What is the test of time?

All popular forms of music - even before recordings are still known today. I think they all last, but it's just a matter of how many people listen to it as time goes by. There are recordings of almost every kind of music that is being bought still - from Monteverde until now. So, I don't think anything will dissapear. There will always be someone interested in each type of music.

So, I guess what you were getting at "the test of time" doesn't seem to apply to music.

I imagine there is actually someone out there buying a Devo CD.

Robm321,
Good post. I guess what I'm getting at is that the "test of time" doesn't seem to apply to art in general, music included. It's an easy one to apply to architecture, theorems, beauty, etc, but art might indeed be timeless.

Perhaps I shouldn't have started this thread as it seems to be far more philosophical than I intended. More to the point might be that critics use the phrase far too readily. Nevertheless, someone else might have some cool insights as well. Please keep them coming.

Side note: Devo is touring and playing huge venues this summer. I know, I was surprised too. Cult classics.

Maybe it has to do with whether critics still like it after a hundred years?? Beethoven is still good. Coltrane will likely still be good. Will critics still even care about some of the very good music well received today?

Or,if it's about people liking something (rather than critics), I have a story for you to ponder. I remember taking a music appreciation class in junior high school. During one class, we were asked to vote whether the Beatles or the Monkeys were the better band. As you can imagine, this happened some time ago ;-) The class was split down the middle. If those same people came together again today, I wonder if they would vote the same way? I'd wager that the Beatles did better at standing the test of time.

I don't think that a musical style is so much the issue though. It seems to me that particular songs are what's important. Relatively few people buy or listen to Classical music for instance, but it has stood the test of time.

Oh well, I may be rambling. This is an interesting topic and I look forward to reading the thoughts of others on it.

I think it's a good post. Some music seems to remain poular over the years, and other doesn't. Maybe it's a question of widely accepted popularity. I think it's safe to say most of the Beatles' music has withstood the test of time, whereas the Captain and Tenille has not. Yet I am sure there are still many people who love the old Captain and Tenille recordings, and if you put all their fans together, you'd probably have a surprisingly large crowd. But you could also say that most people don't take their music seriously, and so it hasn't withstood the test of time.

The funny thing is that music comes and goes out of style. What has failed the test of time now might be rediscovered in 20 years and enjoy a big resurgence in popularity. I think when BeBop came out, traditional BigBand music was considered passe, but now has regained respectability. Abba music has also gained a surge in popularity over the past few years. The same thing could happen to the Captain and Tenille.

Just some quick thoughts while I'm trying to sober up before driving home. Feel free to agree, disagree, add, etc.