Ask Geir Hongro

Would you be interested in saying why you do not like live music?

Because I prefer music as something absolutely perfect that is recorded once and for all in the definite and undisputable original version, that should benefit a lot from perfect production with no mistakes, and as little so-called "soul" as possible. And I see music not as a social activity, but rather as a brain thing. Something you use a perfect artistic mind to create, preferrably all of your own if possible.

More precicely: In the days of classical music, music was notated, with every single note strictly notated into notes that should be followed completely without any kind of interpretation. And I see studio recorded music the same way.

I take it you don't like jazz then?

music was notated, with every single note strictly notated into notes that should be followed completely without any kind of interpretation.

Er, this is an "in your opinion" thing again, as opposed to "the composers' opinion", right?

Apart from that, I pretty much agree with the vague classical:pop::score:recording analogy as to what constitutes the ahem Platonic-type ideal identity of the work.

I take it you don't like jazz then?

With jazz, I dislike the supposed improvisasion part, while I like the entire intellectuality, the advanced harmonies, the way-above-average musicianship and the entire "head music" thinking of it all.

(or, more precicly, I dislike the folksy roots of jazz while I like its flirtation with classical music ideals)

More precicely: In the days of classical music, music was notated, with every single note strictly notated into notes that should be followed completely without any kind of interpretation. And I see studio recorded music the same way.

That's totally false.

And I see music not as a social activity, but rather as a brain thing

This is also a howler. Music is always already a social activity. Read 'Noise' by Jacques Attali.

does music make you lose control, lose control, lose control?

that's very interesting, Mr. Hongro. However, it still seems improbable that you cannot cite one concert that achieved or came close to the ideals stated above. Genesis or Crowded House, for instance, seem to be artists that try or even achieve rather scrupulous fidelity to the source recordings when playing live.

So, in what I assume is thirty-plus years of loving music very much, can you not cite a single example of a time where artists, onstage, played music in a manner pleasurable to you? maybe when you were younger, when your aesthetic was not quite as developed as it is now?

Yo, why is Jadakiss as hard as it gets
Why is the industry designed to keep the artist in debt
And why them dudes ain't ridin' if there part of your set
And why they never get it poppin' but they party to death
Yea, and why they gon give you life for a murder
Turn around only give you eight months for a burner, it's goin down
Why they sellin' niggaz CD's for under a dime
If it's all love daddy why you come wit your nine
Why my niggaz ain't get that cake
Why is a brother up North better than Jordan
That ain't get that break
Why you ain't stackin' instead of tryin' to be fly
Why is rattin' at an all time high
Why are you even alive
Why they kill Tupac n' Chris
Why at the bar you ain't take straight shots instead of poppin' Criss
Why them bullets have to hit that door
Why did Kobe have to hit that raw
Why he kiss that whore
Why

That's totally false.

otm. bach and mozart wouldn't recognize their own work today if they heard it played by any contemporary symphony orchestra.

So, in what I assume is thirty-plus years of loving music very much, can you not cite a single example of a time where artists, onstage, played music in a manner pleasurable to you?

Obviously several cases. I have been to Dire Straits and Peter Gabriel gigs, for instance, where the sound was almost identical to the album versions. But then, I guess the point for those who like live music is gone. And I have the album versions to enjoy, they are superior after all.

Geir,

What are the chances of Manchester United retaining their title this season?

Also, what do you think is Norway's long-term economic strategy to cope with the inevitable rundown of its oil production?

thank you, mr Hongro!

who do you prefer as a bass player: John Illsley or Tony Levin?

What are the chances of Manchester United retaining their title this season?

Pretty good, particularly now that Chelsea has serious trouble and even lose points at home against mediocre Norwegian clubs in the Champions League. :)

Also, what do you think is Norway's long-term economic strategy to cope with the inevitable rundown of its oil production?

Well, there is a certain fund that is much discussed in Norwegian politics. :)

who do you prefer as a bass player: John Illsley or Tony Levin?

Who is Tony Levin?

Who is Tony Levin?

YO WTF?

Tony Levin has played, I believe, on every single Peter Gabriel record.

Gier,

During the Battle of Okinawa, do you think that General Buckner was correct to follow his strategy of attrition by frontal assault, or should he have taken the advice of General Geiger, and tried to outflank Ushijima by an amphibious assault on the southern beaches?

You mean a European or an African swallow?

Mr. Hongro…

I see on the Under pressure thread that you like a lot of David Bowie's music.

