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What is Muzak? (Elevator Music)
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- Опубліковано 25 чер 2019
- An ordinary guy explains the history, meaning and enduring influence of the musical style known as muzak.
Muzak Stations.
Check out my Patreon here: / ordinarythings
Thanks for watching. Muzak is a weird, obsessive interest of mine, so hope you find it as fascinating as I do. Please share, and consider donating to Patreon if you've been enjoying what I've put out: www.patreon.com/ordinarythings
Muzak filed for Reorganization, they did not go bankrupt and it is not the reason they sold to MOOD media. You make shit up to suit what you think happened.
Song at 5:48 it's stuck in my head and I know it I just don't know the name
"why not rip Adam Curtis and Charlie Brooker?" :)
1:30 that's not really a good comparison.
Modern cellphones aren't *just* phones, and they are mobile, unlike landline. Plus, you can actually choose what you want to listen to.
But I don't use any of them anyway :'D
@@eternity3822 "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
I just loove how ordinary things explains his topics in a way that makes us realize how extraordinary and fucked up we actually are
cynical takes are getting kind of exhausting
@@pricebrandt9 depend what was the subject, for credit it was justified with how it is important in the everyday life of a lot of people
@@pricebrandt9 This entire topic is dripping with cynicism, he's talking about music that was designed with behavioral psychology in mind. Not sure what you would expect.
(eat my comment youtube algorithm. Use its energy to lift this video up the suggestion ladder)
i love the wording of this comment
UA-cam needs to step up its algorithm. I’ve missed this content by over a year.
Same. I got to see the brilliantly pissed off comment that was made in response to the stickied comment at the top, so that's good.
Subscribe ring the bell...
Its algorithm is only good to censor content that is not average or sanitized and to push such plastic mainstream crap.
So, technically the algorithm is doing its job... sadly, because I agree this content is so goddamn good.
UA-cam algorithm only wants you to watch what you have already watched. To keep you in an endless loop or repeating videos.
Buy Mode from The Sims may be one of the most powerfull songs ever. The feelings of confort, nostalgia and consumerism that it invokes are so strong. Even as someone who never even been to the USA, it translates the Americana aesthetic so perfectly.
Before the microtransaction hellscape the Sims turned into, it was an interesting and innovative game where the devs really did think hard about most every detail, music included.
Video game background music is supposed to be ignoble but still manipulate the feelings of the player. So, yeah, very similar to musak.
BTW: There are some cool videos about Minecraft's music.
Oh, and Klei actually posted a "lofi beats" version of the ONI soundtrack, which is honestly pretty awesome. ua-cam.com/video/YCCfVbmEVHw/v-deo.html
Like the Wii Shop Channel?
y'know, that's an interesting closing thought that I've never considered: is royalty free, unobtrusive background music in youtube videos a form of muzak? while these tracks are usually composed by actual musicians with creative ideas, they are still made to be talked over, to set a tone or a mood without drawing attention to themselves. Maybe they fall in a sort of middle ground between artistic expression and calculating manipulation?
Definitely a middle thing. As they are free to use for everyone there can’t really be a custom “manipulation purpose” that would be specifically tailored for one video and it’s content. I guess that it’s up to the video creator/cutter to search for something that fits the video in the closest way (if they even use psychology at all.)
i'm just waiting for an anthropologist to study the impact of kevin macleod on our culture
Yes
@@ckorp666 rt
@@ckorp666 There is actually a soon-to-be-released documentary about him and his impact called “Royalty Free: The Music of Kevin MacLeod.”
When I was a kid in the 90s, there was a chain of old school grocery stores called Dominion that hadn’t been updated since the 70s. They were brown and orange and yellow inside, and always played Muzak. I loved when my parents took me there cuz it was like a blast from the past. Hearing Muzak always reminds me of the store.
Look up sounds of the supermarket, my guy
I fucking LOVE muzak and play it in my office at work daily. People really do miss this music and are so happy to hear something non-abrasive on the ears. Thank you for uploading this!
