Monday, January 25, 2010

Taylor Swift durrr

So I was reading this article on Taylor Swift and she is freaking adorable; I love her. They interviewed her and I discovered that she is influenced by all music. That is a positive. She loves Keith Urban and loves John Mayer. She also talks about her new found interest of rapping. Her name is T-Swizzy. She has recorded a song with legendary rapper T-Payne so it is pretty serious. The Grammy's are coming up and some people would be happy with one or two nominations...Taylor Swift has eight nominations. That is pretty solid. So I think everyone is wondering when the hell is the next Taylor Swift album? According to Taylor that will not be for a while. She likes to record and wait at least two years before making another album. She believes that a person can change a lot in two years and that she needs the time to get new material. The article talked about how Taylor Swift spent her holidays, and I was surprised to find out that she has a brother that is going to college and she is moving out of her parents abode. I did not realize she is almost twenty one. She has a lot of musical friends and is close to one of the singers in Paramore. She also talked about her home town and how she is just another girl. That is hard for me to believe since she is one of the biggest stars in the country. I would like to interview Taylor Swift, my questions would look into her soul. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31894783/taylors_time_catching_up_with_taylor_swift

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Auto tune

I think one of the biggest aspects of twenty first century music is the use of auto tune. This technology allows people to sing what ever they want and be in perfect tune. It is a really cool technology that has taken over the music industry. Now there is a small problem with this technology, it is being overused!!!!! It allows people who have no tone in their voice (talent) to make songs and make a lot of money based on sheer entertainment. This is not music. Ben E. King, The Beatles, Elvis, John Mayer are only a few names that do not use auto tune and they do not need it. Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, and the pioneer of auto tune T-Payne exploit the technology using it in every song. Is this music? Do not get me wrong I like the sound of auto tune its plastered on basically all rap and almost all music. My question is, is there a point where it becomes too much? I believe the people have spoken, and auto tune is here to stay. T-Payne and other artists are selling their music like never before and are only growing in popularity. I guess another positive to auto tune is that it allows anyone to get into the music industry. If your voice is not that good but you can write or your really marketable then auto tune can be your best friend. With just a few clicks your horribly mediocre voice, or your non voice can become like the greats of the past. Wait a second what am I saying?

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The Boondock Saints

The prompt for class was to describe what effects music has on a movie you saw. I watched "The Boondock Saints" and the music made the movie much more enjoyable. The music enhanced the dramatic scenes and really set the tone of the movie, the movie had a lot of classical music, because one of the main characters loves that style of music. During one of the most pivotal scenes his classical music was playing and I found myself drawn in; wanting more. Along with classical music, authentic Irish music was being played throughout the movie. This is probably the case because the two main characters are Irish, but I found myself instantly drawn in when I heard the music. I’m not so familiar with Irish music, but in this movie I wanted to hear more. With all scenes with guns and shooting the music made it art. It most definitely made the movie more intense. I think I would have enjoyed this movie without the music, but the music made it more enjoyable.
With all movies I have seen, the ones that stick out too me the most are the ones that have the most powerful music. Music is the jelly to the peanut butter sandwich that is the movie. You can enjoy it, but the jelly (music) just makes it sweeter. I am a big fan of music in the movies; it just makes the whole experience more enjoyable and more memorable. Thank you for reading this I hope you enjoy.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Elavator

The best and craziest music I encounter is the elevator. I love the classics that I hear when it’s me and random people in a tight space. I love the high pitch instruments and the fake optimistic tunes that the elevator belts out. I bet your wondering why I am saying this, but really I like the music. It helps break the ice. If there was no music in the elevators then the ride would have so much tension you could cut it with a chainsaw. Elevator music brings people together, it allows them to talk about the horribleness of the music, and why it’s played. The music though is the uniting force, whether you like it or not. Imagine for a minute if there were no music in the elevator, that would easily be the most awkward place a small to medium amount of people could be in. There would be unrelentless staring and judging about who is wearing what and nothing would ever happen. With music it occupies the people, allows people to talk to one another, its the hand that allows the conversation to flow. The next time you are in an elevator hopefully you will think of this blog. I am hoping this blog makes that experience much better. I am sticking up for the elevator music because someone has too. I am glad its there because it makes a lot of people happy....and sad (not excited). Why is elevator music there...simply to help the monotonous fifteen to forty five second ride with complete strangers. Thanks.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Top 5 (in no particular order)

1. Yesterday by the Beatles
2. Stand by Me by Ben E. King
3. Yellow by Coldplay
4. One by U2
5. Hard to Say by Sister Hazel
These five songs are five songs that I immediately thought of, and there are many others that have the same importance to me. This is a very difficult list to compile truly, and if I had all night maybe I could possibly come with five that I feel confident in saying they are my top five, but I don’t. Anyways these songs mean so much to me, and every time I hear them I am immediately swept with all emotions that a human can feel. They all share love, and that is there most important link. They all talk about love for another woman and love for life, and the deep expression of longing which hits every note in my heart. The amount of happiness each song brings to me is a bit scary and all the memories that race in my head whenever I hear these songs that are so deep and rich with emotion I can not help but feel optimistic and just great. These songs are simple with simple messages, no messy super beats, no heavy guitar or any distractions, these songs are loaded with feel and emotion. Raw emotion and that only stems from the heart. Every lyric is deliberate and powerful, there are no wasted words and the chorus is said only to enhance the song, not to be the song. I could write for hours how they make me feel and how they influence me, but I won’t do that.

