In his essay “Music and Identity,” Simon Frith discusses the intersection of music and one’s sense of identity. He acknowledges that the production of music has roots in certain cultures and ideologies, but his main point is that the way in which one interacts with music says a great deal about his or her identity.
When he talks about pop music, he says that it “becomes the more valuable aesthetically the more independent it is of the social forces that organize it.” He argues that the music people choose says a lot more about them than the music they passively accept. He says that music presents listeners with an infinite landscape. From this landscape, listeners are able to choose cultures and values with which they can identify.
I like what Frith has to say about the way that music acts as a nucleus for the identities of some people. To me, a song presents a place to find something that you can relate to. If Mos Def sees hip hop as a complicated art form with which he has a complicated relationship with it, lyrics he writes about it will form a common point of our identities. Such lyrics will summarize a particular aspect of both our worldviews and establish a part of our identities.
I especially liked Frith’s examples involving both the English working-class children and the Trinidadians. They highlight the way that certain people interact positively with music that isn’t a copy-and-paste of their own culture. The working-class kids identified with the emotion from jazz. The Trinidadians identify more with Hindi music instead of the Westernized music imposed upon them.
Although I would love to think that I know why I like all the media I consume, the examples did help me realize why suburbanites love Lil Wayne so much or why an Afrika Bambaataa might sample a Kraftwerk. The kinds of music people are drawn to says a lot about the values they uphold and, to a greater extent, their general sense of aesthetics.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Frithy Milkshake
Frith Reflection
Something that stood out to me was how Frith described the critiques given about Spoonie Gee and Milton Babbit. He said “the critics seem to know better than the artists what they are- or should be- doing.” It seemed odd that a critic would be able to judge the intentions of a work better than the artist or an experience of music on them. But Frith explains that musical identification, determining the quality of the experience, becomes an “ethical agreement.” That idea was slightly confusing to me.
A final thing that stood out to me throughout reading this article was the constant divisions among ideas and entities. There are divisions between high and low critics, hard and easy listening, fine and performing arts, and between different types of identities. It’s as if things must always be compared to one another and judged to determine the norm.
Frith response
In this article, Simon Frith looks to explain music’s role in the development of identities and how music creates a certain aesthetic experience for people. His argument is based on two points. The first is that “identity is mobile”, and the second is that the musical experience is “an experience of this self-in-progress.” Throughout the article he describes identity as a “process” rather than a “thing.” Frith claims that music can be linked to identity because, like identity, music offers a judgment of the individual in the collective. Social groups are created through the participation in their cultural activities. It is not necessarily that these groups can be defined by their social class, but that by taking part in the musical experience they became a grouped together. Hip hop music, for example, does not shape identities by the meaning pulled from the lyrics, but rather by the way the music is presented, because oftentimes the music is a scratched or cut-up version of a text that already existed.
An interesting, but confusing aspect of Frith’s argument is the “distinction between high and low culture.” It seems as if he is classifying rappers and those who listen to that type of music as low culture and classical music as high culture. This is confusing to me because I’m not sure if he means the music of “high-class” individuals when he says “high-culture” or is he is referring to one style of music being more cultural than others. Do all types of music fall under the category of high-culture or low-culture? Either way, I feel like I missed his point. Basically he is saying that the critics know better than the artist what his or her identity is and that it is in the way people respond to music that shapes their own identities.
Frith Response
Eventually, people form groups through similarities in aesthetic appeals and in doing so they also share ethics. How and why these groups form are due to musical tastes. Frith explains that certain musical tastes are linked to specific class and age cultures as well as subcultures. Certain ethnicities may have musical tastes that relate to their backgrounds and where they are originally from. An age group can be unified by a musical taste that other age groups don’t like. These groups form because the music is what produces the individual’s identity. If they enjoy similar music, then they must have similar identities. As a result, music forms society by creating identity groups. They may sometimes be bound by cultural stereotypes such as age, ethnicity, and class, but they result nonetheless from a shared interest in music. The atheistic appeal of a song represents its ethical appeal. As a conclusion, Simon Frith notes, “-we are only where the music takes us”.
Frith Response: Sam Kirby
In "Music and Identity," Frith describes a link between collective identity in society and identity in music. One aspect of his claim is the idea that individuality in music is reflected in one’s personal sense of self. He also claims that the act of listening to music is both an assertion of individuality and of fitting in with the crowd. These two forces are contradictory, but in the same way popular music shapes popular culture and a sense of collective identity, listening to music can also influence one's sense of self. As the author states, "Identity is not a thing but a process." This quote effectively sums up Frith’s idea of the “mobile identity.” The author describes personal identity as an experience that evolves. Individuality in music reflects the experience of the artist, but just as identity evolves, experiences also evolve. A listener may relate to the music yet experience the music in a completely different way than the artist had initially intended. According to the author, this separate experience is equally meaningful because it can shape and form the identity of the listener. The personal identity also forms a part of the collective identity of the society, which is also in a state of constant flux.
The most confusing part of Frith’s argument for me was his description of the struggle or discrepancy between “the high and the low.” I wasn’t sure whether he meant the clash between underground and mainstream or a more vague distinction between music made for its meaning and music made for its appeal. Frith continues his argument with a notion of space and how the performance arts manipulate space to create meaning. According to the author, all artists and even all listeners have a unique aesthetic experience that is constantly evolving. Personal experiences are unique in certain ways, but also have a strong connection to the collective identity of the community.
Response to Frith: Music and Identity - Kenneth
Simon Frith argues that music –including its production and performance – offer insight into the collective identity. Music is a part of a people and different communities have different forms of music that serve specific purposes. For example, rap in the African-American community has a different purpose than classical chants do among German Jews in Israel. Frith also discusses how the aesthetics of music identify a group of people. In other words, shared cultural activity helps people realize the similarities and differences they share with other people. In turn, this phenomenon of realizing likeness and dissimilarity gives rise to different genres of music, a genre of music being a kind of music that a group of people identify with and enjoy. Music tastes and styles correlate to specific classes, ethnic groups, & age groups. As time goes by, music genres are modified as class distinctions change, age groups shift, and tastes change. One of the more interesting motifs within Frith’s argument is the idea that music is not a representation of a people, but rather the embodiment of a people. I think such a statement makes sense since it suggests that music is a characteristic of a group of people, but rather, music is the identity of a group people.
Frith also discusses the role of popular music in a society. He indicates that popular music is the embodiment of contemporary society. Even though I agree with this suggestion, I found it unnerving to think of what popular music says about our society. By definition, I am assuming that popular music is that music which has the broadest appeal to people not only in the US but around the globe as well. Artists such as Madonna, Beyonce, Brittney Spears, U2, and other bands come to mind when thinking about popular music. If popular music is the embodiment of a people, then the overarching theme that these artists suggest about our society is materialism, in my opinion. Now some might argue that some of these artists do charity work, and their songs are anthems for the oppressed, and they represent the underrepresented which is all true but consider this: Frith writes that music is not limited to the final product but also includes the process of making the music and the performance. Today, music producers control the sound an artist makes, and record labels control which songs are released. My point is that music today is a business which is telling about our society, everything is about making more money. Record labels will do whatever it takes to sell more music: consider the fact that anyone can become a rich as an artist thanks to programs like auto-tune. Consider the mix of sex and music where the singers must be beautiful individuals or else their chances at success are diminished. We are a materialistic world and I think it is a sad and pathetic trend.
