Presentation Day: Thursday, December 10th, 2009.
For your final presentation (which counts as your final exam mark), you need to present and discuss a recent English song. The song should not be older than 15 years.
You need to hand in a typed document which should contain the following:
1) Metadata
2) Full lyrics and indication of the Song Structure.
3) A summary of the lyrics, the topic and the themes, as well as identification of poetic devices, if any.
- Becoming Familiar with a Song
- Topic, Idea, and Theme
- Mention its social significance. (E.g. Does it have any effecy on society? Does it make social comment? Is it representative of social or political ideas?)
4) A full analysis of the music:
- Melody: Use appropriate vocabulary like “pitch,” “scales,” “melodic contour,” “ascending and descending motion,” “range,” “countermelody,” and so on.
- Harmony: Use appropriate vocabulary like “chord progression” and “dissonance and consonance.”
- Rhythm: Use appropriate vocabulary like “polyrhythm,” “syncopation,” and so on.
- Other: Orchestration & Instruments Dynamics / Timbre / Texture / Density / Form
5) A historic contextualization (Which previous genres influenced this song).
- Write a short essay in which you discuss what genres of music influenced the song you are presenting.
Keep the complexity of the song in mind:
Choose your song carefully. Keep the level of complexity of the song in mind. If the song that you choose is complex, you will probably have more to say about it. An analysis of a complex song is likely to get higher grades than an easy analysis of a simple song. However, if the song is too complex, it may take too long to discuss, which means that you may not be able to finish it in time.
Class presentation:
Your class presentation should be a summary of your full analysis. During your presentation you will play the song to the class and provide the metadata, and the lyrics with the song structure indicated; after which you summarize the lyrics, indicating the topic & idea, and theme(s). Also point out poetic devices if appropriate. Finally, give a short analysis of the music with reference to the melody, harmony, rhythm, and other important aspects. You do not have to play the whole song, you need only play sections that will reveal the points you wish to explain. Remember to mention the historical musical influences on the song, and be sure to mention if the song has any social significance.
Your whole presentation should be around 5 minutes.
Showing posts with label Assignment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Assignment. Show all posts
Assignment: The Dark Side of Rock 'n Roll -- Sex, Drugs, and Violence
Write an essay in which you discuss the problem of violence, sex and drugs in Rock Music. Take a personal opinion and then connect your discussion with any artist(s) of your choice and give examples from lyrics where appropriate. Your essay should contain references to other sources, with correct citation where appropriate.
More Rock Subgenres: Alternative & Punk
Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, College Rock, Grunge
Another subgenre of Rock Music is Alternative Rock, and refers to rock music that is not as popular as some of the other mainstream rock bands. It is rooted in the smaller bands that often played at colleges, and which created an alternative and more creative sound. Since many of these bands were not picked up by the big music producers, they were more likely to produce their own music independently. They are therefore also known as independent rock, or indie rock.
Alt-rock songs frequently focus on social issues, or reflected the angst and expectations of the youth in the 80s and 90s.
One of the early alt-rock bands to become very successful is R.E.M. Below is their song “It’s the End of the World.”
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock which started in the Seattle area with bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Hammerbox, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. The grunge-sound usually had a slower tempo than the typical rock music, but still retained a heavy distorted electric guitars, dissonant harmonies and complex orchestration, although it is generally not as dense as hard rock and heavy metal.
Thematically grunge focuses on feelings of apathy, angst, “outsidership” (feelings of social alientation), and a bleak view of the future. Some grunge songs, however, are satirical, made fun at the issues they contemplated.
Many Alternative bands gained a cult following. Few bands had a cult following like the grunge band Nirvana. Listen to “It Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “In Bloom.” Identify the topics and themes for each of these songs.
Another grunge band from Seattle is Pearl Jam, which became “the most popular American rock & roll band of the 90s,” according to Stephen Erlewine. Listen to Pearl Jam’s “Alive”; how would you describe the message of this song? Is it a positive or a negative message?
A very diverse alternative rock band is The Smashing Pumpkins. Listen to their song “The World is a Vampire.” What do you think is meant by this metaphor?
