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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
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"Elevator" music?
A music history professor once explained to me that "elevator music" refers to a style, not a location. That is, elevator music is not so named because it is played in elevators, but rather for its musical characteristics which are intended to "elevate" the mood of the listener.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary provides an unreferenced origin of 1979, but I know for a fact that the term was in common usage long before then. Does anyone have any ideas of where I might look for evidence pertaining to the premise that elevator music is named after elevators?
Could it even be that the term predates recorded music, or elevators? Or was the professor full of it? (I was young, and all too eager to place my unquestioned trust in authority!)
Thank you,
James
The Merriam-Webster dictionary provides an unreferenced origin of 1979, but I know for a fact that the term was in common usage long before then. Does anyone have any ideas of where I might look for evidence pertaining to the premise that elevator music is named after elevators?
Could it even be that the term predates recorded music, or elevators? Or was the professor full of it? (I was young, and all too eager to place my unquestioned trust in authority!)
Thank you,
James
Top answer
[nq:1]A music history professor once explained to me that "elevator music" refers to a style, not a location. That is, ... was the professor full of it?
- [nq:1]A music history professor once explained to me that "elevator music" refers to a style, not a location.
- That is, ...
- was the professor full of it?
- )[/nq] Canned music, also know as elevator music, was, early on, called Muzak, for one of the companies that first sold the tapes to businesses to act as "white noise" or as a disguise for the clashing noise backgrounds of business: typewriters, telephone bells, cash registers, talking, etc.
- I don't know when elevators became one of the favored sounds.
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75 Answers
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[nq:1]A music history professor once explained to me that "elevator music" refers to a style, not a location. That is, ... was the professor full of it? (I was young, and all too eager to place my unquestioned trust in authority!)[/nq]
Canned music, also know as elevator music, was, early on, called Muzak, for one of the companies that first sold the tapes to businesses to act as "white noise"
Canned music, also know as elevator music, was, early on, called Muzak, for one of the companies that first sold the tapes to businesses to act as "white noise"
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[nq:1]Could it even be that the term predates recorded music, or elevators? Or was the professor full of it? (I was young, and all too eager to place my unquestioned trust in authority!)[/nq]
It's a mocking term for Muzak piped-in mood music. Just google on
"elevator music" Muzak
http://en2.wikipedia.org/
It's a mocking term for Muzak piped-in mood music. Just google on
"elevator music" Muzak
http://en2.wikipedia.org/
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[nq:1]A music history professor once explained to me that "elevator music" refers to a style, not a location. That is, ... was the professor full of it? (I was young, and all too eager to place my unquestioned trust in authority!)[/nq]
All I can do right now is give you the AHD4 entry:
All I can do right now is give you the AHD4 entry:
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edi
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[nq:2]A music history professor once explained to me that "elevator ... all too eager to place my unquestioned trust in authority!)[/nq]
[nq:1]All I can do right now is give you the AHD4 entry:
[nq:1]All I can do right now is give you the AHD4 entry:
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English ... music in public places, such as shopping malls and elevators.
The00
OFCOL! Some people will say anything. Elevator music depresses me when it isn't making me actively angry. Have you ever heard the slow movement of Beethoven's "Pathetique" Sonata played on the harp with schmaltzy strings in the background? OY!
[nq:2]The mood elevation thing is pure nonsense, I think.[/nq]
Damned straight. It makes about as much sense as "for unlawful carnal knowledge."
[nq:2]The mood elevation thing is pure nonsense, I think.[/nq]
Damned straight. It makes about as much sense as "for unlawful carnal knowledge."
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[nq:1]A music history professor once explained to me that "elevator music" refers to a style, not a location. That is, ... was the professor full of it? (I was young, and all too eager to place my unquestioned trust in authority!)[/nq]
Dudley Moore, in the film "10" plays a composer who refers to elevator music. This was in 1979, so the term was well understood by then.
The Muzak corporati
Dudley Moore, in the film "10" plays a composer who refers to elevator music. This was in 1979, so the term was well understood by then.
The Muzak corporati
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david56 (Email Removed) wrote on 15 Jan 2004:
[nq:2]A music history professor once explained to me that "elevator ... all too eager to place my unquestioned trust in authority!)[/nq]
[nq:1]Dudley Moore, in the film "10" plays a composer who refers to elevator music. This was in 1979, so the ... of shoppers and workers. It apparently doesn't take kindly to people using its name as a term fo
[nq:2]A music history professor once explained to me that "elevator ... all too eager to place my unquestioned trust in authority!)[/nq]
[nq:1]Dudley Moore, in the film "10" plays a composer who refers to elevator music. This was in 1979, so the ... of shoppers and workers. It apparently doesn't take kindly to people using its name as a term fo
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[nq:1]The Muzak corporation, BTW, is alive and well and providing background soundtracks to the lives of shoppers and workers. It apparently doesn't take kindly to people using its name as a term for bad music.[/nq]
What does it do to the miscreants who dare to abuse the great Muzak name in this abominable way?
Jan
What does it do to the miscreants who dare to abuse the great Muzak name in this abominable way?
Jan
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[nq:2]The Muzak corporation, BTW, is alive and well and providing ... people using its name as a term for bad music.[/nq]
[nq:1]What does it do to the miscreants who dare to abuse the great Muzak name in this abominable way?[/nq]
I believe it sends them a stiff rebuke.
David
==
[nq:1]What does it do to the miscreants who dare to abuse the great Muzak name in this abominable way?[/nq]
I believe it sends them a stiff rebuke.
David
==
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[nq:1]I wish Taiwan's merchants would discover (Muzak). Over here, we have to put up with loud, hard pop, rap, and ... is intended to make the atmosphere "exciting" and to reassure customers that the store they're in is a busy place.[/nq]
Where I sometimes get the bus downtown in Chicago (Third Largest City in America) is right near a "Chili's" restaurant (or maybe one of their competitors). T
Where I sometimes get the bus downtown in Chicago (Third Largest City in America) is right near a "Chili's" restaurant (or maybe one of their competitors). T
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