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HRFanUSA Group: Members Posts: 128 Joined: May 2009 Posted: Aug. 28 2009, 05:55 I love reading the opinions and feelings of other members on this forum and was wondering how you felt about Jean Michel Jarre's "Oxygene". In 1976, while in college, I wandered into a hi-end Hi-Fi store and I told the salesperson I liked Oldfield and Kraftwerk. He pulled out the Oxygene LP and started playing it and I was immediately captivated! In fact, I rushed out to buy the LP and have enjoyed it hundreds of times through the years. Whenever someone comes over and I tell them about "Electronic Music", I put on Oxygene, crank up Part 2, and they usually sit in awe, especially hearing the huge soundstage and the simple yet beautiful melody. I still enjoy this CD today, occasionally, and it continues to amaze me how timeless this music is, (and how ahead of its time it was in 1976.) Any thoughts from other members here? Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: Aug. 29 2009, 11:32 My introduction to Jarre was through Equinoxe, which swept me off my feet with sheer amazement and disbelief. I think because of that I could never brush off the feeling that Oxygéne is the "warming up" to the absolute tour de force that Equinoxe is. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

Ugo Group: Members Posts: 5495 Joined: April 2000 Posted: Aug. 29 2009, 16:49 For me Oxygéne is the TB of electronic music. Simple as that. Just like TB showed the world what a 20-year old kid could do with conventional instruments, Oxygéne showed the world what a slightly more grown-up kid could do with just a bunch of then-very-recently-born electronic instruments. Each one of those two records is a masterpiece in terms of what its creator achieved, but I must admit I've always liked Oxygene more than TB. To me Oxygéne has a timeless quality that TB has not. -------------- Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian Back to top

nightspore Group: Members Posts: 4761 Joined: Mar. 2008 Posted: Aug. 29 2009, 20:46 I remember being put off the single from Oxygene by the silly filmclip, where someone plays golf with the world (from memory). I also thought that the melody was too reminiscent of "Popcorn" by Hot Butter. I also found the electronic sound incredibly simplistic compared with the sort of sounds Pink Floyd were doing. So a big thumbs down, I'm afraid. Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: Aug. 29 2009, 22:02 I don't know if Pink Floyd and Jarre are quite in the same league, mostly because Pink Floyd was a huge name almost ten years before Oxygéne stepped into the scene, they had may more resources and they relied very much on production artifacts, tape effects, meticulous and professional studio work and editing and so on. In terms of electronic per se, it was mostly down to Rick Wright's keyboards and synths and the occasional instrument treatment. Jarre had basically nothing of that, and his relationship with the machinery was much more intimate and intricate -- even more than Kraftwerk by that time, I believe! The big merit of Oxygéne, I believe, was to take electronic music out of the "avant-garde", or "novelty" realm, and take it into the realm of artistically relevant pop music. Jarre wasn't inventing anything, but he was reinventing electronic music in an extremely exciting and fantastic way. Interesting fact is that Jarre recorded a rendition of Popcorn years before that, with a pseudonym I don't recall anymore, so I wouldn't doubt that Oxygéne IV was highly influenced by that -- but in terms of sound and imagery, I'd find it more accurate to call it "Snowflakes" rather than "Popcorn". I love that tune. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

nightspore Group: Members Posts: 4761 Joined: Mar. 2008 Posted: Aug. 29 2009, 22:17 Quote (Sir Mustapha @ Aug. 29 2009, 22:02) The big merit of Oxygéne, I believe, was to take electronic music out of the "avant-garde", or "novelty" realm, and take it into the realm of artistically relevant pop music. Jarre wasn't inventing anything, but he was reinventing electronic music in an extremely exciting and fantastic way. Interesting fact is that Jarre recorded a rendition of Popcorn years before that, with a pseudonym I don't recall anymore, so I wouldn't doubt that Oxygéne IV was highly influenced by that -- but in terms of sound and imagery, I'd find it more accurate to call it "Snowflakes" rather than "Popcorn". I love that tune. No, Sir M, that was done by Perrey and Kingsley, in 1966 with their LP The In Sound From Way Out. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...._album) Kingsley wrote "Popcorn", incidentally. Actually, your enthusiasm for Equinoxe has made me curious, so I'm downloading it right now to see whether I like it. Perhaps it will make up in terms of melody what I perceive it lacks in terms of electronic originality. (I play a little computer game called "Five Star Beelines", incidentally, which incorporates Jarre tunes. One of them is a piece called "Renvo". It might be an abbreviation, but I quite like it.) Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: Aug. 29 2009, 23:56 Quote (nightspore @ Aug. 29 2009, 22:17) Actually, your enthusiasm for Equinoxe has made me curious, so I'm downloading it right now to see whether I like it. Perhaps it will make up in terms of melody what I perceive it lacks in terms of electronic originality. I hope so -- Equinoxe always won me over for its melodic content. Of course, we're talking about a particularly "diluted" and ghostly kind of melody, but very, very few tracks try to make it on atmosphere and texture alone. Equinoxe V is easily my favourite Jarre track ever. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