Response to Simon Frith article - Amelia Lorenzo
Frith goes on to compare the fine arts, such as painting or sculpture, to the performing arts, such as music or dance, on the basis of time and space. He believes that the fine arts are “organized around the use of space” whereas the performing arts are “organized around the use of time.” He believes the structure of both types of art comes from the narratives they present – the way they tell a story. In the aesthetics to ethics portion of his argument, he poses the question as to what makes music good and what this reveals about the culture behind the music. In the last section of his argument, he makes his final point that “an identity is always already an ideal, what we would like to be, not what we are.” He argues that music fits into the concept of identity in that it “gives us a real experience of what the ideal could be.”
I found the last section to be the most interesting, yet confusing, in his article. Throughout the article, it seemed like he was approaching some sort of final thought of what identity really was, but it all actuality, he believes it’s just an ideal. I found this to be confusing because he presents all these different ways that identity appears in music or is connected to music and then he just says it’s an ideal. I found this to be a bit of a cop-out, as far as a conclusion goes, which could also be why I find it confusing. I don’t feel like he truly concluded anything he was arguing.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Final Playlist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdgCajndgNw
Third Eye Blind (3eb) is an alternative rock band that formed in the early 90’s. Although the band got off to a rough start, they eventually landed a gig opening up for Oasis. Afterwards, 3eb had no trouble finding a record label. Their first CD contained the hits Semi Charmed life and Jumper. Jumper was written by the lead singer Stephan Jenkins after his manager shared a story about a homosexual friend who jumped off a bridge because he was not accepted by society. Stephan, a misfit at his high school whose parents had divorced, knew what it felt like to be in pain and be considered an outcast by society. The song is about a person that wants to commit suicide but according to Stephan, it is not only about suicide. As the chorus states, “Everyone’s got to face down the demons. Maybe today we can put the past away” the song is primarily about the challenges we face in life and the not letting the past dominate the present.
Every group has an anthem. For us it was Jumper. The lyrics were not relevant to our lives, at least not literally. None of us were on the verge of committing suicide and none of us knew anyone who was. Of course we all had our own problems that we had to conquer and put behind us, but that is not the reason Jumper was our anthem. It all started when a few of the guys in our group began reminiscing about songs they listened to as kids. Jumper was mentioned and almost all of them knew the song. From that day on you could hear them singing the song throughout the hallways at school. Soon enough all of us knew the song and we began to sing it too. In the beginning it was just something we did to entertain ourselves but I believe that eventually the song began to represent all the fun times we had together. Every time we hear the song, we think of each other and all the times we burst out in song when the hallways were fullest. We would yell the chorus at the top of our lungs and although people looked at us like we were crazy, we knew they were just jealous that they weren’t a part of our fun little tradition.
“Address in the Stars” Caitlin and Will
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I35_B_5htnI
This song by Caitlin and Will was written by Caitlin after the death of her aunt. Released in their self titled 2009 debut album, the song talks about the difficulty of losing a loved one. The lyrics are sincere and hit home. "I stumbled across your picture today. I could barely breathe" "I'm screamin' at the sky cause it hurts so bad." I feel so many different emotions when I hear this song, such as heartbreak, longing, pain and sympathy. The central focus of the song is how the narrator has so many things left to say to her loved one but will never have a chance to say them no matter how hard she tries because there's no address in the stars. Although neither the song nor the group has made it big yet, the song did make it to the US Hot Country Billboards starting at number 60 in March 2009 and making its way to 42 by June 2009.
When I first heard the song I had no idea who Caitlin and Will were, but my cousin made me listen to them anyway. Address in the Stars instantly became one of my favorite songs. I loved the combined sound of the vocals and the country aspect of the song. I liked the fact that it wasn't a typical boy meets girl, girl loves boy, and boy leaves girl kind of song. In the beginning I simply enjoyed listening to the song because it made me feel and those are the songs I love listening to the most. However, my connection with the song quickly became much more personal. College began in August and I left behind the majority with the promise of visiting. There was no doubt in my mind that I would see every last one of them again. We had all been in the same classes since eighth grade and were considered each other family. As September rolled around, I received the worst possible news. Our little family had lost a very valuable member. Stephanie passed away on September 16th in a car accident on her way to school. I was devastated. That is when Address in the Stars went from a favorite song to a song that hit close to home. Every day all I can think is "What do I do with all I need to say? There's so much I wanna tell you every day. It breaks my heart. I cry these tears in the dark. I write these letters to you but they get lost in the blue cause there's no address in the stars."
“Sunday Morning” Maroon 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Cti12XBw4
Sunday Morning was released in Maroon 5’s album Songs About Jane. The song is easy on the ears. There are no dark chords or harsh instrumentation and that along with the lyrics, gives the song a care free feeling.
Fingers trace your every outline
Paint a picture with my hands
Back and forth we sway like branches in a storm
Change the weather still together when it ends
That may be all I need
In darkness she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave
The lyrics refer to Sundays as a time when we have no worries and we can sit around doing nothing but keep each other company all day. It is impossible to feel heavy hearted at the end of the song.
I worked as a waitress at Ruby Tuesday’s for eight months before college began. When I first began working there, I hated the elevator music that played on constant repeat. Every day my coworkers and I listened to the same ten or so songs play hour after hour after hour. I soon realized that I needed that elevator music to keep my sanity. Some costumers were so irritating and the soothing music that played in the background kept me in a very calm mood. My favorite of these songs was Sunday Morning because no matter how stressed or unhappy we were, my best friend and I would instantly become light-hearted and our mindless tasks of carrying trays, refilling drinks and taking orders would take on a rhythm. It was almost as if our actions were choreographed to the song. Moments like that made my job well worth it. I believe that Adam Levine’s semi raspy vocals along with the piano in the background are what made us go deep into our memories and find a happy place. Sunday Morning is a very reminiscent song.
“Hollywood’s Not America” Ferras
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAsj87rhy6Q
Most of us go through a phase in life where we want something more from our life than what we have. That is what Ferras sings about in this song. The girl in the song longs to be famous and when she finally makes it big, she changes her name and becomes a whole new person that she can hardly recognize. My favorite lines of the song are:
You could make a million dollars, but you might lose yourself
And you can take the heat will your heart go cold
Sometimes we get so caught up in reaching our goals that we forget to see if we’re hurting anyone (including ourselves) in the process. The chorus of the song suggests that the girl return home and reminds her that Hollywood is not all there is to America.
My cousin and I heard this song on the radio and we fell in love with it instantly. The smooth vocals and runs really caught our attention as well as the instrumentation. The piano part is my favorite and, in my opinion, it is what makes the song so enjoyable. At the time we discovered the song, both of us were going through difficult times in our lives. We were both changing and sometimes the choices we had to make were difficult. Like the girl in the song, we both wanted more out of life and it was very easy to lose ourselves in all the changes we were making. This song spoke to us on a personal level and reminded us to never let go of our identities.
“Little House” The Fray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qDRZ7LkTPA
The Fray uses piano as the primary instrument in all of their songs and Little House is no exception. Released in 2005, the song begins with only the piano but the drums and guitar join in at the chorus creating a rock sound. The quiet eeriness of the first verse is built up to the chorus where the drums and guitar burst in as the words “something’s scratching its way out” are sung. It gives the song more effect by making it seem like something is literally trying to be set free. The song is about an experience that you are afraid of sharing with others. You just want to forget it ever happened but you can’t because you feel that your secret is always on the verge of being discovered.
Although it didn’t involve some secret experience I wanted to keep hidden, Little House described the way I felt when I first heard the song. I was always the quiet, shy bookworm at school. People knew me because I was smart and I was always reading, but I got tired of being that girl. I knew there was so much more to me than that, and it was time to be known for something different. No one knew what I was like outside of school. I was always a very introverted person, and I found it very difficult to open up to let people see who I really am. It made me feel vulnerable but I decided that high school was the chance for me to come out of my shell. Something was scratching its way out of me and it was an outgoing, confident person with a love for music. This song marked a new chapter in my life. I became a leader rather than a follower.
“You Were Mine” Dixie Chicks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttggMJeUAo4
You Were Mine is a song included in the Dixie Chicks 1998 Wide Open Spaces album. At the time the Chicks were still singing country and you can definitely hear it in Natalie’s voice and the violin/guitar accompaniment. The song was written by the Erwin twins who play the violin and guitar in the band. Their parents divorced when they were young and their mother never got over it. The song talks about the new woman and how the old wife is left with two very young children to provide with answers.
He’s two and she’s four and you know they adore you
So how can I tell them you changed your mind?
There is a very personal story behind the reason this song is on my playlist. My mother was in a relationship when I was born. He wasn’t my biological father but he loved me as if he was and much to my mother’s surprise, he even signed my birth certificate as my real father. By the time I was two my parents were engaged. However, the engagement was abruptly called off when I was three and suddenly my mom was placed in a very difficult position. How do you tell a three year old that her dad decided he didn’t want to them to live together anymore? I don’t remember many of the details but I do remember the hurt I felt when my mom tried to explain to me that we would no longer be living with my dad. I saw him on my birthday and Christmas the next year, and then he married another woman. I did not see him again for two years. I know it was difficult for my mother just as it was for me. By the time You Were Mine came out, I was old enough to understand the situation better than I did before. I still missed him and hoped he would come back but deep down I knew he never would. As we listened to the song, my mother and I created a bond. We never had to say anything because we both knew what the other was thinking about. As the lyrics say, “it was a time of love and laughter and happily ever after”. Although my mom is happily married now, I know that every time she hears this song, she will think of all the suffering we went through seventeen years ago.
“Lucky” Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acvIVA9-FMQ
Jason Mraz is best known for “I’m Yours” but I like this song much more. I love the way male and female voices mesh together, especially if it’s two artists I already love on their own. The guitar in this song is very smooth, giving the song a romantic sound. The song is in the form of a call and response with Jason singing the first verse and Colbie singing the second verse. The melody switches between the two creating a better balance in the song. It is truly a duet rather than a song with male enhancements or a song with female enhancements. The song is not sung in a generic pop style and that is one of the reasons I like it so much.
Lucky is a love song about two friends that fall in love and that makes me think of me and my boyfriend. We’ve been best friends since sixth grade and started dating a year ago. This song is like a biography of our story.
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
He has always been the first one I go to when I need cheering up no matter what the problem may be. We, of course, had a few issues with people who thought we were crazy and didn’t understand why we wanted to be together. They tried to cause problems but eventually they realized that we were not just going through a phase. As the song says, we really do care about each other.
They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will
Every time I hear Lucky, all the years we’ve known each other flash before my eyes and I get a feeling of nostalgia.
“Amigo Bronco” Bronco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRWCyNuwDtU
Bronco is a group from Apodaca and Nuevo Leon, Mexico that sings Norteño style music. The group is highly successful among the Spanish speaking community around the world. The four men in Bronco sung together from the early 80’s to the late 90’s when they decided to retire. However, they came back a few short years later in 2003 strong as ever. Their instrumentation consists of guitar, keyboards, bass, and accordion. The instrumentation along with Lupe Esparza’s vocals, form a combination that speaks to the heart of the listener. To me there is no male Spanish singer with a more beautiful voice than Lupe Esparza.Amigo Bronco was released in 1990 and is a song about a horse named Bronco. The narrator is telling a story of how he and Bronco were more than master and horse. They created an indestructible friendship. Bronco loved speed and would never let the fastest train out run him. “Pero tenía que perder alguna vez” (But he had to lose sometime). The narrator had to shoot Bronco to take him out of his misery. The song speaks about the power of friendship and the sacrifices we make for our friends.
Friendship is an important aspect of my life and this song describes how I feel about honoring my friends. Another reason I love this song so much is that I am reminded of my culture and how much I being multiracial. The song always makes me think of my family and all the fun times we have together. Although my mother’s family is large and we all have very distinct tastes in music, Amigo Bronco is a song that we all enjoy. For some reason it speaks to all of us. For me the video makes the song even more enjoyable because Lupe Esparza favors one of my uncles that moved away when I was still a child. I used to pretend that it was my uncle in the video and that he was the coolest man ever. Every time I heard the song, I would think of the line “nos vamos a encontrar.” The line means “we will find each other.” As a child I knew that even though my uncle was far away, we would see each other again someday.
Risa Dalsing's Final Annotated Playlist U2F1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN86d0CdgHQ
“Take Me Home, Country Roads” is considered a country song that is performed by John Denver, Bill Danoff, and Taffy Nivert. It was included in their album “Poems, Prayers, and Promises” that was released in 1971. The Album soon became number two on the Billboard Hot 100. This song is slightly upbeat and the singer has a soothing voice that is almost nostalgic. The song is about a man who sings about how he’s been far from his home in West Virginia, and how he needs for the Country roads to take him “to the place where [he] belong[s].” This song has received great attention from West Virginians, and has been played at every home football pre-game show at West Virginia University since 1972.
This song is important to me because, although I am not originally from West Virginia, I connect it to my home in North Carolina which is also in the south. This song helps me to remember my origins and where I grew up. I love North Carolina, its mountains, its plains, its beaches and its history so I am able to identify with the song as it describes, “Almost heaven, West Virgina/Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River/ Life is old there, older than the trees/ Younger than the mountains, flowing like the breeze." I also appreciate the “country” genre aspects of this song. I really enjoy many different types of music, but I personally identify with country music because of growing up in North Carolina and partially in Kansas.
“One More Day” by Diamond Rio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uibwcic-UfA
This song is performed by Diamond Rio, and was released in their CD “One More Day” in 2001. This song is considered to be in the country genre and the CD was placed number 5 on the Top Country Albums Chart in 2001. The lead singer is Marty Roe, and he has a soothing, and sad voice in this song. This song is about a person who lost the one that he loved, and how he wished that he had “one more day” with that person. The song progresses with him describing all of the things that he would do to show how much he loved that person during that one day.
I added this song to my playlist because it reminded me of the difficulties that I had with my parent’s divorce. My parents got divorced before I could remember, and I would visit my dad and his new family once every summer in Kansas until I turned eighteen. This song has special meaning to me because it accurately portrays the feelings that I felt as I went through the transitions from being with my dad to being with my mom.
