CW1 – Review 3 – Bon Jovi – Livin’ on a Prayer
This song is definitely a classic. It has all the hallmarks of a ‘textbook’ rock tune. It starts with a groovy bass line and affected backing vocals. The drums are typically ‘80’s’ with the high-hat playing only the beat notes. The electric guitars gradually increase in volume as the song progresses. The chorus is very easy to remember which ultimately leads to the song being regarded as a classic rock anthem. The structure of the song is simple, with an intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, instrumental and then a chorus fade out – simple and easy.
In terms of its social function the song is really quite self-explanatory. Everybody that listens to this song can relate to it – everybody wants to ‘live the dream’. There’s no political slant or other ambiguous meanings – the song simply aims to make people feel good. It could be said that this song is such an anthem that everybody is born with the lyrics already in their head!
CW1 – Review 4 – Bee Gees – Staying Alive
This song is one of the best known disco tracks. It is from the soundtrack to the hit movie ‘Saturday Night Fever’. The soundtrack is regarded by many to be the definitive document of the disco era. The song uses all the techniques found in typical Disco music; however this track was the first to be recorded using a looped drum part. The loop that was used was from the song ‘Night Fever’, also by the Bee Gees. The vocals are typical of the bands style – harmonious backing vocals and a bright lead vocal.
One of the reasons for the song’s longevity was the success of the film, which was released at the height of the disco era. It starred John Travolta who went on to make other big movies such as Grease. The song is used throughout the world especially in era related theme nights, that is to say, disco nights or ‘70’s nights. The dance moves were seminal, portrayed in the film by Travolta and learned by anyone who has ever heard the song.
CW2 – Research 1 – Rock ‘n’ Roll
Rock ‘n’ Roll is one of the broadest terms in musical culture. It is derived from many different areas of music, including jazz, ‘country and western’ and even gospel. It has steadily progressed through the ages culminating in its present day form known as Rock. Over the years, due to changes both in style and social context, the form of ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll has receded, with the emphasis less on its jazz history and more towards modern interpretation of pop music; it has lessened the ‘roll’, or its ‘blues’ style.
Through discussion in class it is possible to agree with the above. If we were to compare a contemporary rock group like Coldplay and an earlier rock group like Cream we can see noticeable differences. The main one is the technological advancement, but this is to be expected, as modern record companies are continually looking for ways to make the recording process both more efficient and of a higher quality. The other differences are also quite clear. The structure of the songs are slightly different, with Cream adhering to the more traditional blues structure while Coldplay are pushing the boundaries of musical inventiveness. One of the reasons for this could be the social expectations of society now. That is to say they expect, even require, a new style of easy listening rock music. Some may say that the repetitiveness of the blues form leads to the rejection of the style and therefore new musical techniques must be employed if the genre is to survive.
CW2 – Research 2 – Adorno, Theodore
Theodor Adorno was born in 1903 and throughout his life wrote articles criticising various establishments within the music industry as well as society itself. He also published a successful thesis entitled ‘Kierkegaard: The Construction of the Aesthetic’ (1933), after which he joined the Frankfurt Institute for social research. His later research was focused on the differences between high art and popular culture. His aim was to maintain the boundaries between the two, with his motivation being ‘the desire to see avant-garde works defy the homogenising effects of the commercialisation of art, where art objects would be reduced to exchange-value’. (Fifty Key Contemporary Thinkers by John Lechte, Routledge, 1994).
There are many people who agree with Adorno’s philosophies about pop culture. They agree with his approach to identity and nonidentity within the confounds of both popular culture and art: ‘Thoughts intended to think the inexpressible by abandoning thought falsify the inexpressible.’
Although there may be some truth and reason in his arguments, Adorno, as an increasing majority of people are concluding, fails to acknowledge that ‘the conceptualising facility itself could become impoverished through a continual rejection of its worth and efficacy.’ (Fifty Key Contemporary Thinkers by John Lechte, Routledge, 1994). In other words as Lechte points out: ‘a certain amount of identity philosophy is as important as material non-identity’
CW2 – Research 3 – Sub-Culture
The term ‘sub-culture’ is being increasingly used in society to differentiate between a ‘norm’ or adult orientated context and a subverted lifestyle more prevalent within the youth of today. Essentially, sub-culture can be regarded as an attempt by those who subscribe, to pervert the ideologies of what can be regarded as culture to which the majority of society are contained. It is important to note that popular culture in its broadest sense is a medium through which social anxieties can be easily expressed, due to its pervasiveness. It is also a forum for role-modelling which is essential to the concept of the sub-culture theory. The easiest sub-culture to review is that of the youth.
