MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Does anyone else find it weird when song...

Does anyone else find it weird when songs fade out at the end?

posted a year ago by samoanjoes (56640)
58 replies | jump to latest

As a rocker, it's more rare for songs to fade out but, like, just finish the song like a normal person. Musicians aren't going to start singing lower and lower when they perform it live, so give it a proper ending in the studio.

I fully expect this thread to be parodied, but I'm being serious.

[–] mikethemartian (6705) a year ago

I remember Billy Joel in an MTV interview around 1984 talking about how in concert they can’t just fade out.

[–] samoanjoes (56640) a year ago

Exactly. If they can find out a way to end a song live, why can't they do it in a studio?

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (11952) a year ago

I agree. It's sloppy technique and the sign of a ban composer. Great songs have distinct endings. It sums everything up.

[–] samoanjoes (56640) a year ago

Unless the producer tells them to do it, it's definitely bad composing. Can you imagine a movie fading out while the story is still going? That's why they fade out in a wide or overhead shot.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (11952) a year ago

The producer should never have control over the composition. He's a finisher.

[–] nyctc7 (43590) a year ago

I remember being curious about this, how does a band end a song live, that on the album fades out? Fading out was very common on the pop songs of my youth, late 60s thru the 70s. As I became a concert goer I saw that there were a couple of ways--The sudden halt, or a flourish of the guitars and drums, such as rapid strumming.

[–] samoanjoes (56640) a year ago

I haven't been to a concert for a band that fades out their music, so I was curious about the live aspect. I don't see why they can finish it live, but scratch their heads what to do in the studio.

[–] ur4196727 (108) a year ago

Most songs that fade out at the end are going through a looping chord sequence, and that chord pattern will often have a natural resolution anyway ending on the root chord...

[–] Sarmoviefan26 (1368) a year ago

JustA little. I prefer when they have an ending and that’s it but I don’t mind when it fades slowly

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21452) a year ago

As you can see from the end of this clip, Jethro Tull was a master of the live fade out, apparent by the wild and energetic audience reaction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEZQKrJ5_lk&pp=ygUbamV0aHJvIHR1bGwgYnJvYWRzd29yZCBsaXZl

[–] samoanjoes (56640) a year ago

I think the producers may have drowned them out. The audience started clapping right away.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21452) a year ago

Did you see the audience was full of old ladies? 😀

[–] samoanjoes (56640) a year ago

No. I saw an audience of sexy ladies.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21452) a year ago

LMAO

[–] chilidoggg (14262) a year ago

That is CLASSIC! I can't believe I haven't seen that before!

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21452) a year ago

Do you mean the surprise ending?

[–] chilidoggg (14262) a year ago

Absolutely!

[–] chilone (17857) a year ago

I think it's lazy. There are many way to give songs great endings.

[–] samoanjoes (56640) a year ago

It's more noticeable when you listen to rock music like me, and then some hear someone play a pop song. Like, why is it fading? Are they trying to keep a secret from me?

[–] Daft_Munks (4647) a year ago

I agree, a proper conclusion of some sort sounds better than just fading out.

[–] samoanjoes (56640) a year ago

I assume this happened a lot in the 50s and 60s so they could fit it on vinyl because albums were pretty short back then, but there's no excuse in the CD era onward.

[–] [deleted] a year ago

I wish they really did but I always hear my tinnitus

[–] samoanjoes (56640) a year ago

I have tinnitus too. It's minimal unless I have a loud noise close to my ear, then it's extremely loud and takes about a day to go away.

[–] [deleted] a year ago

why do you listen to heavy metal?

[–] samoanjoes (56640) a year ago

When I listen to music, I want to hear actual instruments. None of that computer manufactured stuff. With metal, you hear it all. I love the grind of the guitars. I love hearing the guitar, bass and drums all in sync with each other. I can't stand pop and rap songs that think they're coming off sad or angry. I just don't feel any emotion with that.