“See the Glory” by Steven Curtis Chapman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxz8koz1SOQ
This is a Christian song sung by Steven Curtis Chapman. It was released on his certified gold album Declaration released in 2001. It is an upbeat song that contains music of a Gameboy and tells about how most of God’s followers are not realizing how glorious God is. “Its like eating candy sitting at a gourmet feast,” the way that people settle for less than if they would just, “wake up and see the glory” of the LORD. The song was co-written by Steven Curtis Chapman and his son, Caleb Chapman.
This song is on my playlist because I feel that this song represents my spirituality. Even as a Christian, I sometimes get all caught up in the somewhat trivial things of life and forget to focus on God and the wonderful things that he has done for me. I believe this song accurately describes my spirituality when at times, “I’m playing Gameboy standing in the middle of the Grand Canyon,” and all I need to do is, “wake up and be amazed” at the Glory of God.
“The Hampster Dance Remix” by Hampton the Hamster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwSBwOmOkso
This is an upbeat techno song that has very few lyrics. It was created by the Canadian art student Deidre LaCarte in 1988. The song was originally created for a webpage called “Hampton’s Hamster House” dedicated to her pet hamster Hampton Hamster. This song is a sped up sample of the song “Whistle Stop” by Roger Miller that can be found on Disney’s movie, “Robin Hood” released in 1973.
I feel that this song identifies me, because it reminds me of anime. Anime can be described as Asian cartoons. I really enjoy watching anime and reading manga (Asian comic books); and this song reminds me of anime because of its upbeat, techno, and happy mood. Anime fanatics, such as me, my friends and sister can definitely be described as being upbeat like this song whenever we talk about anime.
“Mitternacht” by E Nomine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPDahFDchDw
“Mitternacht” translated “Midnight” is sung by the German band E Nomine. This gothic-style song preformed by E Nomine is sung in German with background vocals in Latin. It apart of the CD called “Finsternis” which was released in 2002.
I identify with this song because it is both sung in German and represents my “darker side.” The majority of my family was from Germany and that part of Europe, so I can identify with it because it is sung in German. Also, my mother and one of my best friends also speak German, so German is a big part of my life, and I can appreciate the association with this song. The dark mood of this song also is a good representation of my “darker side” that listens to gothic-style music, and watches blood and gore-type movies.
“Lose Control” by Evanescence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl_Bxv09JGY
“Lose Control” is sung by the band, “Evanescence.” It was released on Evanescence’s CD “The Open Door” in 2006. This CD was proclaimed Platinum, and was rated number one in the US, Australia, Germany, Greece, and Switzerland. Evanescence is best described as a gothic rock band, and the lead singer, Amy Lee, has usually a high-pitched voice. Some of their songs include guest singers as backup singers, including the Millenium Choir, and singers such as Carrie and Lori Lee. The CD “The Open Door” sold 447,000 copies its first week of release.
I can relate to this song, because every once-in-a-while I just want to “lose control.” All my life, I have been considered a ‘good girl.’ I am not the type of person to get into fights, or to curse someone out. Whenever I get exceedingly angry, I just internalize my anger and slowly let it go. However, just like the lyrics in this song, every once-in-a-while, I feel that it would be good just to “lose control” with those one or two people who completely make my life horrible. Being able to let that person making me angry know exactly how I feel would probably make me feel a lot better than just bottling up the anger if it gets really bad. However, just like with this song, to “lose control, just once” would be enough.
“My Shiny Teeth and Me (Shiny Teeth)” by Chip Skylark (From “Fairly Odd Parents”)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSj2G1PwAt4
This song, featured on the TV show “Fairly Odd Parents” is about a person, who, whenever he’s “feeling lonely/sad as [he] can be” he can be happy with his “shiny teeth and me.” It is performed by Chip Skylark and is an upbeat song using many “C”, “D,” “Am” and “G” chords.
I associate this song with my teeth after all of the orthodontics that I went through in High School. When I was in High School, I got braces, I had my wisdom teeth taken out, and I went through a hellish time with a dentist who, I felt, was bent on using their drills to filling every one of my teeth. With all of this work, time, and money put into my teeth, I can only hope that they are “shiny teeth.”
“The Reason” by Hoobastank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGs8vtjDxxY
This song, preformed by Hoobstank, was released on the band’s second album “The Reason” in 2004. It was labeled double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, rated number one on the Modern Rock Tracks, and 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. This song appears on the video games “SingStar Pop” and “Karaoke Revolution Volume 3.”
This song represents my transition to college. When he sings about a transition, and how he’s learning, I feel that these lyrics tell of how I am coming to college, “I’ve found a reason for me/to change who I used to be/a reason to start over new.” However, “I’m not a perfect person,” but “I’ll continue learning” and doing my best at this university.
“California Girls” by Gretchen Wilson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6nygPJMNBU
“California Girls,” performed by Gretchen Wilson, was released in her album “All Jacked Up” in the year 2005. This song is a very upbeat song that states, “ain’t you glad we ain’t all California girls?” This song has an upbeat mood, and looks down on the girls with way too much plastic surgery and, “no meat on their bones” while giving power to those who, “ain’t afraid to eat fried chicken and dirty dance to Merle.” “All Jacked Up” was labeled platinum, and sold over one million copies in the US. It was rated number one on the Billboard 200 in 2005.
I like this song because it’s against the stereotype of thin, Barbie-doll lookin’ girls. All throughout school, I always felt that the prettiest girls were thought to be the ones who were really thin, with, “no meat on their bones.” Although I don’t have anything against those who are thin, I always had a rebellious streak against this mindset of having to be a Barbie doll to be beautiful. Instead, I think that girls with a full figure and a good personality are better. This song accurately portrays my opinions, and I appreciate how Gretchen Wilson gives power to girls who, “ain’t afraid to eat fried chicken,” and, “that know how to rock your world” without having plastic surgery.
Zachary Gottlieb - Annotated Playlist
February 19, 2010
Unit Two, Feeder One
English 102
Annotated Playlist
“Kick, Push” by Lupe Fiasco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl83mI69nX4
“Kick, Push” is the Grammy nominated first single released from Lupe Fiasco's debut album, Food & Liquor. It has been referred to as "a needle in hip hop's haystack of complacent songs." In this song rapper Lupe Fiasco tells the story of a boy and his love for skateboarding through a refreshing old school hip-hop style. Fiasco raps about the first minute the boy rode on his skateboard and how his passion grows for the sport as the boy ages and matures. The song has a “cool” kind of vibe to it with high and low horn sounds. I love how the song’s rhythm has these high and lows, which reinforce the song’s illustration of the life’s ups and downs. The song’s lyrics discuss how the boy has to determine his own path and how skateboarding means so much more to him than just a sport. At first he fails but what little taste of success he gets keeps him attached. Eventually he grows to love it so much that it affects his lifestyle and even his love life.
I included this jazzy hip-hop song in my playlist because I used to love skateboarding and because of its deeper metaphor comparing skateboarding to life. My favorite line is "Just the freedom was better than breathing they said.” I can relate to this because there used to not be a day when I wouldn’t go for a ride. It's like when you enjoy something so much, you can't live without it. He sings about how the boy falls and busts his lip but his determination pushes him to continue skateboarding and improving. I love the part “But he was feelin' himself Got a lil more swagger in his style,” this shows how all his effort paid off, it was worth it to him for this “swagger.” I remember when I used to skateboard I would use it as I way to escape all the commotion and chaos in my life. The feeling of just riding with the wind rushing by my face was very relaxing, just as it is to the boy in Fiasco’s insightful song.
