Saturday, October 18, 2014

What Is The Lounge Music Style And Where Can You Hear It?

By Patty Goff


In the mid 20th century, a style of music that had first been introduced during the flapper era became increasingly popular. This style is known as lounge music, and while it encompasses a range of different sounds, it is predominantly associated with easy listening. As such, it found in very mellow and chillout locations, such as in hotel bars, casinos and piano lounges.

This particular genre has a number of musical influences. Just a few of these influences include downtempo, swing, electronica, space age pop, polynesian and exotica. Jazz is a particularly important influence as this is where the genre actually originates. Latin styles such as bossa nova are also important in this genre. The instruments commonly used include the piano, guitar, drums and vibraphones, but also a lot of ethnic percussion.

When you listen to this musical style, you will get a sense of being taken to another place; one that is more tranquil and perhaps even other-worldly, like outer space. The key theme behind the genre is to relax and feel comfortable. This is easy to understand when you consider where you might hear these tunes. It is a good choice of genre for a relaxed social setting.

While you will find that most songs in this style are without lyrics or vocals, especially in more recent times, you can also hear tracks from previous eras with singing in them. In fact, many a singer have attributed their beginning in the industry through lounge singing during the swing jazz period of the 1930s-40s. At this time, it was the singer and not the instrumental that was the focus.

Singers from this time include Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. And Dean Martin, also known as the Rat Pack. Some other vocalists from this era are Louis Prima, Sonny King, Sam Butera and Jackie Gleason. Many of these artistes performed to the music of songwriter and producer Burt Bacharach, who has won six Grammys and three Academy Awards. The artistes he worked with performed mostly in Las Vegas casinos at the time.

In the nineteen nineties, Combustible Edison, Love Jones, The Cocktails and The High Llamas were just a few of many groups that revived the genre. In nineteen ninety-six, Capitol Records released an entire seris of Ultra-Lounge albums. The genre itself was very different to the other popular style at the time, known as grunge.

From the beginning of the twenty-first century, the genre has taken a different direction, with artistes combining a mixtures of styles, such as metal or even hip hop. Richard Cheese and Lounge Against The Machine is one such example. In the same way, French band Nouvelle Vague used post-punk songs from the eighties as the starting point for their inspiration.

There are a number of nightclubs that are less like the loud, dance environment of a regular club where these tunes from this genre can be experienced. These clubs are styled more like high end bars where cocktails and mingling are the focus. There is rarely a separate dance floor, but partially private rooms are often available for a more intimate social setting. It is a much more subdued environment than a regular nightclub.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment