Excellent soundtracks

One of the most important song writers of all time, Bob Dylan has a message that is still important today. Bob Dylan is folk singer that has written many songs that have impacted the world with their poetic messages. Dylan started back in 1959 and his early works became songs of the civil rights movement and anti-war movements. Of these, The Times They Are a-Changin' became big.

I had heard this song for quite a while, but it wasn't until I heard it in the movie Watchmen did I really start to think of it's meaning. From there I became a fan of it's sound and message. The song has a very folk sound to it, but that's expected from Bob Dylan after all. It's a simple sound, yet one that is catchy and easy to listen to. Bob Dylan's voice isn't one that I would say is above all, but at the same time it adds so much towards the simplistic feel of the song. Aside from it's wonderful sound, it has such a strong foundation for the message of, evolve with the times, and change from the bad. 

The song has many different indications of change within the world and that it's more positive to embrace growth than allow ignorance. One example of this is the very beginning of the song where he sings "And admit that the water around you head grows." This indicates the change within our world. This verse eventually leads to "And you better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone." This is powerful. This shows that if you don't get with the times and move forward, you'll be a chimp amongst humans. Another example of this message is when Bob Dylan sings "Come senators, congressmen, please head the call. Don't stand in the doorway, don't block up the hall." This is basically saying that the government shouldn't get in the way of the change. That the power of change should be within the people and therefore the people should be enabled to bring change. The last example, and my personal favorite line in the whole song, is "Don't criticize what you can't understand." These words are words to live by. They say that you can have your beliefs, but don't tell others what they should love or do. Powerful words and in a time that needed them. These words are still relevant today, with changing society comes the need for change in the world.

When psych and music collide

Recently I was doing a little independent research on a psychology concept called Shadow. It’s quite complex, so forgive me if my information is incorrect.

The idea is that a person’s Shadow is the darker side of their unconscious. First described my Sigmund Freud, and then reiterated on by Carl Jung, the Shadow is the embodiment of things that were presented to us and we banished. For example, you’re angry with someone and you consider hurting them. You know doing so is wrong, so you banish the thought, and that negativity goes to your Shadow. In this sense, your Shadow is an unconscious being of your darker desires, such as violence, lust, greed, and so on.

Forty Six & 2 is a song by Tool, off of their third album Ænima (my personal favorite). A person’s shadow is an anima if it is male, and animus if female. I believe this is why they named their album, but the title track is about how sinful and horrible the world has become. This of course will require further research on my part, which will take place soon.

If my research is correct, forty six & 2 is the point in a person’s mind where they are merged with their Shadow, accepting that they have some evil in them, but choosing to live with it and keep it under control. The lyric “Forty-six and two ahead of me.” Is about two thirds through the song, and I believe the song is depicting the changing of someone while they are merging with the Shadow.

“I choose to live and to

Grow, take and give and to

Move, learn and love and to

Cry, kill and die and to

Be paranoid and to

Lie, hate and fear and to

Do what it takes to move through.”

Though most people consider the Shadow something to fear or be afraid of, that’s not what this song is about. This song is about self-discovery, learning yourself and how to cope with the darkness that we all possess. The lyrics above mention growth, and I could understand how maybe merging with the Shadow would be seen as personal growth to people. Personally though, I don’t like to think of these things. I understand that I can do horrible things, but I chose not to. That’s what separates humans from the animals, doing what’s right and having free choice. To me, the Shadow just seems like an embodiment of primary instincts.

Song link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tja6_h4lT6A

Research links:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds/201204/essential-secrets-psychotherapy-what-is-the-shadow

Let's Talk About the Piano Man

When I was in 5^th grade, I received an email from my aunt. “Your taste in music sucks”. At this point in my life, I was listening primarily to pop music, which at the time was not the greatest stuff. A few months after receiving that email, I received a package in the mail. It contained Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits. A two disk conglomeration of some of the best songs ever written. I had no idea who Billy Joel was, but I loved my aunt and popped in one of the two disks in the set.

And at that moment, my life truly began.

