The songs that made the Top 10 on the Billboard Charts were not the same types of songs that made our class lists as the best songs of all time. The songs on the Billboard Charts were the pop songs of today’s young America. These songs included hits by T.I, Katy Perry, Beyonce, Pink, and Britney Spears.
There are not many poetic characteristics in these songs. However, some have a few literary devices. Katy Perry’s song “Hot N Cold” includes many similes (“you change your mind like a girl changes clothes”), metaphors (“stuck on a roller coaster and I can’t get off this ride, and paradoxes (“you’re hot then you’re cold”). I think this song had the most poetic merit. I believe that these songs are considered today’s top music because they are very catchy songs. The songs do not seem to have much significance when it comes to the lyrics except that American can relate to them. The majority of the songs that made the top list talk about romantic relationships. Six out of the ten songs talk about relationships. This proves my idea that people like these songs because they can relate to content. This says a lot about today’s modern American culture. The content of the lyrics are not very extraordinary. They are, in a way, about things that do not actually matter in the world. The lyrics hold no true significance they are just pop songs played for pure pleasure and no other reason. I think it is very sad that these songs are considered the top songs in America, but that just may be because I do not like pop music.
Popular music uses gender roles in almost all of the songs that made the Billboard Charts. Four of the Top 10 songs are a female singing about how senseless men are. They are degrading to men. Another example of gender roles is in T.I’s song “Whatever You Like”. In this song T.I talks about how he can make any woman happy. He can be a true provider for a woman and she could have “whatever she like”. These lyrics suggest that women are dependant on men when in reality I believe that women are becoming increasingly more independent.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
BACKMASKING
1. The Beatle's song "Help" claims to have the words "Now he uses marijuana" when played backwards. I do not hear these words and I do not think that the Beatle's meant for it to sound like this.
2. Santana's song when played backwards says the words "I'll remind you to say yes". This is a very good example of backmasking and the words are very clear. This was probably an intentional exmaple of reverse speech.
3. Mariah Carey's song is also an example that I think has intentional backmasking. When played backwards, the song clearly says " Yes, I am a woman now". In fact, I found it difficult to understand what she was saying when the song was played regularly but understood what it said when it was played backwords.
4. The Spice Girl's song couyld also be considered tgo have intentional backmasking. you can clearly hear the words " Was I easy? Have fun." when the song is played backwards. It makes sense that they would put this in the song backwards because when plyed regularly the son says "Im not that easy".
5. I do not beleive that the words " I love satan within" were intentionally backmasked into Santana's song. The words are not clear and it does not even seem like it is saying that.
6. I think the same about Sting's song. I do not hear the words "He scared me hidden, hear me please". Nor do i think that that sentence make sense so i do not think that it was intentionally back masked into the song.
7. Cheaptrick's song Gonna Raise Hell says the words "satan hold the key to the lock" when it is played backwrods. I beleive that it was intentionally put in there, however you can only hear it when they play the song backwards super slow.
8. I do not think that the Rolling Stone's purposely backmasked the words " I love you said the devil" into their song. I do nto hear those words at all when the song is played backwords. I actually do not hear any words at all.
9. Iron Maiden's song "Still life" clearly has the words "the man of evil is here" when its played backwards. This backmasking was most likely intenional because the words are very evident and easily understood.
10. Alanis Morisette's song claims to have the words "high in LA" in it when played backwards. I can understand the words but i do not think that it was intentionally put in the song.
2. Santana's song when played backwards says the words "I'll remind you to say yes". This is a very good example of backmasking and the words are very clear. This was probably an intentional exmaple of reverse speech.
3. Mariah Carey's song is also an example that I think has intentional backmasking. When played backwards, the song clearly says " Yes, I am a woman now". In fact, I found it difficult to understand what she was saying when the song was played regularly but understood what it said when it was played backwords.
4. The Spice Girl's song couyld also be considered tgo have intentional backmasking. you can clearly hear the words " Was I easy? Have fun." when the song is played backwards. It makes sense that they would put this in the song backwards because when plyed regularly the son says "Im not that easy".
5. I do not beleive that the words " I love satan within" were intentionally backmasked into Santana's song. The words are not clear and it does not even seem like it is saying that.
6. I think the same about Sting's song. I do not hear the words "He scared me hidden, hear me please". Nor do i think that that sentence make sense so i do not think that it was intentionally back masked into the song.
