Can slow songs be a banger?

Niello@kbin.social to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 64 points –

My understanding of the word banger is it's reserved for good songs. There are many good slow songs as well, but the word banger seems to imply something more intense and bombastic. So, is it appropriate to describe slow songs as a banger?

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banger was a shortened term for headbanger. like a person who would nod extremely vigorously, usually with long dramatic hair to a thumping beat, usually hard rock or punk music.. then the word started referring to the songs themselves. but language is liquid and words evolve. some people like the word jam for slow songs that make them move.

Metallica - Sad But True. Definitely a banger, by both the original and todays definition.

Strangely this made me think of In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins.

I'm not sure that's what you're after but that's the first song that popped in my head.

Great, now I want chocolate

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In my opinion no. A banger is the type of track you would play at a party. It's a danceable track that gets you hyped.

I'd agree. When I think of banger I think of "head banger"

You wouldn't head bang to a slow song.

Slow is relative, but some Alternative songs come to mind

Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun

Pearl Jam - Alive

Bloodhound Gang - Fire Water Burn

I consider Mad World to be a banger and that’s a pretty slow song.

There's a whole subgenre of D&B called Halftime that's full of slow (by D&B standards) bangers, as well as plenty Trap, Dubstep, etc that fits the bill.

Cake - Ivy Lab

Era - RL Grime

Ruffhouse - J:Kenzo

The Nomad - Noisia, Mono/Poly

Move It Along - Audio

Drone Warfare - Eprom

Work For Nothing - Decimal Bass

Ego Death - TMSV

Ouija - Ankou

You may not agree with all of them, but tried to find plenty of examples to make a point. Hard not to bang to most of these.

Oh sure, check out Stranglehold by Ted Nugent.

Yeah yeah I know Teddy Nug’s a total douchebag, but man he wrote some killer tunes.

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Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

The George Michael enjoyers might kill me but give this one a go:

Seether - Careless Whisper

Stairway to heaven starts out pretty slow. Does that count or only songs that stay slow throughout?

For the purpose of this question, slow throughout. Also has to be something that can universally agreed as being slow, otherwise we're going to have to discuss at what point songs stop being fast or slow. I might as well throw in the word mellow to really push it.

Portishead - Glory Box & Wandering Star Both bangers, both slow.

Yes as long as it has a solid beat and sonic intensity. Look at it this way, not every fast song is a banger. Being a banger doesn’t necessarily have to do with beats per minute.

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Replacements, Here Comes a Regular and Unsatisfied might fit.

I haven't heard The Replacements mentioned in so long. Thanks for the reminder. Unsatisfied is definitely a banger.

Maybe in the sample basket would be Foo Fighters (My Hero, Everlong).

I got to see their final show, the one they broke up at, Chicago Grant Park, July 4, 1991. Material Issue also played.

No. A "headbanger" is fast and furious.

Counterpoint: You can headbang to Black Sabbath's Iron Man and it's not fast and furious

Banger isn't really short for headbanger, though they may have been related at one point. A song doesn't have to be loud and/or aggressive to be a banger.

Hogwash

Good example! There was a time when "hogwash" literally meant the slop fed to pigs, then it meant cheap liquor, and eventually bad writing. These days it means "BS" and you'd be ridiculous to pretend that "only" the original definition had any meaning.

I thought a banger was just a stronger version of a bop - a really great song that slaps (more youngin vernacular).

There is such a thing as a sad banger - a slower, more downbeat song that is great and really moves you. May I submit for your approval: New Person, Same Old Mistakes by Tame Impala (or Same Ol' Mistakes by Rihanna). ETA: I would also consider Missing by Everything But the Girl a sad banger.