[Applause] pop music is awesome it can make you
pop music is awesome it can make you
pop music is awesome it can make you feel invincible as if just by dancing
feel invincible as if just by dancing
feel invincible as if just by dancing you’re channeling the whole planets
you’re channeling the whole planets
you’re channeling the whole planets positive energy it fuels romances kills
positive energy it fuels romances kills
positive energy it fuels romances kills heartbreak and helps us through the
heartbreak and helps us through the
heartbreak and helps us through the growing pains of every phase of life
growing pains of every phase of life
growing pains of every phase of life there’s also an incredible power to pop
there’s also an incredible power to pop
there’s also an incredible power to pop music beyond these everyday influences
music beyond these everyday influences
music beyond these everyday influences and it’s a kind of complicated power pop
and it’s a kind of complicated power pop
and it’s a kind of complicated power pop music can reach so many people across
music can reach so many people across
music can reach so many people across the planet so quickly that it both
the planet so quickly that it both
the planet so quickly that it both exemplifies culture and can change it in
exemplifies culture and can change it in
exemplifies culture and can change it in an instant to be honest with you
an instant to be honest with you
an instant to be honest with you pop music hasn’t been weird enough
pop music hasn’t been weird enough
pop music hasn’t been weird enough lately with great power comes great
lately with great power comes great
lately with great power comes great responsibility I heard a song on the
responsibility I heard a song on the
responsibility I heard a song on the radio the other day you might know it
radio the other day you might know it
radio the other day you might know it it’s the one that goes whoa whoa you
it’s the one that goes whoa whoa you
it’s the one that goes whoa whoa you know that song yeah I guess many of you
know that song yeah I guess many of you
know that song yeah I guess many of you know that song but I think some of you
know that song but I think some of you
know that song but I think some of you may be thinking of different songs
may be thinking of different songs
may be thinking of different songs around 2012 I started noticing a pattern
around 2012 I started noticing a pattern
around 2012 I started noticing a pattern in popular music these same two notes
in popular music these same two notes
in popular music these same two notes the 5th and 3rd notes of a major scale
the 5th and 3rd notes of a major scale
the 5th and 3rd notes of a major scale in this case a C major scale so that’s
in this case a C major scale so that’s
in this case a C major scale so that’s doremi Fahmy 5 3 whoa whoa repeated in
doremi Fahmy 5 3 whoa whoa repeated in
doremi Fahmy 5 3 whoa whoa repeated in song after song that topped the record
song after song that topped the record
song after song that topped the record charts there it was when Katy Perry and
charts there it was when Katy Perry and
charts there it was when Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg’s saying California Girls and
Snoop Dogg’s saying California Girls and
Snoop Dogg’s saying California Girls and there when Justin Bieber and Ludacris
there when Justin Bieber and Ludacris
there when Justin Bieber and Ludacris sang baby and again in good time by Owl
sang baby and again in good time by Owl
sang baby and again in good time by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen I decided it’d
City and Carly Rae Jepsen I decided it’d
City and Carly Rae Jepsen I decided it’d be fun to keep track of wherever I heard
be fun to keep track of wherever I heard
be fun to keep track of wherever I heard it jump ahead to this past August 2016
it jump ahead to this past August 2016
it jump ahead to this past August 2016 I spent a Sunday afternoon and wrote an
I spent a Sunday afternoon and wrote an
I spent a Sunday afternoon and wrote an article on my blog the patterning
article on my blog the patterning
article on my blog the patterning discussing the development of this
discussing the development of this
discussing the development of this phenomenon which I dubbed the Millennial
phenomenon which I dubbed the Millennial
phenomenon which I dubbed the Millennial loop a few of my friends shared the post
loop a few of my friends shared the post
loop a few of my friends shared the post and then a few of their friends shared
and then a few of their friends shared
and then a few of their friends shared it cool then I noticed some people were
it cool then I noticed some people were
it cool then I noticed some people were talking about the idea on message boards
talking about the idea on message boards
talking about the idea on message boards like metafilter and red
like metafilter and red
like metafilter and red it and then quartz made a video about
it and then quartz made a video about
it and then quartz made a video about the idea and that video now has over 21
the idea and that video now has over 21
the idea and that video now has over 21 million views on Facebook alone slate
million views on Facebook alone slate
million views on Facebook alone slate USA Today The Guardian the BBC news
USA Today The Guardian the BBC news
USA Today The Guardian the BBC news outlets all over the world we’re talking
