget who did what and I just remember how it sounded and go by that.

I know a lot of music but to remember all the titles, producers, year it came out, just seems so tedious but I know a lot of Dj's who do know this stuff and I respect them for that because I have a good library in them except for the ones who won't hum the tune out....yeah you know who you are. :D

Now I don't feel limited by not knowing everything, because if I want a song I'll pursue it. But is it important?

Peace
gf [img]smile.gif[/img]

[imported_Chr_stopher]

do you remember lyrics well ??

[D J 1 3 8]

only if it's important to you.

You just need to know your own records like the back of your hand. This definitely makes for a better DJ becuz it directly influences how well you mix them.

As for being up on all the new shit, that's just personal taste. If you aren't felling it, it doesn't really matter unless you are playing to a crowd that demands all the newest latest.

[Friday]

Originally posted by Christopher L. Aquilo:
do you remember lyrics well ??

Yes,...... sing the song, hum it, I'll know it espeacially alot of the older stuff, But song names and shit like that just go over my head unless it has been pounded into my head over & over again.

[Austin/Dallas]

"I know a lot of music but to remember all the titles, producers, year it came out, just seems so tedious"

Sounds Lazy to me!!!!

[Friday]

Originally posted by Austin/Dallas:
"I know a lot of music but to remember all the titles, producers, year it came out, just seems so tedious"

Sounds Lazy to me!!!!

How so? Not saying that I just might be ;) Perhaps after a few more years I'll know a lot more, but most of the time it does not stick that is why I am not sure if a more consistent effort will make me better, espeacially with selection. Programming is everything. :D

[richierich]

Personally I don't care to know all that other stuff.. I like the record or I don't I have it or I don't. Being knowledgeable of the artist and who made it and what label and when it came out..has nothing to do with if you like the song or not which is what this is about ..the music that moves you..not all that other stuff..that's DJ elitist stuff. When you are on the dancefloor do you care when it came out or what label it's on?? You just know you like the song. This is only needed when you are trying to find a song . Once you have it that's it. Just my opinion. I can't even name the stuff I bought last week and don't care..I got it.

[Friday]

Originally posted by DJ 138:
You just need to know your own records like the back of your hand. This definitely makes for a better DJ becuz it directly influences how well you mix them.

Yes, I work hard on this, I have mixed two records that would just sound awful together, but as I get used to my records and the way they sound the same two records become easier to mix because I know when & where they should be mixed. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Friday]

Originally posted by richierich:
Personally I don't care to know all that other stuff.. I like the record or I don't I have it or I don't. Being knowledgeable of the artist and who made it and what label and when it came out..has nothing to do with if you like the song or not which is what this is about ..the music that moves you..not all that other stuff..that's DJ elitist stuff. When you are on the dancefloor do you care when it came out or what label it's on?? You just know you like the song. This is only needed when you are trying to find a song . Once you have it that's it. Just my opinion. I can't even name the stuff I bought last week and don't care..I got it.

I am more apt to agree with what you have just said Richie [img]smile.gif[/img]

[JMJ]

Originally posted by gf:
Been listening to "house music" for the last 16 years, never cared who made the song, sung it, produced etc etc.... Now as a buyer of vinyl atleast for the last 1 1/2, I find I still don't care and just buy what I like. People will be like, have you heard so and so and I will look at them and say, "Don't know, how does it go?" Of course NOW, I have a lot more knowledge of the producers and labels that are out there because I am buying, but to be honest I am not on top of every new release that is coming out. Here are my questions, should I be making a more consistent effort in remembering all this info or not? Will this make me a better DJ or not? Now with most of my records at home, I know most of them but sometimes I forget who did what and I just remember how it sounded and go by that.

I know a lot of music but to remember all the titles, producers, year it came out, just seems so tedious but I know a lot of Dj's who do know this stuff and I respect them for that because I have a good library in them except for the ones who won't hum the tune out....yeah you know who you are. :D

Now I don't feel limited by not knowing everything, because if I want a song I'll pursue it. But is it important?

Peace
gf [img]smile.gif[/img]

None of that stuff is really important. Buy and play what you like and don't sweat the details. Just continue to enjoy the music.....JMJ [img]smile.gif[/img]

[DLow]

Originally posted by gf:
Been listening to "house music" for the last 16 years, never cared who made the song, sung it, produced etc etc.... Now as a buyer of vinyl atleast for the last 1 1/2, I find I still don't care and just buy what I like. People will be like, have you heard so and so and I will look at them and say, "Don't know, how does it go?" Of course NOW, I have a lot more knowledge of the producers and labels that are out there because I am buying, but to be honest I am not on top of every new release that is coming out. Here are my questions, should I be making a more consistent effort in remembering all this info or not? Will this make me a better DJ or not? Now with most of my records at home, I know most of them but sometimes I forget who did what and I just remember how it sounded and go by that.

I know a lot of music but to remember all the titles, producers, year it came out, just seems so tedious but I know a lot of Dj's who do know this stuff and I respect them for that because I have a good library in them except for the ones who won't hum the tune out....yeah you know who you are. :D

Now I don't feel limited by not knowing everything, because if I want a song I'll pursue it. But is it important?

Peace
gf [img]smile.gif[/img]

Yo, GF...I think it comes naturally, especially for a cut that you are really feeling. Have you listened a track, purchased it, then once you get it home and really play it loud and it sounds so good it makes you read the credits again, as if to say 'damn, where da f**k this come from and who did it'?