“Wonderwall” by Oasis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hzrDeceEKc
Oasis is an English rock band from Manchester that was very popular in the nineties.
Oasis has sold over 70 million records worldwide and has received many musical awards. This is one of the more popular songs from their album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? in October 1995. Many people believe the song is about love but in an interview with the lead vocalist, Noel Gallagher, he said “it's a song about an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself." The slow, peaceful acoustic guitar comes together with Gallagher’s poetic lyrics to describe how much he really cares about his “Wonderwall.” The song’s delightful melody fills me with the same sense of inner tranquility and comfort that my “Wonderwall” provides me with.
This song reminds me of my childhood growing up in London, England, as this is where I first heard the song. More importantly though it makes me think of my “Wonderwall,” the person who actually first introduced me to the song. My older sister Brooke has always been there to support and talk to me. She has been there for me even in the toughest times and she tells me she will continue to be there for me throughout my life. “And all the roads we have to walk along are winding. And all the lights that lead us there are blinding.” I can relate to the lyrics of the song as they remind that even though the obstacles we are presented with may be difficult to overcome, my sister’s support will continue to help me be successful and happy in my life.
“Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkJNyQfAprY
Pink Floyd was an English rock band known for their psychedelic rock music in the 1960s and 1970s. "Comfortably Numb," from the 1979 double album The Wall, is the ultimate Pink Floyd song for many fans. The incredible musical combinations, extraordinary guitar solos, unearthly vocals and symbolic lyrics illustrate Pink Floyd is regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of all time. People continue to debate this song’s complex significance or if it does in fact have an intentional meaning. It is often believed that the song is about heroin or other drugs and its drastic effects to distort reality. Roger Waters, the band’s singer and bass player wrote the lyrics to the song and said it is not about drugs but about his feelings of being very ill as a child.
I love this song and included it in my playlist because of its cryptic emotion filled lyrics. I think this state he is describing represents losing one’s childhood innocence and becoming immersed in a world filled with so much pain. Instead of drugs distorting reality I believe the song illustrates how reality destroys the innocence and optimism of our dreams. “The child is grown, the dream is gone.” I included this depressing song in my playlist because it shows how suppressing one’s feelings and thoughts can drive you insane and cause you to become “numb” like the character in this song. This sad song does display some brutal truths about reality, but I enjoy listening to this masterpiece because of these deeper revelations.
“Closing Time” by Semisonic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGytDsqkQY8
Semisonic is an alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1995. "Closing Time," the 1998 hit single from their album Feeling Strangely Fine, is probably their most well known song. The song’s electric guitar chords and piano coordinate perfectly to build up the emotions associated with the song’s lyrics. In Semisonic drummer Jacob Slichter's recent memoir, “So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star,” he explains that Dan Wilson wrote the song in expectation of becoming a father; that the song is about being ejected from the womb as though from a bouncer at a bar. However, this song makes me think of the cycle of how all things, good and bad, must eventually come to end. It reminds of how life is dynamic and always changing, and the best way to deal with this fact is to simply enjoy every moment you can to the fullest.
I remember listening to this song with my high school friends at the end of the day on the way home. It reminds me of my graduation and parting ways with all the familiar friends and places I used to be so much closer with. The line “One last call for alcohol so finish your whiskey or beer,” implies that this momentary bliss will end and the time for responsibility will follow. The way lead vocalist Dan Wilson’s voice and the smashing electric guitar chords get progressively louder and more powerful make you want to just get up, dance and live for that single moment in time.
“What I Got” by Sublime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uc3ZrmhDN4
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. "What I Got," from the band’s third album, remains to be the band's only number one hit single in their musical career. The song’s meaning is pretty simple, that being to appreciate what one has and focusing on the better things in life. Being accepting of mistakes and mishaps proves to be easier and more beneficial than becoming frustrated. The lyrics include many examples of daily frustrations and their associated negative feelings, as well some of the simple pleasures in life. The lead singer and guitarist, Bradley Nowell, sings “It all comes back to you you're gonna get what you deserve,” showing his belief that if you give love than you will receive it as well. The song fuses reggae-sounding beats with easy and catchy lyrics to promote an exceedingly pleasant attitude.
I enjoy listening to this song because it helps me to appreciate all the things I have and to not get pessimistic. Nowell sings about how he realizes money only causes problems, and that love is the only thing that helps him deal with his hardships. The cheerful and joyful tone of the song emphasizes the lighthearted attitude of the band. I don’t want to emphasize being carefree or apathetic as a part of my identity, but I think it is important to realize that sometimes things do go wrong. Dwelling on frustrations does not offer any benefit and honestly makes me feel even worse about myself.
“Amber” by 311
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUFSB2plwzM
311 is an American rock band from Omaha, Nebraska, formed in 1988. The band generally plays light rock with a combination of reggae sounding beats. “Amber” has a peaceful and beautiful sounding guitar riff throughout the song that complements the lyrics. Nick Hexum, the band’s vocalist and rhythm guitarist, sings about the “energy” he feels from something that he loves. He is possibly describing a girl and tries to put his emotions into words. Whenever I have had a crush on a girl this song makes me think of all those feelings associated with what exactly it is that makes me attracted to her in the first place. The verse "launched a thousand ships in my heart" is a great metaphor to describes the warmness and comfort love provides.
The way the song begins with the slow guitar notes is powerful and alluring like love itself. It tells me to take a moment to step back and to try to make sense of how beautiful love can be. This light and relaxing song embodies every thought I've ever had while being in love. It is a difficult sensation to describe but 311 does a good job of formulating a rather harmonious piece to convey the great feelings it can fill you with. Amber also reminds me of my relaxing summers during high school. It has a cool laidback guitar riff throughout the whole song that instantly fills my mind with images from beach trips and poolside gatherings with my friends.
“Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4-EgKDev1Y&feature=related
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983. The band's varied musical style has fused traditional funk with elements of other genres including punk rock and psychedelic rock. On a documentary the band’s vocalist Anthony Kiedis says that he was driving along the freeway in L.A once when he was really depressed. He said he felt like there was no one he could connect with and he was completely alone in the universe, so he started singing to himself and thus the lyrics of “Under the Bridge” were formed. Kiedis wrote these poetic lyrics describing his desperate conflict against his drug addictions. This melodic guitars and the hopelessness in Kiedis’ voice embody this tragic battle he had to fight.
Being “Under the Bridge” is not pleasant, but there will be times you get caught in a depression. After my dad had a heart attack and underwent quadruple bypass surgery I can definitely say I felt as if I was “Under the Bridge.” I love this song when I'm feeling lonely because it lets me know that I'm not the only one that has felt this way and it reminds me not to give in to the temptations that ultimately make things worse for me. The harmonious church choir voice at the end of the song offers some sign of hope for overcoming and fighting to reach a more peaceful state of mind.
