I just figured why choirs are simultaneously terrible and brilliant.

[Reforged]

So, everyone hates uplifting choir music, right? I mean there are very few people whos cringe impulse isn't instantly activated by that shit. It doesn't matter about the subject matter or the occasion, its irritating. I hear "You can't always get what you want" by the Rolling Stones and I turn off that shit in seconds. I can't stand it. But *scary* choir music feels perfect. If theres a film or a musical where some scary shits about to happen a choir works. Anyone see Rob Cantor's "Shia LaBeouf"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0u4M6vppCI
Now its meant to be a joke obviously but how perfectly does it fit? Think back to every scary film you can think of with choir music you can remember. Was there ever a moment where you didn't think it was appropriate for that moment? I honestly can't think of one.
I'm entertained and intrigued by it when its scary and bored of it when its anything else, do other people find that? Thats mostly universal, right? Why is that?

[Excited Penguin]

I don't understand what this thread is about, but I liked the video.

[Aegon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzVBqBosf5w

[The Grand Nudger]

The ability of choir music to contribute to tone and feel, particularly dread or fear, in this case.  I think that it's a matter of taste and also cultural acclimitization.  Carl Orfs O Fortuna from Carmina Burana is probably burnt into all of our minds.  You don't know him, or the title, but you know the song...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD3VsesSBsw

...and it's a shortcut to dread in small chunks. The final 10 seconds though, blows all of the anxiety in the composition away. What you might notice, if you have a long memory, is that first and droning portion of this one is used in horror movies..but you never hear the end. In commercials, however, you hear -maybe- 10 seconds of the dread......and they focus on the uplifting finale. Fun fact, this one is part of a work entitled "Songs of Beuern: Secular songs for singers and choruses to be sung together with instruments and magic images"...not what you'd expect, given it's use, eh?

That shows you that our society experiences these songs to such a broad conforming extent that they are practical for terms of entertainment or advertising. The user can -expect- results from their application. It has utility. Thats why they put it in movies, that why they put it in commercials, and that's why they put it in church.

[Alex K]

To me the most brilliant use of choirs in music. In the SMT, there are several independent ones layered on top of or responding to each other

https://youtu.be/jm1os4VzTgA

[Minimalist]

So, everyone hates uplifting choir music, right?

No.

[Autumnlicious]

I hate uncomfortable row-like seats (commonly known as pews).

Most choirs I can sleep through if it's uninteresting. What I can't do is enter anything more than a half conscious state in those horrible seats.

Regarding the Barber of Seville, that's my childhood watching Bugs Bunnie right there. Real awesome shit.

[ApeNotKillApe]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfMEtl26G1E

[Minimalist]

I hate uncomfortable row-like seats (commonly known as pews).

Most choirs I can sleep through if it's uninteresting. What I can't do is enter anything more than a half conscious state in those horrible seats.

Regarding the Barber of Seville, that's my childhood watching Bugs Bunnie right there. Real awesome shit.

Okay - my resistance is notoriously weak to begin with so here.

http://www.funnyjunk.com/movies/3172/Rabbit/