This Allman Brothers fan disagrees.

Kashmir, Master of Puppets, Iron Man and In-Da-Gadda-Da-Vida would like to have a word with The Morning News.

King Something: In-Da-Gadda-Da-Vida

Two measures and a coda does not a rock song make.

Disagree.

2:42 is the perfect length for any rock radio song

FTFY

GOD what a douche. I'm a musician and was interested in the topic but couldn't get through it due to the shower of doucheness that is the author

-Opeth-
also disagree
June 2. Watershed.

And I don't even feel springtime morning fresh for reading it all.

Stairway? One? Freebird? wow... I could go on and on. I was really hoping there'd be some good content there, but nope. I agree that some of the shorter songs by bands like The Ramones are some of the greatest, but it's about talent/writing something people can relate or rock out to... not time.

I love extended and through-written songs. 13 minutes? Fine. 25 minutes of Miles Davis (fusion)? Love it.

I'm sure Lennon and Dylan squeezed a lot into 2:30, but they also wrote a lot of stuff that sounded the same. With a 10 minute song you basically get to avoid that b/c the writter has the space and freedom to express similar ideas within the same song as opposed to within the same album in seperate songs... I prefer the first one.

just my opinion...

These guys would tend to agree.

What a douchebag. He goes on my list of men whose genitals one is morally justified in removing with the remains of a rusty oil can.

rekoil: These guys would tend to agree.

Beat me to it.

/Front 242 FTW

Pretty much every quality band in the past 50 years would disagree with that article.

Also, reading about 2 paragraphs into that POS, all I could picture is Patrick Bateman on his phone instructing his imaginary friend:

"Yeah, you definitely want to tip your stylist...yes, yes, no...got it; bye!"

I was all set to entertain this concept, but then the guy comes off as a douche. Complaining about the length of songs because you're on a tight schedule? That doesn't even warrant a counterpoint. Maybe you should give up your job writing shiat columns-- that might free up your oh-so-valuable time. In the meantime, enjoy your ADHD.

nope. according to shel talmy, it's 2:50.

Doctor Hooey: GOD what a douche. I'm a musician and was interested in the topic but couldn't get through it due to the shower of doucheness that is the author

I came in here to say the exact same thing.

and why again was his article so ridiculously long?

I Like Short Songs!
(I Like Short Songs!)
I Like Short Songs!
(I Like Short Songs!)

these guys scoff at your 2:42


/its WIRE btw, PINK FLAG FTW

Actually the perfect length was already determined by John Cage, and it is 4:33

listen to an orchestra play this "Masterpiece"

Link (new window)

He's closer than I'd thought he'd be. At 2:42 in my library:

Monkey Hips and Rice - The "5" Royales
Waterloo - Abba
Tears of a Clown - English Beat
Yes It Is, Michelle, Lovely Rita, Birthday and Don't Pass Me By - Beatles
My Back Pages - Byrds
School Days and No Particular Place To Go - Chuck Berry
Hey Tonight, Commotion and Up Around The Bend - CCR
Catch That Train - Dan Zanes
Harmony - Elton John
I Get A Thrill - Honeydrippers
Why Don't We Get Drunk And Screw - Jimmy Buffett
Tell It Like It Is - Aaron Neville
In the Flesh? - Luther Wright and the Wrongs
Chained and Bound - Otis Redding
That Would Be Something - Paul McCartney
Hard Time Killing Floor Blues - "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack
Breakdown and Don't Do Me Like That - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
So Young - Ron Sexsmith
Baby Please Don't Go - Them
Star of the County Down - Van Morrison/Chieftains
Please Come Home For Christmas - Charles Brown
Little Star - The Elegants
Pay You Back With Interest - Hollies
A Well-Respected Man - Kinks
Forget - Mission of Burma
Cool Jerk - Capitols
Summertime - Billy Stewart
Agent Double-O Soul - Edwin Starr
Hello Skinny - The Residents
(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear - Blondie
I've Never Found A Girl - Eddie Floyd
Wrap It Up - Fabulous Thunderbirds
Ain't That Just Like A Woman - Fats Domino
Whenever You're Ready - Zombies
Get Down - Gilbert O'Sullivan
Funky Broadway - Dyke and the Blazers
Rock 'n' Roll Call - Treniers
Walk Away Renee - Left Banke

--

A whole lot more good than bad there for your 2:42.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Natural Snow Buildings, Sigur Ros, and World's End Girlfriend (among others) all disagree. Having too short an attention span or no time for long music is not excuse for putting it down. Hell, I think most of my favorite songs are easily over twice that length.

I tried to read the article, I really did, but eventually I wanted to strangle the guy for being a colossal douche.

the fans of long songs in here getting up in arms is rather funny. Don't get me wrong, I love long songs, but I also find that it's much easier to write an overly long song than one that is short, but to the point.


On one hand: Ina Gadda da Vida. There's a reason why the radio edit is all of 2 minutes.

