Skilllz

Previously, I have had lots of writing and reading assignments, so this class was no different.  During the course of this class, I’m not sure whether our writing assignments have improved my writing or not. The one thing I do know for sure is that my typing skills as well as my reading skills have improved tremendously. I have also learned a lot through my fellow classmates. They pointed out that I tend to repeat things over and over and suggested that I should be more organized with my thoughts. It is very easy to spot other peoples mistakes, but hard to spot my own. One can never say that they know everything. Each writing class is different and you learn something new every time.  This course has also shown me that there are so many different ways to quote. It was very confusing, and didn’t realize the various ways to tie things together thru quotations.

There is one thing though that I am truly grateful for is the appreciation for blogging. Prior to this course, I was almost positive that blogging was extremely stupid and had no interest at all. I couldn’t understand the concept of people spilling their guts in a public format. I was astonished that blogging can be used in many different ways as this class has shown me.  I have started to actually enjoy writing my thoughts on those random topics in our Music and Culture books.  Regardless of those topics I was able to enjoy what blogging was all about. I feel it gave me another way of expressing my opinion. Not only was I enjoying writing my blogs, but I was finding myself waiting to read the comments from my fellow classmates. When I didn’t get comments I was very disappointed. Blogging for me was a great learning experience and has enhanced my typing skills as well as my way of expressing myself.

To my surprise, I would have never thought that this class would help me with my typing skills. I used to hate typing because I was really slow, now I can type pretty quick, or at least quicker. Regardless of its actual speed I am more familiar with the keys; I tend to look at the keyboard less often. Who knew that blogging and our writing assignments would bring this out in me?

In the beginning I stated that I didn’t know if this course has improved my skills, but now I can say that it has. I learned to enjoy new things such as blogging and truly enjoyed reading other peoples work.  Reading before was not pleasant, but I am pleased to say that I take pleasure in it now. It was always because I had to for one reason or another. I am more conscious of my strengths and weakness. I am truly amazed that I have opened up to new ways of expressing my opinions through blogging.  In the past I was not comfortable going over other students papers, but now I am very confident and have overcome this fear.

Sampling is definitely a different type of music. Some people would think that sampling would be considered plagiarism, others would find it to be creative. I would say that depending on how it is done will determine whether it is a knock off of what has already been made or a unique way of using a different song to enhance a new. There are some artists that I could think of to represent both of these sides of my argument. There are a couple of songs by Pitbull, one of them being Bon Bon, where h uses the beat and chorus of a different song to make a new song. Another song would be when he uses the beat and sound of Palmdale by Afroman, at this time and point I can’t think of the title of the song. I would say remakes are a type of plagiarism, but that isn’t necessarily sampling.

Many people feel that Lady Gaga is using things and doing exactly what Madonna had done in her younger ages and feel Lady Gaga should give credit to Madonna for her ideas. I am not quite sure what they are talking about since I am not a big follower of Lady Gaga, I only know a few songs; that goes the same for Madonna. I hear about it from many of my friends every time I hear Lady Gaga on the radio. From the collective group I would have to say it isn’t far from the truth.

I personally don’t care all that much, so long as the song sounds good and doesn’t butcher or feel like a knock off of the original. That usually goes for remakes for me rather than sampling. Sampling is just using a piece of a song, rather than making the older song new. The Song You Spin Me Round has been remade so many times, and each of those sound good, well from the ones I have heard at least. It has also been used in sampling as well for many songs. The most recent that I know of that sounds really good to me is You Spin My Head Right Round by Flo Rida. This is a good example of sampling. I could accept Sampling to a point.

Now what I have been talking about is a light version of sampling. Real Sampling is using other sounds to make a completely new thing. I have a good amount of friends that are DJs and they make some amazing sounds. It blows me away. I don’t know how they think of these things and how it all combines to make its own piece of art. If you are real good at it you can almost forget that the pieces used are of other songs. It is taking art and making new art of it. There is This interview that I have found on YouTube that would probably explain it much better than I would. It is an interview of a DJ who samples and makes it his own.

Resources!?!?

