thought experiment: Glenn Miller-style music comeback

[steve2470]

As some of you know, my son is almost 20. Therefore, I've learned more about hip-hop than I ever cared to know. I like some of it.

We were discussing trends in popular music and the outrageous things performers have done over the years on stage. It seems just about everything possible has been done on stage (barring human sacrifice, incest, bestiality, etc). I said to him, "I can see nerdy guys wearing suits on stage coming back" (the Glenn Miller reference). He disagreed with me. Big surprise.

Think about it. What is MORE rebellious against popular culture than to go to a venue and listen to nerdy guys in suits on stage acting all 1940'ish ? I don't know I'd do it more than once for the experience, but it would be a massive revolt against the popular culture: repressed, throw-back, old school, "boring", the polar opposite of rock and roll and hip-hop.

Yea yea, I know you can still go to weddings and listen to a band like this. I'm talking popular culture, top 40, mainstream radio, yada yada. Anyway, idle hands and thoughts are the devil's workshop.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. David Johansen once kind of did that with the Buster Poindexter act.

[steve2470]

2. I'll have to look him up, thanks nt

[Tom Kitten]

3. There was a swing revival in the 90s-early 00s

More modern than the original, of course, incorporating other styles of music like ska, jump blues, rockabilly. There were several bands that had hits, like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Royal Crown Revue, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, and more.

It might have grown out of the early 90s Lounge/Exotica revival that came when people rediscovered artists like Esquivel, Martin Denny, Yma Sumac etc. Hey those old folks had good music too! And it looks like they had a lot of fun!

[madamesilverspurs]

4. Yeppers, and just as that revival was happening

"developers" in Denver tore down the historic Trocadero Ballroom where Glenn Miller and other big bands had actually played. Some of us still get more from big band music than we will ever get from strip malls. Imagine that.

[steve2470]

8. great video and great sig line gif! nt

[ms liberty]

10. The Squirrel Nut Zippers...

Loved them.

[smirkymonkey]

5. I LOVE big band!

I would love to see a revival. I think I was born too late. I adore all music from that time period as well as film, fashion, etc. I don't relate to anyone my age. Needless to say, I am not exactly a hipster. I should probably be hanging out in nursing homes or something.

[cemaphonic]

6. Check out Postmodern Jukebox

They pretty much do exactly that - covers of recent (and some 80s stuff too) songs done in a variety of old styles. Lots of interwar big band arrangements, but also Dixieland, old blues, bluegrass/stringband, Motown girl groups, Salvation Army band, etc.

They have dozens of these.

[steve2470]

7. great videos thank you! nt

[Joe Shlabotnik]

9. We'll there is always Richard Cheese

And as bonus a cute doggie dancing in this one:

[steve2470]

11. cute doggie lol, thanks! nt

[kentauros]

12. Danny Elfman and the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo

did a great cover of Minnie the Moocher back in 1980 for "Forbidden Zone"

And there's the more recent band from Sweden, Diablo Swing Orchestra

[steve2470]

13. thanks for those nt

[Special Prosciuto]

14. That was Hollywood glitz. This was Hollywood meets main street: