Are DJ's Musicians?

http://bobbyowsinski.blogspot.com/2012/06/deadmau5-breaks-dj-myth.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BobbyOwsinskisBlog+%28Bobby+Owsinski%27s+Blog%29

DJing can mean many different things. It's not my type of music but some of those guys are extremely talented. This would also come down to how we define "musician". Personally I'd be willing to extend the definition for that area because a) they are indeed creating music and b) there is a lot of effort and skill that goes into some of it. However if we are talking about Joe Shmoe just pressing a button every minute or so to trigger something I'd be a little less forgiving.

Meh. For bass players it might be an issue as those tones are easier to duplicate via synth but guitar synth tech has a LOOOOOONG way to go before it can keep up with a good soulful guitar player. The other thing too is people ENJOY playing live instruments so they aren't gonna go away even if the synths get realistic enough to take over. People have been freaking out about this since the eighties. It should not be looked at as a competition. We just have more tools to create with these days.

DJ's play recordings of music, they don't actually make music.

So, ... no, DJ's are not musicians.

I'm a dj, I play 12 string guitar and piano. I played guitar for 25 years before I became a dj. Because I'm a dj does that mean I can't be a musician ??

@Bub... And that's the traditional definition of a DJ (disc jockey) and no I wouldn't consider CC and the like as musicians but these new guys are constantly arranging and tweaking stuff on the fly. Frankly I don't even think they should be referred to as DJs because it is so very different from what the term used to mean. Then there are the old school hip hop DJs going nuts on turntables. There is certainly an element of skill and musicality needed to pull that off. It's a very muddy topic.

The question becomes, can a musician be a dj ?? Not if he doesn't have a vast knowledge of recorded music, songs, artists....Some musicians couldn't even work a turntable, or pick out a song requested by an audience member. I had to learn alot about music when I became a dj....AND you have to stay up to date with current artists and songs which is an ever lasting chore....If you don't play the latest hits, the audience will eat you alive....being able to play Freebird, Hotel California, and Give Me Steps  on a guitar won't help you one bit in a dance club.

D.J.
David Bowie
I'm home, lost my job, and incurably ill
You think this is easy, realism
I've got a girl out there, I suppose
I think she's dancing
Feel like Dan Dare lies down
I think she's dancing, what do I know?

I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can't turn around no, can't turn around, no, oh, ooh
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can't turn around no, can't turn around, no, oh no

I am a D.J., I am what I play
I got believers (kiss-kiss)
Believing me, oh

One more, weekend, of lights and evening faces
Fast food, living nostalgia
Humble pie or bitter fruit

I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can't turn around no, can't turn around no, ooh

I am a D.J., I am what I say
Can't turn around no, can't turn around, ooh

I am a D.J., I am what I play
I've got believers (kiss-kiss)
Believing me

I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can't turn around no, can't turn around
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can't turn around no, can't turn around
I am a D.J., I am what I play
Can turn around no (kiss-kiss)

Time flies when you're having fun
Break his heart, break her heart
He used to be my boss and millions of puppet dancer
I am a D.J., and I've got believers

I've got believers
I've got believers
I've got believers in me
I've got believers
I am a D.J., I am what I play
I am a D.J.

If I were looking for musicians to form a band and ran
an add in the paper do ya think a DJ would call me?
Well maybe today that isn't a good question...

If I were forming a band I wouldn't be looking for a DJ....yeah, that works.
oh...then there are the vocalists...I've known many that I'd never consider
as a musician but sure enough a vocalist....but that's me and probably won't change.

Waitwaitwaitwait.....

There is a veritable CHASM of difference between a DJ and a DJ.

A DJ in the traditional sense... What I was in college, spinning records at the radio station... That's ONE definition.  Not a musician.

A DJ in the musical sense is the awesome chick at the club spinning and mixing **** together and making something new out of two or three different things... That's another definition. Fuzzy Musician.

And finally, there are some unbefreakinglievably talented DJs that mc and spin stuff that they have compiled, made, created and otherwise obtained into completely different things, still.  Those dudes on computers behind the "live players" in Massive Attack?  DJs.  And crazy good ones.  TOTALLY MUSICIANS.

And I'll fightcha to the death on that one.


Yeah, I read what Deadmau5 wrote, and he makes a point, at least as far as the live show is concerned.  But to say that these guys aren't musicians just gets my dander up.  Sure, everyone can hit play.  Sure everyone can beat match if they know how... If *I* were to perform my stuff live, guess what?  I'd be hitting the Play button.  Would be the only way to do it.  I'm not even as good as a DJ, either.  And I'm a musician.  OOOH! AND a vocalist!  Or am I a vocalist and not a musician?  Hmmm?

Does the definition of musician mean that anyone who doesn't have a certain set of chops (according to whom????) isn't one?  

Who sets the bar? At what magical point does one stop being a guitar player or a student and become a musician?  I just don't see that we can make those lines in the sand without cutting someone off who deserves the name.

And I'm kind of getting tired of the conversation.  This comes up every few months in one form or another, and I see is elitism when it does.

Just enjoy the tunes, man.  If it sounds good, it IS good.  If it's music, it was made by a musician.

Ok... This of it this way.... If you are compiling information together and using it as IS, then you have created nothing new.  

If you take that same information and turn it on it's head, literally cut it into oieces and rearrange it to the point that it becomes a new sound and then combine that bit with more of the same, in a manner in which no one has done before, something new has been created.  
So that doesn't count?

julibee


Ok... This of it this way.... If you are compiling information together and using it as IS, then you have created nothing new.  

If you take that same information and turn it on it's head, literally cut it into oieces and rearrange it to the point that it becomes a new sound and then combine that bit with more of the same, in a manner in which no one has done before, something new has been created.  
So that doesn't count?

that can be considered art - its creative - but its not musicianship - 


they are not  breaking any rules.... because they dont know any rules   


they are being creative  I'll agree 


I can give them a simple chord progression - say a I IV vi and a VIIo - and say give me those chords in the key of G - a first year music theory student could give them to me -- and I bet most people on the form here can look it up and figure out - the chords one way another - 


 being creative with technology you can be called an artist - but a musician ?   really ?


at least play something simple  - one chord - on anything - 


sing a note  


clap your hand once 


do SOMETHING 






by the way the answer in the key of G is ....Gmajor - C Major - Eminor - and F#diminished ..... and that is VERY basic stuff musically  - but would blow Bapu ...  i mean a "dj"'s mind spinning 

and really don't care.

  




Now I am sad....and I can not stop crying 

thanks man ...thanks alot 


(blowing my nose and wiping my tears)

craigb


From back when Mooch made more sense...

WHO CARES???

I can't stop crying now ......Meanies !!!!!!

spacey

Mooch4056

and really don't care.

  




Now I am sad....and I can not stop crying 

thanks man ...thanks alot 


(blowing my nose and wiping my tears)

Think good things Mooch- like you're getting married soon.
Don't want to stand there with your eyes all puffy and stuff.
Think good things Mooch....and don't worry about people with
their name calling and stupid questions.
Focus on happy, smart questions that have substance and specifically
ones that may be best answered..."yes, I do".
 

What if I just answer "yes I have " instead ?