The UK alternative band, Placebo, is another band that sings about topics of (teenage) angst and uncertainty. Gender issues are also a common theme in some alternative rock bands, for instance Placebo’s song “Nancy Boy.” My personal favorite Placebo song is “Protect Me from What I Want,” especially the French version.
Punk Rock
Punk Rock is another alternative rock genre noted for their high rhythmic density, but fairly low instrumental density. The lyrics are usually short and often cover socio-political themes and anti-establishment or anarchistic topics. The vocals in punk rock are usually high pitched, generally with an adolescent sound.
The artist Patti Smith is known as the "Godmother of Punk." She combined “beat poetry” with fast paced rock music – creating a style that would be taken up by other artists and would become the familiar punk rock sound. Her song “Because the Night,” which was co-written with Bruce Springsteen, is probably her most recognizable.
Another original punk band is the Sex Pistols. Here is there famous (and controversial) “God Save the Queen”:
What do you think is the political message sent by the song? What themes does it address?
Green Day is one of the most successful Punk Rock bands. They have been nominated at the American Music Awards for Favorite Alternate Artist on numerous occasions. In 1995 their album “Dookie” won the Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Album, in 2000 “American Idiot” won Best Rock Album and in 2006 they won Record of the Year for “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”
We will listen to “Basket Case” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”
Other famous Punk Rock bands include The Offspring and Blink 182. Good representative examples of their music are“Hit That” by The Offspring and “All the Small Things” by Blink 182.
Extra Credit Assignment: “Did Punk Rock evolve from Blue Grass?” In an essay, answer the question above. Remember to motivate your answer with examples. The assignment should be handed in before the final exams start.
Another subgenre of Rock Music is Alternative Rock, and refers to rock music that is not as popular as some of the other mainstream rock bands. It is rooted in the smaller bands that often played at colleges, and which created an alternative and more creative sound. Since many of these bands were not picked up by the big music producers, they were more likely to produce their own music independently. They are therefore also known as independent rock, or indie rock.
Alt-rock songs frequently focus on social issues, or reflected the angst and expectations of the youth in the 80s and 90s.
One of the early alt-rock bands to become very successful is R.E.M. Below is their song “It’s the End of the World.”
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock which started in the Seattle area with bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Hammerbox, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. The grunge-sound usually had a slower tempo than the typical rock music, but still retained a heavy distorted electric guitars, dissonant harmonies and complex orchestration, although it is generally not as dense as hard rock and heavy metal.
Thematically grunge focuses on feelings of apathy, angst, “outsidership” (feelings of social alientation), and a bleak view of the future. Some grunge songs, however, are satirical, made fun at the issues they contemplated.
Many Alternative bands gained a cult following. Few bands had a cult following like the grunge band Nirvana. Listen to “It Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “In Bloom.” Identify the topics and themes for each of these songs.
Another grunge band from Seattle is Pearl Jam, which became “the most popular American rock & roll band of the 90s,” according to Stephen Erlewine. Listen to Pearl Jam’s “Alive”; how would you describe the message of this song? Is it a positive or a negative message?
A very diverse alternative rock band is The Smashing Pumpkins. Listen to their song “The World is a Vampire.” What do you think is meant by this metaphor?
The UK alternative band, Placebo, is another band that sings about topics of (teenage) angst and uncertainty. Gender issues are also a common theme in some alternative rock bands, for instance Placebo’s song “Nancy Boy.” My personal favorite Placebo song is “Protect Me from What I Want,” especially the French version.
Punk Rock
Punk Rock is another alternative rock genre noted for their high rhythmic density, but fairly low instrumental density. The lyrics are usually short and often cover socio-political themes and anti-establishment or anarchistic topics. The vocals in punk rock are usually high pitched, generally with an adolescent sound.
The artist Patti Smith is known as the "Godmother of Punk." She combined “beat poetry” with fast paced rock music – creating a style that would be taken up by other artists and would become the familiar punk rock sound. Her song “Because the Night,” which was co-written with Bruce Springsteen, is probably her most recognizable.
