Study Questions 1_18

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Apr 3, 2024

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STUDY QUESTIONS, MUSIC 241 American Music, Winter Semester 2024 Thursday 1/18: A) The 1980s Musical Mainstream and B) The 1990s Lecture Recording A) The 1980s Musical Mainstream 1. What were some reasons behind the sharp decline in records sales during the early 1980s? If people can stay at home and entertain themselves, there is no need to go out and watch people as well as look at live performances. 2. The new pop style of the 1980s was dramatically different in almost every respect from the music of the previous decade. What were the differences in each of the following areas? (a) The identity of the leading stars: the top stars in the 1989s are no longer white heterosexual males. Examples include Michael Jackson, Boy George, Tina Turner, Milly Vinilly, etc; (b) The use of technology and media: MTV is an example. A VJ is a video jockey. Someone who stands in front of a camera and shows videos as they progress. i. When did MTV air its first show? 1981. (c) The use of influences from existing styles: Diverse styles that were coming into popularity such as disco, funk, punk, heavy rock artists are influencing this new pop style. 3. Michael Jackson recorded "Thriller" in 1982 and its accompanying video in 1983. What was its significance in the history of music video? This was considered horror style special effects and graphic. This was considered state of the art because of the changes in his body and him evolving. 4. * Why was music video an ideal medium for artists like Michael Jackson and Madonna? Video was important because they were great dancers. Whenever people saw these dance moves, people copied them. People were copying the moves since people like Michael Jackson started trends. 5. * An edited video contains excerpts from two Madonna videos following scenes from the classic movies on which they were based. How does Madonna use these familiar images to add to the meaning of each song?
Madonna uses well-known visuals from vintage movies to deepen the significance of her lyrics. The use of visual allusions enriches the story, offers background, and deepens the symbolism. Madonna's videos are memorable and culturally significant because she uses the famous images of classic film to create a visual language that echoes the themes of her songs. (a) "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" sung by Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes , 1953. "Material Girl" - Madonna, 1985. (b) "Falling in Love Again" sung by Marlene Dietrich in German film Blue Angel, 1929. "Bye Bye Mein Lieber Herr" sung by Liza Minelli in Cabaret , 1972. "Open Your Heart" - Madonna, 1986. 6. What were some of the signs that rock had "rediscovered its conscience" by the mid-1980s? Socially Conscious Lyrics: Humanitarian Concerts and Events, Artists' Activism, Protest Songs and Anti-War Themes, Increased Diversity of Voices, Environmental Awareness, and Focus on Individual and Collective Responsibility. 7. Bruce Springsteen recorded "Born in the U.S.A." in 1984. (a) How does the lyrics of this song reflect Springsteen's social activism? This song was about being born in the USA. He was talking about love and friends. Not a lot of mental health care for veterans. 8. Your text describes some of the "neo-traditionalists" of the 1980s. Name one and the styles that they were respectively attempting to revive. (a)John Mellencamp and southern rock. Rain on the scarecrow (1986). (b)Tom Petty and 60s/70s rock. “Stop draggin my heart around”with Stevie nicks. (c) Dire straits and 80s synth sound with 50s rock and roll; Walk of life (1985). 9. John Mellencamp released ""Small Town" in 1985. How does this song illustrate neo- traditionalist, southern rock in regards to: instrumentation: Tambourine combined with oregon makes african american gospel sound. Tambourine is in church and gospel music. Combination makes it in african american style. Lecture Recording B) The 1990s
1. Describe some of the general musical trends of the late 1980s and 1990s. Boy Bands such as new kids on the block. Girl Bands such as the spice girls. These groups were popular at the time and were becoming a thing for people to start creating their own. Teen idols were also coming along and making their marks such as Shakira. 2. What was surprising about the commercial success of grunge music in the 1990s? (a) Where and why did the style surface when it did? Grunge has hard rock such as heavy metal and punk. Grunge is what we attribute to the downfall of heavy metal style. Seattle music scene. Heavy metal punk was found there and it was largely isolated from touring rock bands. 3. What stylistic traits of punk are present in Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (1991)? The punk influence can be the same “in denial” being repeated over and over. There os a drum change at the end that becomes more intense towards the end. There is this breakout where the guitar soloist is an indicator of heavy metal. (a) How does Nirvana extend the emotional and musical range of punk rock in "Smells like Teen Spirit"? Everytime people chant this song at a show. This song became the institution and this song was a combination of grunge and pop. Guitar solos/breakdowns. Melody on the guitar. Not as much distortion. The verses are a little more rock oriented. Tempo is more medium. Tempo ps punk tunes should be short, fast and loud, 4. Dave Matthews Band released "Ants Marching" in 1994. (a) In which way does the harmony reflect the message of the text? (b) What is subtle about the use of harmony in the chorus of "Ants Marching"? This harmonic change gives the chorus additional energy and optimism, which contrasts with the more monotonous and predictable lyrics. The sense that, despite the repetition portrayed in the verses, there is a glimmer of optimism or a break in the pattern is supported by the chorus's modest harmonic modulation. It implies that there might be chances to be unique and to rebel against the conformity that the songs depict. The song's overall emotional and thematic complexities are enhanced by the chorus's use of harmony, which makes it a lively and captivating piece of music. 5. How might the Dave Matthews Band be said to typify rock music of the 1990s in terms of (a) personnel: Featuring performers from a variety of musical backgrounds and influences, DMB is renowned for its multicultural and eclectic lineup. Rock, jazz, funk, and world music are all incorporated into the band's sound, which reflects this diversity. Embracing musical diversity became increasingly important in the 1990s, and DMB's lineup perfectly
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