There are many things to write a research paper about in the world as we know it. You don’t even have to right about things about now. You could write about the past, the future and even possible versions of our world. You aren’t even limited to our world, you could write about other worlds, whether they are fiction or nonfiction. There is an endless possibility of what you can write about. Though when you do find what it is you decide what it is you are going to write about, you will need information from other sources to make your research have any kind of support and credibility. I feel that is the hard part of any paper. Sources can sometimes be a real pain to find depending on your research topic.
My current research topic is giving me a little bit of difficulty. I have been looking up information about Frank Zappa, and the PMRC. It isn’t necessarily the information about them, but rather them together. I have only found one source for together; the other sources are about them individually about how they came to be. Another thing is that one of my sources has a number of letters in it, so I am not sure whether to count the letters individually or instead use the site instead as a source. The letters are my biggest source for my discussion about why the PMRC feels they have the right to limit the rights of others. Frank Zappa is one of the main people who fought for those the PMRC are inhibiting. The letters are composed by Frank Zappa, the PMRC, and others sent to the president, other companies, and congress.
This leads me to another thing that makes sources difficult, making sure that your sources are credible. There are some sources out there that have been written out of false context or an incredible author. A place that is most common by this dilemma is Wikipedia. Wikipedia is site that allows anybody update, create, and post pages on any given information. I haven’t used Wikipedia as a source in a very long time for any paper, simply because I have had teachers tell me to never use that site. There is a good thing about Wikipedia though; it can lead you to some credible sites, through its external, related, or sited links at the bottom or whatever it is you were looking at.
Even with these difficulties that I am running into, my paper is coming along. I may have to tweak it in order to get the effect I am trying to get. It is coming out as a research paper of each individual, then their confrontation with one another. Hopefully it goes the way I intend it to go, but we will have to how my peers, and teacher think about what it is I have written. With my issue about sources, this new plan that I have told you will correct, or somehow make things work. Overall my paper should be fine. Like I said though, we will see.

ARGH!!!!!

There are a lot of things out there on the web. There are games, social network sites, and many more. The internet gives people access to all sorts of things. Now some things on the internet you have to pay for, such as music, movies, subscriptions to a site, and random items from online stores. The problem is because there is such an outreach, due to the internet; people have found ways to get around paying for things. It is because of this ability that Piracy has boomed from the internet. People are stealing items through the internet and giving them out for free. One of the most major items that is being stolen and distributed is music and movies. These two items are stolen off things like lime wire and other downloading software you can download off the internet. Since it is the internet, it is hard to track down and catch culprits. Yes, some are caught but not enough are being caught to where it is stopping the major majority who are stealing. If you think about it, who wouldn’t want to get free things, if you got away with it? Most people wouldn´t, which is why things haven’t really changed.
There are a lot of disputes about Internet Piracy out there. Since so many people do it, and the artists, and actors are still a great success regardless of how many things are pirated, they don´t see why it is such a crime. I understand why it is such an issue, but I would have to agree with those people a little. There was this one Southpark episode that I saw where it was talking about Piracy. It was pretty funny. They were saying that because of internet piracy Britney Spears had to give up her most expensive private jet and use her still good but not quite as good private jet. Another example was that Jay Z´s son was crying because Jay Z couldn’t afford to buy an island for his birthday or Christmas present. I felt it was hilariously stupid. None the less though, it was still getting both messages across that it is bad to steal, but was there really that much of an issue.
This is what I would say is the issue with internet piracy. I feel that what it is that people steal is messed up. People put their effort in what it is they make. So for people to steal it, almost makes it seem like they don’t respect the artist. Yes, people are potentially losing money due to people stealing music and movies, but in comparison, it does little harm if the artist is doing so well. I am against internet piracy because whatever it is I listen to or watch, I usually like it too much to steal. If I like it I will buy it. I like knowing that what it is I have, is something I really wanted and now own. To me it shows a sign of respect, regardless if the maker knows I have purchased it or not, along with if they care. I care and that is what matters. If this gets out of hand and starts to become a huge problem, I can see the internet just being something removed, or invasion of privacy from the government to enforce the end of internet piracy. All would be affected and all would lose.

Eminem and Brisk??

This is by far one of my favorite commercials that I have seen in a very long time. The reason why I enjoy it so much is that it features one of my favorite musicians and one my favorite drinks out there. I’m sure most people have seen it, especially if you are a football fan. This commercial appeared during the Super Bowl haft time. It was the Brisk commercial staring Eminem. It was because of those two elements that I enjoyed this commercial so much.

