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In this post you missed, because you thought it was about Phish, which it wasn't (they were more of a tertiary character within the grand scheme of the post), I opened it up a bit about the importance of the jam in my life.
How appropriate that I would come across this article by Joshua Allen at The Morning News, in which he tells us just why 2:42 is the perfect song length. Here's a snippet:
"What else is at 2:42? “Don’t Do Me Like That” by Tom Petty. “Divine Hammer” by the Breeders. “Helplessly Hoping” by Crosby, Stills & Nash. “Get Up” by R.E.M. “California Dreamin’” by the Mamas & the Papas. “This Charming Man” by the Smiths.
You need more proof? Jerk. Let’s look at Sgt. Pepper. “Lovely Rita” is two minutes, 42 seconds. It delivers that psychedelic vibe and a coda but then gets the hell out of your life.
Compare that to “With a Little Help From My Friends.” It’s a mere two seconds longer but feels like it drags on for hours. Maybe it’s Ringo, maybe it’s the tedious melody—or maybe it’s the two goddamn seconds.
Then over here we have “Good Morning Good Morning,” rightfully discarded by the masses as a throwaway. Why? Two minutes, 41 seconds. Hey, Beatles, maybe next time think about tacking on an extra second to give a song the grandeur and majesty it deserves."
Check out the rest here
What are your best 2:42's? Post 'em in coments!
Here's the authors Muxtape link, full of 2:42 goodness:
http://2m42s.muxtape.com/
I think I may do the same Annie!
Very clever CBW ...Tonight I am going to sift thru my iTunes to see what songs adhear to this rule...I am very curious.
Intriguing ... I checked what's on the Gigabeat, and found the following songs among others at that length:
808 State - One In Ten
Cocteau Twins - But I'm Not
Ladytron - Kletva
Pixies - Gouge Away
Ramones - Pinhead
The Rapture - Coming of Spring
The Vines - Take Me Back
I'd listen to that. Yup
Really, it sounds like a new way to make a mix tape...
Seems it would be a certain data drool worthiness task for you Dale. I expect a full report with pie charts in the morning.
A ying and yang of post's. I think this one fits the bill perfectly...
Babyshambles - Delivery
well i suppose the song ain't exactly 2.42 but with the necessary intro from Johnny it is....
Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues
(Sittin' On The) Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
Improvisation #2 (alt.) - a fantastic Django Rhinehardt song
What Can You Bring Me - Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd. Street Rhythm Band
PS I got divine hammer at 2:41, so where does that leave us?
Nice one..I remember a post where we went for the Top 20 under 2 minute tunes and then the top 20 under 1:30, but since were talking perfection at 2:42
Waiting around to die -Townes Van Zandt
Mess Around - Ray Charles
As Soon As I Hang Up The Phone -Loretta Lynn
Hook and Sling-Eddie Bo
The Great Pretender - The Platters
I Get Lifted - George McCrae
Bloodshot Eyes - Wynonie Harris
I'm Talikng About You- Memphis Minnie
The Rubber Room - Porter Wagoner
The Tide Is High - U-Roy
Groovin' high - Dizzy Gillespie
Whatta Man- Linda Lyndell
The fact y'all know this is mindblowing to me....
I second the folsom prison suggestion. and i add There She Goes by sixpence none the richer.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen also cuts it.
"There she goes" by SPTR is a cover of the La's song mentioned in the article.
oh yes, apologies, i should've read the link before commenting!
i think 2:42 is a perfect length for a good catchy pop song, quick and delightful. but i prefer songs which take their time to build you up and bring you down.
i gotta get on the muxtape band wagon
See my 2:42 muxtape at"
http://contrabandwidth.muxtape.com
I beg to differ on the Beatles analysis -- "Good Morning, Good Morning" is a quirky take on beat poetry. "With A Little From My Friends" is a very poignant song about solitude in our modern world. "Lovely Rita" for all her perfection is a trite military march...
Also anyone quoting a Smiths song to illustrate is more than dubious in my book :p
(There, I've said it. Just take out your rotten veggies, you've got an aim now)
Eh, its 2:42 on my iTunes...
and DEP - Fix Your Face
I wonder what the most popular song length is...
apparently...
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana - I. O FortunaSadly I have only a part of my songs available, as my external disk crashed.
Checked Itunes and found the following at exactly 2:42:
Boot Camp Clik - I Need More
Beatfanatic - Intermission - Music Machine
Garmarna - Lill-Mats polka
Lounge Lizards - Do The Wrong Thing
Christian Prommer's Drumlesson - Drum Lesson IV
E.C. Arinze & His Music - Lumumba Calypso
Los De Abajo - Si Existe Ese Lugar
Upland - Lost in Moments
Interesting thought, but non of the real dope tracks of the albums, where those songs stem from has 2:42.
So I guess, the author just looked at a statistically non-representative set of samples - especially he concentrated on rock/pop music.(primarily rock, indie and "other things with guitar", as far as I know the mentioned artists). So that whole analysis is really biased.
I'd be really interested, if their's a scheme in different genres, let's say the best cantates are 10:53 long, and the best chillout-tracks 4:21 or so.
The 2:42 rule for sure can't apply to classic music.
But man, there must be some freak out there, who already has conducted a statistical research on that - we just have to find him.
There is a great deal of humor within the article. Like he really doesn't have the time to listen to a whole 4.5 minute song? The author is obviously being sarcastic saying that some of the songs are imperfect for going a second over. I think he just needed a little fact to work his joke around.
I think Dale did something similar at one point. But it would be a great project to get people to put up their 10 favorite songs and get an average length for favorite songs for Mog listeners.
You hearing this Dale?
Contra -
great post. i scrolled through 543 random tracks on my ipod to put together this short list:
My Love For You (Has Turned to Hate) - Hank Sr.
Molly You Are a Darling - Pat Kelleher and Dan O'Sullivan
Pete The Best Coon Dog (in the State of Tennessee) - Jimmy Martin
similar to Folsom, Pete has a short intro from Jimmy, who is rightfully proud of his dog, he is the best in the state after all.
assuming the 3/543 rate holds out i should have about 23 2:42 songs.
it looked like a lot of the old school country guys, Hank Sr., Lefty Frizzell, Bob Wills have a lot of songs that clock in around the 2:42 mark.
Hank's Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door) hits 2:42 as well.
for getafade that is an interesting question - it would be interesting to take a poll of moggers who use itunes, or something that lets you sort tracks by length. i can't check my library now, but if i think of it, i'll do it later.
peace
brz
Um. Wow. Fastidious, ain't we? (As far as I'm concerned, this means that anything by the La's is, metaphorically speaking, 2:42.)