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Complicated. Intricate. Fascinating. Cant live without it.
Music, in a word.
But why is it that music is so unbelievably important?
One reason I can think of, and it just occurred to me on the bus this morning, is that a good song reveals itself slowly. I was listening to Touch The Sky for about the hundredth time, when I heard African-sounding percussion. What? I thought. I havent noticed this before.
Thats because, as all good songs, it revealed itself to me slowly. This Kanye West song is so intricate, has so many detailed layers, that it takes listening to one hundred times to notice it all. When I first hear a song, I take note of the beat (which you must if you dance) and the melody (for singing, of course). This is all one needs if ones intentions are to hum along with the radio or go clubbing. Later, the harmony makes itself noticed. Being a singer, this is vital to my enjoyment of the song. Of course, it also allows me to participate, because I can harmonise if the melody is a little high or low.
After the beat, melody and harmony are revealed, the basic song is known and understood. Yet its the little things that allow a song to stay on a playlist. Little things like African percussion and that soft female voice echoing the chorus in rap songs. Layers that go unnoticed until someone brings it up, or until youre really listening to the music.
Those are my thoughts. Thats how my musical mind works. But yours?
Music is a fascinating entity. It adds so much to our lives, yet how often do we attribute our mood or state of being to the sounds around us? Eminem, in his song Sing For The Moment, says Music can alter moods and talk to you, but can it load up a gun for you and cock it too?. This statement is brilliantly thought provoking. For music does alter our mood.
Dont believe it, just try yourself. Listen to a gangster-rap song, like Brendas Got A Baby by Tupac. Then listen to Canned Heat by Jamiroquai, or Together Again by Janet Jackson. Youll probably find that after the rap song, you feel angry/depressed. Yet after the pop songs (and I chose these because I believe theyre more than just commercial radio pop), you may feel like dancing and singing... But certainly not like you want to go out and purchase a gun.
It would seem that Eminem, and others like him, are trying to alert us to something very important. If music speaks to us, then the music we choose to listen to must have a profound effect on not only our mood but also our actions and thoughts. Indeed, there have been many studies aiming to prove that for example Mozarts music (and other classical music) stimulates better recall and improves our memory. It has been suggested that when students are studying, they should avoid music with lyrics and instead listen to classical music. Whilst this is not exactly the taste of many teenagers (myself included, for the most part), it had been proven to work - so maybe its worth a try!
Apparently the music, when listened to often, tracks out new (and improved) pathways to our brain. Think the Cross-City Tunnel, but without an outrageous cost (you can pick up a Mozart CD for a few dollars, and thats not one way). This means we are able, in stressful situations like exams, to recall the information we need more quickly and efficiently (to keep the analogy going, we can avoid peak-hour traffic to the city centre).
Then again, this is all scientific testing saying this. Yet its always worth a try... Because even if it doesnt work quite to ones expectations, at least theres an education of its own in it... And then next time Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies is playing in the waiting-room or elevator, youll be able to hum along. Who wouldnt want that!
Ive been working since 8am today. Thats an early start for me, someone who rarely even has to be awake at that time. I should be tired, sick of working. Yet Im not. And the most obvious reason why Im not is the music.
Theres an iPod on shuffle going. There are about 20 000 songs on the iPod, so I havent heard the same one twice. Nor am I likely to. There are tunes of all genres, from every year between 1950 and 2006. And while Ill admit I dont like a few of the songs Ive heard thus far, it certainly beats the radio (ads are very rarely enjoyable) and would in hands down against a mixed CD on repeat.
There is nothing worse than hearing the same 80 minutes of music for 8 hours in a row. Especially if that music is not to your liking. This way, I get to hear all different songs, some of which I havent heard before, and many of which I enjoy. Theres MJ, Jamiroquai, Janet Jackson, Santana, The Beatles... You name it, Ill hear it. Which is great, because variety is, after all, the spice of life!
Back in ancient times, in ancient Egypt, music was used for both religious and entertainment purposes. From around 3000 BC, female flute and lute players were hired to play at weddings, religious festivals and at court. Women in ancient times had far fewer rights, and it was almost unheard of for a woman to have a career. Yet music provided a creative and social outlet for women that they otherwise wouldnt have had an opportunity for.
