Let me state up front : I am and was a huge fan of the MTV 'Unplugged' series, and acoustic music in general. I thought it was both entertaining and intriguing to see various artists interpret their material (or in some cases, the material of others) in such a raw and unfiltered manner.
I've read numerous times on R&P, as well as other places, that people detest these vehicles. I've even seen the word 'abomination' used. I'm not here to bash, I'm simply curious why so many people dislike the acoustic format.
2007-12-21 01:11:32 · 15 answers · asked by Deke 7 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Rock and Pop
I have no problem with most of it, I was watching the MTV Kiss Unplugged last night (from Kissology vol 3) and it's one of my favorite live shows from them. Tesla's "Five Man Acoustical Jam" is another great unplugged performance.
The one song that really kills me though is Clapton's acoustic butchering of "Layla." It had all the power and emotion of a constipated geriatric. If the original song can't translate by simply pulling the plug out of the guitar and you have to rework it, just don't do it.
2007-12-21 02:14:51 · answer #1 · answered by sdmf4u2000 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm definately a fan of acoustic music :)
Part of the problem is, when rock bands start doing acoustic versions, not all the songs they choose are suited to this format. The best are usually songs that were originally written as acoustic, before being recorded as electric.
Added to that, as others have said, some bands are so tweaked and over-produced in the studio, that when they are asked to play in an acoustic style, it shows just how little talent they have.
2007-12-21 04:57:20 · answer #2 · answered by Lady Silver Rose * Wolf 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Disliked, simply because in the most cynical hands, it's just another way of milking fans for all they're worth - similar to the "new" greatest hits package with two rarities tacked on so that completists (suckers?) will buy the damn thing anyway.
However, I've always thought that a good test of a song is whether it will stand being reduced to its bare-bones essentials, with no studio gimmickry to mask a weak tune or weak idea.
There are tunes which actually gain from being made acoustic, and some that can work equally well either way. Neil Young has made "Powderfinger" work as a quiet acoustic ballad and as a ragged, plugged-in live rocker (check out "Live Rust"), which means it's probably a pretty sound song.
2007-12-21 03:49:17 · answer #3 · answered by Bowzer 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Maybe they like all of the production behind the songs. The listeners of today are spoiled. We're used to listening to over-produced, sampled, synthesized music. Its on the radio all day long. This is what they like. Maybe acoustic is 'too plain' for them.
Doing an acoustic version usually adds another dimension to the material and possibly a different mood/interpretation. If the songs are great, an acoustic, stripped-down version just shows that even in a simplified format, the artist/song is amazing.
I'm definitely a fan of acoustic music.
2007-12-21 01:44:42 · answer #4 · answered by Dani G 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Because the "unplugged" version of an already great song is like striping it naked. It doesn't have that energy that it used to have.
Like for example if a Metal band did an "unplugged" version of a song (lets say "Pour Some Sugar On Me" by Def Leppard) they take away all that energy and then it sounds like a country song with no energy at all.
People want an energetic song that gets them pumped up for the day, not a slower pace of the covered song.
Hope I Helped and Happy Holidays!
2007-12-21 14:37:18 · answer #5 · answered by Rex 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The acoustic format is wonderful... unfortunately, most of the "artists" that change their music that was hard-edged or electronic over to acoustic just do a mediocre job. Most of these songs were never intended to be acoustic -- have you heard Korn's Freak on a Leash, acoustic? My point.
2007-12-21 01:17:18 · answer #6 · answered by Potto 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I love the unplugged stuff. Layla (which I always hated) was the first unplugged song that really caught me. I love the acoustic version. Neil Young (Harvest Moon) is incredible, IMO. I catch those shows when I can.
2007-12-21 17:43:36 · answer #7 · answered by poorsias 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea either. i love acoustic versions of songs. neil young's ohio is a perfect example, i love the tune electric but i think it sounds better played on an acoustic
2007-12-21 01:36:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most of today's musicians are pumped through machines and have thier music tweaked and manipulated to sound nice, its called "studio magic" take away the studio magic and the pre-packaged nice bodies and pretty faces turn out to have very mediocre tallentCase in point... britney spears, paris hilton, ashley simpson, most boy bands... you get the point
2007-12-21 01:22:25 · answer #9 · answered by Robert G 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I liked that show but, it's been a long time since they were on. That's when all these reality shows began to get popular.... I miss them. I don't have it anymore since I downgraded my cable but, I wonder if the Vh1 rock classics would have those shows on there. You might want to check it out, you never know u might be able to enjoy your show again.
Take care.
2007-12-21 09:18:13 · answer #10 · answered by Detroiter1967is outa here! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