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View Full Version : A music question, what determines dance music?



LinuxFox
September 20th, 2009, 08:24 PM
Listening to the radio in Rhythmbox got me thinking about this. I added a station filled with "dance" music and I notice it's electronic-like music. Kind of like techno with singing, or even remixes.

It got me wondering, if this is "dance" music, then what about other genres. Thinking about it, there's slow dance music, sometimes pop music can even be danced to.

If other genres can be dance to, how come dance music is promoted as electronic music. I know about clubs, but thinking about other genres where music could be danced to got me thinking, what determines dance music.

Any answers or opinions would be great.

chucky chuckaluck
September 20th, 2009, 08:47 PM
anything can be dance music. in fact, dance is not even dependent on sound.

Paqman
September 20th, 2009, 08:57 PM
what determines dance music.


In general use it means electronic music that can trace some line of descent back to house, D'n'B or techno. Paradoxically, you don't have to really be able to dance to it (eg: IDM or ambient), but obviously most of it will be danceable.

LinuxFox
September 20th, 2009, 09:16 PM
In general use it means electronic music that can trace some line of descent back to house, D'n'B or techno. Paradoxically, you don't have to really be able to dance to it (eg: IDM or ambient), but obviously most of it will be danceable.So it's just a general term describing electronic music. Thanks for the answer.

chucky chuckaluck: So anything can be dance music, how is dance not dependent on sound?

chucky chuckaluck
September 20th, 2009, 09:23 PM
chucky chuckaluck: So anything can be dance music, how is dance not dependent on sound?

why would it be dependent on sound? it's movement as a form of expression.

Regenweald
September 20th, 2009, 09:26 PM
If music is playing and someone is dancing, it's dance music. We do not dictate what style someone is allowed to dance to, and what someone is not. We simply don't.

LinuxFox
September 20th, 2009, 09:27 PM
why would it be dependent on sound? it's movement as a form of expression.Ok, I thought dance would be to beats. I guess this is where freestyle came from. Anyway thanks for the answer.

Paqman
September 20th, 2009, 09:28 PM
So it's just a general term describing electronic music. Thanks for the answer.


Pretty much. Not all electronic music is dance though.

Definitions are always tricky in music, especially underground music. They're shifting all the time, ans whatever rule you try and come up with there's always exceptions. Quite often the written word is a really imprecise way of describing it, too.

t0p
September 20th, 2009, 09:50 PM
If music is playing and someone is dancing, it's dance music. We do not dictate what style someone is allowed to dance to, and what someone is not. We simply don't.

Actually no. "Dance music" is a genre of music.

What you're suggesting is akin to claiming that any movie that thrills is a thriller. That of course is incorrect. Pornography thrills, but most pornographic movies are not thrillers. Similarly, just because someone dances to a folk tune, does not make the folk tune dance music.

Paqman
September 20th, 2009, 09:59 PM
If music is playing and someone is dancing, it's dance music.

Well, now you're getting into semantics. I think if you went looking for waltzes in a record store's dance music section you'd come away disappointed.

Arthur_D
September 20th, 2009, 10:47 PM
Actually no. "Dance music" is a genre of music.

What you're suggesting is akin to claiming that any movie that thrills is a thriller. That of course is incorrect. Pornography thrills, but most pornographic movies are not thrillers. Similarly, just because someone dances to a folk tune, does not make the folk tune dance music.
Agreed. That's why I don't like it when people think of electronic music as trance/techno/dance, because there's A LOT MORE in-between, and outside of these genres.

I wouldn't place my favourite electronic musician Jean Michel Jarre in any of the above genres, nor the music I'm making myself.

Regenweald
September 20th, 2009, 10:54 PM
Well, now you're getting into semantics.

Very true :P I'm not one for genres....