Music Final
Funk
A grittier, "earthy" style of dance music that emerged in the 1970s, along with disco, but definitely a more edgy and complex style
Social Realism
Hip-hop lyrics often reflect real-life situations, and offer particularly vivid depictions of life in urban centers, racial inequality, social conflict, poverty, crime, and feelings of hopelessness. Hip-hop was considered an effective vehicle for expressing these themes.
Eminem
(Marshall Mathers, b. 1972): Rapper, producer, actor. -considered the best-selling pop artist since 2000 -He is recognized for his especially diverse and innovative approach to lyrics, which often draw on his personal life experiences.
MTV
Music Television; cable television station originally dedicated to music videos (also news, interviews, and game shows specifically geared toward music audiences). -Started broadcasting in 1981; early videos tended to feature white synth-pop and rock musicians (the Eurythmics, Van Halen, etc.) -Individual artists were heavily promoted on MTV, which contributed to their celebrity status, through their image as well as their music. (Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince are especially notable.)
Ray Charles
"Genius of Soul" -native of Georgia; blind at age 6 -talented pianist and arranger; -Jazz trio in Seattle; later, solo performer with a unique style of showmanship and expression. Soul style is evident as early as the mid-1950s. -"Halleluja, I love her so" and "Georgia on My Mind" are good examples of his style.
Aretha Franklin
"Queen of Soul" -continues tradition of strong, African-American female perspective, from Classic Blues (Bessie Smith, etc.) through earlier R&B (Ruth Brown, etc.) -Became an important voice for the modern Black woman in the late-1960s. -First recorded on major/mainstream label Columbia -Much more success as a soul singer for Atlantic Records (independent label, promoted African-American artists; competed with Motown)
Jimi Hendrix
(1942-1970) -Important figure in Psychedelic Rock; -Innovative use of electric guitar -Considered a "sound sculptor" through his highly expressive, experimental style that included a great deal of distortion, volume, and various special effects that set him apart from most other guitarists of the day. -Many turned to him for influence in style, technique, etc. -His death, and those of Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison (the Doors) signified the end of the Counterculture.
Michael Jackson
(1958-2009): -Superstar artist, first known through his Motown recordings and performances with his family group, the Jackson Five. -Had a built-in audience when he branched out as a solo artist in the late-1970s, but found enduring fame through the album, Thriller in 1982.
Alternative Rock
By the 1990s, almost every genre of popular music had an "alternative" version; artists were looking for new approaches, through lyrics, instruments, combining various styles, incorporating new technologies, or revisiting old ones.
Prince
(1958-2016): Raised in a mixed-race, middle-class family in Minnesota, influenced by various styles and musical artists; -disco, funk, and Motown played an important role in his style, -Prince wrote all of his own music, performed all of the instrumental and vocal parts on recordings, and produced the tracks. -Recorded more than 75 songs per year (many have yet to be released).
"Like a Rolling Stone"
(1965) was released on Dylan's controversial album Bringing It All Back Home, which featured both acoustic and electric tracks. -At more than 6 minutes, this was the longest single track released in pop music at that time. -It features his gruff, aggressive style of singing (almost rapping, as he "spits out" his lyrics in a very scornful, cynical tone.) -Listen to the lyrics: this is not a happy, romantic song. It is full of bitterness, mocking a former lover who used to have it all, and now has nothing. He is not at all sympathetic. Instruments: in addition to Dylan's singing voice, we hear organ, electric guitar, and percussion, plus the traditional Dylan harmonica, among other instruments.
