Jedi Council Forums - Song versus score, cue, track - Is it worth it to be so pedantic?

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Author	Topic: Song versus score, cue, track - Is it worth it to be so pedantic?
Cerrabore Registered: Jan '04	Date Posted: 9/15/07 9:40am Subject: Song versus score, cue, track - Is it worth it to be so pedantic? - Date Edited: 9/15/07 9:40am (1 edits total) Edited By: Cerrabore
	One of the most common posts I see here is a correction of the use of the word song. Sometimes the difference is explained, but sometimes the veteran member will not even inform the uninformed member of the difference. When met with this cryptic criticism, a new user may feel on edge. It's not very friendly. I have to ask, also, why people find the difference so important. You may not like it, but the vast majority of the English-speaking world does not distinguish between song and score. I have a classical pianist friend who calls his compositions songs. What's more is that some dictionaries (I used Mac OS X's widget) define a song as, among other things, "a musical composition suggestive of a song." It's like the use of alternative cue versus alternate cue. The first is correct; you can look it up. However, I don't object to this improper use of English every time I see it. If I had to summarize this in two words, those words would be simply chill out.
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halibut Title: FF GSA & FF-UK RSA Registered: Aug '00	Date Posted: 9/15/07 10:39am Subject: RE: Song versus score, cue, track - Is it worth it to be so pedantic? - Date Edited: 9/15/07 10:42am (1 edits total) Edited By: halibut
	If you want to take part in a discussion/debate about a certain subject, it's common courtesy to at least get the basic terminology correct. "the vast majority of the English-speaking world does not distinguish between song and score" That may well be the case, but I would expect that with an entire forum dedicated to film scores, the majority of people WOULD know the difference. And if they are corrected on the issue, then they have gained knowledge If your friend calls his own compositions songs, that's his choice of course. Mendelssohn was renowned for his piano pieces entitled "Songs without words" (although that particular title shows that he actually knew what a song was) I wouldn't correct someone in JCC for saying "song" in error (well, I might ), but it's a different situation in a forum dedicated to scores and the like. -----signature----- They are not "songs", they are "tracks" or "cues" Don't you know about the bird? Everybody knows that the bird is the word!
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Strilo Title: Manager • Music • Prequel Trilogy Registered: Aug '01	Date Posted: 9/15/07 11:30am Subject: RE: Song versus score, cue, track - Is it worth it to be so pedantic?
	I am far more concerned about the elitist tendancies of many film score fans who listen to little else. That can be far more alienating than the whole songs/tracks/cues debate. -----signature----- #1 on iTunes Most Played: R.E.M. "Imitation of Life" #1 on iTunes Film Scores: Harry Potter "A Window to the Past" * * * * * * "And therefore blah blah blah your mom..."
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Cellist Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 9/15/07 11:37am Subject: RE: Song versus score, cue, track - Is it worth it to be so pedantic?
	I kind of agree with Cerrabore. Personally, I use the correct terminology, but I would never jump down someone's throat for calling it a song. Strilo posted: I am far more concerned about the elitist tendancies of many film score fans who listen to little else. That can be far more alienating than the whole songs/tracks/cues debate. Yeah, QFT. Especially when people refer to film scores and classical music as "real music." -----signature----- "Baron Of Not Catching On" of the JCC Shiny Council http://www.getphpbb.com/phpbb/index.php?mforum=shinycouncil Sir Cellulitis of Lardipuss of the Knights of the Round Espy I believe in mermaids
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Strilo Title: Manager • Music • Prequel Trilogy Registered: Aug '01	Date Posted: 9/15/07 11:39am Subject: RE: Song versus score, cue, track - Is it worth it to be so pedantic?
	I don't think anyone is getting their throat jumped down. That sort of behavior would be moderated. Scott is very good about that sort of thing. And hell, this forum probably has a higher concentration of mods reading it than any other forum, except maybe YJCC. -----signature----- #1 on iTunes Most Played: R.E.M. "Imitation of Life" #1 on iTunes Film Scores: Harry Potter "A Window to the Past" * * * * * * "And therefore blah blah blah your mom..."