“Blinded (When I See You)” by Third Eye Blind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMgKuY8nkUM
Third Eye Blind is an American alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. Stephan Jenkins sings about a past love of his and how his emotions toward this girl will never change. They have broken up now but every time he sees her he feels “Like I'm staring down the sun.” He can’t seem to understand why their relationship ceased to live on, and there is no way he can stop his love for the girl. “Still I won't turn now from a fight you know I'll never win.” I think the song is composed with echoing guitar notes and a high voice to show Jenkins’ unrelenting desire to receive the same love he shares for the girl.
Jenkins wants to explain that even though they have both moved on from the relationship their experience together has formed who they have become. “When where we've been has left us burned.” You can sense that the writer of the song feels that rather than grow from their relationship, breaking up has left them scarred. He feels that only he understands that and he will never be able to get her to realize this. I relate to his song because I experienced similar feelings after getting out of my first long relationship in high school.
“Love and Memories” by OAR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpea4Nlzs1U
OAR is an upbeat American rock band that generally plays happy and fun songs. The band utilizes familiar percussion and guitar beats that are used frequently in the rock genre but also uses a saxophone to spice up their songs. In this song Marc Roberge sings about a past love of his. “Run me straight into the ground
Drowning deep inside your water.” He metaphorically describes drowning in the love that he shared with this woman and all of their memories. He seems overwhelmed by this love, and contemplates if it really was genuine. However, I think the upbeat tone shows that even though the relationship is over it is important to cherish the good memories.
This strong and energetic song reminds of me of my ex girlfriend from high school. We were very close and even though we aren’t friends anymore I still will always have memories of when we were happily together. “Love me faster than the devil” is an interesting line because one wouldn’t associate love with the devil. However this shows that love is a double-edged sword, and how Roberge possibly feels the love he had for this girl was short lived. The lyrics make it seem like he wasn’t sure if she really did ever love him. This feeling is very familiar to me as I was asking the same question after we separated. While the lyrics are somewhat disheartening and encompass a feeling that is a pretty overused in music, I think OAR presents it very well.
Sam Kirby: Annotated Playlist
“Stuck Between Stations,” by the Hold Steady
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnPgegu1EeE
The Hold Steady are a garage/indie/pub rock band that emerged from Brooklyn, New York that released its first album, Almost Killed Me, in 2004. The group fuses classic hard rock jams with humorously “vague,” yet at times sinister lyrics to create a sound that is simply like no other rock band out there. “Stuck Between Stations” is probably their most famous song to date, having been released on Boys and Girls in America, the group’s third effort, in 2006. The Hold Steady’s music connects with me because of its raw, down-to-earth feel and its stories of unchecked teenage angst in a big(ish) city with nothing to do.
I particularly like “Stuck Between Stations” because of the happy, melodic piano superimposed over the edgy, grunge-esque guitar riffs and driving rock drumbeat. The song is “me” because no matter how many times I’ve heard this song, I can still rock out like a dork every time it comes on. The Hold Steady’s songs tend to read like stories. Lead singer Craig Finn even uses reoccurring fictional characters that are used as themes that send specific messages. “Stuck Between Stations” is about those times in your life when you feel as though you’re just coasting on autopilot, without any strong emotions one way or another about how life is going. The title of the song stems from the chorus, which reads, “Most nights are crystal clear but tonight it’s like it’s stuck between stations on the radio.” I think everyone can identify with this sort of “blah” feeling that we get when school, work, stress, etc. exhaust our supply of happy. The line that reads, “he was drunk and exhausted and he was critically acclaimed and respected,” is a reminder that people from all walks of life, and not just hormone-crazed teens, can get this feeling every once in a while. I also like “she was a pretty cool kisser and she wasn’t all that strict of a Christian/she was a damn good dancer but she wasn’t all that great of a girlfriend/he likes the warm feeling but he’s tired of all the dehydration,” because it feels like a play on how teens react when experiencing life’s more worldly aspects for the first time. I included this song in my playlist because it brings me back to simpler times of the early high school years when the whole world was new and exciting. I have a lot of specific memories that I attach to this song, and hearing it just makes me smile and remember a lot of laughs I’ve had with my friends.
“Prince Charming,” by Jim’s Big Ego
(I couldn’t find a site to listen to this song, as they’re not very famous)
Jim’s Big Ego is the best band you’ve never heard of. They’re a 3 piece from Boston, Massachusetts that describes their music as “unpop.” If you listened to some of their music, you might wonder why it wouldn’t be classified as pop, but the unpop label comes more from a songwriting/lyrical meaning standpoint than simply one of musical characteristics. Jim’s Big Ego songs feel homegrown because they are, and the result is that their music feels more real, like it could have been written for you by one of your friends or significant others. I just happened to discover the band when my friend’s mom bought their album at a record store solely because she liked the cover art.
“Prince Charming” is about how our fairytale fantasies about how life should go for us will never become reality because that is how life is. The song begins with, “I think you better cut all that hair off/throw it out the window/climb down from that tower/flip the wicked witch the finger.” I love this line because where there’s thousands of songs that tell us we can do everything and life is perfect, “Prince Charming” says that life isn’t perfect and that we should get over it and start to appreciate all the beautiful things around us that are good in a cruel world. The words really speak to me because I have a terrible habit of getting caught up and stressed out in life’s details, without seeing the bigger picture.
“Public Pervert,” by Interpol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyqzpXAJ3SA
Interpol are a New York City based indie rock group that formed in 1997 that released their first full length album, Turn on the Bright Lights, in 2002. The band likes to combine harmonized guitar melodies with somewhat “pop-sounding” beats with lots of hi-hat and snare drum that results in a sound that is difficult to categorize, somewhere on the indie side of the line where pop and indie mix. In “Public Pervert,” soft chords interrupt running guitar lines, and the clean sound yields to distortion and a harder drumbeat in the chorus. This song is one of those love songs that isn’t a love song, which is something I like in a strange way. The song opens with the line “If time is a vessel then learning to love might be my way back to sea.” Romantic lines are always going to be cheesy for the spectator, but somehow Interpol’s lyrics feel more real to me, like it’s a conversation between two people and not a song. My favorite line is in the powerful chorus that reads, “So swoon baby starry night, may our bodies remain.”
I chose this song for my play list because I discovered Interpol during the year or two period when I started becoming the person I am today, and I feel a lot of different emotions when I hear “Public Pervert.” I don’t necessarily have specific memories I associate with this song, but I get a vague feeling of nostalgia whenever I hear it. We all have songs that bring us back, and this is one of those for me. I like how the words are real and powerful, yet they aren’t lame and corny like a lot of songs can be. This song is “me” because of its down-to-earth feel and its unique approach to expressing the most difficult emotions.
“Never Ending Math Equation,” by Modest Mouse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R38Pe-8l9M
A lot of Modest Mouse fans talk about the old days being the best years of Modest Mouse. You hear a lot of things like “their new stuff is good, but it’s just not the same.” Regardless of your opinion on the matter, “Never Ending Math Equation” is an amazing song that came out of the “old” Modest Mouse era. Modest Mouse formed in 1993 just outside of Seattle. This particular song comes from a collection of material that was recorded for their first album but didn’t make the final cut for the release, but was released later in 1999.