outlets all over the world we’re talking
outlets all over the world we’re talking about the Millennial whoop it was clear
about the Millennial whoop it was clear
about the Millennial whoop it was clear that the idea immediately resonated with
that the idea immediately resonated with
that the idea immediately resonated with people enough for it to go viral in a
people enough for it to go viral in a
people enough for it to go viral in a global way once you hear it you can’t
global way once you hear it you can’t
global way once you hear it you can’t unhear it it’s the ultimate earworm two
unhear it it’s the ultimate earworm two
unhear it it’s the ultimate earworm two notes that can’t be owned by anyone and
notes that can’t be owned by anyone and
notes that can’t be owned by anyone and are as easy to sing as dreidel dreidel
are as easy to sing as dreidel dreidel
are as easy to sing as dreidel dreidel dreidel or ring-around-the-rosie using
dreidel or ring-around-the-rosie using
dreidel or ring-around-the-rosie using these two notes in this particular way
these two notes in this particular way
these two notes in this particular way this whoa-whoa has just exploded over
this whoa-whoa has just exploded over
this whoa-whoa has just exploded over pop music especially in the past 10
pop music especially in the past 10
pop music especially in the past 10 years with the help of readers all over
years with the help of readers all over
years with the help of readers all over the world I’ve cataloged over 50 songs
the world I’ve cataloged over 50 songs
the world I’ve cataloged over 50 songs that use the Millennial whoop pop music
that use the Millennial whoop pop music
that use the Millennial whoop pop music is full of common themes from the Bo
is full of common themes from the Bo
is full of common themes from the Bo diddly beat of rock music bumped don’t
diddly beat of rock music bumped don’t
diddly beat of rock music bumped don’t don’t the dump dump to the Amen break of
don’t the dump dump to the Amen break of
don’t the dump dump to the Amen break of drum and bass musicians use these
drum and bass musicians use these
drum and bass musicians use these familiar hooks to bring us back to a
familiar hooks to bring us back to a
familiar hooks to bring us back to a place of comfort where we feel like we
place of comfort where we feel like we
place of comfort where we feel like we know what’s going on we may even get the
know what’s going on we may even get the
know what’s going on we may even get the sense that hey I’ve heard this song
sense that hey I’ve heard this song
sense that hey I’ve heard this song before even if we haven’t this happens
before even if we haven’t this happens
before even if we haven’t this happens with rhythms and it happens with
with rhythms and it happens with
with rhythms and it happens with melodies folk music especially has a
melodies folk music especially has a
melodies folk music especially has a tendency to borrow melodies Kirby
tendency to borrow melodies Kirby
tendency to borrow melodies Kirby Ferguson pointed this out and his TED
Ferguson pointed this out and his TED
Ferguson pointed this out and his TED talk embraced the remix where he
talk embraced the remix where he
talk embraced the remix where he discussed how Bob Dylan borrowed from
discussed how Bob Dylan borrowed from
discussed how Bob Dylan borrowed from Woody Guthrie who borrowed from old old
Woody Guthrie who borrowed from old old
Woody Guthrie who borrowed from old old folk tunes that were probably ripping
folk tunes that were probably ripping
folk tunes that were probably ripping something else off and how really
something else off and how really
something else off and how really everything is a remix but of course this
everything is a remix but of course this
everything is a remix but of course this happens in pop music all the time as
happens in pop music all the time as
happens in pop music all the time as well Keith Hopkin has a great website
well Keith Hopkin has a great website
well Keith Hopkin has a great website called that sounds like calm dedicated
called that sounds like calm dedicated
called that sounds like calm dedicated to pointing out the similarities between
to pointing out the similarities between
to pointing out the similarities between melodies especially in pop songs like
melodies especially in pop songs like
melodies especially in pop songs like Coldplay’s Viva la Vida or the eleven
Coldplay’s Viva la Vida or the eleven
Coldplay’s Viva la Vida or the eleven other songs that use the same melody
other songs that use the same melody
other songs that use the same melody chord progressions also get used and
chord progressions also get used and
chord progressions also get used and reused from one song to another you can
reused from one song to another you can
reused from one song to another you can think about the 12-bar blues or most of
think about the 12-bar blues or most of
think about the 12-bar blues or most of your favorites
your favorites
your favorites if you’re one of the 30 million people
if you’re one of the 30 million people
if you’re one of the 30 million people who saw the axis of Awesome’s viral
who saw the axis of Awesome’s viral
who saw the axis of Awesome’s viral video for chords then you know just how
video for chords then you know just how
video for chords then you know just how many songs use that one five six four
