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-- Paul Van Dyk
Paul Van Dyk
I found this post on another forum....any thoughts?
Paul Van Dyks compositions are very melodic and whimsical; no matter how dreamy they sound, though, each composition is simplistic and not made up of many different elements. From a production perspective, it is not hard to diffuse each individual element of a PVD track.
Paul is successful because a massive worldwide group of listeners appeal to this basic, elementary material. It is easy to digest, and because of its basic elements, many intermediate listeners warm up to it and buy it, or the DVD, or an overpriced ticket to go see him, etc.
For any pvd enthusiast, it may appear that his music touches you in a profound way, and you sincerely believe that there is nothing else in existence that will equal this wonderful sensation from him, for he is the greatest producer to grace electronic music. This disposition is understandable, because all of us know how easy it is to bask in the bliss of something simple (like a day at the beach with no worries). Sometimes it can be even easier to get stuck appreciating the simplicity of something (hypnotic).
Just do not become so blinded by this intermediate material that it takes you over and turns you into the village nincompoop who runs around town and sings the hallelujas and priases about PvD and epic trance.
Be mindful that there are many other forms out there, each containing much more dynamic composure. Material that is rich and texturized, containing more complexity in every four bars. Selections that can take weeks to compose instead of hours, or even minutes. Persons well versed in music (who are known to have a good palate or taste in music) tend to gravitate toward these musically verbose forms of audio. Those who have immersed themselves deeply in musical arrangement and composition (particularly electronic) are appreciative of the richness this advanced listening material has to offer.
Putting paul van dyk's tracks to a comparison of this advanced music is about the same as comparing the abilities of any top 40 american-bubble-gumm-teen pop artist to those of a notable jazz composer)
If you would like to know more about how to progress and eventually be able to fully appreciate these styles, you must make the conscious decision to:
Step away from the hypnoto-trance-tractor beam eminating from PvD's pretty glowing hovering spaceship slowly and keep walking....
no matter what, keep walking...
there is much more down the road, AWAY from the ship in the sky.
just keep on walking and growing...
it'll be okay..
i promise.
Re: Paul Van Dyk
| quote: |
| Originally posted by tennessee_raver Just do not become so blinded by this intermediate material that it takes you over and turns you into the village nincompoop who runs around town and sings the hallelujas and priases about PvD and epic trance. |
that is stupid, people will like what they like. bottom line, everyone has there own opinion about what is good music.
Basic, elementary material, huh?
Try listening to:
PvD - Forbidden Fruit
PvD - Beautiful Place
PvD - Words
How about electronic music with jazzy overtones, reminiscent of Philip Glass?
Nincompoop singing hallelujah 
Uh-oh. This is just inviting a flame war.
Anyhow, the author is basing his argument off of two points:
a) All people who enjoy PvD do so because of blind worship for his productions, and
b) Productions all sit on some absolute scale of worth, the measure of which is "complexity."
Both points are wrong:
a) Many people who like Paul appreciate his DJing as much as, if not more than, his production ability. His skill at the turntables is complementary and different in nature to his composition. Also, simply because some people like his productions doesn't mean each and every one of them likes every single PvD production without reason.
b) This point is worse. Complexity does not mean better music. There's something to be said about innovation in music, but Paul has forged a completely unique sound of his own, regardless of how "lacking complexity" it is. If that's not innovation, I don't know what is. Furthermore, the worth we find in music isn't just in analyzing "how complex" it is, especially in the case of trance. There's a whole lot to be said about minimalism in the case of electronic dance music.
I think some people do get a bit too enraptured in Paul's work. But that certainly doesn't justify what this guy is trying to say.
i agree that many of PVDs songs are very simple. But what keeps me wanting more PVD is the EXECUTION of the song. That's why i LOVE autumn so much. It's a simple song, but the execution and structure of the song, omg, BEAUTIFUL
Hmm...
I kinda see where he's coming from w/ the layers....
.....personally on some occasions i've been sooo wrecked that it wasnt that hard for me to distinguish each individual track in a song. That I do agree w/. But, at the same time i'm thinking that I actually enjoy the music and think of how hard something like that really is. It may sound simple but I'd say very difficult to reproduce. I mean, being a DJ/wannabe producer myself its very hard to get samples/synths together that really blend and sound "togther" like PvD.....
...all that writing and I'm not a PVD lover
why are people trying to analyze PVD fans? people really are bored.
that applies to pretty much any producer/dj/whatever. Just because someone loves to listen to PvD, doesn't mean they haven't listened to other styles, it's totally close-minded to think that certain artist is the devil just for playing/producing stuff that crowds like it. In the end, every single artist/producer/singer/composer/whatever is a form of music, and music is intended to give us this inner peace in one way or another, that hiponitzes us all and makes us have all sort of feelings; it can make us dance, it can help us meditate, it can cheer us up, it might put us down on tears, it can makes our lives a bit better, everything. It's a pretty broad critic that may apply to anyone, you may even say that of Beethoven if you dislike him quite enough. Anyway, people listen what they want to listen, you can't do anything about it, the complexity is not a factor ... it might be a simple synth poping all around your head all day, or a huge symphony concert with all sort of instruments and notes and phases and blah blah blah ... it's just a matter of tastes, you can't help it. Just enjoy the music ... and then it'll be ok.
