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What is the test of time?

The followint quote is from an interesting post in another thread:
I don't think it will stand the test of time. Most music doesn't.
What exactly is the proverbial test of time though? Critics spout that phrase all the time. But what exactly qualifies something to have stood the test of time? Critics said that rap wouldn't last over twenty years ago. Critics said that pop wouldn't last over forty years ago. Critics said that r&b wouldn't last over fifty years ago. Critics said that swing wouldn’t last over seventy years ago...

Interesting subject. Since the dawn of recording technology and especially now, people everywhere are scrambling to archive recordings of the past into whatever is the latest, greatest medium and format. In light of this, just about everything ever recorded will survive time. But still the question remains, what is the "test" of time. If anyone on earth listens to something long forgotten, does that mean it has stood the test of time?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic. What is the “test of time” to you?
creeper
creeper OP
251 posts
 
I'm glad to see this thread didn't turn out to be purely academic. Fun stuff ‘goners!

One thing to keep in mind about Devo is that it was originally assembled for performance art, putting a high priority on shock value. In the cult realm, I'd say they passed the test so far.

Did Captain and Tenille perform "Muskrat Love" in an episode of The Muppet Show? I have a long faded memory of something like that, wondering if it was real now. Yep, stuck in my head too.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
"The Last Time" - Rolling Stones
"Time On My Hands" - the jazz standard
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" - Glen Campbell/Isaac Hayes
"The Time Has Come Today" - Chambers Brothers
"Good Times" - Chic
"My Time After A While" - Buddy Guy
"Now's the Time" - Charlie Parker
The Time - R&B supergroup
"Twine Time" - Alvin Cash & the Crawlers, have all stood the test

whereas,

"Time & Tides" - Basia
"Good Times" - 70s sitcom
"Time Waits For No One" - Rolling Stones
"Pony Time" - Chubby Checker
"Time In A Bottle" - Jim Croce, have not
steelhead
288 posts
 
The four B's

Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, & Beatles
jax2
3,031 posts
 
Speaking of stupid hats, didn't you just want to slap that stupid cap off the
"Captain's" head!?!? I bet he was bald under there! Yeah, the
damn song's been stuck on repeat in my head ever since Honest1 brought it
up...I owe you one man! Didn't they arrest the Captain after that appearence
on the Muppet show? The story was; Big Bird caught him trying out some of
that forbidden Muppet-Love on the Cookie Monster. Dude had wrapped a
wad of chocalate chip dough around his veiny bangstick and the clueless
Muppet was...well, it wasn't a pretty sight. The case made it to court but the
charges were dropped. Rumor is they paid off the Cookie Monster with some
Ben & Jerry's Oreo Mint. This paved the way for Paul Reubens movie theatre
antics years later. It's come out recetly in some of the court transcripts that
Michael Jackson has Bert and Ernie in a high-security room at the Ranch.
Stories of the Muppet Menage a Trois have become rampant on the Internet,
and there are rumors of a video tape that's being offered for sale to the
highest bidder.

Marco
dlr
195 posts
 
I can't believe the group "America" did Muskrat Love. It sure ruined their greatest hits cd.
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