Do you dislike his songs "Boys Keep Swinging" and "Fashion," due to the rhythm sections dominating the tune's melodic qualities? And do you also dislike the guitar solos (played by Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp) since both are not in the song's tonalities?

No, I don't dislike those although they aren't among my favourite Bowie picks either. And as for Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp, I can tolerate guitar solos not being particularly tonal - they are just solos after all. I prefer the considerably more melodic guitar work of Steve Hackett though.

Dear G. Hongro,

What is your opinion on the music from Kid Icarus? link here
I know it's just a video game, but there is some lovely melody and counterpoint to be found within these compositions, no?

SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK
SMELL YO DICK

Actually thanks for showing me there's a lot of old gaming nostalgia on Youtube. I didn't know.

(And as for "Smell Yo Dick", there are at least a billion other recent popular songs that sound completely alike)

And "Bombjack" rules:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eer6CSb2mOY

Geir, my question was sincere -- do you have an opinion on Kid Icarus?

I tried listening to it, but you know those game tunes have a tendency to stick in your ears after a while after playing the game. Probably a nice tune, but in the case of computer games, a really sucky and old-fashioned sound tended to put me off anwyay. :)

And by 1986, Rob Hubbard, Martin Galway and Ben Daglish had revolutionized 64 music to such an extent that Nintendo music sounded dated by comparision

what authors do you like to read?

beecher stowe?

oh snap

Geir, which of these dances is the most poular in Norwayland: The Twist, The Macarena or The Mashed Potato? If you were to invent a dance, how would it go?

Geir, which of these dances is the most poular in Norwayland: The Twist, The Macarena or The Mashed Potato?

No idea, but The Macarena is surely the most unpopular. :)

If you were to invent a dance, how would it go?

Sitting in a chair in front of the stereo in a dark room without moving, listening to music at a moderate loud volume and taking in all of the details of the music while still not moving a muscle. Called the "listening dance" or the "hi-fi-dance". Music: Preferrably prog, but also works with slightly sophisticated pop or even classical music.

And "Smell Yo Dick"

xpost
I thought the moves may be something like that. Have you ever 'cut a rug' when accidentally visiting a club or a wedding reception for example?

There´s a new sensation
A fabulous creation
A danceable solution
To teenage revolution
Do the Hongro
When you feel love
It´s the new way
That´s why we say
Do the Hongro
Do it on the tables
Quaglino´s place or mabel´s
Slow and gentle
Sentimental
All styles served here
Louis seize he prefer
Laissez-faire le strand
Tired of the tango
Fed up with fandango
Dance on moonbeams
Slide on rainbows
In furs or blue jeans
You know what I mean
Do the Hong

Had your fill of quadrilles
The madison and cheap thrills
Bored with the beguine
The samba isn´t your scene
They´re playing our tune
By the pale moon
We´re incognito
Down the lido
And we like the strand
Arabs at oasis
Eskimos and chinese
If you feel blue
Look through who´s who
See la goulue
And nijinsky
Do the strandsky
Weary of the waltz
And mashed potato schmaltz
Rhododendron
Is a nice flower
Evergreen
It lasts forever
But it can´t beat Hongro
The sphynx and mona lisa
Lolita and guernica
Did the Hong

Geir, are you a fan of the more melodic strains of symphonic and folk black metal from your fine country?

Sitting in a chair in front of the stereo in a dark room without moving, listening to music at a moderate loud volume and taking in all of the details of the music while still not moving a muscle. Called the "listening dance" or the "hi-fi-dance".

Geir,

SUP?

http://www.totalmedia.com/images/maxell.jpg

Geirs of War

Metal Geir Solid

What books do you like to read?

How do you feel about Koji Kondo?

Geir, are you a fan of the more melodic strains of symphonic and folk black metal from your fine country?

No. I cannot stand music that features screaming or grinding vocals.

What books do you like to read?

Books about music, I guess. :) I don't read a lot of fiction really.

What are your favorite books about music?

Surely you can cite some non-music books that mean a lot to you, mr Hongro!

Is there anything specific about music that you enjoy that you don't in other arts?

You don't like it when they scream and shout, when they work it on out?

Who are your favorite rhythm section?

The thread that never gets old.

Sitting in a chair in front of the stereo in a dark room without moving, listening to music at a moderate loud volume and taking in all of the details of the music while still not moving a muscle. Called the "listening dance" or the "hi-fi-dance". Music: Preferrably prog classic rock, but also works with slightly sophisticated pop singer-songwriters or even classical heavy metal music.

This was me...when I was a bored 15-year-old.

How do you pronounce "Geir Hongro"?