This commercial is all done in Claymation. The commercial opens up with Eminem saying “I get asked to do commercials all the time.” It goes on to say he has three demands if he is going to do the commercial. He needs hot women, it is filmed at his place, and he records his own music. After he says his demands, he goes on saying he tries the product, and doesn’t like him. Because he doesn’t like them he decides not to do the commercial. It goes to him drinking a can of Brisk which then he sates, Damn that is pretty good, but I have one final demand.” The business man who is taking down his requests says he can’t change the name to “Eminem’s Shut Up and Drink It Ice Tea,” as Eminem pushes him off the building. Eminem says then goes to say he doesn’t do commercials because his demands aren’t fulfilled. As the view pans out, he looks like he is standing on a huge brisk can, then it cuts to a room where it is full of Brisk tea cans of every flavor that is out, where Eminem just walks away.

Through this entire commercial the scenery chances as if was a giant box. As the scenery changes the box rotates and it becomes a new place for a different purpose. I thought it was pretty unique. Eminem just moves on through each phase nonchalantly continuing with his statements. The reason why I liked this commercial was due to how well they made Eminem look. He acted like his usual self. You know what I mean; his language, his attitude, how he dresses, all of it was there which made you want to watch the commercial. There was no music in this commercial; it only had sound for the appropriate setting at the time of each phase. There was no doubt on what the commercial was about. It was mainly focused on Eminem, but it kept in suspense on what product he was going to sponsor. Some may say that he was selling out, but I wouldn’t think so. He still seemed like the same person to me, and he hasn’t been anywhere since then. It was just a special occasion. It was a clever way to sell their product and I enjoyed every part of it.

This commercial is one of my favorites. Eminem was doing two things at the same time. He was talking crap about a product, and talking it up all at the same time. How this commercial was designed and produced was fantastic and amusing all at the same time. It definitely made me want a Brisk tea, and it made me laugh with Eminem’s part. He was well represented in this commercial; I didn’t see a single change in him, well except for his afro. That was a good one. I was just looking at the commercial again and there is an uncut commercial too. They are pretty much the same, but a funnier name for Eminem’s final demand. You should check them both out. There are even outtakes!!! I'll put those here too.

Gangsta Rap

                Who would I consider to me a “gangsta rap” artist? Since I don’t normally listen to rap, aside from Dr. Dre and Eminem, I am not too sure my view would be accurate to what I feel “gangsta rap” is. When I hear certain artists on the radio, on a CD when I am in the car with friends; there is some rap that just sounds completely different from a different type of rap. I would not consider Eminem as a “gangsta rap” artist. I would consider Snoop Dogg, for instance as a “gangsta rap” artist.

                Now why do I consider him a “gangsta rap” artist? Why don’t I write about the more obvious artists out there? The main reason I chose Snoop Dogg was because I know of him better than the rest, most likely because he is more famous than the others. To answer the question to why I felt he is a “gangsta rap” artist is because, based off the material I read from Music and Culture by Anna Tomasino, he raps a lot about women, drugs, alcohol, gangsta violence, and other acts of that nature. I consider him completely different from Eminem, since Eminem talks about things that are real. What I mean from real is from personal experience. Eminem is more of a story rap, rather than just rapping about what is considered cool.

                I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that people disagree with me. Why do I say this? I say this because like I said, I am not the biggest rap listener. I don’t know much of the facts of rap. Some people might not see the difference I see between Snoop and Eminem, or people may not think Snoop Dogg is even a gangsta rap artist. All depends on the audience to whom you are speaking to. That Is why I chose to write about this. Since I would be considered someone not a part of Raps core audience, I felt it would be a good thing to write about. Depending on the type of people listen to the music, along with the type of music people listen to, makes how people label something. Now, I am not saying these labels are necessarily correct, or what the artist intended for them to be, but unfortunately that is how it is.

                Do I think Snoop Dogg would like this title I have given him, I don’t know. Based off what I know, from what I have heard through his music, I think he would agree with it. That though depends on his definition of “gangsta rap.” Another Artist who I would truly think is a “gangsta rap” artist would be 50 Cent. Would Snoop Dogg think that they are alike? That is another question I would not know. Did Snoop Dogg want to be considered a “Gangsta?” I definitely think so. That is what I hear in his music. Does his message of being a “Gangsta” in his music mean that his music is “gangsta rap”, or does that just make it rap? I would consider it “gangsta rap” based off what I read.

What really matters?