Scatterplot Group: Members Posts: 1980 Joined: Dec. 2007 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 01:04 No one can deny JMJ respect from sheer sales/fan base/body of work. But I was kind of bored with him. I guess it's just taste. As far as "electronic synth pioneer" recordings, I liked Vangelis more, but he got boring fast, at times. For me the man would be Larry Fast/Synergy. He seemed to make a more "grab your ass" wall of sound for me. More of it would appeal to a "rock 'n roller" like me, which I am at heart. Please continue with your JMJ talk unfettered by my ramblings. J -------------- We raise our voices in the night Crying to heaven And will our voices be heard Or will they break Like the wind Back to top

nightspore Group: Members Posts: 4761 Joined: Mar. 2008 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 01:33 Quote (Sir Mustapha @ Aug. 29 2009, 23:56) alone. Equinoxe V is easily my favourite Jarre track ever. I'm listening to that now as I type this. I'm sure I've heard it somewhere before. And I agree, it's rather wistful little melody is very nice. Back to top

nightspore Group: Members Posts: 4761 Joined: Mar. 2008 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 04:38 OK, I've now listened to all of Equinoxe. I agree with Sir M that part 5 is definitely the best (track 8 is very similar, a variation on the piece). I was disappointed with the rest of the album, though, the music doesn't seem to have much feeling - rather like the soundtrack to a porn video (not that I watch them, of course; a friend described to me what they're like I also get the impression that Jarre would rather be working with an orchestra. The first track reminded me, for example, of Fanfare for the Common Man - the original Copland one, I mean. I'm glad I didn't buy the album, and I'll probably delete everything except track 5: but thanks, Sir M, for telling me about track 5. I associate it with something, but can't think what, except that it was pleasant. Back to top

wiga Group: Members Posts: 2113 Joined: Sep. 2008 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 05:21 Respect You Americans and Canadians start some cool phrases which we fuddy duddy British like to adopt, but they don't come out right. I have lately adopted the "wall of sound" into my vocab because It's a great description and I probably got it from Scatter. But if I say something like, "yeah, that's a great wall of sound" - I get a raised eyebrow reaction - I don't know why. "Grab your ass wall of sound" - that's even better. I have not played Oxygene since 1989 when I had a turntable, and I never got a CD replacement. I hear that tune in my head as clearly as Tubular Bells. Infact I thought Jarre was on a par with Oldfield at the time, but it must have lost it's longevity because I have no urge to buy it. That said I know I would enjoy a Jarre concert. -------------- Barn's burnt down - now I can see the moon. Back to top

3Wheeler Group: Members Posts: 828 Joined: Aug. 2007 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 05:54 Not my Cup of Tea.. Got a Few of the guys albums but never feel that inspired to play them much..  "Metamorphoses" is about the only one I play really..  Given a Hour to Kill its always a MO cd that gets flipped on ..   -------------- We're Flying Aeroflot, We've Got Reservations. Back to top

Scatterplot Group: Members Posts: 1980 Joined: Dec. 2007 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 05:54 I'm really not an american or canadian or mexican or chinese. I'm a culture of one. If I could be anyone it would be english or scottish. I was born here, so I'm American. But, as Eddy and me are all we've got, I'm a man without a country. I just like Synergy. It's good music, extremely moving. Be cool, Jim -------------- We raise our voices in the night Crying to heaven And will our voices be heard Or will they break Like the wind Back to top

wiga Group: Members Posts: 2113 Joined: Sep. 2008 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 06:19 Quote (3Wheeler @ Aug. 30 2009, 05:54) Not my Cup of Tea.. Yes - that's more like the Brits say   "A culture of one" sounds good Scatter. I'm an "Alien" though when I visit the States - never thought that was a friendly word. But over here if I was a Brit with a Texan accent I'd be considered pretty cool - I'd be talking "grab your ass wall of sound" instead of "jolly nice tune" all the time   -------------- Barn's burnt down - now I can see the moon. Back to top

Scatterplot Group: Members Posts: 1980 Joined: Dec. 2007 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 06:35 Sounds like we could be freinds. Anyone can tell, I do not like it here too much....But my job is here, etc...Texas sucks. Jim -------------- We raise our voices in the night Crying to heaven And will our voices be heard Or will they break Like the wind Back to top

nightspore Group: Members Posts: 4761 Joined: Mar. 2008 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 10:31 Quote (nightspore @ Aug. 29 2009, 22:17) No, Sir M, that was done by Perrey and Kingsley, in 1966 with their LP The In Sound From Way Out. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...._album) Kingsley wrote "Popcorn", incidentally. If anyone is tempted to listen to The In Sound from Way OUt, it sounds strangely futuristic and old-fashioned at the same time, in the same way as art deco was the 30s' stab at being futuristic. The best piece on it is "Visa to the Stars", although it might just as well have been called "Visa to South America", given its Latin rhythm. The record featurs the electronic instrument known as the Ondes Martenot, which Messiaen also wrote a part for on his Turangalila symphony. Back to top

