Conversations with Tyler Ted Gioia on Music as Cultural Cloud Storage
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Nov 6, 2019 
Ted Gioia, author of "Music: A Subversive History," delves into the idea of music as cultural cloud storage. He discusses the tension between innovative and formulaic music, sharing insights from his daily routine of absorbing new sounds. Gioia explores how disease outbreaks spur musical innovation, critiques the impact of tech on creativity, and highlights the overlooked contributions of female artists. He also reveals why he believes AI will never produce the perfect song and shares personal anecdotes that shaped his music appreciation.
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The Death of Cool
- The decline of "cool" in society, marked by a shift from irony to frankness, affected jazz's popularity.
- Jazz, once at its peak during the "cool" era, had to adapt a "hot" dynamic to thrive in the new cultural climate.
Intersection of Genres
- The most creative music now emerges at the intersection of genres, escaping formulaic constraints.
- Ironically, the music industry rewards formulaic music, hindering true innovation.
Blues and Social Change
- The blues, beyond expressing suffering, broadened musical techniques and anticipated the sexual revolution.
- Early 20th-century songs about taboo subjects often used Black people on sheet music covers to make them acceptable.