Another original punk band is the Sex Pistols. Here is there famous (and controversial) “God Save the Queen”:
What do you think is the political message sent by the song? What themes does it address?
Green Day is one of the most successful Punk Rock bands. They have been nominated at the American Music Awards for Favorite Alternate Artist on numerous occasions. In 1995 their album “Dookie” won the Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Album, in 2000 “American Idiot” won Best Rock Album and in 2006 they won Record of the Year for “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”
We will listen to “Basket Case” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”
Other famous Punk Rock bands include The Offspring and Blink 182. Good representative examples of their music are“Hit That” by The Offspring and “All the Small Things” by Blink 182.
Extra Credit Assignment: “Did Punk Rock evolve from Blue Grass?” In an essay, answer the question above. Remember to motivate your answer with examples. The assignment should be handed in before the final exams start.
Topic, (Controlling) Idea, and Theme
When we discuss the lyrics of the song, we have to mention what it is about – in other words, what is the topic of the song. The topic is the subject that the song is concerned with. To find the topic it is often useful to summarize the song as shortly as possible, preferably in one sentence. Take for instance the song “Who Makes You Feel” by Dido that we listened to earlier. The topic of this song is the relationship of the narrator and her lover.
Knowing the topic, however, is not enough. A song is not merely a topic; it is something about a topic. It is true that the topic of “Who Makes You Feel” is the relationship between the narrator and her lover; but what about the relationship? What is the (controlling) idea that the narrator (or lyricist) wants to get across through this song? In “Who Makes You Feel” the controlling idea is: In no other relationship will the lover feel as good and loved, as in the relationship with the narrator.
In short, the topic is “relationship,” and the controlling idea is that “our relationship makes you feel the best.”
Apart from the topic and its related controlling idea, one can also identify the bigger idea in the lyric, known as theme. While the topic is specific, the theme is more general. In literature there are a number of themes that are relatively easily identifiable. The most common theme in music is the theme of “love.” The theme in “Who Makes You Feel” is also love; possibly unreciprocated love.
Assignment:
Choose any song by Dido or Björk, copy down the lyrics and identify the topic and idea, as well as the theme(s). Write a paragraph or two in which you explain the topic, idea, and theme. The assignment is due Noverber 19th.
Knowing the topic, however, is not enough. A song is not merely a topic; it is something about a topic. It is true that the topic of “Who Makes You Feel” is the relationship between the narrator and her lover; but what about the relationship? What is the (controlling) idea that the narrator (or lyricist) wants to get across through this song? In “Who Makes You Feel” the controlling idea is: In no other relationship will the lover feel as good and loved, as in the relationship with the narrator.
In short, the topic is “relationship,” and the controlling idea is that “our relationship makes you feel the best.”
Apart from the topic and its related controlling idea, one can also identify the bigger idea in the lyric, known as theme. While the topic is specific, the theme is more general. In literature there are a number of themes that are relatively easily identifiable. The most common theme in music is the theme of “love.” The theme in “Who Makes You Feel” is also love; possibly unreciprocated love.
Assignment:
Choose any song by Dido or Björk, copy down the lyrics and identify the topic and idea, as well as the theme(s). Write a paragraph or two in which you explain the topic, idea, and theme. The assignment is due Noverber 19th.
A Big Change: Postmodernism & The Beatles
In the 50s Elvis Presley was the most important figure. In the 60s it was The Beatles.
The 1960s was a tumultuous time in Western History. It is also the time that Postmodernism started. Postmodernism is the zeitgeist (spirit of the times / era) that started in the 60s and we are still living in it today. Before Postmodernism was Modernism (not to be confused with the Modern Era). Modernism, which started around the time of the Industrial Revolution, is characterized by the belief that science has all the answers, everything can be explained, everything can be labeled (named), and demarcated; in short, that man has all the answers.
Two world wars later and the new generation realized that man do not have all the answers. This new generation protested against all Grand Narratives of the time. The term “Grand Narratives” refer to any system of authority (for instance Science, Religion, Political Ideologies, etc.) that pretends to have all the answers. Instead Postmodernism rebels against such systems of authority, questioning their claim to truth, and breaking down their label systems and demarcations (this is called “Deconstruction”).