Billy Joel was born in 1949, but wasn’t known well until his 1973 song, Piano Man. He was born in the Bronx, and was raised in a suburb of New York. His father, Howard Joel, was an immigrant from Germany. He had moved to Switzerland and later America to flee the Nazi Regime. In 1960 His parents divorced, when Billy was only eleven. He was forced by his mother to learn piano at an early age, and was bullied often in school for preferring music over sports. This caused him to take up boxing, and he won twenty one bouts before quitting after his nose was broken in his twenty forth match (he only lost three boxing matches, which is insanely good for any boxer). He then decided to go into music, because he didn’t want to earn his high school diploma. “To hell with it. If I'm not going to Columbia University, I'm going to Columbia Records, and you don't need a high school diploma over there.” It only took him five years after to produce a hit, and now he is widely admired by America. The last song he wrote was River of Dreams in 1993, and since then has not made any new music. He still tours, and has been inducted into the songwriter’s hall of fame.

But wait, this is the best part. Last Thursday, Billy Joel attended an elementary school play featuring his music. He was invited by the children and their teacher, but parents and teachers did not expect him to come. He came before the show, and sat in the back row so that the students did not feel intimidated by his presence. If that isn’t being a good sport and a nice guy, I don’t know what is.

If you haven’t listened to Piano Man, I encourage you to. 

Thrash Away, Your Rage Is Welcome Here

The embodiment of pure anger criticizes the government again and again. Rage Against the Machine is a thrash, punk, and rap group all mixed into one, and this splicing of musical genes is a portrait of good music, clever lyrics, and above all rage. The band's direction is usually to give the government a big middle finger, and say we are done with your crap. One song that especially gets the point across is their big hit Bulls On Parade.

My brother and father were both huge fans of Rage Against The Machine, so I myself got into the anger filled group. One of my favorite songs, Bulls On Parade, has a plethora of elements that make it a head banging good time. The thrash sound makes for a great song to listen to when you are really mad about something. Tom Morello is one of my favorite guitarists of all time, and this song is great reason why. One must truly listen to the song in order to really understand how Morello has really taken what you can do with six strings to its's limits. Another reason I love the song is it's cleverly written anti-government lyrics.

One example of this is the verse "Terror rains, drenchin, quenchin the thirst of tha power dons." These words indicate that our fear is what keeps the government powerful. By our dismay, the government may thrive and continue to oppress us. Another great example of anti-government lyrical genius, is when Zack de la Rocha raps "Weapons, not food, not homes, not shoes, just feed the war cannibal." This is Rage Against The Machine saying that the government pools more money into the military than it does on it's support of the poor. The verse then leads to "I walk the corner to the ruble, that used to be a library, line up to the mind cemetery now." Powerful stuff. it says that the government wants us to stay ignorant, and this is further backed up with "What we don't know keeps the contracts alive and movin." My final, and favorite verse in the song is "They don't gotta burn the books they just remove em." This is so powerful to me. Books that show the world how much it has failed, are the books that usually get banned and Rage Against The Machine is playing on how the government would rather the people be ignorant than realize how much we have failed. Truly powerful words, and it's why they have such a fan base. You don't have to be politically driven to love Rage Against the Machine, and I'd suggest the band to anyone who enjoys, thrash, rap, or punk. Just don't be surprised if you end up angry at our leaders as well.

Still Important Today

One of the most important song writers of all time, Bob Dylan has a message that is still important today. Bob Dylan is folk singer that has written many songs that have impacted the world with their poetic messages. Dylan started back in 1959 and his early works became songs of the civil rights movement and anti-war movements. Of these, The Times They Are a-Changin' became big. 

I had heard this song for quite a while, but it wasn't until I heard it in the movie Watchmen did I really start to think of it's meaning. From there I became a fan of it's sound and message. The song has a very folk sound to it, but that's expected from Bob Dylan after all. It's a simple sound, yet one that is catchy and easy to listen to. Bob Dylan's voice isn't one that I would say is above all, but at the same time it adds so much towards the simplistic feel of the song. Aside from it's wonderful sound, it has such a strong foundation for the message of, evolve with the times, and change from the bad. 

