It has occured to me that jukeboxes are of two varieties these days: the new ones that pretty much have everything via the Internet, and the old-fashioned ones that have local music (usually CDs), with the selections chosen by the bar owner. It's probably split 60-40 or 70-30 these days.
I don't know about you, but sometimes when faced with an overwhelming number of choices, too many becomes a bad thing and the former may be guilty of that. The personality of the pub owner can shine through in the later and sometimes this is a good thing as it helps to create a certain vibe. I'm thinking the Grassroots Tavern in the East Village (old-fashioned) and how the choices were local, iconic, legendary bands and that music fit the scene. No one ever calls this censorship, but it is a little bit, isn't it? But on the other hand, if you consider the jukebox as aural artwork and the bar owner gets to select how his place is decorated, shouldn't he be allowed to pick and choose what he wants?
So what do you think? Do you want to have 500,000 songs to choose from in every possible genre or would you like something more insightfully chosen by the bar owner?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Jukeboxes
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I tried one of those new jukeboxes a few weeks ago and I don't like them. Lame.
It's just another manifestation of the Apollonian and Dionysian dichotomy. For example compare the Harley-Davidson and BMW motorcycles. When you take the technology to an extreme as BMW does, you lose the essence of the primitive nature of the motorcycle. Same goes for the jukebox.
The BMW also forces it's owner to do unexplainable things, like purchase flourescent orange coats, helmets, pants, shoes and school crossing guard uniforms. They don this apparel before each and every ride.
Right! LOL.
Post a Comment