Popular music is stuck almost exclusively in 4/4 time

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Before anyone contradicts this by bring up examples of "pop" music in 3/4 or other meters, I did say "almost exclusively". I bring up the point now because Beyonce has just sung "The Star Spangled Banner", a melody composed in 3/4 time; but she sang it in 4/4 time.
Some years ago, when England hosted the Rugby Union World Cup, the song "World in Union" was set to the big 3/4 melody at the heart of Holst's "Jupiter", from The Planets - except that it was brutally molested to make it fit into 4/4 time.

Don't these people have any imagination? Or are they stuck in a 4/4 groove?

[MrGongGong]

It's because we are bipeds

[cloughie]

Before anyone contradicts this by bring up examples of "pop" music in 3/4 or other meters, I did say "almost exclusively". I bring up the point now because Beyonce has just sung "The Star Spangled Banner", a melody composed in 3/4 time; but she sang it in 4/4 time.
Some years ago, when England hosted the Rugby Union World Cup, the song "World in Union" was set to the big 3/4 melody at the heart of Holst's "Jupiter", from The Planets - except that it was brutally molested to make it fit into 4/4 time.

Don't these people have any imagination? Or are they stuck in a 4/4 groove?

Isn't Disco stuff 8/8? However pop music is probably easier to sing in 4/4.

[BBMmk2]

They cannot sing in anyother metre!! (Or shout!)

[Richard Tarleton]

It's because we are bipeds

So what's different about those of a Hispanic persuasion?

[MrGongGong]

So what's different about those of a Hispanic persuasion?

Nothing
they just have trouble walking one foot at a time

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

They cannot sing in anyother metre!! (Or shout!)

If they get all their ideas from pre-programmed electronic keyboards, then yes. But The Star-Spangled Banner is a tune every American knows, but can't sing, not because of the 3/4 time signature, but because of the octave and a half range that is beyond the vocal experience of most people.

[MrGongGong]

The thing that always puzzles me about The Star-Spangled Banner is the bit where it goes "we wish you a merry Christmas"

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The thing that always puzzles me about The Star-Spangled Banner is the bit where it goes "we wish you a merry Christmas"

...with a great deal of melodic licence and lots of imagination...

[MrGongGong]

...with a great deal of melodic licence and lots of imagination...

Erm not really , that IS how it goes

"We wish you a merry Christmas , We wish you a merry Christmas
for the land of the freeeeeeeeeeeee
and the home of the whatever ..............."

[Bryn]

Before anyone contradicts this by bring up examples of "pop" music in 3/4 or other meters, I did say "almost exclusively". I bring up the point now because Beyonce has just sung "The Star Spangled Banner", a melody composed in 3/4 time; but she sang it in 4/4 time.
Some years ago, when England hosted the Rugby Union World Cup, the song "World in Union" was set to the big 3/4 melody at the heart of Holst's "Jupiter", from The Planets - except that it was brutally molested to make it fit into 4/4 time.

Don't these people have any imagination? Or are they stuck in a 4/4 groove?

One is reminded of Cornelius Cardew's Red Flag Prelude, which takes the 3/4 music of O Tannenbaum and stretches it to 4/4 to make a sort of slow march of it. Never did approve of singing Jim Connell's words to any music other than The White Cockade anyway.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I suspect we know slightly different versions of We Wish..., MrGG

[johncorrigan]

I suspect we know slightly different versions of We Wish..., MrGG

Jimi's popular version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcZKkZO7CTI

[Bryn]

And of course, Igor's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHYCqFfpNGQ

[Mr Pee]

The thing that always puzzles me about The Star-Spangled Banner is the bit where it goes "we wish you a merry Christmas"

You been on the Gin again, Mr GG??