The song has many different indications of change within the world and that it's more positive to embrace growth than allow ignorance. One example of this is the very beginning of the song where he sings "And admit that the water around you head grows." This indicates the change within our world. This verse eventually leads to "And you better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone." This is powerful. This shows that if you don't get with the times and move forward, you'll be a chimp amongst humans. Another example of this message is when Bob Dylan sings "Come senators, congressmen, please head the call. Don't stand in the doorway, don't block up the hall." This is basically saying that the government shouldn't get in the way of the change. That the power of change should be within the people and therefore the people should be enabled to bring change. The last example, and my personal favorite line in the whole song, is "Don't criticize what you can't understand." These words are words to live by. They say that you can have your beliefs, but don't tell others what they should love or do. Powerful words and in a time that needed them. These words are still relevant today, with changing society comes the need for change in the world. Don't try to stop change, or you'll sink like a stone.  

The Voice of The Teen Experience

Radiohead. Some would claim that they are the greatest band ever, and some would claim they are the true voice of teens everywhere. Either way you want to look at them, they were of large impact towards their listeners, rock music, and music as a whole. Radiohead is an alternative rock band from the United Kingdom and slowly rose to be a huge influence with cult fans. The band still has a large fan base today and have been highly regarded as a great band.

Radiohead has many great songs, and amongst these include their debut hit, "Creep." I first heard this song from my boyfriend as he is bigger Radiohead creep than I am. This song has many different aspects that I enjoy. It has a very steady, yet progressive sound. It starts smooth, goes into a grunge sounding distortion, and back to steady sound. True angst and sweet depression has a flowing distortion as it comes from Johnny Greenwood's guitar. It's sad sound really gets me at my core, and it does well what it's meant to do. Get you to think, and to put yourself in the shoes of feeling out of place.

The song is about feeling out of place, like you aren't as good as those around you. The major chorus goes, "I wish I was special, you're so f***ing special." It's not only that Johnny Greenwood sang these words, it's how he sang them. With an urge, as if he longed so desperately to be like this other person who was seen as perfect. The song then goes into, "But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo. What the hell am I doing here? I don't belong here." These lyrics right here as the very pinnacle of the entire teenage, and life experience. The feeling of being out of place, like you are lesser than the people who the world wants you to see as pretty and so perfect. The song is written with such a sarcastic anger, and it should be. The world wants you to aspire to be "perfect" when in fact we already are. The song is relatable, as so many have felt this cold feeling of being out of place and how wrong it is to feel that way. Overall, this song is great simply because it speaks out against the feeling of despair that we are all so prone to. Its great in this message, in its musicality, and well just being Radiohead.

Step Into the Shadow

 As a few of you know, I am not the biggest fan of the band Tool, but as of late I change my mind.

Recently I was doing a little independent research on a psychology concept called Shadow. It’s quite complex, so forgive me if my information is incorrect.

The idea is that a person’s Shadow is the darker side of their unconscious. First described my Sigmund Freud, and then reiterated on by Carl Jung, the Shadow is the embodiment of things that were presented to us and we banished. For example, you’re angry with someone and you consider hurting them. You know doing so is wrong, so you banish the thought, and that negativity goes to your Shadow. In this sense, your Shadow is an unconscious being of your darker desires, such as violence, lust, greed, and so on.

Forty Six & 2 is a song by Tool, off of their third album Ænima (my personal favorite). A person’s shadow is an anima if it is male, and animus if female. I believe this is why they named their album, but the title track is about how sinful and horrible the world has become. This of course will require further research on my part, which will take place soon.

If my research is correct, forty six & 2 is the point in a person’s mind where they are merged with their Shadow, accepting that they have some evil in them, but choosing to live with it and keep it under control. The lyric “Forty-six and two ahead of me.” Is about two thirds through the song, and I believe the song is depicting the changing of someone while they are merging with the Shadow.

“I choose to live and to

Grow, take and give and to

Move, learn and love and to

Cry, kill and die and to

Be paranoid and to

Lie, hate and fear and to

Do what it takes to move through.”

Though most people consider the Shadow something to fear or be afraid of, that’s not what this song is about. This song is about self-discovery, learning yourself and how to cope with the darkness that we all possess. The lyrics above mention growth, and I could understand how maybe merging with the Shadow would be seen as personal growth to people. Personally though, I don’t like to think of these things. I understand that I can do horrible things, but I chose not to. That’s what separates humans from the animals, doing what’s right and having free choice. To me, the Shadow just seems like an embodiment of primary instincts.

