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Accidents, hooks and theory

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Records often include accidents. T suggest this tells us something about the flexibility of musical practices and the limits of theories. Musical 'hooks' provide useful test-cases because the hook is normally considered the least accidental part of a song. We imagine it emerging fully formed in a moment of inspiration- the catchy phrase that comes into a songwriter's head- or at least of calculation: Tll see your vibraphone and raise you a mellotron'. But hooks sometimes incorporate accidents or happen accidentally. If hooks are less than completely determinate, then every aspect of the popular record must be subject to contingency. I argue for theories- and views of musical practices- which begin with the recognition that accidents happen.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationFrom Soul to Hip Hop
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Pages259-276
Number of pages18
ISBN (Electronic)9781315093819
ISBN (Print)9780754629504
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 5 2017
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Tom Perchard 2014. All rights reserved.

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