7. Cheaptrick's song Gonna Raise Hell says the words "satan hold the key to the lock" when it is played backwrods. I beleive that it was intentionally put in there, however you can only hear it when they play the song backwards super slow.
8. I do not think that the Rolling Stone's purposely backmasked the words " I love you said the devil" into their song. I do nto hear those words at all when the song is played backwords. I actually do not hear any words at all.
9. Iron Maiden's song "Still life" clearly has the words "the man of evil is here" when its played backwards. This backmasking was most likely intenional because the words are very evident and easily understood.
10. Alanis Morisette's song claims to have the words "high in LA" in it when played backwards. I can understand the words but i do not think that it was intentionally put in the song.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Big D and The Kids Table
Big D and The Kids Table is a ska/ punk band. They are not too popular but that is because their genre is not very popular. They are considered an underground band, like most ska/ punk bands including Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish. Big D came together ten years ago when the band met in a college in Boston. They put on insane live, local shows in dorms, halls, clubs and basements all over New England. Big D formed their own label, Fork in Hand Records to put out their first album, Shot by Lemmi in 1997. The band has built a very vibrant punk/ska scene around themselves.
However, before they hit the studio, Big D was contracted by SideOneDummy Records who told them, “You need to do a ska record. You need to do the album that ska music needs,”. McWane of Big D says, “So we decided to do it, and it was awesome”. Their career is successful and although they are not in a popular genre, they are a very popular band among the very few ska fans. Big D and the Kids Table plays an average of 200 shows a year and plans on taking things up a notch to lead ska’s next big resurgence.
Big D’s albums are very adventurous and fun. They have faster songs while they also have slower ones. Their album Strictly Rude released March 20, 2007 includes both types of their songs. The album includes a dancy opener, “Steady Riot” and the creepy, ominous “Snakebite”. The fourteenth track on Strictly Rude, “The One”, is an upbeat, sunny song. This song sends a message of optimism. The songs also has different points of view.
"The One" involves someone convincing their friend that their girlfriend is trouble and that he deserves better, “That woman is trouble. You’ve got to wake up. I know you wanna love her for the rest of your life. But man, there are much kinder girls here tonight.” This song is an excellent example of optimism in ska/punk music. Another example of optimism in "The One" is "And if you keep that smile then you'll find a way. And if you keep your sun out then you'll find a way. And if you keep the pressure down you'll find a way." Big D is sending a very strong message that if one stays positive, then they will find a way through obstacles and difficult times. In the middle of the song, Big D changes the point of view to that of the friend receiving the advice, "But what if I get lost? And what if I can't find? A girl to take care of, a girl to be just mine?" Then the point of view returns to the original narrator and Big D strikes again with an awesome line of guidance and reassurance, "No need to worry now, the one will come around. No need to worry now, the one will come around." Clearly, this is a very influential band sending direction and posterity to their fans.
Big D and The Kids Table has many songs. "The One" is not their most popular but thier fans find it to be a total hit. The song has a good flow and a catchy tune. Like most ska songs, "The One" is very upbeat and positive.
P.S CHECK OUT MY PLAYLIST TO HEAR "THE ONE" AND OTHER INSANELY AWESOME SKA SONGS!
However, before they hit the studio, Big D was contracted by SideOneDummy Records who told them, “You need to do a ska record. You need to do the album that ska music needs,”. McWane of Big D says, “So we decided to do it, and it was awesome”. Their career is successful and although they are not in a popular genre, they are a very popular band among the very few ska fans. Big D and the Kids Table plays an average of 200 shows a year and plans on taking things up a notch to lead ska’s next big resurgence.
Big D’s albums are very adventurous and fun. They have faster songs while they also have slower ones. Their album Strictly Rude released March 20, 2007 includes both types of their songs. The album includes a dancy opener, “Steady Riot” and the creepy, ominous “Snakebite”. The fourteenth track on Strictly Rude, “The One”, is an upbeat, sunny song. This song sends a message of optimism. The songs also has different points of view.