Song link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tja6_h4lT6A

Research links:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds/201204/essential-secrets-psychotherapy-what-is-the-shadow

Music education is good!

 Coming from a pretty musical family, the art of noise has always played a big role in my life. I was in the children’s church choir in elementary school, I thrived in our once a week music class, and in middle school playing the flute in concert band was my favorite part of the day. Spencer, my elder brother, has always been the driving force behind this. My brother has won numerous awards for his skill in jazz. He has played the bass, both electric and string, since about freshman year. I watched my brother’s fingers dance on the strings, and how the same fingers could perfectly master the piano with no teaching or music books. Today, my brother can play clarinet, bass, guitar, piano, banjo, trumpet, trombone, and violin. The last six instruments he taught himself. I have always admired Spencer’s skill, being a mono-instrument person. But in 8th grade I discovered something I had that my brother never could master. I could sing. Though I don’t participate in band or choir at school, I still do both on my own. I never do anything without a song in my head or without ear buds in.

This all being explained, I want to abolish something my father has always told me.

I hear a lot about how music is a waste of time.

My dad always said math and science will always be there for me, and music will fluctuate depending on my skill on any given day. But guess who did a little research on how wrong he is? You got it. The link below takes you to a PBS article about the benefits of music education. According to this article, learning to play and read music teaches children to do multiple difficult things simultaneously. Even listening to music is beneficial, which stimulates the brain. Studies also show that musical education boosts the IQ score, and makes the brain work harder overall in daily life.

Though all of those facts are mentioned in the article below, I can prove that they’re true. Today, after having music in my life, I am a 3.0+ student, and am going to college next year. My brother received scholarships for his musical talent, and is graduating from college in a few months to pursue music and electrical engineering. Think about the benefits of something before you shoot it down because of the time commitment. Music is worth it, I promise!

http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-benefits-of-music-education/

Back in my day...

Katy Perry's Dark Horse is... quite the video. We're in Egypt, Katy is on a gold throne with some dancers dressed as Egyptian Hieroglyphs (having cat masks on). They dance in a jerky fashion, and then we're taken to Katy's palace. It looks like the typical Egyptian palace, except everything is red, blue, and pink. A guy dressed as what I would describe as an Egyptian pimp steps forward, gives Katy a huge diamond, and she melts him into sand. Then she is presented with a pyramid of Twinkies, and some Cheetos.

We see the same type of logic in the video for Turn Down for What, by lil Jon and Snake. The video begins with a man in pajamas dancing, and then he dances and breaks through the ceiling of the building he is on, and startles the women in the apartment that he has just fallen into. She calls the police, and we see the officer's face melt off. The women then dances too, and they fall though the floor, get the people in that apartment to dance, and the trend continues.

I am slowly losing faith in humanity. Once upon a time, videos meant something, or at least the lyrics did. For example, the first music video shown on MTV was Video Killed the Radio Star, by the Buggles. Though this video doesn’t really back the meaning of the song (that new things are putting traditional things out of style, making life hard for some people), it still doesn’t involve vulgar dancing or simply inaccurate and stupid things that are being shown to children as “hip”. Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but in my opinion Dark Horse and Turn Down For What are complete wastes of natural resources.

That being said, just because a video doesn’t back the songs meaning doesn’t mean it’s tasteless. For example, Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The video goes with the song, and entertains quite well. Now on the other hand, Smooth Criminal has good and modest dancing. Videos can be really great, if they’re not vulgar and sexualized how today’s videos are. These videos, this media, is what children are seeing and wanting to grow up to be. I wouldn’t want my CAT dancing the way the man was in Turn Down For What, and this is what our children are watching and impersonating. What kind of message does that convey? This is what is happening to our media, and yet people still ask questions about why teen pregnancy rates are going up. 

Dark Horse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KSOMA3QBU0

Turn Down For What
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMUDVMiITOU

Video Killed the Radio Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwuy4hHO3YQ&feature=kp

Thriller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA

Smooth Criminal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_D3VFfhvs4