Talks to Watch

Corporate Music - How to Compose with no Soul

2.5M views · Oct 18, 2019 · 15:27 · 1 HN recommender · 6 mentions · discussed 2019–2023

Composer Tantacrul explores how corporatism produces soulless background music, and how some companies use such music in propaganda-style campaigns. He composes several corporate styles to show their tropes, with some music theory along the way.

Why Hacker News points people here: HN uses it as a go-to critique of bland corporate music and as a punchline whenever a slick corporate video appears.

“One of the better takes”HN comment, 2021

What Hacker News said 6

RecommendseurekinFeb 2021

“One of the better takes”

One of the better explanations of bland corporate music.

Full comment

I wish someone would explain how this actually happens. I've had many takes at this exact topic and always ended up feeling most provided reasons are just speculation. One of the better takes: this video Still, no info from actual producer as to why he made the music as it is.

Cites itposlathianDec 2019

“I think loads of modern buildings are essentially the same type of creative product as corporate video music.”

Analogy between corporate music and modern buildings.

Full comment

Fashion is a key word here. Most customers - especially commercial developers - have a shockingly neutral sense of taste. Here is the budget, build the most fashionable thing you can. I think loads of modern buildings are essentially the same type of creative product as corporate video music. this video

in “The Rise of the Architectural Cult” · view on HN
Cites itUncleMeatNov 2023

“Here is a video from four years ago complaining about this sort of commercial music”

Earlier video complaining about sterile commercial music.

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Commercial background music is already sterile, even if it is written and performed by humans. Here is a video from four years ago complaining about this sort of commercial music - this video .

in “Google: Transforming the Future of Music Creation” · view on HN
JokexyprotoNov 2019

“Watching this video about composing corporate music made watching the intro video extra fun”

Corporate music video makes the framework intro funnier.

Full comment

Watching this video about composing corporate music made watching the intro video extra fun: this video I also like the old telephone, which I believe is a reference to one of the old introductory videos to Erlang.

in “Zotonic: An Erlang Web Framework” · view on HN
JokeDocTomoeMay 2021

“Now it feels like a parody of”

KPMG theme song seems like parody of video.

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I never heard about the KPMG theme song before. Now it feels like a parody of "Corporate Music - How to Compose with no Soul" this video

in “Why does every advert look the same? Corporate Memphis” · view on HN
JokejraphMay 2021

“I couldn't help thinking about Tantacrul's video”

Off-topic association with a corporate video.

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A bit off-topic, but I couldn't help thinking about Tantacrul's video, Corporate Music - How to Compose with no Soul [1] when watching the video on this post. [1] this video

in “Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together” · view on HN