"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
(1965): Number Nine on the Pop charts -exemplifies Brown's musical style (note: the "new bag" refers specifically to a new dance, or more generally, a new musical style, compared to recent pop music, the Twist, etc.) -Riffs in brass -Syncopation -Percussive style of playing guitar, bass, and brass -Call-and-response -Twelve-bar blues form broken up with an eight-bar bridge -Interlocking polyrhythms (several short rhythms that work together)
"Respect"
(1967): Franklin's Number One hit on Pop and R&B charts. -(Cover version of Otis' Redding's original hit by the same name in 1965.) -Exemplifies soul music; gospel-influenced solo singing, with backup singers in call-and-response with Franklin. -"R.E.S.P.E.C.T." is spelled out at the end to underline the meaning of the lyrics
Woodstock
(1969): -Advertised as a three-day outdoor festival of "peace & music." Actually lasted for four days -Approximately 400,000 people attended -32 musical acts
"Oye Como Va"
(1971) Carlos Santana (b. 1947) -Mostly instrumental dance track - Multi-track recording allows complex textures -Improvised electric guitar and organ solos - 8 measure of Spanish lyrics calls attention to the rhythmic elements; -essentially, "Listen to my rhythm, it's good for moving/enjoying."
"Stairway to Heaven"
(1971) Released on the album Led Zeppelin IV -The longest single track (8 minutes long) released in pop music -Not originally sold as a single (too long!) Audiences (and radio DJs) needed to purchase the full album in order to own this one track -More than 14 million copies sold eventually, and the album stayed on the Top LP chart for 5 years. -In "Stairway to Heaven" the texture builds across the span of 8 minutes, from simple acoustic guitar with recorders, and a simple folk-like singing voice, to a thunderous, almost heavy-metal style of singing, with a complex guitar solo. -Lyrics describe a materialistic woman who believes she can buy her way into Heaven; unusual approach to lyrics, which demonstrate this band's interest in mythology and Middle Earth themes.
CD
(1981): Compact disc; highly convenient format for albums -by early-1990s, this format had taken over vinyl records and cassette tapes, although these formats were still in use
"Thriller"
(1982): -Album by Jackson, containing many hit singles, a blend of musical styles, and collaborations by Van Halen, Paul McCartney, and Vincent Price. -This is considered the best-selling album in pop music history (well over 40 million copies sold), and has appealed to an exceptionally wide audience since its release. -The music on this song features synthesizers, funk style, Jackson's singing, and a spoken/"rapped" section by 1950s horror film star Vincent Price.
"When Doves Cry"
(1984): Number One single from the album Purple Rain; -Features Prince on all parts (vocal and instrumental) in this complex, layered recording. -Begins with a short electric guitar solo, continues with synthesizers and drum machines; -synth-pop with a strong funk influence. -The song is divided approximately into two equal parts; the first section is essentially verse-chorus, the main part of the song; the second section consists of various 8-bar phrases of instrumental and/or vocal lines.
"Like a Virgin"
(1984): Title song from Madonna's hit album that year; -synth-pop (the synthesizer is a dominant sound in this song, and most others of this time); -definitely dance music, with a moderate tempo, steady beat, and synthetic bass groove; -Madonna is the only singer on this track, and the production is largely focused on her -blends high-pitched, youthful quality, with mature, sensual singing style. Simple formal structure, verse-chorus.
AutoTune
(1995): a digital processing effect that allows one to manipulate the pitch and/or quality of individual vocal or instrumental parts; this can be used as a corrective process, or as a special effect. -Auto-Tune has also been used in clever, unexpected ways, most notably news clips that have been processed with this program to create melodies from spoken phrases, adding harmony, rhythm, and other elements to create a musical composition
MP3
(1997): compressed, digital file format; allowed for small audio files to be uploaded/downloaded/stored for personal use and/or sharing (often illegally, especially in the early days). -The reduced file size and digital recording processes in many cases resulted in a quality that was not as fine as analog recording
"Doo Wop (That Thing)"
(Lauryn Hill, 1998) (b. 1975) found early fame with the hip-hop trio, the Fugees. -Before that, she appeared on a soap opera, and in film. -Styles include hip-hop (Hill's distinctive style of rapping), reggae, jazz, and R&B (doo-wop harmonies, use of horns and other traditional instruments). -The video features a split-screen (1960s/1990s), with different fashions, dance styles, and associated music
"Smells Like Teen Spirit"
(Nirvana, 1991) From the surprising hit album Nevermind. -The song has several sections, with different styles of singing and instrumental accompaniment. -Traditional rock instruments (electric guitar, bass, percussion) and Cobain's moody singing. -The guitar hook at the beginning is highly recognizable in pop culture today, featuring a four- chord progression that is heard at various points in the song. -Cobain's signing is at times tired and depressed, and at other times, angry and agitated. -The video shows, on the surface, a stereotypical high school scene, with teenagers at a dance, cheerleaders, etc., but the overall scene is dark, nihilistic, and anarchic (without order or structure). Cobain's face is darkly shadowed throughout most of the video.