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andy1044 Registered: Aug '06	Date Posted: 9/15/07 11:48am Subject: RE: Song versus score, cue, track - Is it worth it to be so pedantic?
	I would say that if someone is even listening to film music in the first place then we've already won. It doesn't matter what they call the pieces, just as long as more people are exposed to the genre. -----signature----- Are you looking for original music for your film? Look no further! Samples of my work can be heard at: http://www.soundclick.com/andyskrabutenas PM me or send an email to andy1044@aol.com if you are interested.
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halibut Title: FF GSA & FF-UK RSA Registered: Aug '00	Date Posted: 9/15/07 11:59am Subject: RE: Song versus score, cue, track - Is it worth it to be so pedantic?
	Cellist posted: I kind of agree with Cerrabore. Personally, I use the correct terminology, but I would never jump down someone's throat for calling it a song. Strilo posted: I am far more concerned about the elitist tendancies of many film score fans who listen to little else. That can be far more alienating than the whole songs/tracks/cues debate. Yeah, QFT. Especially when people refer to film scores and classical music as "real music." You get just as many people calling classical music "old-fashioned" etc. It goes both ways. I am a big fan of classical music and don't really like modern music (including Pearl Jam ), but that doesn't mean I don't class modern stuff as music. Of course it is. -----signature----- They are not "songs", they are "tracks" or "cues" Don't you know about the bird? Everybody knows that the bird is the word!
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General Kenobi Title: Administrator Emeritus Registered: Dec '98	Date Posted: 9/15/07 12:17pm Subject: RE: Song versus score, cue, track - Is it worth it to be so pedantic? - Date Edited: 9/15/07 12:21pm (1 edits total) Edited By: General Kenobi
	No, it's not worth it to be overly pedantic about a fairly harmless misuse of a term. Hell, iTunes labels all the tracks as "songs". However, in the long run, I think it's good for any music lover to understand basic terminology. Should we correct someone who said "I love the trumpet solo in Binary Sunset", and tell them it is really a French horn? Most likely. Should we go into a dissertation on the difference between 'Classical' music and classical music if someone calls Tchaikovsky a great classical composer? (Or even argue about the spelling of his name. ) Probably depends on the situation. It's like being the grammar and spelling police. You don't want to be overbearing and point out every typo or little mistake, yet there are some atrocious abuses of the English language going about. I've read many a post that I've had to go over two or three times to make sure of the author's meaning. Often, I can't be sure. A few have been totally incomprehensible. Sure, in fast social areas like the YJCC or in an AIM chat, it's best to overlook such things. When people are making serious intellectual arguments, I find it harder to tolerate sloppy usage and a lack of basic proofreading. Of course, if you are going to criticize someone else's spelling or grammar, you'll look extremely foolish if you post errors! "Reel music". Hahaha. LOL. Oh, wait.
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Darth_Vader-Anakin Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 9/17/07 9:47pm Subject: RE: Song versus score, cue, track - Is it worth it to be so pedantic?
	halibut posted: Cellist posted: I kind of agree with Cerrabore. Personally, I use the correct terminology, but I would never jump down someone's throat for calling it a song. Strilo posted: I am far more concerned about the elitist tendancies of many film score fans who listen to little else. That can be far more alienating than the whole songs/tracks/cues debate. Yeah, QFT. Especially when people refer to film scores and classical music as "real music." You get just as many people calling classical music "old-fashioned" etc. It goes both ways. I am a big fan of classical music and don't really like modern music (including Pearl Jam ), but that doesn't mean I don't class modern stuff as music. Of course it is. I too listen to little other than film music and classical, but I don't believe it's the only type of good music out there -- it just happens to be the type that appeals to me. None of my friends really understand my musical tastes, and I don't really care for their's either, but I do respect them because, like myself, they are very passionate about what they listen to. About the song vs. cue/track debate -- if someone is participating in a discussion about a certain subject, I think they should use the proper basic terminology. I don't think anyone is expecting everyone to know advanced musical terms, but it doesn't hurt to have a base set of words when discussing a subject. There's nothing wrong with learning.
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