Why does runway music suck now?

[Squizree]

watch the show live, but most big shows now have the same version for both livestream and their video, which is why all the music sucks (and the title of this thread) lmao

So I'm guessing original soundtracks are basically impossible to get now?

 

[RosesAreRed]

Love Balenciaga table show and Vetements latest shows music

 

[kiwigrape]

In my opinion, although music costs a lot, houses sort of "save" by choosing a certain type of music to play in the background of the show, but just like the set of the show matters, decorations and lighting, so does the music. It creates emotion and feelings that help the audience understand the collection better than basic ambient music. I loved Roberto Cavalli's choice of music for fall-winter 23/24. It was exactly what the show needed. What I like about fashion shows is how they're not only about fashion, but about music, interior design, and architecture. And going for everything minimal and ambient is not the key to everything.

 

[charmedp321]

Yes! I discovered her via the Vuitton show video as well. Absolutely enjoyed her album ever since.
Fashion shows have led me to many many music artists I didn't pay attention to before and a lot of times it's like a rabbit hole to dig more. Quite an experience!

I totally Agree. My musical taste has grown tremendously since I started watching fashion shows as a teenager. I’m 35 now, and believe half of my varied taste comes from watching so many fashion shows .

 

[IndigoHomme]

I don't think it's bad, but it's not in the context of the collection or even in the video's editing. Burberry did a great job combining songs and runway videos. Thanks to the Bailey era, I discovered some really good singers, and the narrative of their videos went hand in hand with the soundtrack. There are labels that are lost in this sense, like Gucci, and others that take it to the extreme, like Hedi.

 

[IndigoHomme]

In my opinion, although music costs a lot, houses sort of "save" by choosing a certain type of music to play in the background of the show

I have chosen the best free songs from Jamendo for university projects.

 

[Squizree]

I totally Agree. My musical taste has grown tremendously since I started watching fashion shows as a teenager. I’m 35 now, and believe half of my varied taste comes from watching so many fashion shows .

Same! I think this is why - answering the question in the thread title - runway music kinda "sucks" now. I haven't felt the need to look up any of the tracks or follow up on an artist in a long time. And on the rare occasion I do, it's usually unidentifiable because it's made in-house.

And I'm not even a nostalgic person who's 'stuck in the past'. I'm VERY open to new music, even if I have to force myself.

I certainly don't mind that they overlay another track onto runway videos for the sake of copyright, but the soundtracks are sooo cookie-cutter runway-in-a-can elevator music. But cost-cutting blah blah blah, I get it.

 

[MulletProof]

I don’t think it’s a copyright issue.. what are they trying to play? Lady Gaga? Hedi used to feature up-and-coming bands and it worked way better than most soundtracks in fashion shows (credit where credit is due) and I very much doubt it was decimating the show budget. If you’re feeling even stingier, great artists in the train lol..

I think.. 1) not many Jun Takahashis these days.. and 2) the horrid music in most shows comes from the generic, gimmicky taste that has come from the ultra commercial, uniformed direction of fashion. As soon as people get into fashion (as employees, not as an interest only), they feel the need to dive into techno and it goes downhill from there.. then they venture outside the genre for a second and holy s*it.. you might as well just stick to techno and disguise the lack of demands as an abstraction…

 

[Phuel]

^^^ Cathy Horyn— I mean Mullet, actually said something really nice about Hedi LOOL

(HIs soundtracks have been consistently solid. Still listen to his Dior Homme soundtracks to this day.)

 

[Lola701]

I don’t think it’s a copyright issue.. what are they trying to play? Lady Gaga? Hedi used to feature up-and-coming bands and it worked way better than most soundtracks in fashion shows (credit where credit is due) and I very much doubt it was decimating the show budget. If you’re feeling even stingier, great artists in the train lol..

I think.. 1) not many Jun Takahashis these days.. and 2) the horrid music in most shows comes from the generic, gimmicky taste that has come from the ultra commercial, uniformed direction of fashion. As soon as people get into fashion (as employees, not as an interest only), they feel the need to dive into techno and it goes downhill from there.. then they venture outside the genre for a second and holy s*it.. you might as well just stick to techno and disguise the lack of demands as an abstraction…

But it’s a copyright issue if brands are changing the music from the show when editing the music for YouTube.
I also think that some brands are pro-active on the question and anticipating. Some are small so they aren’t necessarily on people’s radar…

There’s also the sensibility of designers. When you want a particular music, you just want it.
And tbh, when I think about the main sound designers for shows, they uses quite eclectic music. But it’s frustrating when you don’t have the full soundtrack because there’s copyright issues.

On top of my head, I think about a Prada show. The whole soundtrack was 80’s French pop. Who could have thought that even that could have copyright issues. Étienne Daho or Taxi Girl aren’t Lady Gaga or anything but a brand like Prada would rather not pay for it, have a music that channel the spirit of the 80’d instead of the real deal.

But in reality, it’s really rare to have full on hits at fashion shows. And even when there’s a hit, for me it informs so much about the mood of the collection that I want to hear it.

I have in mind that 1950’s inspired Jil Sander by Raf where it went from Michel Legrand to 50 cent. It’s unexpected, it makes you smile. Nowadays where Fashion shows gets sometimes millions of views, I don’t know if that kind of soundtrack would have made it unedited.

 

[Cocteau Stone]

Sometimes when it’s a really pop song in a show, it can be humorous and adds tension. Like Hit Me Baby… and Genie in a Bottle at McQueen’s “Scanners” shows. But then there are moments where I hate it. Like Bad Romance at Spring 2010…. Still despise that choice to this day, knowing that some of the original selections were the Jungle Book and/or Little Mermaid theme (which is perfect for the mood of the show, because again it’s in stark contrast and adds tension).

Bar copyright, it’s also an attitude thing. Models and the designers for the most part now aren’t very well versed with the idea of persona adaptations. Why the collections all start to look and seem the same too, or when it’s starkly different it just comes across as awkward because it’s done for shock value. Embodiment seems to be a hard ask these days.

 

[tourbillions]

Bad Romance at Spring 2010

nooo that was such a good choice specially with the first girl stomping perfectly synched on the beat...

The basic collctions we see these days deserve the basic music we get. That's when you know that today's crop of designers have given up on presenting the full package or the full dream. Most are creatively empty from the set, the collection itself, to the music. Nothing is coming from their passion, instead everything is calculated to please the online crowds instead of the live audience.

The last 2 good runway music for me was that viral margiela by galliano show under the bridge and ancoras debut music.

 

[Cocteau Stone]

nooo that was such a good choice specially with the first girl stomping perfectly synched on the beat..

Hahahaha look I have my opinions.

Beat wise yeah it works well (Magdalena really knew what to do). For the show at large, it’s just a huge miss for me. Takes you right out of the show and not in a good way. Too pop ingrained for my liking and just seemed so tacked on.