"Night of the Living Baseheads"
(Public Enemy, 1988): -Lyrics address the crack cocaine epidemic in urban centers in the U.S. -includes numerous samples of music and spoken language (begins with an excerpt from a speech made by an associate of Louis Farrakhan -the style of rapping is highly aggressive throughout -Public Enemy included 2 MCs, 1 DJ, a "minister of information," and dancers who usually appeared in paramilitary uniforms, performing martial arts dance moves, and carrying weapons.
"U.N.I.T.Y."
(Queen Latifah, 1993). Dana Owens (b. 1970) -recorded this song for her album Black Reign. -The song begins with a saxophone sample from "Message from the Inner City" (The Crusaders, 1973); -music combines hip-hop and reggae, the sax solo returns in the chorus, and also at the end of the song.
"Walk This Way"
(Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith, 1986): A collaboration between hip-hop and heavy metal. -An arrangement of the original Aerosmith hit by the same name (1975); -begins as the original song, with the same electric guitar hook, but the use of turntable scratching immediately connects it to hip-hop. -This new version features two MCs rapping the verses (often in rapid-fire call-and-response); the chorus features Steven Tyler's screaming, heavy metal style singing.
"What's My Name?"
(Snoop Doggy Dogg, 1993): From the hit album Doggystyle. -designed for commercial success, definitely a dance track -incorporates various samples, synthesizers, and complex layering processes; features Snoop Doggy Dogg's laid-back, Southern Califorian style of rapping, with lyrics expressing various themes associated with gangsta rap
"Psycho Killer"
(Talking Heads, 1977) -a good example of new wave music recorded around the same time as punk rock. -Image and performance is deliberately more awkward, compared to the anti-fashion, anti-commercial style associated with punk rock.
Bob Dylan
(b. 1940): -Born Robert Zimmerman in Minnesota; took his stage name from poet Dylan Thomas. -A central figure in urban folk music in the early 1960s; considered the spokesperson for young adults interested in social and political topics; a voice for the Civil Rights Movement. -Shocked his audience in 1965 by playing the electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival. (He was also backed by a full rock band.) Many diehard followers considered him a "sell-out" and felt he had betrayed their ideals; others respected his change in style, and he actually gained some new audience members.
Madonna
(b. 1958): Gained popularity in the early-1980s through synth-pop hits such as "Lucky Star" and "Like a Virgin"; various hits on the mainstream Pop and R&B charts. -Greatly influenced by disco, funk, and Motown. --Known for playing with people's expectations of female stereotypes.
Elements heard in disco music
(for example, Donna Summer, "Bad Girls," 1979): -Steady beat -Medium-fast tempo -4/4 time signature -Straightforward, repetitive song forms -Simple harmonies -Straightforward lyrics ("Bad Girls" is very clearly about prostitution in the city)
James Brown
-"Godfather of Soul" and "Soul Brother Number One" -central figure in stimulating Black Pride and identity in the late-1960s ("Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud) -known for his charismatic interactions with his audience; exciting performances; dancing; exuberant singing (almost shouting at times)
Soul Music combines styles of
-*gospel singing*: this is especially notable; strong emotional expression; exuberance; sometimes even a sense of religious ecstasy -*rhythm & blues*: 12-bar blues, call-and-response, strong rhythmic activity - *rock 'n' roll*: charismatic performances, showmanship -*jazz*: big band instruments
Synthesizers
-Came into use in the early 1970s (Stevie Wonder); used in various genres by the end of the decade (hip-hop and disco, most notably) -was a dominant sound in pop music (synth-pop/dance pop) by the early 1980s -sometimes combined with more traditional instruments (electric guitar, drums, etc.)