                 In my opinion, Eminem is one of the truly great rappers out there. Now would he have been less of a success if he was black? There is a great question. Many people don’t believe so. They say that he would have either been half the success or not ne at all. I personally don’t believe that. It is not his color that makes him the great lyricist that he is, or the experiences he has had as he grew to become the man he is. He like many people have had a harsh life. He wasn’t brought up in a loving house, had a single mother who was an awful one at that, and was brought up in what some people would say the slums of Detroit. The real reason to why he became such a success was completely due to Dr. Dre. No one wanted to sponsor him; no one wanted to even give him a chance in the music business. It wasn’t till Dre recognized him for his talent that he even got into the business. Dr. Dre and Eminem have made a song that completely shows this relationship they have and what it means to one another. That song is “I Need A Doctor.” In this song Eminem is trying to remind Dr. Dre who he is what Dr. Dre has done for Eminem and that is seems like it is Eminem’s turn to be there for Dre like He has for Eminem.

                Like I said, Eminem is a great lyricist, which has made up many great songs, some for fun, but most of them are usually serious. Most, if not all of them, have real life experience in them. He doesn’t try to be fake. He just does what he knows best. Unlike much of the rappers that is out there talking only about women, sex, drugs, cars, and other types of material. Eminem, from what I hear and listen to talks about the issues he has gone through, or is trying to fight. You can tell he isn’t just making music for money. He makes it to make a message, show people why he is here and how it happened, why he can care less about other people’s problems, all except for his daughter of course. He loves her more than anything and would do anything for her.

                I believe this is the reason to why he is so famous. Not because he is white, but for what he represents. In Music and Culture by Anna Tomasino, there were many quotes on to why people loved him. They said his music was “real.” I completely understand why this is. I feel the same way. There has yet been I song that I heard from him, where I feel he was not worthy of being produced, was repeating songs already sung, or it was not original. He has his own sound, and type of music that just draws people. His music attacks all type of races, types of work, and types of people, politics, government, and anything else you know. It is because of this that makes him “real”, respected, and relatable by the people who listen to his music. He definitely deserves the title’s that have been given to him. He is, to my belief, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, rappers out there.

Life Alterations

             What music artist didn’t “confound the images?” Think about it. People, from the start, have always dressed up like the famous people they have seen. These things happen because they feel like they need to copy a role model, rebel, or feel like they need a new style. The thing is people are easily molded into things. Well not all of them, some are just more easily susceptible to it than others. The Artists Flock of Seagulls had the crazy hair style, and make up, the heavy metalists have the long hair and crazy roaring into the mic, and Brittany Spears has the questionable attire that many people picked up through the years.

                Fashion is a very popular thing these days. So many people are worried what people may think of them when they leave the house. There are people out there who say opposite, so they dress a bit bizarre or unique because they don’t care. My thing is though if they didn’t care why they would go to such a far distance to make sure they stand out. Truthfully I believe they just want attention, or “secretly” they do care what people think. So when they see these artists on stage wearing the clothes they do, or the make-up that they have on, how they stand, etc. they try to copy them or look similar in order to make themselves look and feel special. If the artist is so successful wearing what they do, then why can’t the people who see and hear them be the same?

                When it comes to role models, people have a need to become, what I like to say, the shadows of that person. I have a cousin who considers me a role model and he tries so hard to become like me. He tries to dress like me, get interested in the things I do or like, and so forth. The same thing goes for the people who have musicians as role models. It’s the idea of, if you are like them then you will be in the same shoes of them eventually, or succeed like they do.

                Then there are the people who feel they need to rebel. There will be music that people’s parents don’t like, so then the children look for that music and mimic the artist to further upset their parents. Such artists may be Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, or any of our more current rappers. Rebellion is a powerful thing that many artists use to their advantage when it comes to selling.

                There re those that I consider extremists. I say this because they are the people who are daring enough to completely change their apparel. I don’t feel that there are many people out there daring enough to do that. They are usually too bored or fed up with how things are going, so when they see something that makes them feel different they will completely soak it up. Changing their outlook in life, how they dress, how they act, and so forth. There is most likely more but usually music is there when people are going through that change in their life.

                All of these are some reasons to why I say that all music artists use “confounded images” and use their lyrics to influence, or convince people to listen or become like them. There are so many factors and reasons to why it is so successful, but I felt these were some of the most basic, or ideal.