"The One" involves someone convincing their friend that their girlfriend is trouble and that he deserves better, “That woman is trouble. You’ve got to wake up. I know you wanna love her for the rest of your life. But man, there are much kinder girls here tonight.” This song is an excellent example of optimism in ska/punk music. Another example of optimism in "The One" is "And if you keep that smile then you'll find a way. And if you keep your sun out then you'll find a way. And if you keep the pressure down you'll find a way." Big D is sending a very strong message that if one stays positive, then they will find a way through obstacles and difficult times. In the middle of the song, Big D changes the point of view to that of the friend receiving the advice, "But what if I get lost? And what if I can't find? A girl to take care of, a girl to be just mine?" Then the point of view returns to the original narrator and Big D strikes again with an awesome line of guidance and reassurance, "No need to worry now, the one will come around. No need to worry now, the one will come around." Clearly, this is a very influential band sending direction and posterity to their fans.
Big D and The Kids Table has many songs. "The One" is not their most popular but thier fans find it to be a total hit. The song has a good flow and a catchy tune. Like most ska songs, "The One" is very upbeat and positive.
P.S CHECK OUT MY PLAYLIST TO HEAR "THE ONE" AND OTHER INSANELY AWESOME SKA SONGS!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
CONTRASTING DICTIONS BY LESS THAN JAKE
Less Than Jake is a Ska-Punk band from Gainesville Florida. They have had a musical career for a decade and a half now. Thier latest CD was released summer of 2008, "LTJ GNV FLA". They are also making re-releases of thier previous albums. For fifteen years Less Than Jake (LTJ) has been traveling the world and participating in shows like Warped Tour and opening for bands like Bon Jovi. Vinnie of LTJ says, " Each record is a snapshot of who the band is and was at the moment of writing and recording". Like many artists, LTJ includes many different dictions, or choices of words, in thier music. Between the old albums and the new there are many contradicting dictions. Two of thier songs, "Dopeman" and "Does the Lion City Still Roar?", exemplify LTJ's ability to produce many songs but using contrasting forms of diction.
Less Than Jake's song "Dopeman" has a very basic form of dicton. The lyrics are very easy to follow and understand. These lyrics do not have very difficultwords and therefore uses a very simple form of diction. "Dopeman dopeman's got another big plan, to sell it to you or anyone he can", this shows the simplicity of the song. LTJ uses rhyming words to make it a catchy song. The song is about somebody persuing a career in the dealing of drugs because it is easy and it is better than minimum wage, "because this is much better than minimum wage. no matter how things work he's still gonna get paid. think about it for a minute more -it's either work at McDonalds or the corner store. a quick money fix from a deal or 2. when a decision comes downwhat would you do?" The words used in the song "Dopeman" are very basic and get the plot, or point, of the song across without requiring much thought or intelect. The entire song uses small, rhyming words and alot of repetion, continuously repeating the line "dopeman dopeman". This song greatly exemplifies simple, basic diction in the writing of music.
On the other hand, LTJ have also written music where the diction is not so incomplex. Their song "Does the Lion City Still Roar?" uses a much more intense form of diction. This song is not so simple. One would have to analyze the lyrics to discover what the song is talking about. The song is not very apparent, "I'll keep my faith alive Cause this is apparent as a parasite I can't believe this sight Streets full of blank faces and junky eyes The streets won't sleep tonight A lullaby for the half-alive The city swings and whines To the double crime of drugs and hard times". These are the first lines of the song and I had no idea what they meant. These lyrics give the listener more room for imagination. This song is obviously not as clear and apparent as "Dopeman".
Songs by the same musician often involve different forms of diction. They do this to target different groups of people. "Dopeman" and "Does the Lion City Still Roar" have contrasting dictions. Contradicting dictions allow songs to vary and be different than eachother.
Less Than Jake's song "Dopeman" has a very basic form of dicton. The lyrics are very easy to follow and understand. These lyrics do not have very difficultwords and therefore uses a very simple form of diction. "Dopeman dopeman's got another big plan, to sell it to you or anyone he can", this shows the simplicity of the song. LTJ uses rhyming words to make it a catchy song. The song is about somebody persuing a career in the dealing of drugs because it is easy and it is better than minimum wage, "because this is much better than minimum wage. no matter how things work he's still gonna get paid. think about it for a minute more -it's either work at McDonalds or the corner store. a quick money fix from a deal or 2. when a decision comes downwhat would you do?" The words used in the song "Dopeman" are very basic and get the plot, or point, of the song across without requiring much thought or intelect. The entire song uses small, rhyming words and alot of repetion, continuously repeating the line "dopeman dopeman". This song greatly exemplifies simple, basic diction in the writing of music.