Late-1960s - Early 1970s
-Counterculture considered at an end after the deaths of Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, and well as the Beatles' breakup. -Economic recession in the U.S. meant that many people were out of work in the early 1970s, and turned to music, dance, etc. as people had done with Swing music during the Depression. Now, club owners were saving money by hiring DJs to play records rather than paying live bands. (Digital technology began to play a role—synthesizers, drum machines, etc.) -Two main audiences identified in the music industry: the teenager (still), and the mature audience, ages 25-40 (new, or at least the former teenager!) -The LP (long-playing album) became significant, as more artists were releasing concept albums -Continued increase in interest in the electric guitar and innovative, artistic approaches to this instrument; many were combining traditional sounds with new techniques. English rock musicians were central in much of this
Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
-Digital synthesizers were widely in use in urban dance clubs by the mid-1970s -Rather than hiring a live band to provide music, a DJ would spin records, looping samples, adding digital effects through synthesizers and drum machines, to create new musical pieces in a new kind of live performance. -started to emerge as House music (Chicago, mid-1970s) and Techno (Detroit, mid-1980s), -there was a specific focus on the electronic instrumental elements, rather than rapped verses. -Both House and Techno are similar in technique and style, using digital technologies, samples, etc., -The overall sound traditionally has a "thumping" steady beat, a fast tempo, and loud volume—this was music one would hear in a rave club
Urban Folk Music
-Greenwich Village (NYC) was home to various "bohemian" artists, musicians, and poets by the 1950s; strong interest in political and social topics, which they often discussed at their gatherings. -Musicians such as Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and Peter, Paul & Mary, used music as a vehicle to address these topics. -Dylan, in particular, became the musical "spokesperson" for young people involved in the protest movement, etc. -Musical style of urban folk music tends to be fairly "natural"—acoustic guitar, individual vocal style (not always traditionally "pretty"; uniqueness was much more important, with a focus on the lyrics more than anything).
Soul Music
-In the 1960s we see a change in terminology in relation to pop music by African-American performers. *(Race Records→Rhythm & Blues→Soul).* -Became a symbol of the Black community's effort to achieve cultural definition in the 1960s. Music as a point of identity.
Concept Albums
-It became increasingly popular for bands to make full albums with a unifying theme (concept), rather than simply an album of individual songs. --Began with Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys, 1966), by the early 1970s it was common for albums to feature some kind of story or narrative, or a unifying element through production approach, instrumentation, etc. -Concept albums are often associated with the genre progressive rock, because of the artistry and experimentation put into their composition and production, compared to more traditional popular music albums
Psychedelic Rock/San Francisco Rock
-Late-1960s musical style associated with the Counterculture (those who rejected mainstream society; communal living and drug experimentation were a big part of this; largely centered in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco.) -"Alternative" rock music scene. *Blends variety of styles and musical influences:* - Eastern and Western musical traditions ~Various instruments and styles yielded a diverse effect ~Blues, bluegrass, jazz, and rock - Dense musical texture - Volume and distortion (new electric guitar techniques were in use) -Artists in San Francisco included Jefferson Airplane ("White Rabbit," 1967), Janis Joplin, and the Grateful Dead, among others.
New Wave
-More commercial-friendly genre related to punk rock -usually more melodic, combining rock and blues styles, with at least a slightly agitated quality (although not nearly as angry, loud, and distorted as punk rock). -"Pop-oriented" style. New wave and disco are both evident in early-1980s synth- pop/dance-pop.
