Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
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BlueTalon
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Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
No offense to you or the author, but anyone who doesn't put Pink Floyd's Roger Waters' Money on a list of ten most recognizable bass lines is completely daft. The author needs to distinguish between his favorites, which he included in his list of ten, and most recognizable, which is what he put in the title.
And yes, I know I sound like a jerk, but honestly there is no jerkiness intended.
No offense to you or the author, but anyone who doesn't put Pink Floyd's Roger Waters' Money on a list of ten most recognizable bass lines is completely daft. The author needs to distinguish between his favorites, which he included in his list of ten, and most recognizable, which is what he put in the title.
And yes, I know I sound like a jerk, but honestly there is no jerkiness intended.
One Bad Monkey
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
Well, at least you didn't call me a moron.
Let's remember one thing; nearly every top ten list is going to be biased, unless you use actual collected data (i.e. top grossing songs of all time), and that is going to be based on context. For someone that hasn't heard Pink Floyd, "Money" isn't going to be on their radar (yes, there are people that aren't familiar with Pink Floyd. And Led Zepplin. And Sabbath). That's also why I put up the disclaimer, which I'm hoping you read; the large populace didn't. I'd put in "Under Pressure" over "Money" any day.
Which brings up another conversation altogether. Are songs like "Under Pressure," "Super Freak," and more recognizable by their original incarnation or the new song that they were sampled in? I had a ton of people bemoan that "Rappers Delight" wasn't on the list, and the same amount get upset that "Good Times" wasn't there. Well, which one IS more recognizable? Easier to leave it off in lieu of a song that stands on its own.
Well, at least you didn't call me a moron.
Let's remember one thing; nearly every top ten list is going to be biased, unless you use actual collected data (i.e. top grossing songs of all time), and that is going to be based on context. For someone that hasn't heard Pink Floyd, "Money" isn't going to be on their radar (yes, there are people that aren't familiar with Pink Floyd. And Led Zepplin. And Sabbath). That's also why I put up the disclaimer, which I'm hoping you read; the large populace didn't. I'd put in "Under Pressure" over "Money" any day.
Which brings up another conversation altogether. Are songs like "Under Pressure," "Super Freak," and more recognizable by their original incarnation or the new song that they were sampled in? I had a ton of people bemoan that "Rappers Delight" wasn't on the list, and the same amount get upset that "Good Times" wasn't there. Well, which one IS more recognizable? Easier to leave it off in lieu of a song that stands on its own.
BlueTalon
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
My list of ten most recognizable bass lines would include songs like these. They are not necessarily my favorites, but they are songs with bass lines which, when heard, can be instantly recognized as one song and cannot be mistaken for any other song. I may be wrong in my assessment of some of them, and there certainly might be more iconic songs that would go better on this list, but these are more relevant to the idea of being recognizable than the list in the blog.
Money ------------------- Pink Floyd
Come Together ----------- Beatles
Roundabout -------------- Yes
YYZ ---------------------- Rush
Dazed and Confused ------- Led Zep
Dirty Creature ------------- Split Enz
Stranglehold -------------- Ted Nugent
Crossroads ---------------- Cream
Carry On My Wayward Son -- Kansas
Another One Bites the Dust -- Queen
My list of ten most recognizable bass lines would include songs like these. They are not necessarily my favorites, but they are songs with bass lines which, when heard, can be instantly recognized as one song and cannot be mistaken for any other song. I may be wrong in my assessment of some of them, and there certainly might be more iconic songs that would go better on this list, but these are more relevant to the idea of being recognizable than the list in the blog.
Money ------------------- Pink Floyd
Come Together ----------- Beatles
Roundabout -------------- Yes
YYZ ---------------------- Rush
Dazed and Confused ------- Led Zep
Dirty Creature ------------- Split Enz
Stranglehold -------------- Ted Nugent
Crossroads ---------------- Cream
Carry On My Wayward Son -- Kansas
Another One Bites the Dust -- Queen
One Bad Monkey
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
The first part of your paragraph basically said "This is my list of what I think are the most recognizable and I may be wrong on some" and the last bolded sentence completely blew that out of the water, stating "and it's better than yours."
