Great topic Chris. I think about this more often than I should. I agree with a few of the selections as they have been mainstays at weddings - All of Me, Perfect, and Thinking Out Loud. That being said, they are now being included on Do Not Play lists because they have been played so much. Mr. Brightside is working its way up there too.
Frankly I think getting added to the do not play list certifies that they are standards lol. Thats how present they were. Would be fun to aggregate a bunch of do not play lists.
Feel like this is a good time to recommend the Adam Neely video essay currently titled* "The Nintendo-fication of Jazz". The video argues that classic video game tunes from the 90s-00s are becoming the new standards, because 1) most musicians & listeners under age 45 are familiar with these songs and enjoy hearing them, and 2) the looping structure of video game music is great for instrumental soloists to show off their chops, which is important for jazz music in particular. I've also seen plenty of metal covers of video game music on youtube, even as someone who doesn't actually listen to metal.
Hi again. I would also say that "Fast Car"- ok, outside the 25 year window- meets your criteria for a "standard." Not only did Combs' cover reach #2 on the hot 100, was # 1 on the country charts and it won the Academy of Country Music Song of the year, making Tracy Chapman the first black woman to win that award, which is a pretty big deal in American music. He won a bunch of other awards for it, and appeared on the Grammys to sing it, again a big deal. I think, perhaps I'm wrong, it's the biggest cover song in popular music of the past several years.
You’re totally right. For some reason I was thinking something in this post said something had to peak at number one. That’s not the case. Def the biggest cover in a long time. But the chart I posted in the article was only number ones. So wouldn’t appear there. In terms of standards it’s in the convo
I'm not sure these are 21st century standards, so much as they're the standards of the current generation, whose formative years took place entirely within this century. I just can't imagine the next generation favoring any of these over, let's say, the Beatles.
As an Xennial, there was a time when I'd wander through Guitar Center, and I was guaranteed to hear someone play Green Day's "Longview" on the bass. Ultimately, music students just want to play what's popular, and music teachers more or less indulge them.
I think standards are rare, and should be. So I just don't believe the 21st century has given us any yet. I suspect, to become a standard, a song should meet these criteria:
• People who know nothing about it can still enjoy hearing it.
• Musicians of all levels will still perform it for the pleasure of it.
• Composers and songwriters will study it as an exemplar of the craft.
• Scholars will advocate for its inclusion in the historical canon.
Based on those criteria, I just don't think "My Heart Will Go On" will make it. And if that's true, then nothing so far from the 21st century is likely to either.
Imo music being so fragmented is why there aren't a lot of standards anymore, nobody's listening to the same things. Wagon Wheel and maybe Uptown Funk are about the only songs I can think of that might qualify, as they're songs that everyone across generations seems to know and have probably heard at least once.
Are songs like “YMCA” or “Dancing Queen” or God help me “Sweet Caroline” standards? I defy anyone to find an American of any age who hasn’t heard those three songs.
Sweet Caroline is definitely a standard although it's outside the 25 year window. YMCA could be if you're a wedding band, and Dancing Queen imo not so much, but I guess it depends on who you ask lol
Of the seven songs, I recognized four of them right away. So I went and listened to the other three, and one of them I knew once the chorus started. The other two I've probably heard, but not enough that I'd know them if I heard a cover.
Now part of this is probably because I stopped listening to the radio around 2000 or so, meaning I'm not all that in touch with modern music. But that's my point. For a song to be a standard it should be familiar to even the most casual listener. I'm not sure all of these meet that criteria. And maybe it's no longer possible for a song to be that widely known in our current fragmented environment.
Either way, it's really interesting to think about what counts as a standard and consider what songs should be on the list. Great article!
Interestingly, I'm a pretty commercial dj, do a weekly pop night, maybe 10 weddings a year, approx 200-250 shows a year total, but and I've never even heard of 3 of the tunes in that final list! Part of that is that I'm just not checking for Ed Sheeran or Coldplay, but obviously requests are a big part of the job and they've never come up
Thoughtful piece! The idea of a standard is kind of elusive these days. in Gershwins time, I think a standard was also a jazz standard or at least something covered by jazz oriented singers like Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald . But these days we need to consider a lot of factors to determine what a standard is . It has value if you are trying to be a musician or at least a songwriter or serious listener.
I would say something like "Uptown Funk" is a modern standard, based on pop /top 40 nights and wedding bands etc
Great topic Chris. I think about this more often than I should. I agree with a few of the selections as they have been mainstays at weddings - All of Me, Perfect, and Thinking Out Loud. That being said, they are now being included on Do Not Play lists because they have been played so much. Mr. Brightside is working its way up there too.
Frankly I think getting added to the do not play list certifies that they are standards lol. Thats how present they were. Would be fun to aggregate a bunch of do not play lists.