Monday, January 11, 2010

I Love Miley Cyrus

Disclaimer: These opinions are mine and do not reflect the opinions of everyone. Im sure this music has influence over many people and many people may find comfort in this music...Please do not get offended.
Miley Cyrus is in my opinion one of the worst entertainers known to man. She has already said that she does not write her own music which means she is simply a tool used to make money. Let’s start from the beginning her only notoriety stems from a father who incidentally had one song that magically was popular. This song by the way is terrible, but that’s for another story. So because of her last name she gets a television show that attracts millions based on garbage values and being a pop idol. Her songs consist of being happy and boys, which was already established that she does not write her own songs. We decided as a class that if you don’t write your songs then your credibility as a true musician is lower. This girl's voice is so digigitized that she has to lip synch at concerts. I think if someone lip synchs at their own concert they are just terrible. Her music is so generic in that every song sounds the exact same, same chords, same melodies, and same crap. She is a product of Disney which we also discussed are just means of making money. She is an insult to music, because her only fame stems from a last name and the fact that she is young and marketable. Her music comes last and her quality is far from anything close to be influential. She is a waste of space who shouts words that are enhanced to make money. Miley do us all a favor and go to school and stop insulting my ears.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Buying and Selling Music?

The question is what do I think of buying and selling of music? I would like to talk about the most controversial aspect of this question, downloading the music for free. I have in the past downloaded music for free on the internet. I see the appeal as a consumer of getting any music, from any artist, of any genre anytime you want. This can be a great positive for the artist who is making the music. It provides them with instant notoriety and a huge following. This increase in popularity can lead to those people buying merchandise by the artist and/or attending their concerts. Another major issue arises from this topic, is music just a means to making money or is the making of music a way to relate to the people, or a way of enriching people's lives? If the answer is the latter of these two choices then free downloading is accomplishing the goal of a rapid spread of the artists' music. What can be better than that? With increasing abilities to obtain music freely, the less money for the artist.
The other side of this topic is the money compensation for the artist and the record companies. The artist takes time and effort to make these songs and albums and there is an opinion that they should be compensated for. Being a musician after all is a profession, and they deserve to be paid. Does a plumber do work pro bono? Probably not. Also the same can be said for the label companies, they discover the talent and give the artists the tools they need to perform their talents. Instead of being in a garage or in the streets they are in studios harvesting their goods (the music) and distributing it to everyone for enjoyment. All this work is not cheap and certainly needs some sort of compensation. There is an argument for both sides.
The solution? Well, I believe technologies such as Itunes is a great balance. To have the music for the consumer at consumer prices. In my opinion to make music requires a great deal of money and to obtain it for free seems incorrect. The consumer can also appreciate the music they buy instead of just another song that can get lost in the shuffle.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Music Every Day Man!

How do you experience music in your daily life? This is a fundamental element that gets me through my day, music is food and health. That might sound crazy but when i run everyday music is what gets me through. Music turns the boring, mind stalling activity, into an enjoyable experience that allows you push through and make huge gains. I am a type one diabetic and exercise is vital for living, and music is saving my life by allowing me to enjoy something that usually is found to be boring. Music in everyday life for me is vital. Of coarse I experience music in the car anywhere I go and that is a huge help to long boring drives to and from anywhere. Music takes the loneliness out of driving, it is your friend. Basically music, is a companion that is with you unconditionally. As I write this now I am listening to music which only drives my writing. As we discussed in class music in culture is a vital part of defining the culture that you are in. Music can save a culture, revive a culture and single handedly define a culture. For example I was at a basketball game and between every time out a pump up style music was playing, also when we won the song "we are champions" was blaring and this is a vital part of a winning culture. Any type of culture has music, I think I can say that there is not one culture of people that music is not a defining characteristic. Music is everywhere its a part of us and our culture, whether we like it or not what we listen too does define us.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Music Culture

What is my music culture? My music culture is every piece of music I have heard from my family and anything or anyone around me. My music culture comes from the places I have come from and the places i have been. My music culture stems from my home. This may sound crazy and almost indefinable, but music culture is the music that defines us, that defines me. My music culture is defined with love, hate, peace, war politics, males, females, vengeance, food, disease, any real emotion or feeling that a person can feel, or any situation a person can go through. There are countless examples of what music culture encompasses. The music cements it all, it is the Disc jokey that keeps the turntable of life going. I learned my music when I was born. There is not a single memory I have that music is not a part of it, and enhancing the memory. Sometimes the music is background and secondary, while at other times it is the fundamental element of the memory. Nonetheless, music is always there. I also learn music through observing different cultures, and just taking a step back and listening. It is amazing how music, when just in your head, can make a simple image or a simple scene magical. Music has the ability to save lives and bring hope, and my mother once told me that "she learned boys through song." I learn music through living. Whether it is from visiting foreign towns, listening to Pandora radio, or being at the mall there is always a classroom of music waiting to be absorbed by people.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Hello World

This is Faris Pacha, nice to meet you. Well sometimes when I eat i also eat some of my hair, the costs of keeping your ears warm.