I once saw a guy trying to shazam Ryanair's "airplane elevator music". I am still wondering what his spotify playlist could contain
Probably Brian Eno and some vaporwave lol
What do you mean by shazam? Tried looking on UrbanDictionary and couldn't find anything that has a good meaning for the context you've used it in.
@@brainstormsurge154 Its an app used to find the names of songs.
lmao
@@DeathKiller190 which I never got to work in fact. Couldn't find ANYTHING I wanted ever.
Track ID you'll be missed.
Is it strange that I found a nice muzak song, then listened to the original (a pop song), and felt that the Muzak version was better?
Definitely not. Despite my jokes, I have a low-key love for Muzak
@@OrdinaryThings it's dope. Rock that elevator music!
Late to the party, but music being background music and music being well-made or of a high quality are not mutually exclusive at all. For instance Gran Turismo's menu tunes are solid af. The Japanese in general are seriously good at this stuff. Check out the guy who does the jingles for Tokyo subway-stations for example. (Yes, they all have their own unique jingle.)
@@FinnishCarGuys ua-cam.com/video/6GEI3PpXEAo/v-deo.html
@@krytenfivetwothreep2485 just realised after typing the comment that the dude was the keyboard player in Casiopeia! Been listening to them for ages 👍🏽
Please continue making these, I loved every single one
I'm so glad! I enjoy making them. Best thing about this format is that it is hard to run out of ideas.
@@OrdinaryThings Love hearing that. These kinds of videos are exactly what I need a lot of the time. Great stuff!
Ah yes, the antecesor of lofi
Underrated comment
"antecesor"
You mean ancestors of chill music?
y e s
Holy shit we’ve gone full circle. Again
After being exposed to vaporwave I unironically appreciate Muzak now
Vaporvave has been my quarantine jam for a month now. It’s something that reminds me that there is still a life outside of this pandemic and hopefully it’ll return.
Wave music does something to you. It ks seriously muzak 2.0
Y'all should listen to Dagothwave instead, that's where it's at.
Same here
Bruh... 🤯🤯🤯🤯
This is so good i may dislike in a jealous rage!
don't worry, I've been doing that to your videos since day one.
@@OrdinaryThings you and my ex girlfriend trolololol
Were u doing his hair in the emo video? Lol
i would have liked this reply but 666 likes is too lovely. Rawr!
Shits fired
This style of music is also called "Beautiful Music" and had radio stations playing it...In Dallas, where I grew up, there where two of these stations...and from the age of 12 I was hooked...and they still exists today on XM radio...a music that is relaxing, stress relieving, and beautiful...PRAISE MUZAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a fellow muzak fan, I greatly appreciate this
Oh, human music.. I like it!
@@OrdinaryThingstodays version is lofi girl
"World's largest army and wedding crashers.." :)
I have such an affection for that gag in particular
Not at that time. Yes today the us army is large and powerful but prior to World War 1 it was a frontier army and even after it shrunk to pre war size only being increased during world war 2 and being the global police force ever since
@@cloroxlavenderscent4307 “global police force” i think the word you’re looking for is “international warmongering terrorists”
@@fortherepublic6796 to each their own. If you wanna play the bias game, I guess according to you that's right. I'm aware of the atrocities committed by the U.S army. But according to General William T. Sherman " War is Hell."
It does beat hearing "last christmas" on loop in all the shops
If muzak is essentially mood manipulation, movies have been doing that with soundtracks since the first talkie.
Well, one could say that movies themselves manipulate our emotions, but the end to that means is artistic, so... no?