That's a nice "Top Ten Most Recognizable Classic Rock Basslines" list. To someone that listens to a lot of motown, they'd probably be upset with how narrow your focus was. For a studio guy that listens to a lot of different styles, they'd have a lot of other ones that they'd say are better. And then, for the general reader, they'd probably just be pissed because you left their favorite out.
The first part of your paragraph basically said "This is my list of what I think are the most recognizable and I may be wrong on some" and the last bolded sentence completely blew that out of the water, stating "and it's better than yours."
That's a nice "Top Ten Most Recognizable Classic Rock Basslines" list. To someone that listens to a lot of motown, they'd probably be upset with how narrow your focus was. For a studio guy that listens to a lot of different styles, they'd have a lot of other ones that they'd say are better. And then, for the general reader, they'd probably just be pissed because you left their favorite out.
BlueTalon
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
I used the word "daft" specifically to be as inoffensive as possible but still convey the point. I actually use the word "idiot" a lot in real life (many times regarding myself), but I know how things like that can come across on a monitor.
To your point about Money, I agree that everyone is not familiar with Pink Floyd. In my own list, I would suspect not a lot of people are familiar with Split Enz, and probably most people would replace that song with something else in a list of recognizable songs.
But I think we might be dealing with different ideas of what constitutes recognizable. People may not listen to Pink Floyd, but many of those people have heard the same bass line in a TV commercial. People don't have to be able to identify the artist or even the song to be able to identify the bass line. If they hear a commercial and think to themselves, "oh, that's that song!", it counts as being recognized IMO.
In retrospect, I actually would pull Split Enz' Dirty Creature off my list and replace it with Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith. It is far more ubiquitous, unique, and used in commercials and movies.
I used the word "daft" specifically to be as inoffensive as possible but still convey the point. I actually use the word "idiot" a lot in real life (many times regarding myself), but I know how things like that can come across on a monitor.
To your point about Money, I agree that everyone is not familiar with Pink Floyd. In my own list, I would suspect not a lot of people are familiar with Split Enz, and probably most people would replace that song with something else in a list of recognizable songs.
But I think we might be dealing with different ideas of what constitutes recognizable. People may not listen to Pink Floyd, but many of those people have heard the same bass line in a TV commercial. People don't have to be able to identify the artist or even the song to be able to identify the bass line. If they hear a commercial and think to themselves, "oh, that's that song!", it counts as being recognized IMO.
In retrospect, I actually would pull Split Enz' Dirty Creature off my list and replace it with Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith. It is far more ubiquitous, unique, and used in commercials and movies.
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One Bad Monkey
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
With that logic, I should've put in "Ice Ice Baby," "Can't Touch This" or "Rappers Delight" in lieu of the original songs that the lines were pulled from. That raises the question though; what IS more recognizable at that point? The original song or the new song that sampled it?
With that logic, I should've put in "Ice Ice Baby," "Can't Touch This" or "Rappers Delight" in lieu of the original songs that the lines were pulled from. That raises the question though; what IS more recognizable at that point? The original song or the new song that sampled it?
BlueTalon
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
Regardless of the specific things you would have done differently, it does change your perspective. I admit my scope and interest in music is rather narrow -- actually, it's pretty eclectic, so it's a series of narrow windows. But that still leaves a lot of music in my personal blind spots.
Regarding the question of which version of a song is more recognizable (good question, by the way), I suppose the answer in this context depends on the bass line, how unique it is, and how much if at all it was changed or adapted. If there are two or three different versions of a song, or even two or three different songs that share the same unique bass line, it would still count as the same bass line. And the more variants there are of songs that include include the same bass line, the more recognizable that bass line will tend to be.
Regardless of the specific things you would have done differently, it does change your perspective. I admit my scope and interest in music is rather narrow -- actually, it's pretty eclectic, so it's a series of narrow windows. But that still leaves a lot of music in my personal blind spots.
