I stumbled onto nightcore by accident and I\’m so glad I did. This makeshift genre is a phenomenon and quite hard to explain, take a listen below to get an idea of it.
https://soundcloud.com/signoffline/where-r-u
On the Nightcore Universe website it is described as \”a glorified term for \’speed edits\’ of techno/trance/dance songs.\” In other words, in order to make a nightcore song, all you have to do is raise the pitch and tempo at the exact same rate. They are usually raised by 20 to 30 percent. But why does the increase of pitch and tempo deserve its own genre? Simple, because it has the ability to make dead music sound alive.
Take for instance the song that I provided for you above, \”Where Are You Now\” by the infamous Jack U and J beebz. This song has been ridiculed by everyone from Deadmau5 to the kid with the flute in his nose, but with this speed increase it doesn\’t sound like an ear sore. With this slight change of pace, a song that was musically dead has been injected with life and I think it\’s due to what each of the songs represent. The Jack U original was made to make money, to top billboards, to play in the background of our lives as nonthreatening noise. The song wasn\’t made to inspire, how could it? You can almost taste the plastic as the song rolls through your ears, the song has no message or transcendental qualities. On the other hand this remix from Sign Offline takes the listener on a journey and represents a state of mind that is pure bliss, pure fun. The song\’s pace seems to take control of you and will have you ripping up the dance floor in pursuit of that fast, beautiful beat. While the remix actually displays musical integrity, it also makes a statement.
Those who feel indifferent towards music don\’t mind listening to the same crappy songs on the radio over and over again, but those who suck the marrow out of music, need their music to mean something. People who truly love music need there to be a message behind it. Nightcore does this by representing a mentality of almost other-worldly happiness that is never ceasing and ever growing. The voices sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks but they seem to be spitting words of wisdom. To enjoy nightcore, you have to feel it and identify with it. You have to be able to say, \”this is how life makes me feel.\” Although, not everybody can agree with this message, but those who can are able to enjoy the sounds that truly express themselves, which is the purpose of all music. Those who listen to sad music are typically sad, but what are you if you listen to Jack U\’s hit single? Its hard to say because it lacks meaning and doesn\’t say anything about the people who enjoy it but nightcore in contrast, does.
Nightcore didn\’t begin with Jack U, read the history of nightcore here and check out this great introduction mix to the genre.
https://soundcloud.com/signoffline/spf420mix