@@NanoMan737400 Yes, the means being artistic does not change that it is still mood manipulation as much as the negative connotation to the word manipulation may make you want to disagree
Since the first talkie? You mean before movies silent films had mooded soundtracks
My mom worked for Muzak for most of my life. Now she has a much better position in their new parent company. I never knew that much about the company she worked for. Thanks for the video!
aphex twin is a genius. i’ll always love his music
At the McDonald’s I used to work at, they played classical music to reduce the number of fights on the premises
Sims 1 is still the one I go out of my way to play. I liked 2 a whole lot and I like 3 a fair amount too. 4 is neat but leaves a bad taste in my mouth... But the original gives me all sorts of warm fuzzies, a lot of love went into that game, Will Wright is a treasure
it's a true original. The first two have an aesthetic and sense of purpose that is very special.
It's great how you integrated the Muzak-Songs in your Video. Muzak is literally perfect for such a purpose. I am interested in Muzak and you did well to explain it!
How ordinary. I love it!
HEY, man, what about Erik Satie?
He was the first inventor of 'Furniture music' that further will evolve into muzak.
Ol gronopemydope
at 4:29 I legit realized I wasn't subscribed so your subliminal reminder actually helped.
Jokes on you Ordinary Things, I just subbed 15 seconds before the subliminal message.
The subliminal message was so strong it effected the past!
Wow! Extremely Insightful and matched with true comedy. Well done, you got yourself another subscriber!
thanks dude!
I can't lie. I listen to The Sims Buy Mode regularly on my mp3 player. It's good for short mundane chores, like doing the dishes or vacuuming. Especially if I can time finishing the task with the celebratory ending flourish.
I've been repeatedly binge watching your episodes over and over like a crazy person, after going through each at least 5 times; I can say this one is my favourite and malls is my second favourite.
I quite like muzak. It sounds great.
Nice try, Muzak
@@gonzo_n_thetots9405 ahh yes, the Muzak shills
I had no idea this was a thing, or that it had such an interesting (and macabre) history behind
Great vid, bruh!
I thought I knew a lot about it before, but researching brought a lot of macabre surprises. Cheers dude!
I used to love hearing the Muzak version of Daydream Believer by The Monkeys in every 7-Eleven in Japan. I would have that song stuck in my head for months at a time. I could never understand how people worked there when that song would play non-stop on a loop. It’s almost cruel and unusual punishment.
was this the one?
ua-cam.com/video/ekV28m6mOSk/v-deo.html
also for reference if the first reply gets deleted it was daydreamer by double dozen
Actually it was this one. Daydream Believer by The Monkeys. ua-cam.com/video/iS4P4_l0BmE/v-deo.html
This is an extremely entertaining and educational video. You’re clear, concise and clever. I like your choice of video and photos with small interjections of humor. Kudos! Now I need to buy some Muzak.
I can't imagine a more nightmare-ish existence than working 12 hour shifts in a factory having muzak constantly piped into your brain.
I'd rather have muzak than the same Adele and Dua Lipa songs day in and day out. At least with muzak, it's indistinguishable so even if the songs repeat, you don't notice it as easily. In conclusion, FUCK dollar general and FUCK bee 101.
Not sure how I ended up watching muzak being explained by John Wick but here we are.
@Blaze It Faggot I always had him pegged for more of a heroin guy myself.
I consider most all of the copyright-free music used in UA-cam videos to be the new iteration of muzak.
Some songs are good, but 98% of it is forgettable and written by anyone with the software.
Actually, almost all of it is written by one dude, Kevin Macleod. He set out to make tracks that covered a wide range of genres available that could be used without concern of infringing copyrights, as its all available under Creative Commons.
These days it's often even written by the software
@@SkigBigglerohhhh holy shit didn’t know that i’m a huge degenerate enjoyer of dispertion relation
Muzak is wild, and I remember seeing the episode of Undercover Boss where they’d done everything they could to distance themselves from the Muzak name and tried so hard to get people to not think of them as the boring music people 😂
This channel is absolutely brilliant and severely underrated, bringing things to light that represent so much of our daily lives we often don't even realize exist, within a casual and hilarious framework
Great video, mate! I used to listen to rap/hip hop music in the '90s. Now, starting in 2018, I switched to Muzak with lush strings, tastey vibraphones, soft horns, laid back percussion, retro organs, flutes, jazzy guitars. I like the way it makes me feel like everything is happy, dreamy and secure. I can't stand the kid who pulls up to the stoplight with the blaring "boom! boom! Booooooom!" of subwoofer hell. That was me for a couple years until my sound system was stolen and I realized how stupid I was to do that in the first place. Cheers from California!