Common Reggae elements
-Slow tempo; laid-back style -Guitar, bass, and drums are dominant -Interlocking rhythms -Political and social messages in the lyrics
Latin Rock
-Style of rock music, popular by the early 1970s, through Santana -combines various styles (jazz; San Francisco rock; soul; salsa) -Latin percussion and electric guitar are prominent, along with short, repeated melodies and rhythms.
Pedro Navaja
1978 (Rubén Blades Willie Colón) -Gritty lyrics (Spanish): Neighborhood tough guy attacks a prostitute (they simultaneously kill each other, and a drunkard steals their money) -Mismatch between the musical style and the story -The music is very light-hearted and fun (dance music) -Sophisticated musical arrangement -Texture and intensity gradually build
Reality Television
An enormously important form of entertainment for audiences beginning in the early-2000s, and a way of finding potential new talent for the music industry. -Most reality shows focusing on music focus on the audition process, tracking contestants through various stages of elimination; some shows include image consulting, vocal coaching, etc.
Disco audience
At first, Black, Latino, and/or gay audiences in NYC and other large cities; -Blockbuster hit film Saturday Night Fever (1977) brought disco into the mainstream (Bee Gees and the Village People among others). -Audiences of mainstream rock considered disco to be frivolous, silly, overly simple, etc. -Disco style is still evident in some pop music in the early 1980s (synth- pop/dance-pop)
Early Hip-Hop
Began as a local phenomenon in the South Bronx, the most economically devastated area of New York City. Encompasses not only the music, but a broader culture: -Music -Fashion/dress -Speech/language/local slang -Street art (graffiti) -Breakdancing
iPod and iTunes
Both introduced in 2001 to accommodate the growing use of MP3 music files; -other MP3 players and online retailers were soon introduced, although iTunes was the number one music retailer online by 2008.
Digital Recording and Editing
Computer programs, such as ProTools (1991), were designed for professional studio use, or home studio use. -Allowed the user to adjust various sound elements, add effects, and make corrections and other edits to digital audio files. -Many other similar programs exist today, such as Garage Band, Cubase, Audacity, Sound Forge, etc. -Multi-track recording devices, such as ADAT (1992) allowed users to record music digitally, mix and process them using a program such as ProTools, then make a physical (analog) cassette recording of the finished product. Excellent for demo recordings made in home studios.
Reggae
Established in Kingston, Jamaica -Combines elements of Caribbean folk music and American R&B; earlier styles include Ska (1950s) and Rock Steady (1960s)
Led Zeppelin
Formed in London, 1968
Gangsta Rap
Genre of hip-hop that glorifies the "gangsta" lifestyle (drugs, guns, materialism, misogyny, gang violence, and even death) -in a fatalistic tone; usually told from the first-person perspective, with personal, localized references to place names and people
"The Message"
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, 1982: -Describes in vivid detail life on the streets of New York (specifically the economically devastated South Bronx) as of 1982, including vandalism, drug use, prostitution, violence, racial inequity, and hopelessness. -Verse-chorus form, as in many pop songs, although the lyrics are all rapped. -Synthesizers and drum machines, plus sampling of street sounds; -style of rap is conversational yet highly rhythmic, with a sense of growing agitation and some irony; -the lyrics come through clearly (very important in conveying the message of the song).
Eric Clapton
Guitarist, associated with the band Cream, and a solo artist -Is known to have taken a strong interest in American blues; the music of country blues artists, such as singer/guitarist Robert Johnson, was revived in part through Clapton's music (from the late-1960s)
Progressive Country
In the 1970s, mainstream country music included commercial, sleek Nashville style (popularized by Patsy Cline) and more hardcore style, with elements of blues and rock (Merle Haggard). -Other country musicians were interested in departing from traditions, or blending a variety of styles. -Grew out of the 1960s Counterculture; blended honky-tonk, rockabilly, singer-songwriters, and country rock styles; musicians took a more intellectual approach, and often incorporated social and political themes in their lyrics.
