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From: rdz@ccice5.UUCP (Robert D. Zarcone)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: Music and Style:  All Show and No Go??
Message-ID: <932@ccice5.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 23-Oct-85 12:18:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: ccice5.932
Posted: Wed Oct 23 12:18:18 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Oct-85 04:34:59 EDT
References: <16928@watmath.UUCP>
Organization: CCI Central Engineering, Rochester, NY
Lines: 25

> 
> Something has been starting to really worry me lately.  First I heard that
> Wham! played in Toronto and Georgeous George had 2 (or 3) backup *dancers*.
> And then I was locked in a small room with my TV and forced to watch parts
> of Live Aid and saw Madonna cavorting with (yup - you guessed it) 2 backup
> dancers.  (I also heard Power Station whose drummer has never heard of the
> concept of a steady beat or keeping in time.)
> 
> So much emphasis these days seems to be on appearance and perceptions of
> style rather than on the music.  (Yes - there are many counter examples)
> Is this what videos have been doing to our music?
> 
> John

Here, John! Don't make a fuss! I'll watch your MTV :-)
Seriously, it really is just rock coming full circle again.
Go-go dancers were part of performences by bands on "Shindig",
"Hullabaloo", "Let Me Take You Where the Action Is", etc.
during the 60s.  And as for style, theatrics have been around
since before the birth of rock (e.g. Johnny Ray doing "Cry").
The videos only give the added ability of editing to the performance.
Besides, with the exception of a very few musically competent
people, what is rock but "appearance and perceptions"?

BTW, I LIKE the Power Station's drummer's style!