Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Amusement Park Music Composers to Picket SXSW

Most years at the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas, the biggest crowds are those of wristband-clad fans trying to get into the hottest showcases at Emo's or the Austin Music Hall.

This year, though, they just might be outside the convention center, wearing signs saying things like "Riddler's Revenge Overture Rocks! Give Us A Panel!" and "I'd Like To See Anyone From Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Write a Medley of Today's Hottest Country Songs Without Going Crazy!"

That's because for the fifth consecutive year, conference organizers have refused to create a panel at the conference for the discussion of the writing and arrangement of music performed or played at amusement parks.

"We just want to get our due," said Hobson Fitchburg IV, who counts the background music of "Crackaxle Canyon" at various Six Flags parks among his credits, along with arranging the music performed by the marching brass ensemble at Valleyfair! in 1987. "We deserve to be recognized for our vital role in contemporary music and composition. While we're at it, some of the ensembles should really be given a showcase -- that'd be huge! Who wouldn't want to hear songs by The Fray, Daniel Powter, and Justin Timberlake performed by high-energy people with a sparkling pre-recorded background?"

Stephanie Hathaway, who says she arranged the "very special" version of the Halloween theme music played in the themed section of the same name at Holiday World, concurs. "We are just as much a part of the modern music community as anyone. If you don't think it's outrageous for us to be excluded, just ask yourself this question: Where would we be if the art community acted the same? You'd never see caricature artists or airbrush artists on display at the Met or Tate Modern or MoMA, would you? And wouldn't your world be just a little emptier?"

Both performers then had to end the interview to get back to perform for the 3:00 performance of the Hawaiian stage show at the Pittsburgh-area Conley Inn.

South by Southwest officials did not return repeated requests for comment.

--GP

26 comments:

  1. I'm definitely with the protest mentioned here, even though ARNR seems to think it's dumb.

    Another underrated art form is music arranged/performed for the sole purpose of being played through speakers strategically placed in theme park planters and rocks.

    It takes a certain kind of sound to be correctly conducive to decorative plants and rocks. Not just any music - or artist - is right for this.

    AA

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  2. Anonymous12:10 PM

    On what basis do you think that we think it's dumb? We're just here to report the facts.

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  3. Why does ARNR feel it is necessary to make fun of Holiday World? This park has done nothing but support the enthusiast community. How many other parks would reopen an enthusiast even after what happened a few years back? None I'd guess. It's disgraceful and really shows how classless ARNR is. I have a good mind to double up our efforts on the Boycott after this. Jerks!

    Aaron

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  4. Anonymous4:40 PM

    Thats Right Aaron, Time to ratchet it up and kill them off for good.

    Boils

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  5. Oh I'm certain this article is some kind've stab against these artists thinking music credits for theme park brass ensembles is a joke - or something or other.

    Still, if I've said it once I've said it a thousand times, the Golden Age of parks would make a comeback with the right music making a comeback. As soon as Steely Dan's "Peg" wasn't being played as background music anymore - well - I don't know what midways and planters could survive that change. Even though the Moog synth is making a comeback, these newfangled pop-punk bands just aren't using it properly.

    There needs to be a "fusion" usage going on to help prop up the 2nd Golden Age.

    I know of a young band in the midwest who used to be called "The Elements" who could help tow the line - if they could only get the exposure.

    AA

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  6. Anonymous6:46 PM

    Yeah. What we all need is more Steely Dan music in parks.

    Weekly

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  7. Anonymous7:40 PM

    I think the composers who did the theme music for the old Peoplemover at Disneyland should get an award. That song was really great. It always gave me such a good feeling.

    Jerry

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  8. Anonymous8:05 PM

    Wheneve I ride the tall, fast rides I think of a couple of my favorite Bon Jovi songs "Going Out in a Blaze of Glory" and "I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride."
    That'd be awesome if they could play those songs on the really, cool fast coasters. Like Millenium Force and Raptor. That would ROCK!!!

