foxwolfen


Yes DJs are musicians, and their instruments are the consoles they use and the ability to mix live. If you have seen some of the intricate DJ gear out there, you would see that they are multi-talented individuals. As much a keyboard player, or guitar player or what have you. Their instrument is just new and different.

You might hate this song, but this is Kelly Rowland (ex-Destiny's Child) with music by David Guetta ... a DJ.

Commander (Euro dance club sound)

57Gregy


Doing things that make sound in time to other sounds; you could be a musician!

Moshkiae

Bub


Yeah, these guys who tweak music live and do all the stuff are talented, but they aren't DJ's by definition. Somehow over the years the meaning has been distorted.

I really think that "music" as we know it, and believe it to be, is undergoing a change and it is not out of the question, or impossible, that some faction of the DJ process will become a part of music someday.


At issue, sooner or later, will be whether the definition says that you have to play an instrument and compose, but that is an issue because many DJ's also play an instrument over what they are doing with their computers, and that would be a form of improvisation, but I am not sure that it should be called "music" in the classical sense and proper definition that all of us here stick to.


It is, however, very logical, that we get defensive about this subject, but instead I say ... incorporate some parts of it in order to learn and add some new things to what we do. All in all, for my ears, pop, rock and a lot of music has gotten boring and repetitive and the listening pleasure is just not there, when compared to someone distorting something in this DJ thing. My own nephew has gathered a very fine name in the LA area doing the DJ thing, and he is a very good bass player and played in bands for many years, but got bored because the folks around him did not know music very well. His CD is actually very good in many parts and I question whether he can play it live ... of course he can ... it's all on the computer and in different parts that he can mix and match as he sees and pleases.


It might not be "music" as we know it ... but it is "music" in a compositional sense. 


I'm just wondering if we are trying to clamp down on the competition ... and yeah ... sure ... but somewhere along the way ... things change. And we WILL be seeing a lot of music released by DJ's ... that we did not have the ability to create or do.


It's all a part of the evolution of music and the computer ... and we will not know anything about it 50 years, or 100 years from now ... when teaching an instrument will be a thing of the past ... it's all on a computer ... and you can finger in and out as you please.


The "warmth" is really ... relative. Few folks thought that Emily was not good ... until they found out she was a computer! Then many got mad and called it impersonal, and that says something more about those folks, than it does for Emily!


So, there are a lot of Emily's out there ... so what? Get better at your own music, and stop worrying about everyone else!

julibeeAnd 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.

Mooch4056

julibee


I agree woth Shad.  I think that at a certain level there is very little difference between playing a chord on an instrument and playing a recording of that chord on a new instrument.

I would also argue that at that same level, chords, like those you play on an traditional instrument, are a sample of tone.  It seems to me to be the same thing.

It's up to the musician to determine what to do with it.

Pfffft


Your entitled to your WRONG opinion 

Moshkiae

Bub


Is a person who arranges orchestra's, but can't play a violin a musician? I would call them an artist, but not a musician.

Here's how I look at it ... some DJ's are artists, and there is a difference between an artist and a musician. A musician can be a DJ, but not all DJ's can be musicians.

The conductor is not an artist? 


Hmmm ... you might want to do some studying on Herbert Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, Erich Leinsdorf, Leopold Stokowsky and others that pretty much defined the presentation of music for any audience.


And their "interpretations" were different. The "musician dj's" (Julibee's definition) would fit into this area really well.


On the same token, the person that runs a Hospital, doesn't have to be a Doctor either.


But that's like saying that the conductor, knowing music or not, does not have an ear, or a certain taste, that he likes to show forth and present with the set of instruments in front of him.


Mine would likely be along the lines of 200 Motels, I suppose ... but that is way too out there for most people as it is already, let alone ... discussing it as music.


It is an incredible fine line, that computers have made a LOT more visible than ever ... and folks like us all here ... are seeing it happen! How we react to it, and work with it, and learn, is another story altogether!

Moshkiae

spacey


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.

Never know until you tried ... you might find that you have an outstanding performer that adds to the music and then some.


Heck, even Brian Eno was not a "musician" either, though he is/was tone/pitch perfect, which I think helped him more than he states or admits.


It's all relative. How creative and interestingly independent are you to one day add a DJ to your band, and find ... oh my gawd ... it works! And helps give the music a lot more personality than repeating the same chops over and over when others can do better!

spacey

...
How do you know I haven't tried? -  "a performer that adds to the music"-you say?....I totally agree  with you. Remember that...."performer".  And you're right about "relative"....the lights, video, sound effects, etc., were just outstanding for the PF "Pulse" concert. Those were some of the best musicians I've ever known of that pulled that off.
...

spacey

Say....my friend had a dog he named musician. He hummed when he licked his instrument...the musician dog that is....and I swear I'd hear tamborine when it did...do ya think it was his....nevermind.
...

spacey

...
Happy 4th to all the DJ's and musicians.....even those little baby ones beating on the pots and pans...you know your mommy tells everybody that you are her little star musician....and who am I to argue?