More than 90% (my estimation) of the songs are about 3:30 mins long +/- 10% who set this standard? What about movies? most of them are like 110 mins long, why aren't movies 3 hours long? I mean, you may think its too much because you're used to it now, but if you didn't know you probably wouldn't care. Its the same with TV shows, sitcoms are always 30 minutes long including commercial breaks. Would you mind having an hour long episodes of shows like Seinfeld etc.?
Why are all the songs the same length?
- Thread starter TheNewbie
- Start date
Locut0s
Lifer
- Nov 28, 2001
- 22,205
- 44
- 91
Probably many different reasons. The difficulty and expense of making anything of longer length for example. The longer the song the more interesting and creative it has to be to hold ones attention and the more expensive it gets to produce. Same with movies and TV. Probably the main reason though is just convention. At some point in the past it was settled on that 30mins would be the average length of television broadcasts. Once a standard has been set and an industry built up around that standard it becomes difficult and sometimes expensive to break that standard.
Scouzer
Lifer
- Jun 3, 2001
- 10,358
- 5
- 0
For music, it's largely due to radio. The ideal radio song is no more than 4 minutes, with 3 minutes being more of the norm.
And with movies--why produce more content than you have to to make millions of dollars? The shorter the film, in theory, the cheaper it is.
And with movies--why produce more content than you have to to make millions of dollars? The shorter the film, in theory, the cheaper it is.
BurnItDwn
Lifer
- Oct 10, 1999
- 26,353
- 1,862
- 126
Opeth has some 20+ minute songs, though most of the songs on their recent CD's have been around the 10 minute mark.
Porcupine Tree has all sorts of different length songs
Beethoven's Symphonies are generally in the 70+ minute range
Most grindcore "songs" are less than 30 seconds long
Ayreon Songs are all different lengths
I am not familiar with many bands who only make songs between 3 and 4 minutes. Sure, some songs are between 3 and 4 minutes, but is it really that common?
Porcupine Tree has all sorts of different length songs
Beethoven's Symphonies are generally in the 70+ minute range
Most grindcore "songs" are less than 30 seconds long
Ayreon Songs are all different lengths
I am not familiar with many bands who only make songs between 3 and 4 minutes. Sure, some songs are between 3 and 4 minutes, but is it really that common?
Absolutely, the OP is definitely correct. IF you're talking about popular, mainstream music. Pop in the 80's, rock in the 90s, and hip hop today, all the songs are right around 3:30. I've always wondered about this as well, cool topic.
Demon-Xanth
Lifer
- Feb 15, 2000
- 20,551
- 2
- 81
Most movies are about two hours for bladder reasons.
Music wise, classical is longer, punk is shorter, pop is so stuck on a formula it makes me wonder how they differ by even a second.
Music wise, classical is longer, punk is shorter, pop is so stuck on a formula it makes me wonder how they differ by even a second.
Anubis
No Lifer
soo many wont get that lol
anyway its because of radio that most rock/pop songs are in the 3-4 min mark
Anubis
No Lifer
thats a pretty stupid reason, if you cant hold it for more then 2 hours you have a medicial condition and shoudl seek professional help
Demon-Xanth
Lifer
- Feb 15, 2000
- 20,551
- 2
- 81
Well when my fiance and I went to see Return of the King, we stupidly sat there drinking our beverage down - not considering how long the damn movie was. Let's just say by the end we were both in severe pain because we kept thinking it was over when it wasn't, so didn't get up to go.
It has to do with lap dances at strip clubs. They don't want you getting more than you paid for.
Anubis
No Lifer
Scarpozzi
Lifer
- Jun 13, 2000
- 26,392
- 1,780
- 126
It's all about radio.
If a song is too long and on the radio, someone will be more likely to change the channel or turn off the radio if the song sucks.
The songs need to be long enough to dance to, long enough to listen and want more. 3-4 mintues is the most ideal song length.
When you get into live performances, I think 8 minutes is more appropriate. I once went to see a concert with Matchbox20, Everclear, and Lifehouse. When Lifehouse opened, all of their songs were exactly 3:30. It sucked because it was like listening to a recording...(not that I really wanted to hear more) Just saying that they sounded so produced that it wasn't anything special.
If a song is too long and on the radio, someone will be more likely to change the channel or turn off the radio if the song sucks.
The songs need to be long enough to dance to, long enough to listen and want more. 3-4 mintues is the most ideal song length.
When you get into live performances, I think 8 minutes is more appropriate. I once went to see a concert with Matchbox20, Everclear, and Lifehouse. When Lifehouse opened, all of their songs were exactly 3:30. It sucked because it was like listening to a recording...(not that I really wanted to hear more) Just saying that they sounded so produced that it wasn't anything special.
Originally posted by: lyssword
Tool is not in that 90%.
Also Pink Floyd, Dream theater
All of the above are my favorites
Toastedlightly
Diamond Member
- Aug 7, 2004
- 7,214
- 6
- 81
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Wiki "Piano man" if you don't get the ref
You do mean "The Entertainer," don't you?
EDIT:
Demon-Xanth
Lifer
- Feb 15, 2000
- 20,551
- 2
- 81
Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Wiki "Piano man" if you don't get the ref
You do mean "The Entertainer," don't you?
EDIT:
Piano Man was the song that The Entertainer was referring to
A lot of films are over 2 hours. I checked and most of the music I like from this year does not fit your length assumptions. Maybe you should get out more.
Born2bwire
Diamond Member
- Oct 28, 2005
- 9,840
- 6
- 71
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Wiki "Piano man" if you don't get the ref
EDIT: Already been bitched on. Always late to the party.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 22K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
News NVIDIA and Intel to Develop AI Infrastructure and Personal Computing Products- Started by poke01
- Replies: 411
-
Facebook
Twitter