Regarding the question of which version of a song is more recognizable (good question, by the way), I suppose the answer in this context depends on the bass line, how unique it is, and how much if at all it was changed or adapted. If there are two or three different versions of a song, or even two or three different songs that share the same unique bass line, it would still count as the same bass line. And the more variants there are of songs that include include the same bass line, the more recognizable that bass line will tend to be.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
I hate how everyone in the comment section of the blog is like "WHAT ABOUT THIS SONG THOUGH?!?!? I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!" The dude had every music genre in the world to work with and only 10 numbers. Give him a break. Hell Rolling Stone puts out lists with 100 positions to fill and people still complain.
I mean my list would be similar to Blue Talon's too but I'm aware I am not the arbiter of all basslines. And it's not like these basslines are really obscure or anything or confined to one BS genre even though the title of the list didn't specify.
You know how many "TOP 10 basslines ever" Lists I see where everything is like weird indie or prog or deathcore or something?
I hate how everyone in the comment section of the blog is like "WHAT ABOUT THIS SONG THOUGH?!?!? I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!" The dude had every music genre in the world to work with and only 10 numbers. Give him a break. Hell Rolling Stone puts out lists with 100 positions to fill and people still complain.
I mean my list would be similar to Blue Talon's too but I'm aware I am not the arbiter of all basslines. And it's not like these basslines are really obscure or anything or confined to one BS genre even though the title of the list didn't specify.
You know how many "TOP 10 basslines ever" Lists I see where everything is like weird indie or prog or deathcore or something?
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One Bad Monkey
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
I'm looking at this from a "brand" point of view. For something like the bassline to "Super Freak" that gets sampled into "U Can't Touch This," the original brand becomes diluted because now you have people that will associate that bassline with the latter, and not the former. And then what happens when the sampled song becomes more famous than the original? I had a couple people on Facebook mention that I should've used the intro to "Nothin' But a G Thang," and not the lesser known original "I Wanna Do Something Freaky to You."
Thanks, a lot of those comments are just funny, although I will admit a couple of more calm responses made some solid choices.
The whole intent of the Top Ten lists I put out was to hopefully get the readers to listen to something that they might not normally and ask themselves, "Now, why is this included?" I got a TON of angry responses to the "Top Ten: Bass Players You Should Listen To" citing that I left out Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, *insert your favorite bassist here*, when I specifically stated that they were artists you probably haven't heard of, and that was the point. Most people I think just see a list and skim it to see if their favorites were on there, without reading any rationale behind it.
I'm looking at this from a "brand" point of view. For something like the bassline to "Super Freak" that gets sampled into "U Can't Touch This," the original brand becomes diluted because now you have people that will associate that bassline with the latter, and not the former. And then what happens when the sampled song becomes more famous than the original? I had a couple people on Facebook mention that I should've used the intro to "Nothin' But a G Thang," and not the lesser known original "I Wanna Do Something Freaky to You."
Thanks, a lot of those comments are just funny, although I will admit a couple of more calm responses made some solid choices.
The whole intent of the Top Ten lists I put out was to hopefully get the readers to listen to something that they might not normally and ask themselves, "Now, why is this included?" I got a TON of angry responses to the "Top Ten: Bass Players You Should Listen To" citing that I left out Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, *insert your favorite bassist here*, when I specifically stated that they were artists you probably haven't heard of, and that was the point. Most people I think just see a list and skim it to see if their favorites were on there, without reading any rationale behind it.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
Top 10 bass players that are named Stanley Clarke
1. Stanley Clarke
2. Stanley Clarke
3. Stanley Clarke
4. Stanley Clarke
5. Stanley Clarke
6. Stanley Clarke
7. Stanley Clarke
8. Stanley Clarke
9. Stanley Clarke
10. Stanley Clarke
First comment
WHERE IS FLEA?! THIS LIST SUCKS!