“Never Ending Math Equation” is “me” because of its message. Even without the lyrics, however, I really like this song for the music. The song is slow almost until the end, when it picks up with vigor into a grooving jam. In the verse, singer Isaac Brock writes that “I’m the same as I was when I was six years old/and oh my God I feel so damn old/but I don’t really feel anything.” This expresses a feeling of looking around and wondering where the time went. This song poses a lot of questions about the nature of human beings. Do we change over time, or are we the same as when we were born? Are we just numbers plugged in to a never-ending math equation? My favorite lines are those that read, “On a plane, I can see the tiny lights below/and oh my God they look so alone/but do they really feel anything.” This song is in my play list because it makes me feel better when I feel like I don’t matter, or when I feel detached from everyone else.
“Drain You,” by Nirvana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKTRJZkNoSo
Nirvana are one of my all-time favorite bands. I have been listening to Nirvana since I started listening to music. It takes a special kind of person to create music from the heart and perform it in front of millions of people, and Kurt Cobain was one of those people. His life and career have fascinated me since I began listening to them. “Drain You” is a song of Nevermind, the band’s second album which was released in 1991. This is the album that features “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” arguably the group’s most famous song.
“Drain You” is on my play list because the strange combination of mysterious lyrics, a driving guitar riff, and an upbeat drumbeat blend perfectly to create a feel-good song. I have to sing along when I hear this song, and I have no idea why. One of my favorite lines is the first, which says, “One baby to another says ‘I’m lucky to have met you’/I don’t care what you think unless it is about me.” I love how you have to listen to Nirvana songs over and over to try and figure out what is really being said. The edgy guitar combined with Cobain’s haunting voice make this song part of me.
“Elder Misanthropy,” by the Black Dahlia Murder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQiKdaVkEWs
Metal, in any of its various forms, is all about the music. Musicianship is the name of the game. If you don’t have the sickest, fastest guitar riffs or the craziest drumbeats then chances are you won’t get too far in the genre. In all true modern metal, vocalists scream, or try to emulate some animal growling sound, instead of singing the words like in other genres. You can rarely understand what they are saying, and it’s very loud, just like all other aspects of metal music. Why? To put it bluntly, no one really cares what the vocalists are saying, but society for some reason has deemed that straight instrumentals just aren’t cool enough. In the 80’s, before metal had taken its current form, bands like Metallica tried to combine regular hard rock style vocals with the instrumental onslaught of the music. Old metalheads would prefer this style, but the metal that caught my eye was the kind with blazing guitar riffs and crazed individuals screaming their lungs out.
“Elder Misanthropy” made my play list because one of its riffs is basically the main reason I picked up a guitar. In middle school, I wanted to be a drummer. After being turned on to a few hardcore bands by my friends, however, it was guitar or nothing. To me, metal is about creating energy out of the music. When I listen to my favorite metal songs, the hair on my neck stands up and I get this feeling I can’t explain. After a less-than-ideal calculus test grade or a terrible Monday, when I feel like taking a brick to the next nice car, I listen to metal and I almost instantly become cool and relaxed, as if the music channeled my anger and frustration into something positive. When I hear the main riff in “Elder Misanthropy,” I can’t help but play air guitar and rock out, mainly because I am lame but also because of the energy that it creates. For this reason, “Elder Misanthropy” is me.
“Wailin’,” by Outkast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGZQ64uWmNQ
When I was a freshman in high school, I hated rap because the only “rap” I knew was the Top-40 version of hip-hop that you hear on the radio. As my friends gave me albums from artists that were doing the real thing, I began to appreciate the art of storytelling that is inherent in good rap. Outkast are one of my favorite rap groups because they represent the south and their lyrical technique is amazing to me. The way Andre “3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton work of each other is uncanny. Their unique styles and approach are perfect for each other, which is why they have been so successful. Outkast combines elements of soul, funk, jazz, blues, pop, and many other genres to create a sound that is unique among the rap artists of the late 80’s and early 90’s.
“Wailin’” in particular makes my list because the funky bass line used in combination with a jazzy guitar riff makes for a killer beat, not to mention the slick reference to The Usual Suspects. This is a pretty short song, as Andre and Big Boi have only one verse apiece, and the chorus is only some soulful humming with no “hook.” I like that these aspects result in a very atypical rap song. The combinations of different types of rhymes as well as a sharp vocabulary showcase the lyrical talent of the two Georgia-based rappers. As a senior, I put an edited version of this song on my school’s soccer team warm-up. This song always got me pumped up to stop shots and make the goal box my territory. For all of these reasons, “Wailin’” is me.
“This Velvet Glove,” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVcaArHvj0c
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are easily my favorite band of all time. Californication, released in 1999, was the very first CD I owned. Few artists are able to create music for as long as RHCP has with so much success. RHCP formed in 1983, and released their 9th full-length album in 2006. They have written more songs that I like than any other group.
“This Velvet Glove” makes my play list because I think it is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. Both acoustic and electric guitars are heard in the melody, and their sharp contrasts accentuate each other perfectly. Singer Anthony Kiedis’ pushes his voice to the limit in this song, and you can hear the emotion in his singing. Listening to “This Velvet Glove” relaxes and calms me down. One of my favorite lines reads, “It’s such a waste to be wasted in the first place/I want to taste the taste of being face to face with common grace/To meditate on the warmest dream/And when I walk alone I listen to our secret theme.” I really like how the verses are laid back and in the chorus everything picks up and gets more aggressive. This is my favorite song ever, and it had to be included in my play list.
“Stealy Man,” by Perpetual Groove
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKDjQYNaQAs&feature=related
I love this song because it has such an uplifting feel to it. Perpetual Groove are a 4-piece jam band that formed in 1997 in Savannah, Georgia. The founding members met while in school at the Savannah College of Art and Design, but have since relocated their center of operations to Athens, Georgia. Perpetual Groove exhibits elements of southern rock, blues, jazz, and soul in their music, all while striving for improvisational bliss. At one time the band played almost solely on the East coast, but their popularity has grown in the past four or five years to include an international fan base.
It was very difficult to pick the P-Groove song I wanted on my play list. I came to the decision of “Stealy Man” only after several tune sessions. I picked this song not only because it is one of my favorite songs of theirs, but also because it is one of their best songs to see live. While I still enjoy listening to their recorded music, Perpetual Groove is definitely a band to be seen live. Every show is a completely different experience because they work in so much improvisation to their songs on stage. The opening words are, “Sometimes it feels like the feeling should be grand/Strong winds from every direction.” I think this line refers to times in life when we feel as though we should be happier than we feel. My remedy for this particular type of blues is to remind myself that I’m just a huge whiner and life isn’t so bad. This song is my go to wake up call when I can’t do it myself.Annotated Playlist - Ben Atkinson
This song is country in its purest form. It has a slower pace and kind instrumentals that lend themselves to easy listening. The lyrics of the song go well with the music itself as well, as you may expect from a song called “It’s a Great Day to be Alive.” The song is quite convincing that its title is true, which makes listening to it all the more enjoyable. The lyric “it’s neither drink nor drug induced” separates the song from many other country songs (See “Alcohol”, “Sittin’ at the Bar”, “Drinkin’ Again”, “Whiskey for my Men Beer for my Horses”, etc...). This difference is very respectable and a refreshing change of pace.