Salsa
Latin-based dance music first popular in NYC (alongside disco) -promoted by independent record labels; Salsa style combines: o Latin ballroom dance music o Afro-Cuban percussion and dance rhythms o Modern jazz o Story-telling, gritty lyrics about social issues
Online Music Sites
Many online sites were established in the late 1990s as a way of distributing music files for public use -copyright infringement was an enormous problem, leading the various legal battles -Some examples include: MP3.com, Napster, and various "peer-to-peer" online sites
Punk Rock
Mid-to-late 1970s: -a "back to basics" approach to rock; reaction against complex rock music. -Young male audiences especially felt alienated from their former heroes in rock; "Non-musical" garage-band style: o Loud, fast, angry, distorted o Rebellious lyrics; Nihilism (belief in nothing; rejecting all meaning in life)
The Internet
One of the most significant advances in distributing music and video to the general public, through sites such as MySpace (2003), YouTube (2005), and for several years before that, other storage and download services dedicated to music distribution. -Made possible by the introduction of the MP3 file format.
"Give up the Funk (Tear the Roof of the Sucker)"
Parliament Funkadelic led by George Clinton (1976)
"Superstition"
Stevie Wonder (1971) -an early example of funk
First hip-hop LP
Sugar Hill Gang, Rapper's Delight (1979). -This represents the first suggestion that hip-hop music had the potential to find a mainstream audience. International success: ranked on the pop charts, not only in the US, but around the world. -Released as a long track (more than 14 minutes) and shorter versions (for radio play and single released as a 45 / 7-inch disc) -produced by an African-American female record producer, Sylvia Robinson (1936-2011), whose earlier success was as an R&B singer. -Known as the "Mother of Hip-Hop"— given that hip-hop quickly earned the reputation as a male-dominated music genre.
Concept Album Examples
The following are notable examples from the early 1970s (all from England): -David Bowie (1947-2016): The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) -The Rolling Stones (formed in London, 1962): Exile on Main Street (1972) -Pink Floyd (formed in London, 1965): Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Disco
The rise of disco (1975-80) was driven by several factors: -Black popular music: Motown, soul, and funk -Social dancing among American middle class -New technologies: synthesizers, drum machines, and synchronized turntables -Economic recession—DJs cheaper than live musicians
M.C. Hammer
This artist recorded one of the top-selling hip-hop singles of all time, "U Can't Touch This" (1990). -Received numerous music and video awards over the years. Features a sample from Rick James's early-1980s hit "Super Freak."
Streaming Music
Today's music consumer tends to use a combination of formats, from downloads and physical copies or music and video, to streaming music libraries (either their own collections stored on "the Cloud", through a subscription services, or through "free" sources such as YouTube.)
Women in Rap
While hip-hop has traditionally been dominated by male performers, several female artists have made important contributions to the genre. -Salt 'n' Pepa in the late 1980s; various others emerged in the 1990s, most notably Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill, who approached this music in a new way (topics of lyrics, music styles incorporated, style of rapping, singing, etc.)
"Outlaw" country
a subgenre of progressive country. -Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash promoted a "dangerous" romantic image through their appearance and story-telling lyrics; masculine, gun-slinging persona, intended to be attractive to female audiences. A good example is "Ladies Love Outlaws" by Waylon Jennings.
Commercial Collaboration
hip-hop and heavy metal
Continuing developments in popular music
include new approaches to existing genres, such as revivals of old styles and forgotten artists -New recording and performance methods. -Streaming, virtual performances allow artists to appear from a distance, and to collaborate with others in new ways. -"Holographic" performances have also yielded some creative (and sometimes controversial) results, incorporating the images of deceased artists into actual performances—digitally "sampling" video footage, and creating new choreography, etc. (Michael Jackson and Tupac Shakur, for example.)
Funk music characterized by
o Strong, dance-oriented rhythms o Catchy melodies o Call-and-response o Repeated rhythmic patterns o Heavy bass line o Simple forms, with a lot of repetition of sections o Dense textures in both voice and other instruments o Use of synthesizers and drum machines becomes more common as the decade progresses o Lyrics often refer to "funk" and dancing, moving, or grooving