Top 10 bass players that are named Stanley Clarke
1. Stanley Clarke
2. Stanley Clarke
3. Stanley Clarke
4. Stanley Clarke
5. Stanley Clarke
6. Stanley Clarke
7. Stanley Clarke
8. Stanley Clarke
9. Stanley Clarke
10. Stanley Clarke
First comment
WHERE IS FLEA?! THIS LIST SUCKS!
ginormous
Understatmentologist
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
A jazz guy would have included Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" or "So What" (Paul Chambers), perhaps even Quincy Jones' version of "Killer Joe" (Ron Carter).
An R&B fan might say "For The Love Of Money" (Anthony Jackson), "Tighten Up" (Peter Newman of the group the TSU Toronadoes; they backed up Archie Bell in the studio on the original recording), or anything the Funk Brothers, Booker T & the MGs, or the Muscle Shoals rhythm section ever did.
A jazz guy would have included Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" or "So What" (Paul Chambers), perhaps even Quincy Jones' version of "Killer Joe" (Ron Carter).
An R&B fan might say "For The Love Of Money" (Anthony Jackson), "Tighten Up" (Peter Newman of the group the TSU Toronadoes; they backed up Archie Bell in the studio on the original recording), or anything the Funk Brothers, Booker T & the MGs, or the Muscle Shoals rhythm section ever did.
Rick Nelson said:
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
I was gonna mention Peace Sells too until he said
"I'm looking at this from a 'brand' point of view. For something like the bassline to 'Super Freak' that gets sampled into 'U Can't Touch This,' the original brand becomes diluted because now you have people that will associate that bassline with the latter, and not the former. And then what happens when the sampled song becomes more famous than the original? I had a couple people on Facebook mention that I should've used the intro to 'Nothin' But a G Thang,' and not the lesser known original 'I Wanna Do Something Freaky to You.'"
Then I realized most would recognize that bassline as just the MTV news theme and not the actual song.
I was gonna mention Peace Sells too until he said
"I'm looking at this from a 'brand' point of view. For something like the bassline to 'Super Freak' that gets sampled into 'U Can't Touch This,' the original brand becomes diluted because now you have people that will associate that bassline with the latter, and not the former. And then what happens when the sampled song becomes more famous than the original? I had a couple people on Facebook mention that I should've used the intro to 'Nothin' But a G Thang,' and not the lesser known original 'I Wanna Do Something Freaky to You.'"
Then I realized most would recognize that bassline as just the MTV news theme and not the actual song.
One Bad Monkey
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
Which is how I first learned of that lick, as well as the local radio morning show that used it as an intro. It wasn't until later that I started listening to old Megadeth when I finally heard the original line in its intended form.
Which is how I first learned of that lick, as well as the local radio morning show that used it as an intro. It wasn't until later that I started listening to old Megadeth when I finally heard the original line in its intended form.
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
I'd also include Horace Silver's "Song for My Father" or the pop version of the same bass line, Steely Dan's "Rikki Don't Lose that Number".
I'd also include Horace Silver's "Song for My Father" or the pop version of the same bass line, Steely Dan's "Rikki Don't Lose that Number".
BlueTalon
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
Which would make the bass line itself recognizable to a lot more people than just those who are familiar with either song. Which is how I interpreted "recognizable bass line" when I first saw the title.
Which would make the bass line itself recognizable to a lot more people than just those who are familiar with either song. Which is how I interpreted "recognizable bass line" when I first saw the title.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
I was more-so responding to Letus. Like I said, our lists would be very similar.
I was more-so responding to Letus. Like I said, our lists would be very similar.
Re: Blog: The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines
The title was 'The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines' What this bass-line was recognizable as is much less relevant than the fact that it was recognizable. Recognizable enough to warrant a place on this list. If you put 'My Friend of Misery' on this list, possibly the most obscure song on the Black Album, and not even necessarily the most famous bass-line off the album, that makes 'Peace Sells' a very glaring omission indeed.
The title was 'The 10 Most Recognizable Bass Lines' What this bass-line was recognizable as is much less relevant than the fact that it was recognizable. Recognizable enough to warrant a place on this list. If you put 'My Friend of Misery' on this list, possibly the most obscure song on the Black Album, and not even necessarily the most famous bass-line off the album, that makes 'Peace Sells' a very glaring omission indeed.
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