Week 8

It is truly amazing how technology has had its hand in changing the music world over and over again. There is no doubt that throughout history people enjoy listening music. Gone are the days of 45’s, LP’s and radio, people want their music when they want it and as cheep ad convenient as possible. With changes in technology and the prominence of the Internet, iPods, iTunes and other media it is now easier than ever to listen to almost anything you want to hear. Once again artists need to change the way they distribute their product to the people.

YouTube has definitely changed how people listen to music and the ease of access music. If I am curious about a song, I go to YouTube and look it up. I can usually find a recording with lyrics, which if I am looking up a song to use in school, this is a great way to check to make sure the song is appropriate for school use. As a teacher, I am constantly accessing YouTube in the classroom. Usually, I use YouTube to bring music into the classroom for specific lessons, though other times I use it as background music when students are doing independent or small group work. I also have students come in and tell me I “have to see” a specific video on YouTube. I didn’t realize how much time my students really spent on YouTube until a few years ago. YouTube is very much a large part of my students daily life, and can be a great asset to get students to engage in what they have learned at home.

Many artists use YouTube as a way to promote themselves and their music, the group, Radiohead, has taken a very different view of how to sell their music. The theme in Radiohead’s song “Bodysnatcher,” is well stated by Star and Waterman(2013), “the struggle to retain control over one’s creative voice in a profit-driven industry.” Radiohead has used the Internet to their advantage and have pulled away from the record companies to take their careers into their own heads and promote their music using YouTube and making their music affordable through internet downloads. In “Bodysnatcher” they say “it is the 21st century, it is the 21st century.” I feel Radiohead understands how the industry is changing in the 21^st century and are making the most of the situation by using all the resources available to them.

Starr, L. & Waterman, C. (2013). American popular music: From

minstrelsy to MP3 (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press

(ISBN:978-0-19-985911-5).

Week 7

When I think of the 1980’s, I think about digital sounds, big hair, bold and colorful make-up, leg warmers, and bright non-symmetrical clothing. Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It” a great start into the sounds of the 80s.  “Jump” by Van Halen is an amazing piece of 80s music, you can see the wonderful tight colorful clothing paired with very saturated lighting styles seen in the video below. You can hear the synthesized sounds that I believe define the 80s with very sexy dance moves and obviously the musicians are performing for the camera.

It was interesting listening to “Lady” by Kenny Rogers, even though the synthesized sounds are still heard; Rogers’s age is not what I think of when I think of the 80s.  First, I know there where plenty of older musicians in the 1980’s, but I generally think of the younger musicians when I think of popular music of the 80s. I think of “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, “Like a Virgin” by Madonna and “When Doves Cry” by Prince as popular 80s sounds and artists. I feel like the 80s was all about American musicians that are following a very free loving decade of the 70s.  Thus the music continue to become more sexy and the videos can also reflect the sexual appeal of the 80s.

As we continue into the later 1980s and into the 1990s, the rap starts to make an impact on the music industry with songs like “Walk This Way” performed by Run-D.M.C., “Night of the Living Baseheads” by Public Enemy, and “What’s My Name” by Snoop Doggy Dog. I don’t understand why rap artists feel the need to use vulgar language to express themselves, but I’m not a big fan.

Overall, the 80s do have a lot to offer and to share with students. There is a number of great songs in the 1980s that are appropriate for the classroom and there is a lot that is very inappropriate. Due to MTV and all the music videos that surfaced in the 80s most students relate well to watching and listening to music, which helps engage students. Students can also compare videos and sounds from the 80s to current music.