This video demonstrates the effect of the Loudness Wars on Michael Jackson's "Thriller" over the years - and then reveals a surprising twist in the story.

For more information on Dynamic Range Day, raising awareness of this problem - click here.

Try it for yourself

Check out the Spotify playlist:

(If you don't see the embedded player, click here.)

For example, try comparing the snare in the first and last versions of "Thriller", around one minute in.

Or listen to the build-up in "Rage Against The Machine" from 1'30" to 2'00". Which one makes you want to move ?

And by three minutes in, which song has most power and energy in the kick drum, Skrillex or Deadmau5 ?

Ask yourself, why did Jack White choose to make 2012's "Blunderbuss" so much more dynamic, rather than going for the squashed, distorted sound of "Icky Thump" again ? (And if loudness is so important for sales, how did it get to Number 1 in the Billboard Charts ?)

Why do people love the sound of Daft Punk's last album so much ? Why is Uptown Funk on course to be the biggest hit of 2015 ?

Dynamic is the new Loud

Tell your friends 🙂

Update - Too Loud also sounds worse in iTunes !

For more information, click here.

Update #2 - And now on YouTube...

Click here:

YouTube just put the final nail in the Loudness War's coffin

Update #3 - And TIDAL...

TIDAL implements loudness normalisation – but there’s a catch