Judgment

                Negativity is all over the place, there is no where you can go where you won’t find it. Yes, there is greater negativity some places more than others, but this isn’t my point. In our current time and age people are being criticized and judge based on how we appear, what we do, and how we do it. I don’t know what it is about the people of today that make people just talk smack. Is it because they don’t understand them, they are envious of their success, popularity, or what they have, or is it they just have a view of something and since the person of thing doesn’t match with it, they just automatically don’t like it. There is a person who gets a lot of negativity, I always run into it when I say I even listen to his music. Marilyn Manson is a man who gets an obscene amount of negativity from people who don’t like him. I have yet found a person who hasn’t listened to his music not, not like him.

                I have read one of his autobiographies. The book “The Long Hard Road Out of Hell”, which isn’t confused with his song “Long Hard Road Out of Hell.” This book showed a great insight into how Marilyn Manson came the man he is now. I enjoyed this book because it gave me a better understanding of Marilyn Manson, who is one of my favorite artists. I admit I was a bit weird out by Marilyn Manson even though I listened to his music. With this book I was able to see through his eyes, and get a sense of how he sees the world. He sees it the way it is and just speaks about it with no hesitation. I have grown to respect him, rather than make him seem like a burden on society. Yes, he expresses his views in a bizarre way, but if you understood him, you wouldn’t think that way.

                Marilyn Manson is someone that many people just don’t like. I have never fully understood it. Regardless of judging him on how he looks, his music sounds pretty awesome and his lyrics are unique. Each one of his songs has a meaning. You just have to want to look for it, which isn’t that hard. Even with his success, it seems people dislike him that much more. I believe it is due to them not liking how he grew to become a success. Since they dislike how he looks, how he portrays his music, and what he sings about. It isn’t the nicest of music, but most, not all, of it is true, well that is what I believe.

                Like I have said, Marilyn Manson is a bit Bizarre and even more so if you don’t care to find out more about him. But to judge him based off how he looks and how he expresses himself, is just wrong. You are practicing something that our country has fought for many years; the right to express oneself, the right of freedom of speech, and so forth. I think it is just sad that people feel so negatively about him when he is talking about things most people are afraid to even bring up. Well I hope with this blog that you at least look into something before you decide to put negativity onto something. It is always better than just blindly hating something.

Restrictions

                Record Companies get a lot of problems put onto them. Some examples being, why do they sponsor certain type of people, or why do they make some music available? There is a question that comes up quite often that confuses me a bit though. It is the one about parental advisories on music. is it their responsibility to put it on music? People make such an issue on the type of music their children listen to, which is understandable, because during the adolescent ages they are quite moldable and easily influenced. Personally I believe that the parental advisory acts like a forbidden fruit. When you are a kid you always want to do the opposite of what your parents say because they say you are too young or what not. So when you see something like that you have curiosity that needs to be calmed. Either way, the child, if they are determined to listen to a type of music, will find a way to listen to it. So is it the record company’s responsibilities to put it on their music? Yes, but is it going to do anything but delay the same outcome as if it wasn’t there? You can’t stop people from listening to music; delay yes, bot stop no.

                AS I was saying, music is something that many people find extremely important. Whether, people buy their music, get it from a friend, steal it off the internet, or any other means, music will always land into the hand of people who want it regardless of parental advisory labels. when I was a child and I wanted a game, movie, music, or go see a movie in the theaters where I needed an adult to see it, it never stopped me. I was always able to. My parents were never worried about what I listened to, and what not. They knew I knew what was real or not. I always got their permission. Well, actually there was thing they didn’t want me to play, and that was Grand Theft Auto 3 and GTA Vice City. My mother said it was too real, but you know what…. It didn’t matter to me. I still played it, or borrowed them from my friends. I also recall that she didn’t want me listening to Marilyn Manson. She said his music was too dark, or distasteful. My brother and I didn’t really care. At that time I didn’t care what he said, even though I knew all the worlds, what I liked about his music was his sound he made. To me it was unique and just out there.

                I’m sure I’m not the only one out there who feels the same. I might feel differently when I become a parent, hopefully not, but I do, I’ll try to be more understanding since I did it too. As you read this I hope you are recalling instances like mine where you were restricted from listening to a certain type of music, or artist. If not that then something you were not able to watch or do. What was it you did? Did you abide to your parents, or did you do what you wanted and do it anyways? My prediction is that you did it, whether you got caught or not.