It was during this time (1964) that The Beatles enters the stage of the world’s history.
Watch the short documentary film below about The Beatles-phenomena.
How is the sound of The Beatles different from the Rock 'n Roll that preceded it? In the video above, when the reporter asks them what is their sound, how does it differ from other Rock ‘n Roll, they answer: “It doesn’t really.” Crossroads in Music (p. 219) confirms that “The Beatles’ styles was acclaimed as new even though their music was simply a combination of pop and rockabilly styles…” Maybe the difference was not in how they sounded, but what they represents. "The Beatles themselves seem to have no illusions. They symbolize the 20th century non-heroes, as they make non-music, wear non-haircuts, give non-mercy…” These "non-" prefixes is representative of Postmodernism that refuses to be demarkated, or labeled. In a sense, The Beatles became a symbol for this new zeitgeist.
Let's listen to some examples of songs by The Beatles.
To show that they are a continuation of what preceded them, here are The Beatles performing the old spiritual "When the Saints Go Marchin' In," which was also recorded by Elvis (see here).
Of course it is their other songs that are more popular, like "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "She Loves You," "Hey Jude," and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds":
Look at the lyrics of "I Want to Hold Your Hand." What part is the chorus? Is the hook part of the chorus?
This last song, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," sounds different from the previous songs. Try to identify the difference and describe it.
Assignment:
Write a short essay in which you explain what "Postmodernism" is. Cite sources.
The 1960s was a tumultuous time in Western History. It is also the time that Postmodernism started. Postmodernism is the zeitgeist (spirit of the times / era) that started in the 60s and we are still living in it today. Before Postmodernism was Modernism (not to be confused with the Modern Era). Modernism, which started around the time of the Industrial Revolution, is characterized by the belief that science has all the answers, everything can be explained, everything can be labeled (named), and demarcated; in short, that man has all the answers.
Two world wars later and the new generation realized that man do not have all the answers. This new generation protested against all Grand Narratives of the time. The term “Grand Narratives” refer to any system of authority (for instance Science, Religion, Political Ideologies, etc.) that pretends to have all the answers. Instead Postmodernism rebels against such systems of authority, questioning their claim to truth, and breaking down their label systems and demarcations (this is called “Deconstruction”).
It was during this time (1964) that The Beatles enters the stage of the world’s history.
When someone says "music of the 1950's", they mean the "sound of the 50's" which occurred primarily in songs between 1955 and 1963. And, when someone says "music of the 1960's", they mean the "sound of the 60's", meaning primarily music between 1964 and1970, the actual Beatles era.
In fact, today, when radio stations like FM, AM or SiriusXM Satellite channels that play "oldies" music actually categorize their music, they often use these divisions.
For example, The 50's Channel on SiriusXM really only plays hit songs from 1955 to 1963 (and NOT 1950 to 1959 as the casual listener might think), and their 60's Channel plays songs from 1964-1970 (NOT 1960 to 1969), because of that generational line in 1964, the year the Beatles began their international fame. [Tom Zarecki]
Watch the short documentary film below about The Beatles-phenomena.
How is the sound of The Beatles different from the Rock 'n Roll that preceded it? In the video above, when the reporter asks them what is their sound, how does it differ from other Rock ‘n Roll, they answer: “It doesn’t really.” Crossroads in Music (p. 219) confirms that “The Beatles’ styles was acclaimed as new even though their music was simply a combination of pop and rockabilly styles…” Maybe the difference was not in how they sounded, but what they represents. "The Beatles themselves seem to have no illusions. They symbolize the 20th century non-heroes, as they make non-music, wear non-haircuts, give non-mercy…” These "non-" prefixes is representative of Postmodernism that refuses to be demarkated, or labeled. In a sense, The Beatles became a symbol for this new zeitgeist.
Let's listen to some examples of songs by The Beatles.
