My Disappointing Popular Music Blog

 Last week was definitely not the best time, but I'm going to try to make up for it with this blog post.  For this weeks song, I chose "Crocodile Rock"  by Elton John.  I've always loved this song!  I've loved hearing it in movies, on the radio, and then I got to listen to it for school!  Which I have to admit, was pretty great.  This song starts out with three piano chords, then goes into an upbeat melody with synthetic sounding instruments added to the piano base sound.  Then in the chorus, it sounds like there was a little country influence, along with the upbeat, classic rock 'n' roll sound.  Overall, "Crocodile Rock"  is an upbeat, and fun song that you can really move your feet to.  Hence the lyric, "Well Crocodile Rocking is something shocking, when your feet just can't sit still.  I never knew me a better time, and I guess I never will." This song really has a sense of nostalgia associated with it.  Remembering tho...

 For the seventh week's blog post, I chose the song "Eleanor Rigby," from The Beatles.  Before we listened to this one during class, I had only heard this particular Beatles song in the movie "Yesterday."  As I listened to it for this week's post, I was blown away by this piece!  The musicality of this song is crazy, and unique compared to other songs by The Beatles.  The background music for this song employs a classical octet, with four violins, two violas, and two cellos.  Because all of these string instruments are being used, this song stands out.  Not only from other songs this group has put out, but other songs from similar groups within the era. Because of the immediate start/rush into the song, it can startle you at first listen.  I can't really tell if the score played by the various string instruments sounds happy or sad.  I feel as though the music kind of contradicts the lyrics a bit though, with confusing and somewhat melancholy...

 Hi y'all!  For this weeks blog post, I decided to listen to the song  "Sh-Boom"  by The Chords (not by The Crew Cuts).  I absolutely love this song!  In my opinion, the original version of  "Sh-Boom"  was the better version.  It has a more "whole" sound, with a lot of different textures, more variety of harmonies, and an overall complex sound.  The cover version by The Crew Cuts was not as fulfilling to listen to, and seemed more empty compared to the original version from The Chords.  All of the harmonies done by the original group make such a difference, especially with the different bass parts.  The scatting in The Chords version also adds a lot to the overall impression given by the song, even if I'm not really sure what it means. I think the lyrics of this song are really cute!  I love the words mentioned in the chorus, "Life could be a dream, If I could take you up in paradise up above, If you would tell me I'm the ...

For this fifth blog post, I decided to listen to the song, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"  by Hank Williams.  I chose this song because I wanted to look into it a little bit more, the lyrics specifically.  I also wanted a bit more of a chill song for this week.  Anyway, even before we listened to Williams' song in class, I think everyone could tell what kind of song it was, and the feel/emotion that would come from listening to it.  I think everyone could guess what Hank's song was about just by reading the title of it.   There isn't really a chorus, though it says "I'm so lonesome I could cry at the end of almost each paragraph/stanza.  All of the lyrics mentioned in this piece are pretty understandable, considering the title.  Williams' talks about birds in the first and third verses, then sings of the moon and the stars in the second and fourth paragraphs.  He talks about the birds crying, too sad to fly, losing their will to live....

 The song that I picked for this week was mentioned briefly during class last week.  I picked the one called "Paper Doll,"  by The Mills Brothers.  This song immediately left an impression on me while listening for the first time.  Initially, I loved the rhythm, and melody of this piece.  It sounds like a song an old couple would dance to in the kitchen while making dinner, just a cute sounding, jazzy song.  From the start, the melody is fairly simple, just notes being played on some sort of bass/cello.  Along with the simple music in the background, there is only one voice singing.  Then, as we progress to the second verse, the instrumental tune in the background becomes more complex and upbeat in a way, adding more instruments and harmonies.  As well as this addition musically, background vocals add in with "oohs,"  adding dimension to the piece.  With a minute left, the rest of the quartet add in, singing a beautiful harmony...

 The song I chose for week three is called "April Showers,"  by Al Jolson.  While listening to this song, it reminded me of songs played at parties in older times.  Where there was dancing, and the music would be sang live.  During class, we talked about how theatrical Al Jolson's voice sounds, and I really noticed that while really listening to his song.  In "April Showers,"  Jolson's message seems pretty uplifting while sounding somewhat somber to me, which is probably because of the style in which he sings.  Musically, this song is so beautiful.  It sounds like it would be in a Disney princess movie, but specifically sounds like Cinderella to me.  While listening to this song the first time, I noticed the string instruments playing the melody very prominently.  But as I listened to it more, I could hear the twinkling of piano in the background.  The strings and piano go really well together, creating a magical sound.  I...