Feel like this is a good time to recommend the Adam Neely video essay currently titled* "The Nintendo-fication of Jazz". The video argues that classic video game tunes from the 90s-00s are becoming the new standards, because 1) most musicians & listeners under age 45 are familiar with these songs and enjoy hearing them, and 2) the looping structure of video game music is great for instrumental soloists to show off their chops, which is important for jazz music in particular. I've also seen plenty of metal covers of video game music on youtube, even as someone who doesn't actually listen to metal.
https://youtu.be/oKWgLe-jQjc
*this is not what I remember the title being two years ago
A great conversation!
Thank you!
Last year Luke Combs had a massive song of the year hit with the 35 year old "Fast Car."
He did. Topped out at number 2
Hi again. I would also say that "Fast Car"- ok, outside the 25 year window- meets your criteria for a "standard." Not only did Combs' cover reach #2 on the hot 100, was # 1 on the country charts and it won the Academy of Country Music Song of the year, making Tracy Chapman the first black woman to win that award, which is a pretty big deal in American music. He won a bunch of other awards for it, and appeared on the Grammys to sing it, again a big deal. I think, perhaps I'm wrong, it's the biggest cover song in popular music of the past several years.
You’re totally right. For some reason I was thinking something in this post said something had to peak at number one. That’s not the case. Def the biggest cover in a long time. But the chart I posted in the article was only number ones. So wouldn’t appear there. In terms of standards it’s in the convo
I'm not sure these are 21st century standards, so much as they're the standards of the current generation, whose formative years took place entirely within this century. I just can't imagine the next generation favoring any of these over, let's say, the Beatles.
As an Xennial, there was a time when I'd wander through Guitar Center, and I was guaranteed to hear someone play Green Day's "Longview" on the bass. Ultimately, music students just want to play what's popular, and music teachers more or less indulge them.
What would you consider a 21st century standard?
I think standards are rare, and should be. So I just don't believe the 21st century has given us any yet. I suspect, to become a standard, a song should meet these criteria:
• People who know nothing about it can still enjoy hearing it.
• Musicians of all levels will still perform it for the pleasure of it.
• Composers and songwriters will study it as an exemplar of the craft.
• Scholars will advocate for its inclusion in the historical canon.
Based on those criteria, I just don't think "My Heart Will Go On" will make it. And if that's true, then nothing so far from the 21st century is likely to either.
Green Day is a good example of a rock band that has made some rock standards!
Seven Nation Army - hands down
Imo music being so fragmented is why there aren't a lot of standards anymore, nobody's listening to the same things. Wagon Wheel and maybe Uptown Funk are about the only songs I can think of that might qualify, as they're songs that everyone across generations seems to know and have probably heard at least once.
Are songs like “YMCA” or “Dancing Queen” or God help me “Sweet Caroline” standards? I defy anyone to find an American of any age who hasn’t heard those three songs.
Sweet Caroline is definitely a standard although it's outside the 25 year window. YMCA could be if you're a wedding band, and Dancing Queen imo not so much, but I guess it depends on who you ask lol
Of the seven songs, I recognized four of them right away. So I went and listened to the other three, and one of them I knew once the chorus started. The other two I've probably heard, but not enough that I'd know them if I heard a cover.
Now part of this is probably because I stopped listening to the radio around 2000 or so, meaning I'm not all that in touch with modern music. But that's my point. For a song to be a standard it should be familiar to even the most casual listener. I'm not sure all of these meet that criteria. And maybe it's no longer possible for a song to be that widely known in our current fragmented environment.
Either way, it's really interesting to think about what counts as a standard and consider what songs should be on the list. Great article!
There are no bad cover versions of Summertime. I truly believe it's the 'perfect' song: no one can ruin it.
Billy Stewart's version remains the best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFlvza-RknU
As for all this 21st century music...terrible. Just terrible.
Oh, it can be ruined. Attend a jam session with a vocalist reading the lyrics from an iPhone.
Sounds like you speak from experience!
Interestingly, I'm a pretty commercial dj, do a weekly pop night, maybe 10 weddings a year, approx 200-250 shows a year total, but and I've never even heard of 3 of the tunes in that final list! Part of that is that I'm just not checking for Ed Sheeran or Coldplay, but obviously requests are a big part of the job and they've never come up
I’m curious which 3?
Perfect, The Scientist and Thinking Out Loud
Released too early for this article but I’d bet money that “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman will ultimately be considered a standard if it isn’t already
Thoughtful piece! The idea of a standard is kind of elusive these days. in Gershwins time, I think a standard was also a jazz standard or at least something covered by jazz oriented singers like Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald . But these days we need to consider a lot of factors to determine what a standard is . It has value if you are trying to be a musician or at least a songwriter or serious listener.