    Gandolf

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  9. Anonymous8:22 PM

    Where's that anonymous person to curse at these guys again? I think we need that about now.

    Weekly

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  10. While AA and I usually agree on just about everything, I completely disagree with him about Steely Dan. We've discussed this in the past and I cannot agree about Steely Dan. Now when Sting and the Police came along, that was great! The way Sting fused jazz and rock into a completely new artform was amazing. The Police rule! Steely Dan drools!

    Aaron

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  11. Sting should only be allowed to tie Donald Fagen's shoelaces if he has a ticket and is willing to wait in line. Donald Fagen's sounds are the true sounds of the 2nd Golden Age. From the "Aja" album onward, virtually every Dan and/or Fagen album could be played in any park planter or midway speaker anywhere.

    AA

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  12. Anonymous2:02 AM

    I also used to get a really good feeling when cover bands at theme parks would play Gloria Estefan's "La Conga." It would be cool if that song along with the cover bands who performed it could receive an award.

    Jerry

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  13. Fagan and Becker are lame dude!

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  14. Anonymous5:12 PM

    I'm with ARN&R here... of course, I'm also beginning to think that funky and americansagainst ride a lot more than just coasters together.

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  15. Anonymous6:30 PM

    ^
    Thanks for the smudge. I was starting to think I had to do all the taunting. Where's "Meg" these days?

    Weekly

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  16. Anonymous8:41 PM

    I dunno.

    Most of these who hate this site usually have no life anyway, especially when they have the time to organize such "efforts" to "boycott" this site.

    Of course, the joke has worn thin with me, and I'd just like to get the laughs I am used to getting on here.

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  17. Anonymous11:58 PM

    I agree with anonymous. Ok, you've gotten everyone's attention, already. Everyone knows about your anger and and about a host of other things we won't try to explain. Now please stop.

    Please Stop

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  18. I think Meg's in jail for being a stalker. And you will never get laughs from this site. Never have, never will. This site is most unfunny. Lots of homophobia on this site. Lots.

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  19. Anonymous1:04 AM

    Like anonymous said, I too miss the old days of arn&r. Back before the boycott. Back during the time of Grand Pooh Bah and others. Back when you could read about people like Angry Darren Mullins. Back when Jl57 was only known as Jackm50, and was thought of as a distant, eccentric person, not a regular character. I think the turning point came during the Japan Trip write-ups. Don't get me wrong, the write-ups were hilarious. It's just that the "Against" crowd didn't really have any "steam" until then. When those stories broke loose, every geek and his frithing half-sister starting foaming at the mouth and went on a bellowing rampage. The againsters happened to be at the right place at the right time. They're still nothing. Only complete dweebs who were at the right place at the right time.

    I don't regret the Japan Trip articles. I wouldn't change that. I do wish things hadn't turned out this way, though.

    Pensive

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  20. Anonymous9:58 AM

    We'll do anything Ripper says. Ripper has made his point so clearly and emphatically that, by doggies, we're going to do what he says right now.

    T-Coast

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  21. Anonymous10:33 AM

    For some reason, I get the impression these guys don't care much about the concept of rules, definitions, or protocol.

    Penn

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  22. Anonymous2:10 PM

    I don't know why they hate arn&r. Then again, I don't know why people are so angry at them either.
    I think they've added a little interest to our winter.

    Fran

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  23. Anonymous3:59 PM

    I'm right here, Weekly. Since I'm addicted to being against the against people, there's no way I can leave completely.

    Meg

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  24. Anonymous6:00 PM

    Yep. You're addicted to us.

    AA

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  25. Fran, it's all funny till they make fun of you.

    This recent guy (CMV) is too chicken too of course but. Given the chance, ARN&R would hound you like dogs.

    Look how they treat britanny swanson (CLick the stalk us link and visit her message board. Thats all ARN&R peeps talking filth.

    Funky

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