Young people's engagement in music as a medium is an attempt to express their sub-culture of "youth," as differentiated from "adult" culture. It can be noted that in the early days of rock and roll, journalists connected the increases in violence with the listening of the "savage beat" of the new music. It is possible to look to recent reviews of such musicians as Marilyn Manson to see this sentiment manifested in our times. This can be attributed to the influence of media with in society.
An important change to our views of music can be associated with MTV. The visual aspect of this medium is definitely a contributory factor to the phenomenon of sub-culture, for example, we can now copy the characteristics of our favourite artists in the way they dress and their attitudes to political and social issues.
As long as there is an adherence to what is regarded as a conventional society, there will always be sub-culture. It is a natural progression of human behaviour.
CW2 – Review 4 – Manufactured Pop
The term ‘manufactured pop’ is a recent one derived from the phenomenon of music groups put together for the soul purpose of entertaining and making money. It is generally regarded that that this genre of popular music started in the early nineties with acts like Boyzone and the Spice Girls ‘gracing’ our televisions and radios. It has steadily progressed or, in recent articles in newspapers and debates on television, regressed to a state where no one wants it any more. Songwriters such as Cathy Dennis who writes for S Club 7 and Kylie Minogue have declared they have become a part of it and don’t want to be anymore. Radio DJ’s have ran anti-pop campaigns. A solution for record companies could be to sign a credible pop act that teenagers can adore and adults can at least bear to listen to.
Everywhere in the media there are signs that manufactured pop is on the way out. The reality television shows like Pop Idol and Fame Academy are slowly but surely slipping down the ‘social importance’ scale. It won’t take long for a new phenomenon to supercede manufactured pop. There is only so much a genre that represents such mediocre talent can last. Boy George recently commented: ‘You don't manufacture real talent. Think of anything really great like Bowie, Prince... They didn't get found and put together, they created themselves.’
CW3 – Video Review1 – A Whole Lotta Shakin’
Rock and roll is one of the biggest musical movements of the modern time. It has its roots firmly in the American South where Jazz was at its most dominant. The first stirrings were on the banks of the Mississippi with artists like Fats Domino. The New Orleans style proved popular and a performer named Dave Bartholamew brought it to the white youth.
Rock and roll has a very simple melody, an easy ‘hook’, so it is easy to remember. Its structure is also quite simple in nature. Little Richard even used train rhythms to influence his songs. His style was also linked to his local church where they used tap their feet and sing, often without the aid of an organ or piano. With regards to commercialising his work he had great difficulty. The studios wanted a more bluesy sound, similar to artists such as B.B. King and Ray Charles. Richard wanted something that had more feel to it, something with more energy. The studios thought he was going crazy and white radio stations wouldn’t air any of his material.
The style progressed through the thirties and forties, reaching a substantial pint in the late fifties and sixties. Elvis Presley was introduced to the world. He was an important factor in the coming together of what was generally regarded as black music, and the white audience. He was a world sensation, even coined the ‘King Of Rock ‘n’ Roll’. His influences were great. Some people argue he could have been better if he was allowed to express himself more than he was allowed at the time.
The Beatles were also a major factor in the story of rock and roll. They reached so many people through their music and even conquered America, a challenge that still proves difficult today.
Rock and roll can be said to be originated generally from the deep south of America; but it has been influenced by many areas and so it is always going to be debated as to where it actually began.
CW3 – Video Review2 – Punk
In the 1970’s rock and roll was reaching a pinnacle. It was a phenomenon. The main reason being its simplistic nature, it was so easy to play. In the late seventies bands like the Ptti Smith group and the Ramones started to hit the scene. Their music was slightly different and punk music was on its way in.
Bands like Blondie, and Talking Heads were doing well, although some people regarded punk as DIY. All of a sudden a new genre had evolved. This could be a result of shifting social contexts in the eighties, as Maggie Thatcher’s Britain came of age. Huge concrete behemoths covered the cities as they got more crowded and to the youth culture punk was an outlet. It became more ‘spikey’ with youngsters sporting new and often bizarre hairstyles and odd tastes in clothes. This was the era of the Sex Pistols.
In Britain they caused an outrage. They were one of the most popular bands of the time yet they were also one of the most controversial. Their song ‘God Save the Queen’ reached number one to much surprise and uproar. Radios refused to play it and the record stores replaced the name with a black line to show their discontent.
The style progressed along with society, and as the Thatcher years were near an end, the style of punk began to lose its ferocity. Bands like the clash were heavily influenced by Reggae. Then Bob Marley brought the style to the masses. Bass was a major part of the sound and the style was very acceptable in Britain. Punk was beginning to fade and soon the Britpop era would takeover.