I included this song because of how I can relate to the lyrics and the mood in creates. I find myself playing it often in the summer, when the stress of school is replaced by the realization that I am a 20 year old college student at a great university with the entire world in front of me. I feel like nearly every time I listen to this song it takes me to the exact place where Travis Tritt intended. It is also one of the first country songs I really enjoyed. I lived for 14 years in Philadelphia where country music is almost never played. When I heard this song for the first time and connected to it, it gave me a newfound appreciation for country music, which coincidentally is probably my favorite genre now.
Simple Man- Lynyrd Skynyrd
This is another great country song. It has a slower tempo also, but it is utilized to create a sort of seriousness to the mood. This semi-seriousness along with the lyrics makes me pay close attention to the message that he is saying his mother is telling him. The message itself, that he should live a simple life, is something you don’t see here only, but in many religions around the world. Just look at Christianity and just about all Eastern philosophies. The fact that the song articulates a value that is universally recognized makes it easy to understand and appreciate it.
I included this song because of how I feel about its lyrics. I personally often find myself being distracted by the superfluous things in life; we could all make our own list of them, I’m sure. I respect a person who lives a life in which their actions directly reflect their beliefs and whose beliefs are based upon a simple moral code of kindness. I feel as though simplicity is the way to come to respect this important moral construct. A strange, but interesting connection I make in my own head is one between this song and one of my favorite quotes.
“There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.” –Dalai Lama
Maybe Next Year- Corey Smith
This song is by one of my favorite artists, Corey Smith. He is a recently popular musician from Georgia who writes and performs his own music in bars across the South. I respect the fact that he has refused big record companies because he thinks the commercialization of country and southern rock music robs its meaning and turns it into a money making device. This song is about his life and how he is growing up and knows he needs to find a real job, get serious, and become part of the real world. As in many of his songs, he isn’t quite ready to do that and exclaims that “maybe next year” he’ll grow up.
I can identify this song because I am personally in a time of my life that makes me feel as though my “next year” is quickly approaching. As a second semester sophomore at this University I can safely say that I have enjoyed every moment of my time here to the fullest. I will always remember the last few years of my life, but as I transition to becoming an upper classman I feel it’s time to change. My recent admission to Kenan-Flagler will lead me to begin taking classes that I will need to utilize for whatever career I choose. Not only that, but my search for the career I want has officially started, with all of the internships I need to apply for and résumés I need to submit. This turning point is a very exciting, but somewhat nerve-racking leap into adulthood. It is a weird moment when you realize you are at a pivotal point in your life that will go a long way in defining you.
Piano Man- Billy Joel
This is possibly my favorite song. Billy Joel sings about a bar that I picture I a small town somewhere with a very static crowd. Each of the people he describes has some sort of ambition that is being held back by their current situation which drives them to the bar. They find refuge at the bar for two reasons. The first is that they are “sharing a drink they call loneliness, but its better than drinking alone.” The second is that the music that Billy Joel plays makes them forget about their lives and problems.
I included this song because alcoholism is very prevalent on both sides of my family, which puts me at quite a high risk myself. The people in the songs have driven themselves to the point where drinking is their release from life. I understand the feeling of sometimes wanting to escape from reality, but using alcohol to do this will only compound the issues and make life more difficult. Losing themselves in the music and seeking each other’s company is where they will find happiness. The dangerous overlap of these two paths is where many people fall the trap and sometimes never find their way out.
Stan- Eminem
Eminem is an incredibly controversial character, but is a master lyricist. I have to respect anyone who can be considered as one of the best at whichever endeavor they chose to undertake in their life. This song is about one of his biggest fans named Stan who feels like he can relate to Eminem about the issues they both have gone through in life. He writes him multiple letters in hopes of being written back. After not being written back for a while, Stan records a final tape of himself driving drunk off of a bridge with his pregnant girlfriend. The final verse is Eminem’s response to all of his earlier letters. While writing the letter he realizes that a terrible story he saw on the news was, in fact, Stan.
I included this song because it makes me think about how much power individuals who are role models really hold. It makes me think past the awful story in the song itself to my own life. I have a younger brother who is in 8th grade that looks up to me. I don’t always realize the bearing that my actions have on what he thinks and the choices he will make. It is my responsibility to reflect sounds character in my own actions so that he will do the same, hopefully even better than I have myself. This responsibility is one of the most important things in my life.
Party and Bullsh** in the USA- Notorious B.I.G. and Miley Cyrus
This song is an interesting mix up between two cultural extremes. The verses are taken from Notorious B.I.G’s “Party and Bullsh**” while the music and chorus are from Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA.” Notorious is the late famous rapper who is celebrated by the rap community as one of the two greatest rappers ever. His life reflected his lyrics (or at least it says so in the movie Notorious). Miley Cyrus is nearly the complete antithesis of her rapper counterpart. She got her start on the Disney Channel (enough said).
I included this song because I was amazed by how well the two songs meshed. It’s interesting to realize that two things so different can come together and create something brand new that is perhaps even better. This is an introduction to a lesson that we would all be better off learning. Instead of spiting each other because of our differences, just maybe we could use them to learn something new and use this new knowledge to make our lives that much better. I personally try to respect and understand the people I meet. This is important to me because of how much discrimination can truly skew reality and even worse, the damage this can cause. Like Biggie asks in the song, “Can’t we just all get along?”
Drift Away- Dobie Gray
This song is incredibly mellow and relaxing. It is about simply listening to a song and becoming lost in it and “drifting away.” Ironically enough, this song induces this feeling itself. The slow tempo of the bass in the verses give way to a more upbeat tempo in the chorus which takes the listener from calm and serene state to a content, if not happy one. Dobie Gray discovered gospel music through his Baptist grandfather and this soul is very prevalent in his music, especially this song.
I included this song because we all have our moments when we feel like life is moving just a little faster than we are. Listening to this song makes me feel detached from reality for a little, as if there is nothing else but me and the easiness of just being. This feeling usually calms me down and helps put life into perspective so I don’t feel as overwhelmed or stressed as I did before. I like the fact that this feeling is both articulated and induced by the music.
Skin of my Teeth- Corey Smith
This is another great song by Corey Smith. It is again about him and the fact he is not exactly a clean-cut, straight-edged adult. His lyrics embrace the fact that he may be less than perfect, but still has a reverence for God and knows that He can and will forgive him. One verse really sums up the point of the song:
Half a loser, I'm half a winner
I'm half a saint, and I'm half a sinner
I feed my soul on Sunday dinner
I'm every man of God
When times get hard, I hit my knees
And I praise the lord when he blesses me
I do my best to keep him pleased
I'm every man of God
He knows that despite his shortcomings, he is going to “make it to heaven by the skin of his teeth.”
I included this song because it makes me reflect on my own life in relation to how I live it and my religion. My entire life I have considered myself a Christian, although I have many reservations and issues. Despite these issues, I believe wholeheartedly in the overarching Christian ideal of kindness to others. I do make my fair share of mistakes, but it is reassuring to know that one mistake does not ruin everything and that we can live with our imperfections and still seek to do the best we can. I believe that doing the best we can is as much as any superior being, man, or woman could ever ask for. I feel like in this song Corey Smith resigns to the fact that he is only half-way there and doesn’t try to better himself, which is a trap that I hope I never find myself falling into. When we lose the will to become better people than we are is when I believe we cease truly living.