I may not understand dubstep well (or electronic music, in general, for that matter), but I respect any genre of music that has a popular following.
Here is my assessment of dubstep as I understand it. Low musicality, high bass, high volume, fixed rhythms, formulaic, great for parties, dance clubs, music videos, commercially-booming, requires a discerning ear for electronic timbres, never in my top 5 music genres (x.x). By low musicality, the average dubstep tune doesn't have the tonal complexity of, say, a piece of classical music, not necessarily masterpieces either. Passable dubstep tunes could have no more than 1 chord progression as the entire song.
Basically, with me personally, bump dubstep in the car or at the club, but keep it away from my headphones.
So, here's my hypothesis: If you take a dubstep track and overlay an electronic music track that is intricate, sophisticated and interesting, then the track would improve every time. Then, send it back to the dubstep think tank for their comments. Does it still qualify as dubstep? Are there too many notes (lul)? I don't know.
This is just an idea I've had. A friend of mine is currently learning how to DJ and his knowledge in these areas far surpasses my own.
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This maybe slightly unrelated, but type in "violin" into the search bar on YouTube, and this come up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHjpOzsQ9YI
Slightly worrying that this is a top result, but is it surprising when the majority of younger people these days listen to this stuff? If you watch the channel owners other videos, she does have some not bad things up, like the Lord of the Rings medley. So its apparent she does have some taste at least ;)
As far as the genre as a whole, I have never been able to take notice what is so good about it. I don't mind a bit of House music when it comes to listening to electronic music in a popular music setting.
Bob is right. Each music expresses the people that listen to it and reflects their lifestyle. Now if you live in a large city take a look around. I think dubstep is a good way to describe things :P and pop music rarely was complex, even in the 1600s
I admit I can listen to it. I dont love it, I wont usually play it at home (om maybe one or two tracks if im on the electronic mood?), but its on the acceptable category.
Noah is oversimplyfying things. Dubstep is based on the "drop", that characteristic drop of the bass, on that laggy beat and harsh sounds. I dont think there is any dubstep track that doesnt use layered synths. So to make up for musical complexity we get sonic complexity, lots of lfo handling and filters and all the good stuff of electronica. Things have moved to sound engineering and sound synthesis to make things interesting.
So this Lindsey Stirling is doing what Vanessa Mae did about 20 years ago...
What is so good about 'house' music? In view of the performer (dj for example): You would really know when you are behind the decks/in the dj booth: mixing music, creating new sounds, one large 'trip' (which never ends if you want) that makes people go wild and crazy on a dancefloor. And that's the trick/kick: make the people dance. Using the mixer/knobs on hardware and having the power to do with the crowd whatever you want to do. It's like playing a gig in a band, only, you alone rule and direct everything. The dj is the director, the orchestra the mixing gear :-)
Now, in view of the spectators, good electronic music makes you move, dance, go crazy. It's like Spiros mentioned: it's about the sound, not the music (melody etc, this can be added though, so you'll get another, trancy, 'genre').This sound (created by the dj) is making you move, period. On a good soundsystem, an electronic sound can be overwhelming, the sound and beat goes through your body, you actually 'feel' it's vibes (and it can go loud!), you really do. It can be quiet impressive you know. Depending on the mood I'm in: I can lock myself in this kind of musical/sound cocoon when listening to an Opera, Soundtrack or any other classical piece... the next day, I can have this feeling by just watching a live concert of Moby, Faithless... cause it kicks! Weird, right?!
Though most people, dealing with "real music"-composers-, classical, rock,alternative etc... they might think this kind of sound/beat creating is easy, simple... well, it is not. Give it a try i'd say. The proof of the pudding.... though I think a real composer would be able to learn how to create this kind of music more easily if he is interested in creating these sounds of course. The other way around, a dubstep/house 'composer' who's doing only that,,, hard to make him create a symphony I guess.
It's just 'different'. On a musical scale, these jocks/producers can't even reach Mozart's heels, only, the creativity and impact is on another level I think.
Dj'ing is not an easy thing, a lot of people think they can do it, even some of them who make big money and made it in the scene... on the other hand, partypeople are not that demanding. I think 80% doesn't care about how the sound/music is mixed/created, they only want this loud 'trip', which is a pitty.
Remember: :-)
I think that what a lot of people don't understand is that there is a lot of variety in all of these styles. For instance while most of the more "mainstream" or more listened to Dubstep and electronic music is quite simple from a musicology stand-point (although I believe it is still quite difficult t create but I a not sure of that because I don't have much experience piece) there are pieces that, with their multi-layered synth parts, actually create very complex harmonies, counterpoint and many of them don't follow the standard chord progression that you were talking about but some a more erratic not following a standard set of chords and others may be more of a classical or Baroque progression/form complete with modulations and the like. Where as there are many "classical" compositions that are extreamly simple, the first one that come to mind is "Pachelbels' Canon in D" and I am not saying that this is a bad composition, it is actually quite smart (although as a part time cellist I hate it) but it comes from the Baroque period which is usually thought of as being the most complex period in the development of musical form and harmony. My point is simply that one genre of music is never necessarily more complex or simple, especially when looking at something as diverse as dubstep.
P.S. I can't actually stand to listen to dubstep music myself, I just try to appreciate all music styles and understand them before I pass judgement. Hope that was helpful.
Haha yeah I have seen this, they also did one with Beethoven.