On the other hand, LTJ have also written music where the diction is not so incomplex. Their song "Does the Lion City Still Roar?" uses a much more intense form of diction. This song is not so simple. One would have to analyze the lyrics to discover what the song is talking about. The song is not very apparent, "I'll keep my faith alive Cause this is apparent as a parasite I can't believe this sight Streets full of blank faces and junky eyes The streets won't sleep tonight A lullaby for the half-alive The city swings and whines To the double crime of drugs and hard times". These are the first lines of the song and I had no idea what they meant. These lyrics give the listener more room for imagination. This song is obviously not as clear and apparent as "Dopeman".
Songs by the same musician often involve different forms of diction. They do this to target different groups of people. "Dopeman" and "Does the Lion City Still Roar" have contrasting dictions. Contradicting dictions allow songs to vary and be different than eachother.
SONGS FOR PLAYLIST :)
5 songs that will be included in my play list next week will be:
How It Goes By: Big D and The Kids Table
The Science of Selling Yourself By: Less Than Jake
Dopeman By: Less Than Jake
Mowtown Never Sounded So Good By: Less Than Jake
Sell Out By: Reel Big Fish
How It Goes By: Big D and The Kids Table
The Science of Selling Yourself By: Less Than Jake
Dopeman By: Less Than Jake
Mowtown Never Sounded So Good By: Less Than Jake
Sell Out By: Reel Big Fish
Thursday, September 25, 2008
"Badfish"
When you grab a hold of me You tell me that I'll never be set freeI'm a parasite,creep and crawl I step into the night.Two pints of boozeTell me are you a badfish too? Are you a badfish too?Ain't got no money to spendI know the night will never endLord knows I'm weakWon't somebody get me off of this reefBaby your a big blue whaleGrab the reef when all duck diving failsI swim but wish I never learnedThe water's too polluted with germsI dive deep when it's ten feet overheadGrab the reef underneath my bedAin't got no quarrels with god Ain't got no time to grow oldLord knows I'm weakWon't somebody get me off of this reefAin't got no quarrels with God Ain't got no time to grow oldLord knows I'm weakWon't somebody get me off of this reef
Monday, September 22, 2008
METAPHORS IN SUBLIME'S "BADFISH"
In literature, and often in music, writers will use techniques such as analogies and metaphors to compare two topics. The band sublime plays punk/ raggae music. However, thier music may sometimes be considered ska music. The song "Badfish" by Sublime involves multiple metaphors.
There are many metaphors in the song "Badfish". In this song, the writer refers to himself as a "Badfish". He also refers to himself as a parasite, "I'm a parasite, creep and crawl into the night". The artist sees himself as a small parasite, in the sense that he does not really matter much as a person. "Aint got no money to spend I know the night will never end Lord knows im weak Wont somebody get me off of this reef". He feels like he does not mean alot because he has no money and he is a weak person. Another metaphor in this song is that the artist is referring to the tough time in his life as a reef.
Clearly this song has a lot of metaphors. "Badfish" is a very negative song. This song is a good example of pessimism in ska music .
There are many metaphors in the song "Badfish". In this song, the writer refers to himself as a "Badfish". He also refers to himself as a parasite, "I'm a parasite, creep and crawl into the night". The artist sees himself as a small parasite, in the sense that he does not really matter much as a person. "Aint got no money to spend I know the night will never end Lord knows im weak Wont somebody get me off of this reef". He feels like he does not mean alot because he has no money and he is a weak person. Another metaphor in this song is that the artist is referring to the tough time in his life as a reef.
Clearly this song has a lot of metaphors. "Badfish" is a very negative song. This song is a good example of pessimism in ska music .
IRONY IN ALANIS MORRISETTE
There are many music artists that use irony in their writing. Alanis Morrisette focuses on irony in her song “Ironic“. Alanis Morrisette is very popular in the United States. “ Ironic” is one of her more popular songs. The song includes many examples of irony, although some of the examples are not actually ironic. Thus, making the title of the song “Ironic” very ironic because the song is not entirely ironic.
