Why is the music in star trek only classically.

[KJbushway]

I mean all the music you see is classical.
I wonder how come there is no country, rock, etc.
I mean I can see the more violent music being taken away but, music is a humans relaxation tool among other things.

 

[Nerd unRage]

Probably because in the 60s, I think that's what pretty much all show used. I think using rock n' roll, soul, pop, or even country might have rattled too many feathers. Plus, classic music tends to have more ups and downs, quiet and loud parts, and more drama than modern music. And it's cheaper.

 

[KJbushway]

I know but even in voyager and TNG, music was just classical.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Definitely couldn't call what young Jimmy Kirk listened to as being classical...

 

[Nerd unRage]

But it's an alternate timeline so he's more "hip" albeit 1990s hip.

 

[sbk1234]

In some TOS episodes, they did show people singing different types of music, such as the ballads that Uhura sang in Charlie X and Conscience of the King, as well as the space hippies jam session in Way to Eden.

 

[C.E. Evans]

But it's an alternate timeline so he's more "hip" albeit 1990s hip.

Some things transcend time and timelines...

 

[KJbushway]

Yeah but operas in my mind are just a classical as flutes.
you didn't hear any slipknot in VOY.

 

[DonIago]

Generally because using non-public domain music would mean paying royalties which the shows couldn't or didn't want to afford.

 

[Smellincoffee]

They listen to classical music and operas because they're cultured.

 

[Greg Cox]

I think the assumption is that classical music is more "timeless" and sounds less contemporary and rooted in the twentieth century.

The fear is that audiences may balk at the notion of people listening to Lady Gaga or Elvis five hundred years from now, but will accept that Beethoven will still be played in the future.

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ Precisely. And using current music tends to unnecessarily dates things as well. Using an orchestra piece tends to keep something timeless and easily accessible by almost every demographic.

 

[C.E. Evans]

"TNG is so !@#$ing '80s! Geordi was even listening to Tears For Fears in that one episode!"
--Star Trek fanboy of today

 

[scotpens]

In some TOS episodes, they did show people singing different types of music, such as the ballads that Uhura sang in Charlie X and Conscience of the King, as well as the space hippies jam session in Way to Eden.

Uhura's song about young Charlie in “Charlie X” was based on an English folk song about Bonnie Prince Charlie. The song she sang in “The Conscience of the King” (“Beyond Antares”) actually does have a timeless quality -- it could believably be a popular ballad of a century or two from now.

The folk-rock jamming by the space hippies in “The Way to Eden” -- with Spock joining in, no less -- totally dates the episode. But then, the whole episode just screams Sixties.

 

[KJbushway]

I think the assumption is that classical music is more "timeless" and sounds less contemporary and rooted in the twentieth century.

The fear is that audiences may balk at the notion of people listening to Lady Gaga or Elvis five hundred years from now, but will accept that Beethoven will still be played in the future.

True. Yes, but how come there wouldn't be new music like that in that time. A 24 century lady gaga for example.

 

[scotpens]

The fear is that audiences may balk at the notion of people listening to Lady Gaga or Elvis five hundred years from now, but will accept that Beethoven will still be played in the future.

True. Yes, but how come there wouldn't be new music like that in that time. A 24 century lady gaga for example.

Because attempts at predicting future trends in music or any element of popular culture invariably become dated and laughable. Imagine if Hugo Gernsback had written a story about the 21st century in which everyone is dancing to a futuristic version of ragtime. (For all I know, maybe he did.)

 

[Michael]

I guess we're forgetting about a certain group of space hippies here. They didn't like no classical music ...

 

[Greg Cox]

I guess we're forgetting about a certain group of space hippies here. They didn't like no classical music ...

And Sinatra seemed to be popular in certain holosuites on DS9.

But, yeah, the tricky part is predicting what songs and musicians will still be popular 300 years from now. Or rather, what sort of music audiences will expect to be popular 300 years ago.

It may well be that Lady Gaga will be remembered for centuries, but I don't think modern audiences would buy it for a moment.

Justin Bieber on the other hand . . . .

 

[T'Girl]

Justin Bieber on the other hand

But Chekov was a complete Bieber fan, just look at the way he styled his hair to appear just like Justin (**sigh**).

 

[Shatnertage]

The fear is that audiences may balk at the notion of people listening to Lady Gaga or Elvis five hundred years from now, but will accept that Beethoven will still be played in the future.

True. Yes, but how come there wouldn't be new music like that in that time. A 24 century lady gaga for example.

Because attempts at predicting future trends in music or any element of popular culture invariably become dated and laughable. Imagine if Hugo Gernsback had written a story about the 21st century in which everyone is dancing to a futuristic version of ragtime. (For all I know, maybe he did.)

In one of his VALIS novels, Philip K. Dick had remixed versions of Dowland's lute music as the popular thing in the future.