Mind over matter

               The youth of Today is all over the place. What is it that makes them the way they are? Is it peer pressure, the environment, how they were brought up, outside influences such as music, movies, or videogames? What is it that causes negative influences to take control of the youth of today, actually it isn’t even about the youth of today, it is actually about the youth in general. There has always been an issue about how the youth is our future, and how we need to influence them to do well. Always trying to keep them from things that would make them do bad things by keeping them from the bad girl and/or boy, making sure they don’t watch too much TV, listening to bad music or sometimes “adult” music, which some people like to call it. When you look into it, where does it all begin, what I really mean is, what is the main reason the youth either become easily influential or not? It all leads to the parents. Depending on how the child is raised, will depend on how they will become. Yes, the environment has a big impact though, but none compared to the parents.

                The reason I bring all of this up is for the reason that, when it comes to influences and how much they will affect the youth, it goes back to them. Music has always been big thing to the youth. It serves as inspiration, a mood setter, to bring people back to earth (metaphorically of course), express how one feels, then for some they are words to live by. It is there that people ask if music is a bad influence. Unfortunately, music really can be, especially now. Music today has greatly taken a step towards the “Dark Side.” No I’m not saying that there are Jedi and Sith running around using the force, but that Music is soliciting sex, drugs, violence such as fights, killing, and abuse.  Music of all genres do this, some more than others. Rap music for example talks about sex, and drugs as if there was nothing else to talk about. Country is another extreme believe it or not. I don’t really remember where I ad read this, or heard it, but there was a study that showed country was the music most responsible out of all the genres of music responsible or influential to suicides. I was actually shocked by this till I more closely listened to some country music. A lot of the music is extremely depressing and sad, and easily relatable. There are some major extremes that music is able to do with simple words, and sound. For people to go to such extremes have to already been in some kind of state prior to listening to music. Is it due how they experienced there life? Could it have been that they didn’t know how to deal or cope with their issues? There are many reasons to why people allow things to influence them , whether they are conscious how it or not.

                So what is that influences the youth? Is it the upbringing, outside sources such as music, or is it actually life experiences? I would say a mixture of all of them. I still hold that it is due to how they were brought up. For example, if you are a rich kid who knows nothing of the real world, which was spoiled by parents who just gave them whatever they wanted not caring about the child themself. Their experience or outlook of the world would be different than one who came from the projects who never had anything good. Children from there come out two ways, there are those who fight to get out and make something of themselves, or stay make a menace of things. I went a little off topic. Sorry for that, but my point is that music isn’t the reason for bad influence, it is how things were prior to the music. How people take it isn’t the music’s fault but how they were prior to it. Depending on that will determine the extent of how music will influence the youth, whether it be bad or good.

Passions

Is music everything to the youth? Do you honestly believe that people can’t have a passion for anything else? I’m sorry, but I have to say otherwise. There are so many things out there, along with people who find passion in other things besides music. Sure, music is great, and there are a good amount of people who absolutely love music and just soak their lives into it, but you can’t group all of us together.  I personally believe that if someone is nothing but music, that it is a waste of time. Now let me explain a bit before you say anything. There is a difference between a musician being soaked up in music, and someone who is just obsessed with music. If you are a musician, there is no way you couldn’t get soaked up in music because it is your life. Creating music is an art and if you create it, you have to get all into it. Now if you are someone who just listens to music I don’t believe that it should everything and anything in your life.

              If you look around, there are many examples. I have recently gone to the beach and I was there for most of the day. There were people out on the waves the entire day. They were there from dusk till done. Now I was just at one beach, if you think about it there are an extreme amount of people who find surfing to be there lives. Surfing is a beautiful sport where men and woman learn how to go with the waves in such ha way, it almost looks like they are dancing. I also have a couple of friends who obsess about going snowboarding or skiing. They have apps on their phone which show where snow has fallen and which mountain to go to. They can’t wait till there is snow on the mountains; they have taken trips around the world so they could have snow during the year instead of just during winter. I myself am in love with going hiking, or just messing around outside. My friend and I have made a couple of trips to Yosemite; it is one of the most amazing sights you could ever see. It doesn’t matter what time of the year you go, during each time there are different features that are both exciting, and beautiful. It is hard to explain. You would have to go and see for yourself. My favorite place there is by the waterfall. It is gorgeous.