I saw that Futurama reference, sir!
As always, quality content. Keep it up! 💛
Thanks dude! Glad my encyclopaedic knowledge of the Simpsons and Futurama is paying off
Very interesting! During my electronics phase in the 80s, I learned the FM broadcast standard included a third mono channel just like television at the time. On TV it was called SAP or Second Audio Program. Here in Portland, Oregon there was one station that used it: KWJJ was a country station, but lurking in their signal was Muzak on the third channel. Businesses apparently paid for a box that decoded it for all their staff and customers to hear. I think it's all done by satellite now, but I used to dream of it as a way to transmit an underground metal station that didn't need to worry about FCC oversight or using a microtransmitter like some brave souls did back when Metallica was the biggest band (1986.) Now we have Internet radio to play anything imaginable in our cars.
I love how you chose to play "Raindrops keep falling on my head" at 5:50
It's interesting that there is a now a community, which includes me, of people who listen to genres like mallsoft vaporwave to evoke the specific feeling that Muzak had. It's relaxing stuff and good for the background. I might have to check out some early Muzak recordings.
Well done on the Adam Curtis-style opening, brilliant.
I was excited to see a new video from you. You do great work!
thanks! I'm excited you're excited. This one was a real labour of love
Finally. I've gotten so many of these stuck in my head and now it's like I can put a name to the face.
I gotta say, watching your subscriber count soar makes me warm inside! I'm pretty incompetent so I don't know how much work goes into these videos, but it seems like a lot, and it should be rewarded.
remember me when you are at the top!
Dirty secret: one of my favourite genres of music
That’s because we’re all constantly scared shitless by waking life and the sounds take the thoughts away
holy shit this is why i love how the music works in minecraft and wow, muzak is farming music.
I really love the way this video is edited/formatted. Great stuff.
thanks dude! I'm still learning but love putting these together
@@OrdinaryThings Well, you've bagged a subscriber! Can't wait to see your next video.
i like it, feels harmonious to me, not the messages inside but the soft tones
Holy shit that was a good one
thanks man!
5:54 That explains so much, also why they jumped in a goofy way
I used to work for Muzak in the late 70's... I installed Muzak system in stores, restaurants and shopping centres... the music was fed trough an ordinary telephone line, never installed anything in an elevator though!
I've been studying to muzak for years, its neat to see you talking about it
may favorite kind of jazz is the version of smooth jazz that whule listening to it you can imagine being on the lounging area on the deck of the love boat.
The elevator music space shuttle scene really broke me.
dude the sims 1 music is LEGENDARY. I used to listen to the build music while working to chill out.
OVER 25k subs in a week. Finally respect for Ordinary Man
It’s been pushed into my recommendations a lot
Aphex Twin and Air actually do make quite nice muzak-inspired music.
The Muzak moon mission got me good
Who tf knew this topic could be so interesting.. Great video man
Holiday for Strings is a lovely piece of music and fun to play, and I won't back down. Awesome video and channel though! 💜
The Caretaker is the best interpretation and mixing of the style I've found yet.
Fuck you I can't escape him
What’s interesting to me is that we always listen to music to manipulate our mood, ostensibly, but with Muzak it’s deployed innocuously and against the listener’s will. Also, is it time to admit that the whole “musician as revolutionary icon” pose is getting a bit passé? I mean some artists genuinely embody it, but much of the time we’re being sold a lifestyle or political framework without really knowing it... and at the point, hasn’t pop music come full circle back to being Muzak again?
This is the only channel that makes me consider donating to a Patreon. Keep up the amazing work bud!
The Dead Rising games gave me a real appreciation for this type of music. A few of those charming mall/elevator tracks will be stuck in my head until the day I die.