many songs use that one five six four
many songs use that one five six four chord progression and if you’re one of
chord progression and if you’re one of
chord progression and if you’re one of the 13 million people who saw Rob Parham
the 13 million people who saw Rob Parham
the 13 million people who saw Rob Parham onehans Pachelbel rant she used
onehans Pachelbel rant she used
onehans Pachelbel rant she used essentially the same idea but five years
essentially the same idea but five years
essentially the same idea but five years earlier you know that viral YouTube
earlier you know that viral YouTube
earlier you know that viral YouTube videos also imitate and build off of one
videos also imitate and build off of one
videos also imitate and build off of one another these familiar patterns are the
another these familiar patterns are the
another these familiar patterns are the reason entire mediums exist like the
reason entire mediums exist like the
reason entire mediums exist like the mash-up the long traditions of European
mash-up the long traditions of European
mash-up the long traditions of European classical harmony and counterpoint have
classical harmony and counterpoint have
classical harmony and counterpoint have been solidifying these structures for
been solidifying these structures for
been solidifying these structures for hundreds of years to the point where now
hundreds of years to the point where now
hundreds of years to the point where now we can interlock any number of songs and
we can interlock any number of songs and
we can interlock any number of songs and create an entirely new musical
create an entirely new musical
create an entirely new musical experience that gives us a sense of
experience that gives us a sense of
experience that gives us a sense of timelessness fans of mediums like the
timelessness fans of mediums like the
timelessness fans of mediums like the mash-up see this as a beautiful new way
mash-up see this as a beautiful new way
mash-up see this as a beautiful new way of bridging sonic world’s across time
of bridging sonic world’s across time
of bridging sonic world’s across time and space that were previously
and space that were previously
and space that were previously considered to exist only in isolated
considered to exist only in isolated
considered to exist only in isolated genres detractors say more and more
genres detractors say more and more
genres detractors say more and more every song you hear sounds exactly the
every song you hear sounds exactly the
every song you hear sounds exactly the same
same
same both perspectives are right
both perspectives are right
both perspectives are right in fact the formula for pop music has
in fact the formula for pop music has
in fact the formula for pop music has gotten so prescribed that producing a
gotten so prescribed that producing a
gotten so prescribed that producing a hit song is more akin to manufacturing
hit song is more akin to manufacturing
hit song is more akin to manufacturing medical products than to our classic
medical products than to our classic
medical products than to our classic idea of a wistful young songwriter with
idea of a wistful young songwriter with
idea of a wistful young songwriter with a guitar gazing dreamily out of the
a guitar gazing dreamily out of the
a guitar gazing dreamily out of the mountains John Seabrook wrote about this
mountains John Seabrook wrote about this
mountains John Seabrook wrote about this phenomenon in a book he called the song
phenomenon in a book he called the song
phenomenon in a book he called the song machine where he discusses music studios
machine where he discusses music studios
machine where he discusses music studios like the Hit Factory and producers like
like the Hit Factory and producers like
like the Hit Factory and producers like dr. Luke examining how they rearranged
dr. Luke examining how they rearranged
dr. Luke examining how they rearranged song elements into a kind of musical
song elements into a kind of musical
song elements into a kind of musical recipe geared to elicit a specific neuro
recipe geared to elicit a specific neuro
recipe geared to elicit a specific neuro chemical response from listeners we’ve
chemical response from listeners we’ve
chemical response from listeners we’ve entered an age where the music industry
entered an age where the music industry
entered an age where the music industry like so many other businesses is
like so many other businesses is
like so many other businesses is following the factory model of the
following the factory model of the
following the factory model of the assembly line but Patrick I hear you say
assembly line but Patrick I hear you say
assembly line but Patrick I hear you say I love these songs you’re yucking my yum
I love these songs you’re yucking my yum
I love these songs you’re yucking my yum and spoiling my favorite things don’t be
and spoiling my favorite things don’t be
and spoiling my favorite things don’t be a hater to that I say I love them too I
a hater to that I say I love them too I
a hater to that I say I love them too I really could listen to Tove Lowe’s song
really could listen to Tove Lowe’s song
really could listen to Tove Lowe’s song habits like every weekend for at least
habits like every weekend for at least
habits like every weekend for at least the rest of my 20s but it does have a
the rest of my 20s but it does have a
