Is Funky R&B in Chill/Blues rooms killing the Tango play?

[Sugarfoot]

As a keen Tango dancer I have enjoyed playing with Tango in the Blues/Chill out rooms over the last 3 years.

I have noticed a rapidly growing trend for DJs to play more & more R&B funky tunes in these rooms over the last year. Obviously this suits the Westies and don't get me wrong, I enjoy WCS and this kind of music, but because of this change the possiblity to play with Tango in this enviroment is in decline.

I always used to promote the fact that it is possible to Tango to most music, Swing, Blues, Jazz, Latin, Acoustic, soft rock, etc. But the distinctive beat of most modern R&B does not feel right at all.

So come on DJs...don't kill the Tango dancers.

[robd]

Hopefully.

[Sugarfoot]

Originally Posted by robd

Hopefully.

That seems a selfish point of view. what do you have a against Tango?

Variety is tha spice of life.

[TheTramp]

Originally Posted by robd

Hopefully.

[TheTramp]

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

That seems a selfish point of view.

If you can tango to everything except the funky R&B, that should still leave plenty of tracks for you to tango to in an evening. Shouldn't it? Or are all the tracks funky R&B now?

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

what do you have a against Tango?

Variety is tha spice of life.

Ummm. Nothing. Except the latin-type music!

[ducasi]

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

I always used to promote the fact that it is possible to Tango to most music, Swing, Blues, Jazz, Latin, Acoustic, soft rock, etc. But the distinctive beat of most modern R&B does not feel right at all.

If you can do tango to all these other styles when they're played, how can you complain about a little bit of the more funky stuff?

Rather that getting all huffy that you can't do Tango, you could try to do a bit of MJ on the MJ dance floor.

[Sugarfoot]

You would be surprised. At recent events I have only heard to odd track that inspired me to play with Tango. That was not the case a year ago. Don't worry though, I am evolving by developing my WCSango

Sorry Steve...you lost me on that one???

[Sheepman]

I've a feeling that it's mostly a case of playing what the customers want. The last Utopia I made it to (in June) felt like it was wall to wall modern RnB. (I hesitate to call it funky, because much of it has nothing funky about it.) The earlier events I enjoyed much more, with a wider range of music that I could dance a range of styles to.
There is at least one event where you can still get a wide range of chilled music, but nowadays the Jango t-jives do seem to mostly appeal to those who just want lots of tango.

Greg

[Sugarfoot]

Originally Posted by ducasi

If you can do tango to all these other styles when they're played, how can you complain about a little bit of the more funky stuff?

Rather that getting all huffy that you can't do Tango, you could try to do a bit of MJ on the MJ dance floor.

Rude as always Ducasi

Actually...I do try to Jive, WCS and dare I mention that dreaded word....yeah why not...Salsa....

Do I tell you how to dance.

[Genie]

Sugarfoot, Tramp was responding to your "what do you have a against Tango?"

Originally Posted by TheTramp

If you can tango to everything except the funky R&B, that should still leave plenty of tracks for you to tango to in an evening. Shouldn't it? Or are all the tracks funky R&B now?

Hopefully :p

[Sugarfoot]

Originally Posted by Sheepman

I've a feeling that it's mostly a case of playing what the customers want. The last Utopia I made it to (in June) felt like it was wall to wall modern RnB. (I hesitate to call it funky, because much of it has nothing funky about it.) The earlier events I enjoyed much more, with a wider range of music that I could dance a range of styles to.
There is at least one event where you can still get a wide range of chilled music, but nowadays the Jango t-jives do seem to mostly appeal to those who just want lots of tango.

Greg

I agree with what you are saying Greg. It is a shame that the range of styles has become less. I guess this is what happened to swing before. It is the music that determines dance styles and I guess trends change.

[Genie]

I don't mind a healthy mix, but I must admit I agree with Trampy. Latin music is ok in very small doses. But whole evenings of it

I don't know if blues is killing off tango stuff, but as the question was aimed at us, it should be ok if someone says 'hopefully'. After all, just because we don't like it much does not mean we cannot dance it.