To show that they are a continuation of what preceded them, here are The Beatles performing the old spiritual "When the Saints Go Marchin' In," which was also recorded by Elvis (see here).
Of course it is their other songs that are more popular, like "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "She Loves You," "Hey Jude," and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds":
Look at the lyrics of "I Want to Hold Your Hand." What part is the chorus? Is the hook part of the chorus?
This last song, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," sounds different from the previous songs. Try to identify the difference and describe it.
Assignment:
Write a short essay in which you explain what "Postmodernism" is. Cite sources.
Blues: Lead Belly
Lead Belly began singing “blues” even before the blues existed. What he really sang was the folksongs of the slaves. These folksongs differed from spirituals in that their themes were secular, not religious. One such a song is “Pick a Pale of Cotton.” Although the lyrics include “God”, the song’s topic is about an everyday activity, i.e. picking cotton.
How would you describe the rhythmic density of "Pick a Pale of Cotton"?
Another famous song of Lead Belly is “My Girl Where Did You Sleep Last Night”. It became especially famous after the grunge-rock band Nirvana covered it. Look at the lyrics of this song and identify its structure.
Lead Belly is also known for singing “House of the Rising Sun, which is another song that is very famous and covered by numerous artists. The Animals recorded it in 1964, and hit number one in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Sweden.
However, it is probably Bob Dylan’s version that is most recognizable:
Carefully read the lyrics of this song and answer the "Becoming Familiar with a Song" questions. Why do you think is this song so timeless?
"The House of the Rising Sun" was also covered by an array of different artists singing in different genres, such as Sinead O’Connor, Duran Duran, Bon Jovi, Cat Power, Dolly Parton, The Doors, Tori Amos, Nina Simone, Tracy Chapman, and Muse just to name a few!
Assignment: In a paragraph say which version of “House of the Rising Sun” is your favourite, and explain why? Use the terminology you have learned so far to substantiate your answer.
Apart from capturing these timeless folksongs, Lead Belly is also the first person to carry over the Boogie Woogie bass line from piano to guitar. You can read more about this at BoogieWoogie.Com.
How would you describe the rhythmic density of "Pick a Pale of Cotton"?
Another famous song of Lead Belly is “My Girl Where Did You Sleep Last Night”. It became especially famous after the grunge-rock band Nirvana covered it. Look at the lyrics of this song and identify its structure.
Lead Belly is also known for singing “House of the Rising Sun, which is another song that is very famous and covered by numerous artists. The Animals recorded it in 1964, and hit number one in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Sweden.
However, it is probably Bob Dylan’s version that is most recognizable:
Carefully read the lyrics of this song and answer the "Becoming Familiar with a Song" questions. Why do you think is this song so timeless?
"The House of the Rising Sun" was also covered by an array of different artists singing in different genres, such as Sinead O’Connor, Duran Duran, Bon Jovi, Cat Power, Dolly Parton, The Doors, Tori Amos, Nina Simone, Tracy Chapman, and Muse just to name a few!
Assignment: In a paragraph say which version of “House of the Rising Sun” is your favourite, and explain why? Use the terminology you have learned so far to substantiate your answer.
Apart from capturing these timeless folksongs, Lead Belly is also the first person to carry over the Boogie Woogie bass line from piano to guitar. You can read more about this at BoogieWoogie.Com.
Assignment #2 (Due Sept 23)
Choose any one of the three songs below.
Regina Spektor -- "Fidility"
Harry Connick, Jr. -- "Hear Me in the Harmony"
Justin Timberlake -- "Love Stoned / I Think She Knows Interlude"
Write a short (typed) essay in which you describe its Melody, Harmony, Rhythm and general Form. Remember to make use of the terminology you have learned this week.
Some ideas:
Regarding the “Melody” you could identify the melody and explain why you think it is a successful melody or not. Talk about the melodic contour, the type of motion (generally conjunct or disjunct notes), and range.
Regarding the “Harmony” you could include who or what is performing the harmony and what makes up the harmonies of this song. You may also mention consonance and dissonance, chord progressions and so one.
