There is a Buddhist parable, which speaks of a cow, who wanted to go through a forest but got lost in it.
With a lot and shooting in it, after a few days, it managed to get out of it.
After a while, a shepherd wanted to cross the same forest with his flock, but he did not know the way.
So, when he found a small path, which was formed by the cow, he decided to follow it.
However, he struggled to get out of the forest, as the only way out was not easy.
The path became wider, but it was always the worst choice to cross the forest.
Nevertheless, people followed the path, which later became a normal road.
Always cursing and wondering about who built this inaccessible road, without changing anything in it.
In the end, the forest no longer existed, but the road remained and a city was built around it…
And everyone who lived in it cursed the one who designed it.
The essence of the parable is that some rules are followed with reverent… “nonsense”.
The “nonsense” in … music
There are many examples of this in music. Perhaps one of the basics is to limit a song to 3-4 minutes.
Exceptions like that of the Queen with “Bohemian Rhapsody” simply confirm the rule.
This question may not torment many people, but why not answer it?
It all started with the creation of vinyl records is the beginning and more specifically in the 19th century with the invention of Emil Berliner.
Its speed was at 70 rpm, which significantly limited the duration of a song, which, ideally, ranged from 3-4 minutes.
Sometime in the ’50s, the 45-inch appeared, which was lighter, cheaper, and more durable.
This is where the songs last just 3 minutes and become a habit!
The radio, which “loved” small compositions, plays a big role in maintaining this habit.
The reason is probably understandable, but we can also add the payola effect.
Of course, advertisements, on which a radio station is officially based, also play an important role.
The shorter the song, the more time for them.
The role of singles …
At the same time, the concept of a single (short version) appears, in which there are one to two compositions.
And although the capacity of a cassette or a vinyl record is quite large, the single last up to 4 minutes.
And a big “why” hovers over our heads. The answer or the conjecture lies with the creators themselves.
Confirming the parable, they compose in such a way that they have a chance to play their songs on the radio.
The consequence of these is that their compositions do not exceed 4 minutes.
After all, there is an unwritten radio rule: The longer the duration, the more likely the listener is to change stations!
Another argument for the short duration is the fact that the average person can not concentrate for more than 4 minutes.
Or so scientists claim, in terms of the duration of a listener’s concentration.
Nevertheless, there are some music categories that fail that duration plays no role!
And here arises a somewhat sly question that torments the friends of Rock & Metal music:
Do they ultimately have greater abilities and capabilities than the average person?