[Sugarfoot]

Originally Posted by Genie

I don't mind a healthy mix, but I must admit I agree with Trampy. Latin music is ok in very small doses. But whole evenings of it

I don't know if blues is killing off tango stuff, but as the question was aimed at us, it should be ok if someone says 'hopefully'. After all, just because we don't like it much does not mean we cannot dance it.

Hmm...it seems that you and Tampy think that it has to be Latin for Tango. This could be part of the problem. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any DJs (myself excluded) (maybe Greg) that dance Tango...so I guess it is harder for them to have an understanding of the possibilities. I feel an example playlist is in order to demonstrate how it is possible to please mosts tastes.

No time right now...will do later.

[robd]

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

That seems a selfish point of view. what do you have a against Tango?

Variety is tha spice of life.

Nothing against it other than I get very bored by my own limitations when dancing it and I much prefer listening to Modern R&B than pretty much any music that would be labelled as 'tango'. My 'hopefully' was a bit tongue in cheek.

maybe the demise of 'Funky Lush' speaks volumes about the appetite for a lot of tango music at an event aimed principally at MJ dancers?

[Sheepman]

Originally Posted by Genie

I don't mind a healthy mix, but I must admit I agree with Trampy. Latin music is ok in very small doses. But whole evenings of it

I don't know if blues is killing off tango stuff

I think you've missed the point that Sugarfoot is making. Lots of blues music is fine to tango to, as well as swing, R&B, ballads, jazz ... It's where a chillout room plays only modern RnB that the variety disappears. I certainly don't want a whole evening of latin, just as I don't want a whole evening of modern RnB. I don't really want a whole evening of tango music either, but for many that is the only option for learning & practicing tango.

Greg

[ducasi]

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

Rude as always Ducasi

Actually...I do try to Jive, WCS and dare I mention that dreaded word....yeah why not...Salsa....

Do I tell you how to dance.

I try my best.

You may not be telling me how to dance, but you are telling DJ's not to play the music I want to dance to, just so you can tango. I suggest going to a tango event if you want to tango.

[Genie]

Ok, I see where you are coming from now. And I do understand, as I've danced with a Tango-lead to random things like Muse before and it worked just fine (in fact, it was quite mmmmmm).

So do people who dance Tango dislike RnB so much because they can't Tango to it? Or because they don't/can't dance RnB?

And is the increase in RnB stuff because more people like it and can dance to it than can Tango, or is it a DJ favouritism thing?

[Sheepman]

Originally Posted by Genie

So do people who dance Tango dislike RnB so much because they can't Tango to it? Or because they don't/can't dance RnB?

I love lots of RnB, after all, I've been doing WCS much longer than I've been doing Jango or tango. I still don't want it all night though, even if I'm at a WCS event.

Greg

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

Hmm...it seems that you and Tampy think that it has to be Latin for Tango. This could be part of the problem.

"Latin" is not "Tango"

In fact "Latin" is a stupid name anyway.

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any DJs (myself excluded) (maybe Greg) that dance Tango...

Me neither - unless Lazy Dave does DJ-ing?

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

so I guess it is harder for them to have an understanding of the possibilities. I feel an example playlist is in order to demonstrate how it is possible to please mosts tastes.

Absolutely. There's as much Tango variation as there is for most other genres - and certainly certainly more than some - for example, salsa.

I'd love to see a AT list including vals, milonga, fast-style nuevo, and so on. Milonga-style tracks should be completely MJ-able.

[Lynn]

I think the popularity of DJs like Marc and Tiggerbabe, who manage to have latiny/blues/tangoy/funky playlists show that people do want variety. Usually something in there for everyone.

Personally I'm noticing a reduction in more bluesy stuff being played at the expense of R&B. I like the R&B stuff, but a lot of it does give a strong flavour to a dance and require a different sort of 'connection' with my partner than I find I experience with more bluesy or tangoy tracks.

Sometimes I want to be 'funky' (that's not really the word I'm looking for but it'll do) and be doing playful syncopations, sharper movements and 'you play, I play' with my partner. Other times I just want to flow and melt into a soft hold with smooth mellow tunes.

Variety please!