Music-1020-01 Popular music in America

Switches on Pop Jazz 1959 discussed Jazz in 1959. According to the hosts, 1959 was one of the biggest years for Jazz. Some of my favorite albums discussed were: Ella Fitzgerald's Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book which they say is " a must-have for every jazz fan: Ella sings the genius of the Gershwins with arrangements by the great Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra. All the Gershwin favorites are here, and Ella sings them very succinctly. This is as good as jazz vocals get, and what better material." Miles Davis's King of Blue Miles "decided to record an album using mostly modal formats for the tunes. The outcome is breathtaking... The album is considered to be, by many the jazz album of all time" It was interesting to talk about the progression of Jazz.  Jazz went for mainstream popular music to "elevator" music. The hosts suggested that this was in part because the artist slowly stopped taking risks in how they sounded becoming mo...

"Why U Love to Listen 2 Prince" was so fascinating to listen to. Prince was a revolutionary artist in the music industry. The hosts talked about his use of drum machines in a dramatic way changing the sound from what was originally intended, trying to sound like real drums, to more synthesized and unique. I really enjoyed the discussion of his relationship with other artists and technology. It was fascinated to hear how he was at the forefront of music with computers and how he integrated into that form of communication. My favorite song they discussed was "Black Rain" a song that came out well after his other popular music. It was interesting to see how they viewed it as a bop that can listen to independently from his older music but still harken back to that music. Last week I got Disney plus and it put me on an 80 and early '90s kick.  I have been bench watch Ducktales and watched the Goofy Movie. In which there is a character called Powerline who is this...

I am like 5 years old and it's the 4th of July and we are in the car driving to relatives and my Dad put this song on loop!! So let just say I have listened to it a bit. Not that I am complaining Bruce Springsteen's is my jam I mean he is a rock and roll icon for a reason. I love his inventive lyrics and commentary on blue-collar life, catching rhythms and cords and "Born in the U.S.A.  is no exception I mean how many firework shows have you seen that have this song playing in the background last year I went to the stadium of fire at BYU and they did a through the ages firework show using different icon patriotic songs though time. The best song by far was "Born in the U.S.A" they did a really good job of syncing the fireworks to the changes in the song creating a spectacular show to rival Disney parks and resort firework shows. The song consent of verse-chorus formate the chorus is: Born in the U.S.A, I was born in the U.S.A, I was born in the U.S.A, I was born ...

"Purple Haze" is a song rooted in blues however never made a significant impact on the Rythm and Blues charts. The song itself is a strophic song with a crazy guitar solo and other crazy instrumental moments and an odd distorted ending. The song's lyrics reference counterculture saying how he has this "purple haze" that is impeding his senses is could be a reference to love as suggested by the lyrics " that girl put a spell on me" or drugs as suggested by the lyrics about haziness. The song was written and performed by Jimi Hendrix who was an influential and revolutionary guitarist of the time. He started out touring with Rythm and Blues bands this show in his music as it has like I mentioned before is rooted in blues. He then formed a band in London called the Jimi Hendrix Experience. A name which is fitting as he was a crazy performer with insane stunts like setting his guitar on fire, and weird ways he played his guitar truly making his performance...

Fiddler on the Roof often referred to as Fiddler was first preformed for the public on July 27th, 1964 at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit. Later on Broadway, it was a critical and financial success being the first musical to exceed 3,000 performances becoming the longest-running musical on Broadway for a time. The story takes place in a small Jewish community in Russia called Antevka during the Russian revolution. It follows Tevye a poor milkman and his family as he tries to find suitable husbands for his 5 daughters following the traditions of the community. This first dialog of the play is Tevye talking about how in the community the people are like a fiddler on roofs just trying to carve out a life (song) and without tradition would be "as precarious as a fiddler on the roof"  which is where the title comes from. There was nervousness from those making the show about the relatability of the show as it very Jewish however the fun songs the central theme of family keeps peopl...

The Beatles how could I not pick a Beatles song. I mean they are iconic! Beatlemania is real and it is alive and well. "A Hard Day's Night" was my anthem senior year of high school. After a long long subway shift a day full of hardship when I was working like a dog all day. I would get in my car and find "A Hard Day's Night" turn it up way too loud and jammed out and that would make me feel all right. John Lennon and Paul McCartney really knew how to write them! the song lyrics are catchy and perfectly applicable to overreacting teen minds  I mean the song is basically them complaining about a "hard day" and how they love coming home to their love and seeing what they do if that doesn't sound exactly like a moody in a loved teenager I do not know what does! The repeating lyrics also make it really easy to sing along with it and make it very hummable.  The music has a fun beat and I loved the guitar at the beginning it sets the tone for the song...