Music was very important in religious ceremonies and festivals. It was the link between the king (and his mortal subjects) and the gods. Musicians were hired to play odes to the gods, and on occasion to the king as well. This provided a connection between the king and gods, and was used to assert the rulers right to the throne. It was thought that music could transcend the limitations of human speech and directly communicate with the higher powers.
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For millennia, music has been a vital part of human life. Music is said to have a profound impact on our mood, and this is probably because it speaks directly to our emotions. Because of this, music has extensive roles.
Music is used in religious rituals and ceremonies. It allows communication with higher powers and other worlds. Peace and war time both have various uses for music. Social status is denoted by different forms of music. And we learn from music: be it how to react/what to expect in cinema/movies or how to act in certain situations, music holds the answer. Music is also used in many areas of entertainment.
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With the release of another great new single by The Veronicas, Im reminded of how important individuality is. There are so many artists out there that remind me of another, either of a modern (still making records) or classic (not making records but generally still played on the radio) artist. When I flicked on the radio the other day, a song that I didnt know was playing. However within about 2 bars, I was sure I knew the artist. The Veronicas.
The song, I found out after googling "The Veronicas & single", was Revolution. Ive now heard the song about 12 times, and I love it. It retains the same sound as their other hits, 4Ever, When It All Falls Apart and Everything Im Not. Yet it is not just a tangent to those songs. Of course, the girls from Brisbane found a sound that they liked and that was a little original, so they have every right to stick to it. What I really enjoy and admire is that though their 4 singles are quite similar in style, (apart from being recognisable as by the duo), this is actually a good thing.
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Tainted Love must surely be one of the most influential songs of the 1980s. Known most widely as a song performed by the band Soft Cell, this song was actually originally a 1964 Northern Soul song written by Ed Cobb and performed by Gloria Jones. However, Soft Cell's completely reworked cover version was propelled to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for 43 weeks.
Today, there are many cover versions of the song, some very similar and others radically different. These include covers by 29 Died, Alterno Daze, Coil, Deathline International, Dishwalla, Marilyn Manson, Shades Apart, The Living End, The Pussycat Dolls, The Ramones.
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It isnt often that I buy DVDs. In fact, the only movie DVDs I own are the two Star Wars Trilogy sets and the Indiana Jones Box Set. Equally as rarely do I purchase a movie soundtrack. This is probably because it is a rare occurrence that I come out of a movie cinema commenting on the music. An enjoyable movie for me is always accompanied by a great soundtrack. However there is a difference between a soundtrack being great because it suits the movie and a fantastic soundtrack that stands alone.
Yet exactly 5 months ago, I exited the cinema after seeing Get Rich or Die Tryin, walked straight to JB HiFi and purchased the soundtrack. $21.95 and over 60 hours of listening pleasure later, Im glad I made that buy... Although I cant say my neighbours are - 50 Cent is generally best listened to LOUD.
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There is something mesmerising about the latest offering from Colombian pop singer Shakira, Hips Dont Lie. Latino influences have a huge presence, as expected. High pitched horn sounds introduce the theme for the chorus. An acoustic guitar plays simple major chords. Percussion is vital, and various sounds from bongos to cabassa push along the tempo of this hip-shaking tune. The song sounds busy, it feels intricate. Yet musically Hips Dont Lie is not complex. The same phrases are repeated in the melody, and the beat is constant throughout the piece. So why does it sound so rich? The layering is masterful - each percussion instrument has its own repetitive line upon which another beat is layered, resulting in almost every semi-quaver beat having at least one single instrument begin a note on it. In other words, each bar of four notes is broken down even further into sixteen. In a song with a tempo as quick as this one has, complex rhythmic patterns add a great deal of depth and interest to the song.
Oral Fixation Vol. 2 (image courtesy of www.lightmedia.hu)
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Before I continue the Michael Jackson saga, Id like to take a look at two of the performers who influenced MJ - Jackie Wilson and James Brown
MJ claims this phenomenal performer as one of his main influences. James Browns dynamic performance style is mirrored by Michael. Both performers have an energy and on-stage presence that is unrivalled by other performers. Further, Michael enhanced and developed James Browns style and energy, mutating it into his own.
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Comment by Ella
on Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Versace edition