Ugo Group: Members Posts: 5495 Joined: April 2000 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 11:06 @ Daniel/nightspore: I can perfectly see your point about the 'orchestral' features of JMJ's Equinoxe, but I think that being orchestral was one of the features of his approach to synthesizers - sometimes, like on Equinoxe's first track, he does indeed sound like he wants to be a one-man synthesized-orchestra, much like Wendy Carlos doing Beethoven on the Clockwork Orange soundtrack. But I also think that Jarre's point is different from Carlos' one, in that I see Carlos as caring more for the purely technical aspects of the music [in other words, she sounds like she's saying: hear how beautiful can music from such luminaries as Beethoven and Bach sound when played on these brand-new instrument! ], while Jarre emphasizes both the technical and emotional aspects of it. Also, while Carlos' adaptions of orchestral pieces sound indeed great, I don't think that a Jarre piece written to be played on synths would sound good if played by a real symphony orchestra, with real instruments - the best Jarre stuff is inextricably associated, in my mind, with the sound of synths, and I'd rather like to hear something like "Fishing Junks at Sunset" played entirely on synths, with no orchestra or traditional Chinese instruments at all. However, getting back to Equinoxe, to me it doesn't really fly until it takes on a beat, which comes here only in Part 4 and which IMHO isn't at all essential in Oxygéne - in other words, Oxygéne works perfectly even without beats, while the beat-less sections of Equinoxe sound to me rather flat... even if, every time I play it, I'm captivated by the way in which JMJ weaves together all of those weird sounds. I guess Part 5 is the most accessible one of the whole album (I hate using the word 'commercial' in reference to instrumental music!! ) and it probably sounds familiar to you because it was used in lots and lots and lots of ways in the media, either as a sig tune for various TV programs or as a score for ads. Jarre made a record called "Music for Supermarkets", but I don't think he'd be too happy about such usages of his music. -------------- Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian Back to top

nightspore Group: Members Posts: 4761 Joined: Mar. 2008 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 11:54 Quote (Ugo @ Aug. 30 2009, 11:06) @ Daniel/nightspore: I can perfectly see your point about the 'orchestral' features of JMJ's Equinoxe, but I think But I I don't think that a Jarre piece written to be played on synths would sound good if played by a real symphony orchestra, with real instruments - Actually, Ugo, I'd be curious to hear some of these pieces reworked by Mike; for some reason his use of electronic instruments never sounds simplistic or obvious to me the way Jarre's does, except, maybe, on some of the Tres Lunas pieces (and TL is for ever redeemed, in my opinion, by "Firefly", one of his best-ever compositions). Incidentally, I suspect that the piece "Renvo" I mentioned may come from Rendez-Vous (the title could presumably be an abbreviation), so I'll download that and check it out. Back to top

Guest Unregistered Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 12:58 What do I think about Jean Michel Jarre's "Oxygene".? hmmm... Let me put it this way... I skipped sad, went straight to bored and now I desperately need a drink Back to top

Ugo Group: Members Posts: 5495 Joined: April 2000 Posted: Aug. 30 2009, 16:59 Quote (nightspore @ Aug. 30 2009, 17:54) Actually, Ugo, I'd be curious to hear some of these pieces reworked by Mike; for some reason his use of electronic instruments never sounds simplistic or obvious to me the way Jarre's does [...] Well, I don't think that Mike's and JMJ's use of electronics are even suitable as subjects to be compared: for Mike (who - IMHO we should all remember every now and then - is a guitarist) electronics are a complement, a framework, something he needs to put a lead instrument on, be it a guitar or a piano or a keyboard. [And pieces which don't feature any of these are just shit - always IMHO. Check out "Nightshade"... ] For JMJ, electronics are all he has and all he plays. Very rarely you hear something vaguely resembling a guitar, or anything else that's not electronic-based, on his studio records (while electric guitars are apparently common in his recent big live events), and it's not him playing the guitars or the non-electronic stuff. In short, I think that Mike's electronics and Jarre's just belong to two different worlds (maybe to two different planets). I'm not saying that any of it is better than the other, I'm just saying that they're too different to really be compared. EDIT: Maybe we should also keep into account the different time frames in which electronic instruments are being used by the two musicians. Mike has started making heavy use of electronics just now, in the early 2000s; JMJ started using synths & drum machines when those things were still in their infancy, and he's more or less kept himself faithful to those sounds and those beats of 30+ years ago because that's what his audience loves about his style. So, the way I see it, Mike has many more chances of being creative with electronics than Jarre ever had, because the advancements in technology have made electronic instruments (both physical and 'soft' ones) a lot easier to use (and play, and compose on) than the stuff Jarre used in the 1970s, and maybe still uses now. EDIT 2 (Oh my Gosh! ): The Ondes Martenot, as far as I know, sounds like a theremin. I'd rather see JMJ elegantly pulling the wire controller of an Ondes Martenot that clumslily waving his hands around a theremin's antenna - he'd produce similar, but far more tuneful sounds, if he did the former instead of the latter. His theremin playing is pretty horrible. -------------- Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian Back to top

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