the rest of my 20s but it does have a millennial loop in it and it’s important
millennial loop in it and it’s important
millennial loop in it and it’s important to remember these songs were engineered
to remember these songs were engineered
to remember these songs were engineered so that we would love them that might
so that we would love them that might
so that we would love them that might not make them any less awesome but it
not make them any less awesome but it
not make them any less awesome but it does make them incredibly complex
does make them incredibly complex
does make them incredibly complex products of a capitalist society
products of a capitalist society
products of a capitalist society at first glance globalisation seems to
at first glance globalisation seems to
at first glance globalisation seems to have made a number of utopian visions
have made a number of utopian visions
have made a number of utopian visions into a reality there’s something kind of
into a reality there’s something kind of
into a reality there’s something kind of beautiful to the idea of people from all
beautiful to the idea of people from all
beautiful to the idea of people from all over the world bonding over a shared
over the world bonding over a shared
over the world bonding over a shared love of Gangnam style the fact that many
love of Gangnam style the fact that many
love of Gangnam style the fact that many people in Malaysia can speak to people
people in Malaysia can speak to people
people in Malaysia can speak to people in Ghana using English as a common
in Ghana using English as a common
in Ghana using English as a common language from a practical standpoint
language from a practical standpoint
language from a practical standpoint that’s pretty incredible but considering
that’s pretty incredible but considering
that’s pretty incredible but considering the legacy of dominance and power
the legacy of dominance and power
the legacy of dominance and power struggles and colonization that led to
struggles and colonization that led to
struggles and colonization that led to this situation it’s hard to feel totally
this situation it’s hard to feel totally
this situation it’s hard to feel totally comfortable with this state of affairs
comfortable with this state of affairs
comfortable with this state of affairs in China for instance the trend toward
in China for instance the trend toward
in China for instance the trend toward Mandarin and away from Cantonese is a
Mandarin and away from Cantonese is a
Mandarin and away from Cantonese is a particularly insidious example of state
particularly insidious example of state
particularly insidious example of state control minimizing the voices of local
control minimizing the voices of local
control minimizing the voices of local cultures that utopian vision of all
cultures that utopian vision of all
cultures that utopian vision of all people speaking a common language is
people speaking a common language is
people speaking a common language is somewhat dampened by the reality of a
somewhat dampened by the reality of a
somewhat dampened by the reality of a centralized government demanding that
centralized government demanding that
centralized government demanding that local TV stations broadcast only in
local TV stations broadcast only in
local TV stations broadcast only in Mandarin we have to ask ourselves what
Mandarin we have to ask ourselves what
Mandarin we have to ask ourselves what is lost when everything is so
is lost when everything is so
is lost when everything is so predictable that nothing feels unique or
predictable that nothing feels unique or
predictable that nothing feels unique or startling or strange really it comes
startling or strange really it comes
startling or strange really it comes down to the basic fact that diverse
down to the basic fact that diverse
down to the basic fact that diverse systems are more resilient systems
systems are more resilient systems
systems are more resilient systems without diversity are more likely to
without diversity are more likely to
without diversity are more likely to fail this is a principle that’s been
fail this is a principle that’s been
fail this is a principle that’s been shown time and again in everything from
shown time and again in everything from
shown time and again in everything from the ecological sciences to the world of
the ecological sciences to the world of
the ecological sciences to the world of finance a good investment portfolio has
finance a good investment portfolio has
finance a good investment portfolio has diversified assets to minimize risk an
diversified assets to minimize risk an
diversified assets to minimize risk an ecosystem has biodiversity or it will
ecosystem has biodiversity or it will
ecosystem has biodiversity or it will collapse into a desert a good company
collapse into a desert a good company
collapse into a desert a good company organization or community welcomes
organization or community welcomes
organization or community welcomes people from diverse backgrounds because
people from diverse backgrounds because
people from diverse backgrounds because they provide new expertise new
they provide new expertise new
they provide new expertise new perspective they question the status quo
perspective they question the status quo
perspective they question the status quo this is why it’s important to have