              To say that the youth of our country or time is consumed by music is a great exaggeration. Yes there are some that are, but there is so much more people that haven’t been incorporated into such a statement. Due to the diversity of people, there are different passions, and different personalities. There is no way you could group everyone together as one. I have stated a good amount but that is not all. There is almost an endless list of other people’s passions. There are those in love with art, movies, photography….. My point being is that we are not all alike. So we don’t all think music is everything.

How do we listen to music?

What is it about music that makes us get engulfed in it? Is it the lyrics, the beat of the drums, the sound of the guitar or bass? There are many aspects of music that so many people like. Whether they listen to them individually or together, it is all different for different listeners. I myself have listened to music in many different ways. I have done all of those that I have listed previously. I like to analyze what it is I’m listening to.  I feel that even with breaking down the music that it gives me more of an understanding of the work as a whole. It is not the lyrics that make music what it is. Yes, it has a big importance to it, but without the rest it may be hard to tell the emotions in the lyrics. It would be like a poetry reading. The other aspects give character. The can express all emotions with a simple strum of the strings, an extra pause in the striking of the bass, or the raising of the tempo of the keyboard. There is so much more that I wouldn’t be able to identify. Even if I did with what I know, I’m sure there is much more that I don’t know.         

 I wouldn’t say that analyzing music distracts from the music but enhances it. Well that is how I feel. With some people it may distract. I only say this because multitasking isn’t always people’s strong points. You have to still be able to keep everything in perspective when you do analyze the different aspects of the music. As I write this I am coming to realization that I don’t even truly analyze the music. I actually just appreciate the qualities of each element that is present within the music itself. When you listen to music, do you listen to it as a whole? Can you ever just keep things into perspective? As I look back, I can’t recall me ever being able to keep things that way. I couldn't help but focus out of some the music to be able to enjoy specific aspects.

            The only thing that I could decide would help support my statements would be my music book that I used for my music class. When taking that class, for our tests we would have to listen to a piece and pick out specific sounds and strategies the composer had used to construct their musical masterpiece. Even when I didn’t enjoy the music itself, I was able to appreciate the song afterwards because I was able to tell how much thought and dedication was put into their work. So I guess I wouldn’t say that it is the book but more of my teacher getting us to be able to appreciate old music, which helped me appreciate music of the now century.

So the point that I am trying to get across is that analyzing isn’t a distraction so long as you know how to understand and keep things into perspective. What the meaning of why they done the way they are. I personally think that analyzing music is much more enlightening, since it opens the music more up to the listener.

people and their music

As I looked at all 30 songs that I have on my computer, and around maybe 50 CD’s that are left from my mom’s, dad’s, along with the rest of my family that lives here; I have come to the conclusion that I couldn’t come with a genre that I prefer. If you were to look at my 80 GB Ipod with I think about 7000 songs you would still not be able to define which music I prefer. Actually come to think of it, you might think I really like techno. Now let me explain real quickly. The music I have and always have has been gathered from many friends and relatives. I normally and quite frequently give my friends my Ipod and tell them to put all their music onto it and make their music a playlist. I do this to keep an open mind and to get more of an insight to the people I associate to. So the reason to why I say you might think I really like techno is because one of my friends had about 1700 songs of techno on his computer. So unfortunately when I listen to my Ipod, approximately every 6 songs is a techno song. I don’t mind that much because I do like it, it is just that there is so much of it on there. So I guess I could say that as I accumulate friends I accumulate music. The music I listen to has only changed from my toddler years to now only due to the expansion of my world. I only listened to the music that my brother had for a really long time till I started getting music from friends, which was around middle school.

               In my reading of the book “Music and Culture” by Anna Tomasino, I am finding that I am annoyed by music. It is pretty funny for why this is so. I am not annoyed by the music itself but by the content that I am reading about music. I like music, there is no doubt about that, I am just tired or hearing all of this harping about how music couldn’t be understood about unless you are “the gifted listener,” or about how the “Right wing control freaks” are keeping us down. Some ridiculous rant like that. Look, I am doing it myself. I just could not connect with the first chapter. Melissa Etheridge had my attention until she had said herself that she had done many things, including her music, to just get attention. Because of my upbringing and hearing that quite often, I just couldn’t tolerate that statement, it changed my perspective completely. I can respect talent and doing something you love, but to take it that kind of place, just bewilders me. Using music to express yourself is a good thing, not using music to get attention at any cost. Unfortunately I can’t completely back my previous statements because there are many songs that I like that take music to this place I speak of. so I find myself caught in a vicious circle of criticism. I say this because I get it from anybody due to the fact I don’t choose a side so I am in this grey area when it comes to music. Now out of the different types of entries in chapter one I feel like the personal essay by Quindlen was the most appealing. That one shows completely the feeling of how music affects the person. That is there to move you physically and emotionally. That was by far my favorite one. The rest seemed too formal, and/or seemed like they were there to talk about something other than music. I don’t know how to fully explain what I mean. Toure’s article just seemed like a book report. It was too dull.

something old

yeah...

