Category: Song

A piece of music is a complex structure made up of many parts. To analyze a musical composition, it is necessary to know the basic elements of music. According to Estrella (2019), the basic elements of music are Beat and Meter, Dynamics, Harmony, Melody, Pitch, Rhythm, and Tempo. To analyze the song With Arms Wide Open by CREED, it is necessary to evaluate the elements mentioned above in this musical composition.

The evaluation of the rhythm is one of the main ones in analyzing the musical composition. Rhythm represents the element of time in musical composition (Estrella, 2019). Rhythm consists of duration, tempo, meter, and other terms. The Duration of With Arms Wide Open is 4 minutes and 38 seconds. To measure tempo, it is necessary to calculate the number of beats in a musical composition per minute. Using a timer to calculate beats in With Arms Wide Open, 71 beats were counted. When there are 66-75 beats per minute in a song, this is adagio tempo, which means the speed is slow (Estrella, 2019). Further, it may be helpful to analyze the meter. It is a pattern of beats one can hear or feel while listening to the song (Estrella, 2019). With Arms Wide Open song has duple meter beats, meaning that the pattern of beats is one beat, strong second beat, weak one strong second weak, and further.

Another essential piece of music analysis is Dynamics. Dynamics is musics relative loudness (or quietness) (Estrella, 2019). When listening to With Arms Wide Open, one might conclude that the song has mezzo-forte dynamics means it is moderately loud also, with crescendo means the song is gradually getting louder (Estrella, 2019). The melody of this song can be described as a conjunct. That means the song is easy to play or sing because it does not have a significant high or significant low sound (Estrella, 2019). In addition, it is necessary to determine a music style that is Modern for With Arms Wide Open.

References

CREED. (1999). With arms wide open. On Human Clay [Album]. Wind-up.

Estrella, E. (2019). An introduction to the elements of music. Liveabout.

Childish Gambinos song This is America is a striking and insightful statement on the nations current status and its social and political problems. In the music video, which was released in 2018, Childish Gambino, better known as Donald Glover, raps and dances through a succession of wild events. (Glover, 2018). Gambino employs the ideas of prejudice, discrimination, and racism in This is America to criticize the structural problems that perpetuate oppression and inequality in the country.

From an ethical standpoint, This is America clearly states its position on the topics it discusses. The songs lyrics and visual representations both denounce the prejudice and brutality that minoritized groups, especially African Americans, must endure in the United States. The media and the criminal justice system are two examples of the bigger societal systems that support these problems that are criticized in the song. The moral posture adopted in This is America is one of protest and struggle against the institutionalized injustice experienced by underprivileged communities.

The messages underlying ideals are those of protest and resistance against systemic oppression. The song criticizes how Americas institutions, including the media and the criminal justice system, support injustice and violence. The message also emphasizes how African Americans themselves are victims of violence and persecution while African American culture is misused and commercialized. These ethical disagreements and ideological conflicts may have varying effects on various social groups. For Black Americans, the theme is one of resistance and unity against structural injustice. On the other hand, those in positions of authority may interpret the message as a challenge to the status quo and a demand for change. Depending on their backgrounds and standing within the larger social and political institutions that uphold injustice and inequality, many will respond to the song differently.

The lyrics of This is America perfectly capture the experience of Black people and how the government and police treat them differently. The famous line This is America, police be trippin now, in particular, is a reference to the pervasive problem of police brutality faced by Black people in America (Glover, 2018, 1:16). The term trippin suggests that the police are acting unfairly and unreasonably, which is a common experience faced by Black Americans. The use of strong metaphors and images draws attention to the paradoxes and double standards present in American culture.

Furthermore, the music video itself, which is a visual embodiment of the lyrics, is an especially effective tool for communicating the message. Bright colors, vivid graphics, and disorderly backgrounds contrast sharply with the somber and frequently violent subjects addressed in the lyrics, heightening the impact of the message. This contrast between the lyrics and the visuals is intentional and serves to underscore the dichotomy of Black life in America. Therefore, the dancing and visuals serve as a potent instrument for bringing the songs themes to light.

In conclusion, Childish Gambinos song This is America is a potent cultural text that analyzes the structural problems that support oppression and inequality in America through the lenses of prejudice, discrimination, and racism. The frantic pace of the music video draws attention to problems, including racial prejudice, gun violence, police brutality, and the appropriation of African American culture. The song is a potent weapon for resistance and protest against structural oppression because of its unequivocal ethical stance.

References

Glover, Donald. 2018. Childish Gambino  This Is America (Official Video). YouTube. Web.

Summary

Web: www.youtube.com.

Gospel music is exemplified by the recording of the song Unclouded Day by Homer Alvan Rode Heaver on September 10, 1913. The tenor vocalist is backed by primarily brass and wind instrumentation, giving the song a homophonic texture. It has a moderate tempo because it is neither fast nor sluggish and has a time signature of 4/4. With three verses and three choruses, this song follows the ABABAB structure. Before the vocal entrance, the music began with four instrumental measures. There are 8 measures in each stanza and chorus, followed by two true cadences before the next set of stanzas and choruses.

Comparison

Similar to the unclouded day song, a Gregorian chant is a type of church music performed as a single line with no discernible rhythm. Although notes may be held for a short or long period, no intricate rhythms are employed. The Unclouded Day, however, features a typical duple meter. Gregorian chant is monophonic, meaning it is sung a cappella or without any kind of accompaniment, whereas Unclouded day is monophonic.

