Listening Journal Assignment

1900 - 1950

When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin Around
Dorris Day
1946
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ScH-X91qmo

This is a song about forgetting your sorrows and just being cheery, which fits perfectly with the end of world war 2 only 1 year prior. this is a song telling everyone to get up and be happy that the war is over. The lyrics of the song don't actually state what I said in the previous sentence, but instead used different ways to say it, which was becoming popular at this time. For example: "Wake up, wake up, you sleepy head Get up, get up, get out of bed. Cheer up, cheer up the sun is red Live, love, laugh and be happy" is like saying "hey everyone! The war is over! Come on and be happy, it's good times". Instead for coming out and saying that to everyone, they found different ways to say it through metaphors and analogies. Musically this song is very repetitive, repeating 3 verses at least 2 times each in just under two minutes. It's swing feel and repeating drum patterns get very tiring very fast, and the instrumentation could all be written on a single conductor's score, meaning that they just play the same thing over and over and over and over again. It definitely was different for the time it came out at. while most of what was emerging was more jazz or southern rock like, this still had a 30's swing feel to it, setting it apart from most other songs. I don't personally care for it, but it's upbeat lyrics are very toe tapable.


I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Ray Charles
1947
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SFqFSE_bxo

A very sad blues song about his girl leaving him and him being sad about it. The lyrics are literally talking about his thoughts on who's kissing her, who's buying wine for her now, etc, etc. This song is more slowed done and meant to hit home by being sad and depressing, which by today's standards it's not, but think of the poor defenseless people in the forties that heard this. They bawled! This song was mainly popular because it was easily related to by men who've lost
the supposed "love" of their life. Musically this song is probably the slowest tempo I think I've ever heard. Although Ray Charles has a great voice for this type of thing, in my opinion it was too slow. but that combined with more intricate instrumentation made it listenable. This also sounds a lot like something that would be coming out of Frank Sinatra. This style of music was swiftly becoming more and more popular but it's one flaw.... all of it sounded the same! The appealed to audience was mostly parents and mindless people who enjoy the same thing over and over. but apart from that, a good song.


Crossroad Blues
Robert Johnson
1937
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD2jXjV9Z8A

Robert Johnson is one of the forefathers of rock and roll. His legend is that he went to the crossroads and sold his soul to the devil to become a better guitar player. In essence that's what this song is talking about. It's just really describing what he did and how he felt about it. But the weird part of this is that he wasn't a good guitar player, until he disappeared, and when he came back he was fantastic at it and told the story of what he did at the crossroads. This will always be a legend in rock because it can't really be explained. Musically this song is very intricate. The vocals are mostly belted ( coming mostly from the diaphragm) and the guitar has very intricate parts such as slides, minor string bends and loads of other cool stuff, and does not really follow a set pattern. It's a very different style of playing, but it is not less difficult because of it. It is definitely a song that is noticeably starting to turn the genre towards a more rock and roll type sound as opposed to the other swing type sound that most music had at the time. This song is arguably the turning point in music in which rock and roll started to evolve.


1950 - 1970!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Twist And Shout
The Beatles
1964
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnW7Q-wkcsw

Finally moving into the sixties is The Beatles with Twist And Shout. The Beatles are very arguably the band that really started the rock and roll revolution. They are the biggest band to have ever hit the planet and continue to be even though two of their members are dead. This song is about twisting and shouting, or as Mr.Edwards would put it, playing scrabble. The lyrics talk about "coming a little closer baby" and "looking so good" but put into context its really just a song about scrabble. Musically this has really early rock and roll guitar chords with harmonies in the vocal parts and melody on the guitar, the intricacy is all in the first minute of the song, and songs are generally getting longer. In my opinion this is a good song because it has brought a new element into music, which is.....screaming! Yes at 1:34, Lennon unleashes what is believed to be one of the first actual screams in history. This was in my opinion a defining point in rock and roll because so many different genres originated from 5 seconds of a Beatles song.


Pinball Wizard
The Who
1969
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOUqRZkR8dE&feature=fvst

This is a song about pinball. A tad random but regardless it fits the criteria so I'm doing it. The lyrics of this song don't have much of a metaphor behind them, its just about a guy, who is good at pinball. Pretty Basic. But it gets slightly more complex. The story's narrator is also good at pinball. What a twist. and in the end admits that the other guy is the best pinball player. what a great story. Musically this song is very technical though. We are starting to see more power chords, back up vocals, drum fills and all the other outrageous stuff we have today. Now we are getting into the early classic rock and out of Sinatra's era. This song also has something relatively new, an opening that lasted way too long! the pinnacle of Rock and Roll!!!