That's now two Aphex Twin references I've heard. If you work in a Ceephax Acid Crew reference I'll sub to your Patreon.
This guy was great in those caveman Geico commercials.
Ah, an Adam Curtis opening,
I love this channel.
Yep, reminded me of the Century of Self!
I love your outro song. I feel so happy. Can't wait to subscribe, click the bell, follow you on twitter, become a patron, and watch every video you've ever put out. Life is great!
I enjoyed watching this video.
I enjoy your enjoyment
Ok, so what I got from this is that Richard Wagner is why retail employees around the world hate Christmas music.
Sir. I've been watching your videos for a few days now and im quite frankly in love with your style and content. I know you probably hear this often but I love you and i hope you become very popular. Thank you for your service
Weird little note; I do a lot of work on rooftops and I think every roof I've been (commercial buildings) have a sunbaked Muzak satellite dish on them with. None seem to be functional, just left up there.
Also really appreciated that end bit. I've always picked up on stuff like that, but especially with music. It's what can make movies or TV grating sometimes. "You know it's spooky because of the music!"
I'm a simple man. Reddit sends me, I like and subscribe, I comment for the algorithm. It's tangential to honest work.
you're doing God's work sir
Hear my comment algorithm space walrus daddies, lift these reccomends to be one among the homepage stars
Very interesting there is alot of information in this video
glad you enjoyed
I notice that awesome music you play during your videos. Please release full versions if you can, they're so chill.
2:14 Another reason for the alternating 15 minute chunks was that it let them alternate between sending more energetic music to factories and slower music to offices all with the same broadcast equipment. Figure out how to save money first, then get the science to back you up seems to have been a common theme
I saw through your dastardly subliminal message! I've already subscribed. So checkmate!
I went to a sushi place that played classical recreations of pop songs. It was hilarious listening to Justin Biebers Baby on a violin. Then a Spotify Premium ad played.
This is why I’m always wearing my headphones and listening to music I bloody well want to when I go out.
Man, the shot of the astronaut tripping to Musak was peak 1960s humor.
"Experiential Design" is supposed to brainwash us into thinking we're in a shopping montage
I've got a question. Do you have a team (for editing, recording, wrinting etc) or do you do it yourself?
It's just me. But I did have some help with the supermarket segments on this one
I love the start where you parodied "the century of the self" mad respect bro
Yep, love Adam Curtis!
"So while you may imagine the moon landing sounding like this.." >immediate cut to jcpenny ad
Nightmares
Also known as ren and stimpy's sound track
I love the Adam Curtis impression at the beginning!
Omg the Adam Curtis intro ❤️ this is my new favourite channel!
Wow I thought Muzak started as mall/elevator music. This is so sick
Great video :)
Though, did you leave out Muzak's evolution into becoming Vapor Wave out for a future video or for time constraints?
Vapor Wave originally being anti consumerist and then becoming a widespread meme is somewhat ironic too.
In the 90s I worked at an electronics manufacturer that had piped-in muzak and it was actually nice. Everything they say about it is true. People were more pleasant to work with when there's muzak. It worked kind of like a tension preventer. And even if you didn't like it we sttill had fun trying to name which muzak version of a popular song was being played. And when for some reason the muzak wasn't on, you really noticed it. You felt like things just weren't right and there was something missing. Everything just seemed all wrong.
Most underrated UA-cam Channel, so good. I love elevator music
Eating Blueberry Cheerios while watching this one
Had to go and listen to some death grips to balance myself out after this one
Great video this deserves way more views from musical artist and great for the education of music itself
just commenting to give that tiny extra boost. this is very well worth it! i liiike
thanks dude! I appreciate it
Great vid, and may the algorithmic gods bless you, keep you, and ensure good bandwidth be always at your back lol!
Given your channel's theme, have ye made any plans to eventually do a vid on Hannah Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil?
thank you for the blessing. I can't say it has crossed my mind, but I'll consider it now you've mentioned it