His DJ skills are amazing!! No one can make my body move the way he does, and of course it�s always Heaven listening to Paul's livesets when I�m Rollin balls 
Re: Re: Paul Van Dyk
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Sirocco DONT TALK ABOUT ARTURO LIKE THAT |
I dont see why people have to justify why the like a certain dj/producer and style of music, especially when it comes to paul van dyk. People listen to what they want to listen and no one has the write to critise their choice!
i like paul van dyk's productions because its good music! nuff said
Good chance to try out my new "What people really want to say" machine. Here is the result (= what the person in the first post really wanted to say but disguised it in partly nice words):
| quote: |
| I don`t understand all these PvD freaks! His productions are medicore and the entry to his events too expensive. Why do people spend so much money and time on someone like PvD? A monkey banging two coconut shells could make tracks like PvD`s. Can`t you people understand that progressive is by far the better music. But wait: All PvD fans are too stupid to realise that progressive is the only intelligent form of music! |
| quote: |
| PvD and everyone who like him is shit and dumb! Progressive rules! |
Re: Paul Van Dyk
| quote: |
| Originally posted by tennessee_raver I found this post on another forum....any thoughts? [...] |
PvD is a great DJ, he has alot of skills and has done well to get where he is today...
I know I don't stand alone here when I say this, but his productions really do not appeal to me. I'm not saying my "taste" is better than anyone elses I just do not like his style. For me, his productions just don't sound that great; partly due to the reasons mentioned by the original poster, and in the case of some of his productions, they just feel overly clean and polished, almost too, "manufactured". Hard to explain, but it's just the way I hear it. But I cannot say he is a bad producer, for obvious reasons; as his music does appeal to many people.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Sir. Lunchalot Good chance to try out my new "What people really want to say" machine. Here is the result (= what the person in the first post really wanted to say but disguised it in partly nice words): |
Paul's music appeals to many because this "inferior" simplicity you speak of.
I am a classical musician, and have read a book entitled What to Listen for in Music by the respected American composer, Aaron Copland. In the book he states that great music does not have to be complex so much as it has to be effective, leaving the listener with some sort of strong general feeling, be it Exuberance, sorrow, anger, etc.
Paul's songs achieve this because the simplicity of his music. Each tune, like you said, contains mostly the basic elements, bringing across feelings and emotions very clearly.
Many artists dabble in writing music that is just complex for the sake of being complex. That does not mean complex music can not be effective, however, very few artists still deliver clear themes through their thick musical texturing. Only a small number of producers, such as Sasha, BT, and Max Graham, can pull of writing effective complex music.
All that being said, Two unresolved issues still remain:
1) Each Person has a different oppinion of what makes music effective, and
2) Effective music does not always make great dance music, and vice versa. When I listen to progressive, tribal, jungle, or any other music made specifically for dancing, I do not judge it the same way that I judge classical or jazz or pop.
To sum it all up, PvD's music can not be called inferior for being somewhat simple. Not all of Mozart's music was complex, nor that of Glenn Miller or many other famous classical and jazz composers.
Re: Paul Van Dyk
| quote: |
| Originally posted by tennessee_raver Paul Van Dyks compositions are very melodic and whimsical; no matter how dreamy they sound, though, each composition is simplistic and not made up of many different elements. From a production perspective, it is not hard to diffuse each individual element of a PVD track. |
Re: Re: Paul Van Dyk
| quote: |
| Originally posted by thesuperfunk Someone needs to listen to 'Avenue'. |
Someone should tell this writer to listen to the Zurdo soundtrack..and then tell me that Paul only composes "simple music"..besides, does complex music = good music??? I think not...
I guess everyone has a right to their opinion...
Re: Paul Van Dyk
| quote: |
| Originally posted by tennessee_raver each composition is simplistic and not made up of many different elements. From a production perspective, it is not hard to diffuse each individual element of a PVD track. |
| quote: |
| Just do not become so blinded by this intermediate material... |
Kylie Minoque makes simple music, not PvD 
| quote: |
| Originally posted by jploveparade Kylie Minoque makes simple music, not PvD |
Another bashing thread...
uhm.. I think PvD's productions are truly average lately or not as good as they used to be before, for instance Seven Ways, Words for love.. etc
perhaps he needs to change his style a bit or try something new, but in the other hand if he changes he's in risk of being bashed like Oakenfold.
so if u don't like his music just don't listen to it
Re: Paul Van Dyk
| quote: |
| Originally posted by tennessee_raver I found this post on another forum....any thoughts? |
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