Regarding the “Rhythm” you could describe how you think it contributes to the song. You may also talk about the meter of the song and mention if there is polyrhythm and/or syncopation.
Also say how you think the music (melody, harmony & rhythm) contribute to the lyrics (or not).
Proper essay form:
Remember that a proper essay should have in introductory paragraph, some body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. The introduction and conclusion should resonate. Your essay should also include a clear heading in the top left corner (with your name, name of this class and the date the assignment is due). There should also be a title which should be centered.
Any essay which does not comply with the basic principles of academic essay writing will not be graded.
Regina Spektor -- "Fidility"
Harry Connick, Jr. -- "Hear Me in the Harmony"
Justin Timberlake -- "Love Stoned / I Think She Knows Interlude"
Write a short (typed) essay in which you describe its Melody, Harmony, Rhythm and general Form. Remember to make use of the terminology you have learned this week.
Some ideas:
Regarding the “Melody” you could identify the melody and explain why you think it is a successful melody or not. Talk about the melodic contour, the type of motion (generally conjunct or disjunct notes), and range.
Regarding the “Harmony” you could include who or what is performing the harmony and what makes up the harmonies of this song. You may also mention consonance and dissonance, chord progressions and so one.
Regarding the “Rhythm” you could describe how you think it contributes to the song. You may also talk about the meter of the song and mention if there is polyrhythm and/or syncopation.
Also say how you think the music (melody, harmony & rhythm) contribute to the lyrics (or not).
Proper essay form:
Remember that a proper essay should have in introductory paragraph, some body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. The introduction and conclusion should resonate. Your essay should also include a clear heading in the top left corner (with your name, name of this class and the date the assignment is due). There should also be a title which should be centered.
Any essay which does not comply with the basic principles of academic essay writing will not be graded.
Assignment #1 (Due Sept 16)
Choose any English song. (Please do not choose a song with excessive profanity; i.e. foul language, lyrics that promote gender violence, etc.)
Provide the metadata for the song, answer question #20 (i.e. copy the lyrics of the song and indicate the song structure), and answer questions #1-#9, from the list of questions from the "Becoming Familiar with a Song"-post. Some questions you may not be able to answer; for instance, it is not always possible to know who the audience (i.e. who the speaker is singing to) is.
Your assignment should be typed. Please use full sentences when answering the questions. Remember to include a link to the song online, so that I can listen to it.
Provide the metadata for the song, answer question #20 (i.e. copy the lyrics of the song and indicate the song structure), and answer questions #1-#9, from the list of questions from the "Becoming Familiar with a Song"-post. Some questions you may not be able to answer; for instance, it is not always possible to know who the audience (i.e. who the speaker is singing to) is.
Your assignment should be typed. Please use full sentences when answering the questions. Remember to include a link to the song online, so that I can listen to it.
Your Favourite Songs
Below is a list of the songs you all shared for the "Introduction Assignment". Thank you for sharing!
- "She Will Be Loved" -- Maroon 5
- "Some Might Say" -- Oasis
- "Tomorrow" -- Annie: The Musical
- "Everytime" -- Britney Spears
- "One Moment in Time" -- Whitney Houston
- "Lucky" -- Jazon M'raz
- "The Winner Takes All" -- ABBA
- "Incomplete" -- Sisqo
- "In a Big Big World" -- Emillia
- "My Heart Will Go On" -- Celine Dion
- "Pretty Fly for a White Guy" -- Offspring
- "Misread" -- Kings of Convenience
- "So Sick" -- Ne-Yo
- "I Knew I Loved You" -- Savage Garden
- "Listen" -- Beyoncé
- "Every Body Knows" -- John Legend
- "Fly Like a Bird" -- Mariah Carey
- "I Gotta Feeling" -- Black Eyed Peas
Introduction Assignment
In the next class you will introduce yourself by playing your favourite English song. (Bring the song as a music file, or as a CD.) Include the following information in your introduction:
- Your name
- Basic metadata of the song (You should have at least the title and artist, but the more metadata the better.)
- Tell us what the song is about
- Tell us why you like it
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