Modern American Music Post VII

So I may do more than one blog this week... I don't really know. It depends on if I get another bout of inspiration or not...

Anyway I was thinking about the hurricane (Sandy if we would like to use her proper name) and thought about how many songs are about rain and storms and such... Well I looked it up and as it turns out someone has already done an article/blog about it here.

While looking over the list I found that while it's true these are all hurricane songs they are not in fact any that I have really listened to. So I am now on a search and I challenge anyone who reads my blog to do the same. Find one song (or multiple if it suits your fancy) and post it in the comments. If it mentions a storm, rain, anything to do with this type of weather it is fair game. Metaphorical is fair and so is the song if it's only in the title.

Here are two now:

Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season-Jimmy Buffett

Let It Rain-Michael W. Smith (Worship song)

Have at it! And stay safe!

Modern American Music Post VI

So I have been having a hard time thinking of what to blog about and then my friend sent mea link to this song and I was like okay here it is.

Anyway I never knew I liked this type of music before this course and my friend started showing me older music that he likes.

This is a song sing by Billie Holiday called They Can't Take That Away From Me. The song itself shows how much has stayed the same in music as well as the incredible differences! First the subject of the song (love) is the same as so many popular songs we listen to today. However a big difference is that this actually seems to hold meaning. She isn't talking about how she loves him and blah blah blah heartbreak the end like most teen artists seem to these days. It also isn't all about sex but instead she shows an appreciation for how he smiles and how no one can take that feeling away from her.

Link to the song::

http://youtu.be/ehMx12dSF6w

It just amazes me how we have downgraded in such a way that we are derogatory more than actual meaningful.

Modern American Music V

Music theater (or theatre depending...) is one of my favorite things in the world. The combination of acting and music/singing is just one of the things I love. So here is a blog about a company I have come to adore.

Several years ago (2009) a theatre company was started by a bunch of college students attending the University of Michigan.

Now you may or may not have heard of them depending on how into 1) Harry Potter 2)YouTube sensations or 3) the Fox television show Glee (one of the founding members is now a main character on the show.)

As I was saying they really started after posting a series of videos on YouTube that when put together make up A Very Potter Musical. It was meant for them to be able to show their families and friends what they had thrown together and tadah! Hit!

Thus started Starkid Productions aka Team Starkid. This is of course a very slimmed down version of their story. They went on to do more musicals including A Very Potter Sequel, Me and My Dick (not child appropriate), Holy Musical B@man, and Starship.

Due to their rising popularity they have now headlined two tours of their own and created a fan base of crazy dorks just like they were and are.

For more detailed info here is their wiki page::

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarKid_Productions#section_1

And their official site where you can find links to the musicals::

http://www.teamstarkid.com/index.html

I strongly encourage you watch them as they are hilarious and the music is extremely catchy.

Modern American Music Post IV

Over the past couple weeks we have come upon talking about Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn and their partnership in their music. As we have talked and listened to the music I have found that I enjoy it very much.

The first time I had knowingly listened to a piece of their music was last Christmas season. Temple University put on a performance of the Nutcracker Suite with their Classical Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble. First the Classical Orchestra played Tchaikovsky's original piece the the Jazz Ensemble would follow with Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's version of the same piece.

My favorite piece was the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy/Sugar Rum Cherry. The description from the Master of Ceremonies was amusing as well as accurate. He said that Duke Ellington's version sounded like the fairies had a few too many drinks before doing the piece ending up making it sound sultry and boozy but amazing.

Here is a listening to the original and then the Ellington and Strayhorn version::

Tchaikovsky's:

http://youtu.be/Rapf3g_XvCc

Ellington and Strayhorn:

http://youtu.be/ONknTGUckKc

Modern American Music Post III

So taking kind of from the theme of what I commented on Erin's blog I'm going to talk about repetitive chord progression in popular music.

I am sure many of you have listened to Pachelbel's Canon in D and if not consciously you probably do know it regardless. It's a very commonly known piece but if you still aren't sure google it. Since this is being done off my iPod and not a computer there will no links so you will just have to look it up.

Obviously Pachelbel is not a modern American artist so you are probably confused as to why I mentioned it. Well Canon in D is a repeat of four chords over and over again to put it super simply. Four chords that are commonly found in pop songs today as well as some other types of music.

For examples of this look up Pachelbel Rant and there are also videos of a group that take all the songs and sort of smash them together.

This whole thing sort of reminds me of how when music was developing people would use music that they already knew from hymns and such for new songs because it was familiar. Just food for thought.

Anyway that's all I have for this week!!!

Amanda