this is why it’s important to have
this is why it’s important to have checks and balances within government
checks and balances within government
checks and balances within government and it’s why whistleblowers and those
and it’s why whistleblowers and those
and it’s why whistleblowers and those who dissent play such a crucial role in
who dissent play such a crucial role in
who dissent play such a crucial role in a democracy it’s why farming practices
a democracy it’s why farming practices
a democracy it’s why farming practices like permaculture are desperately
like permaculture are desperately
like permaculture are desperately working to counteract the disastrous
working to counteract the disastrous
working to counteract the disastrous effects of monocropping corn and soy all
effects of monocropping corn and soy all
effects of monocropping corn and soy all over the world it’s why the internet and
over the world it’s why the internet and
over the world it’s why the internet and all the most durable communication
all the most durable communication
all the most durable communication systems are built on the model of
systems are built on the model of
systems are built on the model of networks rather than centralized
networks rather than centralized
networks rather than centralized information hubs you don’t want a single
information hubs you don’t want a single
information hubs you don’t want a single point of failure you want a broad
point of failure you want a broad
point of failure you want a broad variety of interlocking contributions
variety of interlocking contributions
variety of interlocking contributions that support one another when it comes
that support one another when it comes
that support one another when it comes to music when we churn everything
to music when we churn everything
to music when we churn everything through the song machine we lose sight
through the song machine we lose sight
through the song machine we lose sight of virtuosity the wild genius at the
of virtuosity the wild genius at the
of virtuosity the wild genius at the heart of musical innovation we diminish
heart of musical innovation we diminish
heart of musical innovation we diminish folk traditions all over the world that
folk traditions all over the world that
folk traditions all over the world that don’t conform to this standard model we
don’t conform to this standard model we
don’t conform to this standard model we lose the Bhalla phone the banjo the hood
lose the Bhalla phone the banjo the hood
lose the Bhalla phone the banjo the hood and the saws we lose the very thing that
and the saws we lose the very thing that
and the saws we lose the very thing that makes music human computers can now use
makes music human computers can now use
makes music human computers can now use machine learning algorithms neural
machine learning algorithms neural
machine learning algorithms neural networks and other rule-based systems to
networks and other rule-based systems to
networks and other rule-based systems to imitate the great composers improvised
imitate the great composers improvised
imitate the great composers improvised jazz even develop their own sense of
jazz even develop their own sense of
jazz even develop their own sense of musical style if we’re comfortable with
musical style if we’re comfortable with
musical style if we’re comfortable with a predictable pastiche of musical tropes
a predictable pastiche of musical tropes
a predictable pastiche of musical tropes why not just let the actual machines do
why not just let the actual machines do
why not just let the actual machines do the songwriting music is one of the most
the songwriting music is one of the most
the songwriting music is one of the most powerfully expressive mediums humans
powerfully expressive mediums humans
powerfully expressive mediums humans have it has the potential to be rich
have it has the potential to be rich
have it has the potential to be rich with emotion layered with complex
with emotion layered with complex
with emotion layered with complex mathematical and logical structures
mathematical and logical structures
mathematical and logical structures worded in such a way as to make us
worded in such a way as to make us
worded in such a way as to make us question the very fabric of reality let
question the very fabric of reality let
question the very fabric of reality let alone the fabric of our societies when
alone the fabric of our societies when
alone the fabric of our societies when we neutralize and codify and restrict
we neutralize and codify and restrict
we neutralize and codify and restrict the possibilities of music we limit our
the possibilities of music we limit our
the possibilities of music we limit our own possibilities as a species we need
own possibilities as a species we need
own possibilities as a species we need to embrace the weird weird is human
to embrace the weird weird is human
to embrace the weird weird is human weird is what makes art art there is
weird is what makes art art there is
weird is what makes art art there is strength and diversity there is beauty
strength and diversity there is beauty
strength and diversity there is beauty in the strange and there is power in the
in the strange and there is power in the
in the strange and there is power in the weird thank you
weird thank you
weird thank you [Applause]
”
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