I wanna write a poem
but I can't think of any words
So I guess you have to read this
Believe me its total rubbish

I guess my brain is not working today
It must gone to sleep
and a stuck in some kind of dream
and it doesn't wanna write a poem

My hands have to do all the work
they have no help from the brain
I think they are doing pretty well
and hope they always shall

That dreadful dream has ended
my brain is free at last
But it doesn't wanna do its job
cause it knows this poem is going to turn into a blob

The brain is acting a bit clever
he doesn't want to get involved in something he hasn't command
And he knows not to waste his time
but I don't Know why I am wasting mine

Well I might as well just waste another 10 seconds
and tell you something that's true
believe me I am not lying to you
cause you just wasted your time too

Music & Culture

What is the role of music has played on my life? That is an interesting question. To tell you the truth it really hasn’t. Yeah I enjoy it, who wouldn’t? It’s something out of the norm. I could see how it would greatly affect some people’s life. I mainly use it so I don’t feel alone I guess. I listen to it while I’m driving in my car or as I’m at work, mainly while I’m in my car though. I’m not one for plain silences. To me it just makes things seem extremely awkward, even when I’m with myself. I say this because when you’re in plain silence don’t you just feel as if things are at a standstill? Everyone is just sitting around doing absolutely nothing. I don’t like it so that’s why I have something going on. So that’s where music comes along sometimes.

Music itself hasn’t really been a major influence in my life though. The only time it has influenced me is by hearing it I was so stoked on how it sounded I wanted to know how amazing it would sound in concert…… actually it has played a little bit in my life. I am apparently a little too friendly with the opposite sex and I have had some interesting song dedicated to me, some nice and some not so nice. Even that being the case it hasn’t done anything to me except a good laugh or smile. The not so nice ones may have made me look back a bit to understand why, but the thing is it didn’t make a difference to me. Yes, it had happened but there was nothing I could have really done.

As for my community and the world, that is a different story. Music has extremely been the outlet for many people. Music has become main stream, to where it’s the most important thing for many people. I just don’t have that kind of connection as these people do. I simply enjoy my life without the assistance of other people’s talent. Yes, music is a great thing to have around. That much is true, but to have it run, control, or make it an extreme importance of life, just seems to be too much. When I hear these stories about how music has saved my life and what not, I feel sympathy for these people. It is unfortunate that people get into this kind of state to where Music is the only thing that is good in their life, but it really shouldn’t be that way. It’s not that music is bad but people should have to live like that to where music I that important to them.

There is something I’m supposed to talk about but the thing is I don’t know how I am supposed to talk about it. How am I even supposed to discuss the theme of music? On top of that, how it may possibly alter my appreciation of music. The theme of music is not something I feel I could pinpoint. There are many different themes put there. There is love songs, hate songs, Emo songs, random sounds, rap which is all derogatory. The list would continue to go on. I’ve listened to a wide variety of songs and I’ve looked up lyrics, and it has yet truly changed my perspective, appreciation, and understanding of it; I just appreciate that it is there to make the silence go away. It is as simple as that.

Title

So I had to create a Blog. I don't fully understand a Blog and to tell you the truth i don't really care. I've have read some and it just seems to be an opinion or someones outlook into something they find of interest, or a discussion of something they feel is a need for all to know.
When I had created this Blogger thing I felt it pretty interesting to put this title to help further explain or enlighten me why Blogs are so popular. I guess people just enjoy getting comments or others opinion maybe. Whenever I feel the need for that I simply ask someone who is around me or that I personally know.
You can say that I may be a little close minded or not up to outside opinions, criticism, and so forth, but I simply don't find a need for it. As I'm writing this is or rather typing this. I feel as if I'm writing in a journal or diary for all to know. To me that kind of defies the purpose of those type of implements. Maybe through this though I will have a different opinion on the matter.