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Mark E
Lokahi
USA
186 Posts |
 Posted - 03/02/2005 : 7:38:05 PM
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Where are we since the demise of the original Napster and all the legal problems with file sharing? 
This is not an academic issue for me. Back in the file sharing days, I discovered many artists and lots of songs that I love which I would never have heard of otherwise. Reason: I could go to such places as lists of Na Hoku winners in past years and then download their stuff from Napster and find who I liked - and which songs I liked. By this means, I discovered Teresa Bright, Na Leo Pilimehana, George Winston, Hapa and others who I would have simply passed by if my only way of hearing what they sounded like was to go to the CD store and listen to what was there. And mostly they didn't have this stuff anyway.
So, what can I do nowadays? I don't want to buy lots of music without hearing it first. And even if I like the artist, I don't like (or want to buy) just anything by them. If you type "free music downloads" into Google, you get loads of listings, many of which claim to be completely legal. But are they? Would I be gypping the artist? And is there a down side - like getting lots of spyware for one's trouble? Also, there are sites where you pay a fee - like $29.95 a year - for all you want to download. Are these scams?
I don't mind paying for the music I want to keep, but I don't want to buy lots of music to find out if I want it or not.
I imagine that there are reputable sites out there and possibly some that let you hear a whole song before you have to buy it - not just a minute or less like Amazon. I know I'm missing lots of music I would love to have because I haven't found a replacement for the old Napster or Kazaa.
So, many mahalos for all suggestions and advice.
Mark (E)
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2005 : 9:52:31 PM
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File sharing is kind of a dirty word around here, but I, too, discovered a lot of music via the underground download world, especially Hawaiian pop like Keahiwai and the Opihi Pickers. I've since bought their albums.
There is no replacement for the free-wheeling days of Napster and Kazaa, but I listen to a lot of song samples at Mele.com looking for music that grabs my ear or my heart.
I also buy a lot of used music off Ebay. I just bought Bla Pahinui's album "Windward Skies" for $5. I like many of the songs on the track listing, so I'll probably like the CD. If not, it's only $5. I bought two albums by paniolo singer Danny Estocado (fun stuff) for about $3 each and albums from Palolo and Kolea for about the same amount. Even with shipping they're inexpensive. Since Hawaiian pop isn't that popular on the mainland, I've bought CDs by Fiji, Norm, Junior Maile and Oshen inexpensively online.
I also check out local used CD shops on the offchance there is a stray Hawaiian CD in the racks. I got some Brothers Caz, Gabby Band and Keali'i Reichel by digging.
If it sounds like I'm cheap...busted.
Jesse Tinsley
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slackkeymike
Lokahi
440 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2005 : 01:21:59 AM
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Well, there are services like Rhapsody (listen.com) that let you listen to whatever you want (for $9.95 a month). I stream that into my stereo system. Problem is, they do not carry everybody...but its getting better all the time. That is how I buy music now. Listen on Rhapsody, buy the CD.
Mike |
Aloha, Mike |
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`Ilio Nui
`Olu`olu
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2005 : 05:28:52 AM
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Borders Books and Barnes and Nobel usually have code scanners and headphones where you can listen to parts of songs. I agree with you. There's a big difference between file-sharing and piracy. It was nice to hear songs and make choices about what to BUY.
Dave |
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chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2005 : 06:01:55 AM
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| I've literally bought $1000's of dollars of Hawaiian music from mele.com based solely on the 60 second sound bites provided. I've only been disappointed a few times. Personally, I seldom need the entire song to decide. I can't imagine needing more than this, except for older stuff for which there are no available sound files. |
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Auntie Nancy
`Olu`olu
USA
593 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2005 : 11:42:37 AM
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Aloha John -
I went to your bio and it didn't have your e-mail there. I thought I had it, but it must have been on the computer that augered in.
How about sending it to me?
Mahalo -
nc |
nancy cook |
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slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2005 : 3:09:24 PM
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Mike, do you have any friends who can loan you certain CD's of choice? If so, ask to borrow, listen, and return. Border's offers a good Hawaiian cross section of Hawaiian music as well.
You can't be that helpless can you?
-slkho |
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Pops
Lokahi
USA
387 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2005 : 3:44:29 PM
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| I've found great stuff in my neighborhood (Cleveland, OH) library, including a pretty good mix of slack key. |
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slackkeymike
Lokahi
440 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2005 : 4:37:32 PM
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slkho,
Mike or Mark??
Mike |
Aloha, Mike |
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David
Akahai
92 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2005 : 7:27:58 PM
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I certainly scarfed tons of Hawaiian music on Napster and it's nefarious varients. All the time this was going on I knew the dubious and damaging nature of the beast, but greed rules sometimes. The fact is that the small Hawaiian market requires sales for survival. Now I'm glad napster is gone, and each cd purchased feels like a contribution toward the future health of the music. I agree with chunky monkey that mele.com soundbites are all you need to make a decision. The main problem I have is locating older cds which have become obsolete before my eyes.
I always have on a Hawaiian station online while working on the puter. Rabb at IRH is an excellent resource and worthy of a contribution. He works hard, performing IRH as a second job. I also listen to live streaming of my old favorite Hawaiian 105 KINE. It's like being back home. Here's the link:
http://hawaiian105.com/
Let's see, they just played Bros Caz, Kapena, Aunty G., Keali'i, Loyal, Olomana, Gabby, Robi, Sons of Hawai'i. Now listening Pekelo playing a track from his cd Going To Hana. If this station is not your cup of java, something else out there is. With the internet, keeping your finger to the pulse is not difficult. |
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slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2005 : 1:47:45 PM
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Oops! correction...Mark
(thanks mike)
-slkho |
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