An excellent example of irony in the song “Ironic” would be , “It’s a death row pardon two minutes too late”. This would be ironic because someone that was about to be let off death row but he dies two minutes before. The person was going to be given their life when in fact their life was actually taken from them. Another example of irony would be, “It’s a black fly on your Chardonnay”. This is a clear example of irony because Chardonnay is a very classy drink. A black fly is very gross and dirty. High class chardonnay and a dirty fly are very opposite and represent two totally different things. Its ironic also because when someone has a classy drink one would never expect to have a dirty fly around it.
On the other hand, some of the lines in the song are not ironic at all. One can see how Alanis thought they would be ironic when they are just unfortunate coincidences. An example of this would be, “It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take”. This is not ironic because the person knew it was good advice but chose not to take it anyway. They knew what the advice was and they chose not to take it. Therefore, it is not ironic because it was their own fault that they did not take it. Some of the examples in the song are definitely not ironic . One example of these would be, “A traffic jam when your already late”. It would not be ironic at all to come to a traffic jam if one is already running late. They are already running late so it does not matter if they are more late or not. They already expected to be late anyways. It would be ironic if someone left their house earlier than usual to be on time but got caught in a traffic jam and ended up being late anyways.
Alyssa Poirier
An excellent example of irony in the song “Ironic” would be , “It’s a death row pardon two minutes too late”. This would be ironic because someone that was about to be let off death row but he dies two minutes before. The person was going to be given their life when in fact their life was actually taken from them. Another example of irony would be, “It’s a black fly on your Chardonnay”. This is a clear example of irony because Chardonnay is a very classy drink. A black fly is very gross and dirty. High class chardonnay and a dirty fly are very opposite and represent two totally different things. Its ironic also because when someone has a classy drink one would never expect to have a dirty fly around it.
On the other hand, some of the lines in the song are not ironic at all. One can see how Alanis thought they would be ironic when they are just unfortunate coincidences. An example of this would be, “It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take”. This is not ironic because the person knew it was good advice but chose not to take it anyway. They knew what the advice was and they chose not to take it. Therefore, it is not ironic because it was their own fault that they did not take it. Some of the examples in the song are definitely not ironic . One example of these would be, “A traffic jam when your already late”. It would not be ironic at all to come to a traffic jam if one is already running late. They are already running late so it does not matter if they are more late or not. They already expected to be late anyways. It would be ironic if someone left their house earlier than usual to be on time but got caught in a traffic jam and ended up being late anyways.
Alyssa Poirier
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
TIMELINE OF JIMI HENDRIX'S LIFE
1942- Born November 27
1958- father bought him first guitar
1958- joined first band called "The Velvetones"
1961- left home to enlist in U.S. army
1962- Earned right to wear "Screaming Eagles" patch for paratrooping in the Army
1965- played with Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, The Isley Brothers, and Little Richard
1966- began playing at small venues ( got signed by Chad Chandler)
1967- moved to London where his song "Hey Joe" topped U.K charts at #6
June 1967- Returned to America
1968- took greater control over the direction of his music
1969- music grew significantly
1970- died of o.d
10 interesting things about Jimi Hendrix
1. His mother was a Cherokee Indian
2. One of few lefty guitarists
3. He played guitar upside down because it was right handed. He could not afford another one
4. He was a comepletely self -taught musician who could not read music
5. Was in the U.S Army
6. Left Army with a paratrooping injury
7. He could play guitar with his teeth and also behind his head
8. Rather than smashing guitars after performances he lit them on fire
9. His manager Michael Jeffery had him kidnapped for 2 days by "New York Mobsters" and then "rescued" him to bolster his role as manager
10. Died choking on his own vomit after overdosing on 9 pills of barbiturate vesperax
HENDRIX 'HEY JOE' SOLO WITH HIS TEETH
2. One of few lefty guitarists
3. He played guitar upside down because it was right handed. He could not afford another one
4. He was a comepletely self -taught musician who could not read music
5. Was in the U.S Army
6. Left Army with a paratrooping injury
7. He could play guitar with his teeth and also behind his head
8. Rather than smashing guitars after performances he lit them on fire
9. His manager Michael Jeffery had him kidnapped for 2 days by "New York Mobsters" and then "rescued" him to bolster his role as manager
10. Died choking on his own vomit after overdosing on 9 pills of barbiturate vesperax
HENDRIX 'HEY JOE' SOLO WITH HIS TEETH
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
