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What is the test of time?

The followint quote is from an interesting post in another thread:
I don't think it will stand the test of time. Most music doesn't.
What exactly is the proverbial test of time though? Critics spout that phrase all the time. But what exactly qualifies something to have stood the test of time? Critics said that rap wouldn't last over twenty years ago. Critics said that pop wouldn't last over forty years ago. Critics said that r&b wouldn't last over fifty years ago. Critics said that swing wouldn’t last over seventy years ago...

Interesting subject. Since the dawn of recording technology and especially now, people everywhere are scrambling to archive recordings of the past into whatever is the latest, greatest medium and format. In light of this, just about everything ever recorded will survive time. But still the question remains, what is the "test" of time. If anyone on earth listens to something long forgotten, does that mean it has stood the test of time?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic. What is the “test of time” to you?
creeper

Showing 3 responses by jax2

jax2
3,031 posts
 
Side note: Devo is touring and playing huge venues
this summer. I know, I was surprised too. Cult classics.blockquote>

I heard just today that that entire tour had been canceled. No explanation
given. Regardless, as much as I got a kick out of them in collage, I doubt
their music would stand the "test of time". I would think their
music would already sound quite dated. It's difficult to take musicians
wearing upside-down flower pots on their heads very seriously. Somehow I
don't think that it was their intention either.

Marco
jax2
3,031 posts
 
Yet I am sure there are still many people who love the old Captain and Tenille recordings, and if you put all their fans together, you'd probably have a surprisingly large crowd.

That's a very scary thought! What if the same crowd all broke out into a rousing chorus of "Muskrat Love"...televised worldwide?! Probably would cause the onset Armageadon! It's enough to drive you to drinking, drugs and suicidal thoughts. It's no wonder you need to " sober up" Honest1! Maybe you should get a cab home and have a friend come over and keep you company tonight.

Marco
jax2
3,031 posts
 
Speaking of stupid hats, didn't you just want to slap that stupid cap off the
"Captain's" head!?!? I bet he was bald under there! Yeah, the
damn song's been stuck on repeat in my head ever since Honest1 brought it
up...I owe you one man! Didn't they arrest the Captain after that appearence
on the Muppet show? The story was; Big Bird caught him trying out some of
that forbidden Muppet-Love on the Cookie Monster. Dude had wrapped a
wad of chocalate chip dough around his veiny bangstick and the clueless
Muppet was...well, it wasn't a pretty sight. The case made it to court but the
charges were dropped. Rumor is they paid off the Cookie Monster with some
Ben & Jerry's Oreo Mint. This paved the way for Paul Reubens movie theatre
antics years later. It's come out recetly in some of the court transcripts that
Michael Jackson has Bert and Ernie in a high-security room at the Ranch.
Stories of the Muppet Menage a Trois have become rampant on the Internet,
and there are rumors of a video tape that's being offered for sale to the
highest bidder.

Marco
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