Identify a style of music using only my horrible description!
January 14, 2009 8:33 AM   Subscribe

Help me identify a style of music that has escaped me for well over the past year...

I am new to AskMeFi, but this question has been bugging me for a long time - and I think this is where it will get answered.

Help me identify a style and some artists of a particular kind of music. It will be hard to describe - but here is my best shot:

Most times, I identify this style of music with the 1950s - commercials and 'showcases of technology'. Do you know when they show a brand new shiny kitchen with all the newest stuff - everything is sparkling and clean? There is music playing in the background, it is very staccato, is full of string instruments and vocals. It usually has a lot of 8th or 16th note hits all in a row.

The only example I can think of, specifically, is some of the music in the first Sims. If I had to guess I would say it is some kind of jazz - but I don't know if this kind of music has a specific title to it's style.

I sincerely apologize for the cryptic description, I can never find solid examples of the music and I am horrible at describing things.

Thanks to everyone in advance.
posted by Brettus to Media & Arts (7 answers total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: It's called "production music" here - but I don't know if that's standard terminology.
posted by Joe Beese at 8:45 AM on January 14, 2009


Best answer: Is it anything like the shopping music compilations here?
posted by HopperFan at 8:47 AM on January 14, 2009


It's in the direction of what you are saying but perhaps not right on- things like Esquivel or "Space Age Pop/Bachelor Pad Music?"
posted by zennoshinjou at 8:47 AM on January 14, 2009 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Hopper - Your suggestion was SPOT ON. I downloaded Vol 2 of that shopping music. THANK YOU.

Joe - I also think you hit it the nail on the head. I had the question typed up and referenced from Ren and Stimpy, but I couldn't find a youtube example so I scratched it. The description on that page is spot on, and I think once I open the ZIP file it will be exactly what I am looking for.

Thanks to you both.
posted by Brettus at 9:00 AM on January 14, 2009


zennoushinjou - Space Age Bachelor Pad music (that I know) is more focused on really quirky stuff (nonsense vocals like "Zu zu zu" and interesting instruments) with a bevvy of stereophonic effects (stereo fidelity was new, and some people really got into the possibilities - Esquivel went as far as to have two orchestras perform in different studios, one for the right channel and the other for the left). It's similar to that background music, but is extended further into realms of unreality (it's too absurd to use in any serious advertisements).

There's a previous Ask Metafilter thread inquiring about background music for 1950s educational films, and the FPP post relating to Joe Beese's link.

Production Music (or "library music") is the label for the audio equivalent of stock film, not a specific genre. Production music covers genres that would be utilized as background music. Sometimes the sound is more "generic" than music you'd buy in a store and sold by a particular band or artist, because production music is intended to be re-used without becoming associated with any one product or company. If it becomes too iconic, it couldn't be reused as easily.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:02 AM on January 14, 2009


Also check out the Music for TV Dinners collections.
posted by Muffy at 5:57 PM on January 14, 2009


Does "Ginger Snap (Scat Trap Doo Dap Whistle Tap Caper)" by Mondstein fit this vein?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn36KqWoi7s
posted by skypieces at 5:44 AM on January 15, 2009


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