On the other hand: I certainly can't be the only one who feels like Explosions in the Sky sounds like Godspeed You Black Emperor! with ADD. GYBE! may have songs twice as long as EitS, yet GYBE!'s songs sound much more finished.

Somewhere in my basement I have a bootleg of "Supper's Ready" that comes in at 24:20. Does that count?

phlegmato: King Something: In-Da-Gadda-Da-Vida

Two measures and a coda does not a rock song make.

You're right, it makes the rock song! In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida FTW!!

I think the article's supposed to be funny?

/comes off like a shower of douche anyway

"There She Goes" is an excellent example of 2:42 perfection, I'll give him that. Pity that Sixpence None The Richer ruined it for so many of us, but as originally done by the La's, it's a great little song.

2:50 x 4 and you have A Quick One, While He's Away

Link (new window)

2:42 is the perfect length for any rock song Guitar Solo


FTFW

Not too bad...



Pity the article was by some Z-grade Cracked writer.

phlegmato: King Something: In-Da-Gadda-Da-Vida

Two measures and a coda does not a rock song make.

this isn't true. a guy hitting a metal barrel and yelling "bla bla bla bla" monotonically is a rock song.

\Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue

The Minutemen disagree...

Pfft, choose any time around the three/four minute mark and you'll find a zillion classics. The guy's off his head.

Hmmm. "Lisa Ling & Lucy Liu" is 2:42. They need to play more Mike Doughty on the radio.

Hey everybody post their 2:42 list! llolololasdf

I'm listening to a half hour long Moonsorrow song as we speak. Up next is an hour long Green Carnation song. Both kick tushi. So I disagree.

/Good day Mr.Allen.

Creedence Clearwater Revival
- "Up around the Bend"
- "Hey Tonight"
- Commotion"
Hoobastank
- "Out of Control"
Page France and the Family Telephone
- "Here's a Telephone"
The Whitest Kids U' Know
- "Get a New Daddy"

I like mine around 4-6 minutes. Often more, but 4-6 is an average. A "2.5 minutes is perfect" outlook is for people with no attention span or for people who just don't really understand music.

Like your average Britney fan.

happyharryhardon
these guys scoff at your 2:42


/its WIRE btw, PINK FLAG FTW

Sweet!! Allright! :-)
nice to see Wire and "Pink Flag" get some love on Fark.
I own "PF" and "Chairs Missing" on re-issued vinyl... I tend to like "PF" more than "Chairs". "Chairs" is too dark and gloomy and minimalistic in places for my tastes, sometimes. I have to be in a certain mood to listen to it. [and this is coming from someone who thinks of "Closer" as J.D.'s best record, and one of the top 5 or top 10 of the 80's.] That being said, there's a handful of great songs on "Chairs". But I generally like "PF" a lot more.

I should have RTFA. It's clearly satire.

shadowself: I should have RTFA. It's clearly satire.

I agree. It's fun to watch all these folks get trolled by a satire piece.

Tales From Topographic Oceans - nuff said.

LZep: Communication Breakdown 2:24 -- close enough

Headline: 2:42 is the perfect length for any rock song

That's barely enough time for a solo.

Third_Uncle_Eno: happyharryhardon
these guys scoff at your 2:42


/its WIRE btw, PINK FLAG FTW

Sweet!! Allright! :-)
nice to see Wire and "Pink Flag" get some love on Fark.



Let me give you another boner. Just for you:


these guys say one minute exactly. If you like it that much repeat it 3 times, just like any pop song

This guy comes off with way too much Maddox anger and not nearly enough Maddox humor.

My two-four-twos . . .

Arrivederci Roma - Dean Martin
Ask The Lonely - Four Tops
Birthday - Beatles
Breakdown - Tom Petty
Can't Seem to Make You Mine - Ramones
Commotion - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Coventry Carol - Mannheim Steamroller
Don't Do Me Like That - Tom Petty
Drinking From The Fountain - Stanley Brothers
Everybody Loves Somebody - Dean Martin
Friday On My Mind - Easybeats
Garfield's Blackberry Blossom - Nashville Bluegrass Band
God Loves His Children - Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs
Hey Tonight - Creedence Clearwater Revival
I CAN'T HELP MYSELF (SUGAR PIE, HONEY BUNCH) - FOUR TOPS
I Get a Thrill - Honeydrippers
In the Mood - Rush
Jim Dandy - Black Oak Arkansas
Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
Lovely Rita - Beatles
Mouthful Of Air - Catherine Wheel
On The Dark Side - John Cafferty & Beaver Brown Band
Only The Strong Survive - Elvis Presley
Saint Agnes And the Burning Train - Sting
Save Me A Place - Fleetwood Mac
Small Wooden Bach'ses - Mannheim Steamroller
The Great Pretender - Platters
The Old Cross Road - Bill Monroe
Top - Live
Up Around the Bend - Creedence Clearwater Revival
You're Gonna Kill That Girl - Ramones
Your Sister Can't Dance (But She Can Rock'n Roll) - Elton John

How Stupid Mr. Bates 2:42 The Police Message in a BoxRock
What She Said 2:42 The Smiths Meat is Murder