This week’s theme: 2 to 4 minute songs with vocals. Perhaps it’s a prog thing, but most of our suggestions tend to be longer tunes. In the last poll, only 3 of the 16 songs are between 2 and 4 minutes, and one is an instrumental. So, let’s see what we like that delivers in a short amount of time.

Rules:

1. Songs must have vocals and be between 2 to 4 minutes in length. Videos can run longer, just the song itself must be in that range.

2. Artist must not be on the PA database.

3. Nominate a song and include a video. Optionally, you can include a couple of alternates.

4. Nominating will be kept open at least until next Wednesday, Sept. 9.  So, no rush. Lorenzo will start the next one on Sept. 14.  

5. Voting starts when I get all selections in the poll and goes on until whenever.

6. Vote for three selections but not your own.

Link to YouTube playlist for the final nominees: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-zzvl_w6Fx5yGL08scv_lTiXWxKJFZLN

Link to YouTube playlist for all videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-zzvl_w6Fx7c8vR0lUBdad4nCeJnSe-m

[optional history lesson] Why 2 to 4 minutes? The vast majority of 45 rpm singles over its history were 3 to 4 minutes and characterized as the ideal length of time for a single. It was thought of as the right digestible amount of music, though it partially came about due to technology. The 7-inch 45 rpm single needed enough space between grooves or else the stylus could skip, so 4 minutes was initially a physical limitation. The 45 rpm single was the popular format for radio play and the juke boxes. Manufacturing improved over the years, and there was a bit of controversy when the first ‘long’ single was released, Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” at 6 minutes! John Lennon once asked producer George Martin what the maximum length could be on a 45 and came up with 7 minutes, 11 seconds, the length of  “Hey Jude.” (Reportedly, one the longest sides on a 45 rpm single is the B-side track, “Lunar Sea” by Camel – go prog!) The 45 peaked in popularity in the 70’s (200 million singles sold in ’74) and then faded out in the 80’s with the major labels stopping production by 1990. Note that music you select in no way needs to be from the 70’s or earlier or needs to be a ‘single.’ Style could be anything you want.