I approached this blog with complete dread. But when I jumped in and started looking at the music I’ve grown up with and been surrounded by, (although occasionally against my will) I have a bit more experience outside the Western Art realm than I anticipated.
[Point One.]
I’ll start off with the music that is my biggest guilty pleasure. American Pop, Rock or Hip Hop music, often just insulting to the trained ear... I can’t shake it. Sure, I’ll drive around belting Ke$ha (that’s actually her stage name). We could trace all of the above to Western Art music (or the Middle East), but… I’m okay with leaving it at this.
[Point Two.]
Now to my territory: Indie Pop or Rock. I don’t care if it’s American, British, or Australian. If I understand it, I probably love it. This was the only music that I discovered without much outside influence. I found it watching the music videos played at 3 in the morning during sleepless nights and explored from there. Tally Hall, Broadcast 2000, Fun. I could go for days, but if there’s a genre that I will proudly label mine, it’s Independent. (I’ll address Vampire Weekend in a moment.)
[Point Three.]
I don’t understand those ashamed of musicals and the show tunes associated therein. I grew up on miniature musicals that you’ve never heard of: Grandpa’s Magical Toys, The Marvelous Musical Mansion, Wee Sing Train. ...Anyone? From there I grew a love for Annie, and The Sound of Music. I didn’t realize what I was falling in love with until the third grade when we watched CATS. From there I found Phantom, Annie Get Your Gun, and even less traditional musicals like The Wiz or Spring Awakening. While the use of harmony and such is straight from Western Art music, and you’re probably thinking I’m not venturing far... I'll get there.
[Point Four.]
Here’s my “wow” factor. While not necessarily exposed to African music per se, I’ve always been fond of music heavily influenced by African music. Below is a lovely example that I considered saving for Cool Stuff Friday… Largely because my father’s name is Al, I was exposed to Paul Simon’s album Graceland: influenced by his trip to South Africa. The music from The Lion King, my favorite Disney movie, (although by Elton John) is African influenced. More recently the drums in Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown” caught my attention: African influence. But most recently, often compared to the Graceland album: Vampire Weekend. Their music is heavily influenced by the rhythms incorporated in African drumming, which helps make their music so praiseworthy and amazing.
I’ve sung La Cucaracha in Spanish class, Feliz Navidad at Christmas, and listened to music in Mexican restaurants. I’ve also heard ancient Asian music through 6-week terms of various language studies in elementary school. I was forced by my brothers to endure both Country and Christian Rock/Rap. My family thrust wholesome Southern Gospel on me. So I’m looking forward to further exposure to any music this semester that isn’t Country… I’ll keep my hopes up.
4 cah.mints:
Just fine.
[Point one] I LOVE this video, song, and album, and claim it as my absolute birthright, since it came out my last year of high school.
[Point two] You have checked out Ladysmith Black Mambazo, yes? (basically, the South African musicians that Paul Simon worked with on the album)
[Point three] So pay close attention as we segue into Africa this week, and see if you can identify the roots of some of those traits that appeal to you
[Point four] Really? I thought comparing Contra to Graceland was original with me!!!
[Point four] So when I hit "Post" for the above comments, and the "type in this weirdly squiggly word" request came up, the word was "toonses," which was the hero of the "Toonses, the Driving Cat" bits on Saturday Night Live about the time when Graceland came up, and Paul Simon has been on a number of episodes, and Chevy Chase basically started the whole show. Weird...
Hey, I am so glad you don't understand those who are ashamed of musicals. Thank you,neither can I. I got the opportunity to watch Phantom in London in August last year and i'll never forget it! The first time I was really exposed to musicals and broadway music is when a friend of mine wanted to do his own concert full of songs from different musicals. We ended up directing a huge concert together which was on for two nights in Sri Lanka and we raised quite a bit of money to buy a pipe organ for a church. We called it "A grand night for singing" and it opened with the song of the same title by Rogers and Hammerstein. Was so much fun!
I love "You can call me Al" and Indie Pop or Rock too.
what about a mix? something that mixes rock and screamo?
Post a Comment