[rob brito]

it's an extremely powerful tool when searching for the music you love through all the means we have today.

reading the credits and knowing as much as you can possibly know about an artist, his background, labels, etc will many times help direct you to where you can make an educated guess as to where you can find it.

example, alicia myers's "i want to thank you" has some other song on the flipside i can't remember and nobody else for that matter...the bidding for this record was incredibly low as people obviously never knew what was on the flipside.

i think the record sold for usd$3.00...knowledge is def power!

[rob brito]

Have you listened a track, purchased it, then once you get it home and really play it loud and it sounds so good it makes you read the credits again, as if to say 'damn, where da f**k this come from and who did it'?
[/QB]

that's me too!

[img]smile.gif[/img]

[John Hall]

I think it's important to know who did what so that
the FANS,
you know, the regular folks and DJs who
BUY MUSIC
can go out there and actually
BUY THE DAMN RECORDS and/or CDs to
SUPPORT the
MUSICIANS
who are making the damn music to begin with.

I hate the elitist, snobby, secretive approach
to DJ culture.

When I have my massive 50th birthday party,
I'm gonna have a few monitors around so that anyone
can SEE THE TITLE AND ARTIST of what's playing,
PLUS I'll provide a printed playlist with the
approximate time that the song was played,
and an indication of whether or not the song is
in print, so you can know whether you gotta go
SEARCHING for it or if it's available at your
favorite stores or what.

Back in 1980-81 Hurrah on w.62nd street had
a video cam aimed at a display of the record
sleeve of whatever was playing, so people could
take notes and BUY THE RECORD IF THEY LIKED IT!

I've never seen that since, though there must
be _some_ clubs somewhere that do something similar.

Why the f*ck to people want to keep
GREAT MUSIC
a personal secret so that no one can buy the
damn songs and support the artists/producers/DJs
who are trying to make a living?

If you don't want to share the music you're not
a real DJ, IMHO, and sharing the music means
not witholding the artist/label/title info from
YOUR CUSTOMERS in the club or party you're at!

Sorry for getting agitated about this topic, but
it reminded me about why I never go out anymore.

[TAD]

of course it's important. if you want to evolve and move onto other areas of the business for example retail/distribution. keeping tabs on the value of yuor collection through various resources is very important. identifying with the artists, producers, remixers etc is another form of intamacy with the music. you connect the dots. it's also important when doing historical research.

[DeesKo]

IMHO

Know what emotion each record invokes within you, know what emotion each record invokes in other people and know when to bring that emotion to the surface (ie putting the needle to the groove).

All the rest of the details will come naturally with time and exposure, but without THAT connection with the songs, all the knowledge in the world is useless.


Peace

Rob

[Friday]

[QB]Originally posted by John Hall:
Back in 1980-81 Hurrah on w.62nd street had
a video cam aimed at a display of the record
sleeve of whatever was playing, so people could
take notes and BUY THE RECORD IF THEY LIKED IT!

This so interesting, I don't think they do this at all anymore. They should. I don not play out and have been progressing as a bedroom dj for about a year now, but there will come the time when I will start handing out the cd's and perhaps with luck play out. At that point I would like to have my shit together, so that is why I ask. I liked what you said, elitist I am not more rebel than anything else hence my reluctance to becoming a "browner". But as I get deeper into the art of Djing, I have so many questions and some maybe stupid, but oh well.

Thanks Cosmic for you words, yours are always the loudest and most consistant ;) 11 years and some......

[Koffy Brown]

I can't remember jack...

but I remember what I need to...I would not be able to remember half of the stuff some of you all can...

if I have it I know I have it because I bought it which then I'd know a little history on it...

[Mack-Williams]

I am not a DJ, but I stay up on stuff through listening to mixes on-line. That's why I feel playlist are very important. Also from reading this board. You all will say something is hot they I wait to hear it on someones mix.

[PSEUDO HEAT]

Well i have been playing for 18 years and the disco shit i really remember but the new music I buy i remember what it looks like or the jacket it came or what what color it is or what logo is on it and I know what it is. People come and ask me what is the name of the record and I just show them the cover. I think it depends on the dj. I remeber my records by what label they are on more than who produced it.

[The Real Dragonfly Jones]

Originally posted by AshakiMzuri:
I can't remember jack...

In the beginning there was Jack.....

[Nege]

knowing or rembering the credits of a record by heart is something that comes with time.
I'm willing to bet in a years time you'll be able to tell poeple info without looking at the record,
simply
the more records you come across ,the more knowledge you will get and it happens naturally .
at your stage of the game it's not important
YET!!!! ;)
getting to know the structure of the record is more important now(for mixing purposes,breaks intros,bpm, etc.....).


Now the downside is ,
when you have too many records you'll start to forget the information on them or even mix them up................ [img]icon_rofl.gif[/img]

[Koffy Brown]

Originally posted by XL:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by AshakiMzuri:
I can't remember jack...

In the beginning there was Jack..... </font>[/QUOTE]he didn't leave a good impression...

[jurren]

i don't know if it's important.
i do think that it can come in handy when shopping for new records:
you can quickly determine what releases might be off interest, and what releases might not be what you're looking for, especially when buying from more than one genre, and you don't want to spent all day in the recordstore.
on the other hand you might miss a couple of new releases this way, because the artist is new, new label etc.

jurren

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by XL:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by AshakiMzuri:
I can't remember jack...

In the beginning there was Jack..... </font>[/QUOTE]& Jill went up the hill
to fetch a pail of pills.

d