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DickBigems
I love this term "ear candy" which Quincy coined used to describe "a style of playing that involved using unusual instruments to create half-buried melodies" as one writer wrote. To expound upon that idea further, it's a phrase to describe these parts of songs designed to engage and enthrall the listener in their unusualness and they usually have a sort of cinematic quality in the way they unfold; they viscerally tap into your imagination. I feel this is one of the major keys of Quincy's musical brilliance and popularity. He deliberately sought out sounds people hadn't heard before in pop music and used them in a sophisticated yet alluring tastefully catchy manner. Quincy understood people get bored hearing the same patterns and instruments over and over, this was his method to keeping listeners on their toes.
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DickBigems
For example, whenever you hear the "laughing" cuíca at the beginning of "Soul Bossa Nova" and all the other instruments that gradually creep in, there's still a sense of excitement, anticipation, and novelty no matter how many times you hear it. Or the beginning of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" which features that indelible gong and synth noise like you just took off in a spaceship and are about to go on the most amazing ride of your life. Those little moments with those little oddities make the hugest difference. I read about this term awhile ago then I thought about it some more, I feel I gravitate mostly to music that has those "ear candy" moments. The '60s and '70s are the golden era for "ear candy" because of the musical expertise and inventiveness. I would also say that's what a lot of hip hop/R&B samples are essentially.
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JeanSayuki
If there's a vocal trinity then there's also one with producers: Quincy Jones, Nile Rodgers and Giorgio Moroder
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upfromthe36
thank you for your contributions to music. you will be greatly missed, thank you for thriller. REST IN PEACE UNCLE Q
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luckystoned
in mourning... one of the great musicians. his influence was greater than one might think.
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xosandin
One of the greatests musical minds of all time, a genius, a soul-maker, a timeless master, he was there when everything happened, he was there when everything changed, because he did it, he changed everything in music forever, from the bottom of my goddamn soul, thank you for everything Quincy, rest in peace 🏮
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JeanSayuki
Even if he's quite controversial as a person, can't deny how much of a music genius he is, he even worked with Sinatra and that's crazy.
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UnfortunatelyGr
When are Back on the Block and Q's Jook Joint going to get vinyl reissues? They'd be such great RSD releases. I know there was a red-vinyl reissue of Body Heat.
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