The Wind Cries Marie
Jimi Hendrix
1967
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf-Mtd2A1DI

This is a song about... wait, what the heck is this song about? The lyrics don't even make any sense. It could be conceived as a song about chasing happiness but then like 3 verses don't really make sense. But that's ok, we all know what kind of people listen to this kind of music. Musically this song is the most intricate yet. Jimi Hendrix is one of the main rock legends of the sixties. The guitar work is amazing to say the least. Jimi Hendrix is the most ridiculous guitar player of the sixties. Which then moved into all the 70's rock which followed by example. Jimi Hendrix started rock a rock revolution of guitar solos and lots of drugs that was gonna hit the 70's like a brick.


1970 - 2000

The Immigrant Song
Led Zeppelin
1972
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svR3iXKTJvc

Finally a song that has everything a rocker could ever want: a guitar solo, wailing vocals, crazy drum patterns, lots of power cords and whatnot, it's crazy insane.The lyrics of this song appear to be about vikings of some sort, with the opening of this song being the famous " aaaaaahhhhhhhh" that everyone rips off in movies and stuff. This song is just 3 years after pinball wizard and is noticeably heavier and has an obvious edge to it. Musically this song is garbage. it's mostly just power cords in a pattern played over and over again. very repetitive, but also harder to play on drums. The vocals for this song are a weird contrast between hich and low vocals. in my opinion this song is a classic because it is one of the first songs that sets itself apart from the rest based on how heavy and edgey it is.

Anyway You Want it
Journey
1980
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgvnZIxOX08

And now for an actual classic. This song was the anthem of the 80's, being featured in many movies leading up to early to mid 2000's. It's made it's mark on society in many ways:movies, videogames, virtually anything you can think of. This is another lovey dovey song about finding your true love. the words "anyway you want it, that's the way yo need it" reffer to love being however you feel it, and it not being influenced by anything other than you, and it is something that nothing can change but you. Musically this song is very impressive. the vocal clarity and sound is astounding and very difficult to replicate. Also a face melting solo shreds in the background for just about half the song. the guitar to this song is very difficult and there are tons of people on you tube trying to replicate it. this song was featured on rock band 2 and was listed as one of the most difficult songs. how's that for musical intricacy? this song has persevered through the ages and is truly a rock classic.


In The End
Linkin Park
2000 (cheating the system)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVTXPUF4Oz4

And now we'll talk about Linkin Park. This song is about watching life pass you by. The chorus states " I tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn't even matter" this part is referring to a failed relationship that the lead vocalist had. This song is a lot about life passing you by, and the depression that follows constant failure. For a long time it was the anthem of angst ridden teens everywhere. Musically it has a very different style than most other songs, aside from those by Linkin Park. It has a hip hop feel to it with rapped lyrics as well as turntables and effects like wah wah and such. Linkin Park was for a long time my favorite band, and have since progressed alot. They appeal to a largely young audience and do an excellent job of connecting with their fans.

2000's

Take This Life
In Flames
2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1FkbvGl-IU

Finally A crazy song! This song was featured on Guitar Hero 3 and was known as one of the 5 deadly songs on the game and threatened carpal tunnel to all who challenged it. Lyrically the song is about having nothing and looking for something to believe in. It`s about being pushed to the edge and finding something to hold onto, even when just the thought of everything is enough to melt your skin off. It is a very emotional song and just kind of screams at the world for a couple minutes. Technically this song is genius. One of the hardest drum parts in the world Is the one for this song. The guitar has melodic riffs that take serious talent to pull off and the bassist is huge and just destroys his bass strings. This is in every meaning of the word a `fight song` and was the single for the album `Come Clarity`.


A New Beginning
Threat Signal
2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEDI5S-W2RU

This is another song that strikes hope into the hearts of metal heads everywhere. This is a song about being taken to the very end and looking back and saying``If I could breathe again, I`d choose a new beginning``. Essentially the songs lyrics are interpreted as a man on his deathbed and his last thought is``If I could breathe again, I`d choose a new beginning``. Technically this song is very advanced. The patterns are difficult to master with very melodic elements to it, making it sound very pretty. the way that keyboard is included brings out the melody even more, and drops when intensity is needed. the sheer talent of this young band is astounding, and have some of the best undiscovered talent in North America. In just 6 short months they went from being undiscovered to being stars. six months ago, the number of hits on the link provided was around 24000. now it almost peaks at one million.


Just Stop
Disturbed
2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBCrQv4w0uM

This is a song about wanting redemption from the past. It is a song about a failing relationship based on negativity and blame, and wanting to be better than that and bringing yourself back up from that. the lyrics "All that we want is to feel inside some kind of comfort and all that we've done we can hide" meaning that you want the comfort of something that is stable and whatever may have happened in the past does not dictate the rest of your life and is not the end. David Draiman (Vocals) Is probably the most unique sounding voices out there. he can hit every note you can name in virtually any octave. and just his vocal quality alone is amazing, there is no other voice like his. This band Has talent in so many different ways that they are a power house of hard rock.