In the Roman Catholic Churchs masses and canonical hours, Gregorian chants were sung and performed exclusively by male priests who were ordained as Catholics. These chants were liturgical music that was intended for church use alone. However, occasionally, they were used as a teaching tool for women who were sisters in convents. On the other hand, gospel music throughout the 1900s was recorded and sung by recording artists, both male and female, for a variety of reasons, including musical delight, ceremonial objectives, and as a commercial entertainment product. While The Unclouded Days melody is the same throughout both the stanzas and choruses, the Gregorian chant melody is free-flowing, lacks precise rhythm, and has an ABA form. On the other hand, The Unclouded Days melody is metered and has an ABABAB form.

The title of the piece to be analyzed is Lovely by Billy Eilish and Khalid. Billie Eilish, Finneas OConnell, and Khalid Robinson are the writers of the songs, and Finneas OConnell is the producer. The song was released on April 19, 2018, as a part of the album called dont smile at me.

www.youtube.com  the link to the music video and the timing is 3:20.

Dynamics are fluctuations in a musical compositions or a particular notes loudness. The most active part of the work is the pre-chorus (0:36-1:10), the verses are calmer, and the refrains, in contrast to the dynamic pre-chorus, also feel calm (1:11-1:28). A melody is a series of pitches played in time; it is typically the element of a song that the listener remembers and can recreate. In this composition, piano, violin, and synthesizers are played, performed by two voices  female and male. This part (0:00-0:20) can serve as an example of a melody. A primary phrase or motif that is repeated and changed throughout a piece or motion is known as a motive. This part (0:00-0:20) can serve as an example of a motif.

The continuous flow of music in time is referred to as rhythm, and the beat, a regular pulse, drives most musical compositions. Tempo relates to how fast or slow the rhythm is; it moves steadily in time with the music, much like the beating of a heart or the ticking of a clock; the song tempo is 115 beats per minute. Meter is a repetitive pattern made up of the arrangement of fundamental temporal units, or beats, into regular measurements or squares. In Western notation, bar lines are used to demarcate each measure from the measure next to it. The song is not very danceable with a four times per quarter time signature and has minimal intensity.

The texture of a musical composition defines the overall audio quality by combining the pace, melodic, and harmonic elements; the texture in this song is polyphonic. The quantity and interplay of the many voices in a piece of music are known as its musical texture. An independent melodic line is what defines monophony. Multiple variations of the same melodic line are audible at once in heterophony. Multiple voices that are harmonically traveling at the same speed together are known as homophony.

Anyone who wants to play or study music will be able to do so if they have a solid comprehension of the musical aspects. When individuals perform, they are more expressive and have a better connection to the compositions they are playing since they are more familiar with compositional characteristics. Attentive listening to music allows people to appreciate the work as a whole and understand the depth of all elements and the main idea of the author. Immersion in music is essential when analyzing a piece of music.

The depth of sound in modern compositions sometimes fades into the background, and all music becomes easy to perceive and does not force people to analyze it carefully. However, this composition is filled with depth, and when listening carefully, the music literally envelops and gives a special feeling when listening. After careful listening, I realized how people today perceive modern music in a mediocre way. My attitude to the composition has changed, and the emotions that I experience when listening have become more robust, which allowed me to appreciate the composition fully.

Introduction

Hound Dog is one of the most recognized songs performed by Elvis Presley in the 1950s. However, not everybody knows that Big Mama Thornton originally wrote and released the song. As a result, many speculate that the rock-n-roll star, Mr. Presley stole the song, which later became popular worldwide. Indeed, both performances are familiar in terms of rhythm and lyrics. However, despite the obvious similarities, the song Hound Dog, sung by Elvis Presley and Big Mama Thornton, is different when it comes to the style and tempo, which makes each performance unique in its own way.

Discussion

First, it is important to emphasize the differences between the way the song was performed by the artists. As known, Elvis Presley is often referred to as the king of rock-n-roll, with each one of his songs having features of this style. In his version of Hound Dog, one can hear a combination of music genres, such as rhythm and blues, in addition to jazz. Among the instruments that were used, the most distinct ones include guitar and electric keyboard, drums, and cello, which gives the song uniqueness (Jorgeollie). In turn, the song of Big Mama Thornton has fewer instruments. Aside from guitars and drums, one can additionally hear the incorporation of piano sounds. All of these are usually present in songs of the blues genre, to which the given artists works belong.

Moreover, another distinct difference between the two performances of the song is its tempo. When listening to the performance of Big Mama Thornton, one can hear a slow melodic tempo, a combination of vocals, and musical instruments. Additionally, one can hear the pauses the artist makes, along with the prolonged singling of some syllables and the incorporation of bass voice in some parts. In comparison, Elvis Presley uses a higher pitch in his version. Aside from this, Presleys song has a quick tempo with shorter pauses.

As for the similarities, the first one is the similar lyrics. Yet, it is only limited to several phrases that are crucial to the songs uniqueness. These phrases are You aint nothin but a hound dog and You told me you were high class (Yxyoic 0:33). The rest of the lyrics were accustomed to the specifics of artists, with Big Mama Thornton singing about a man and Presley singing about a woman. As for another similarity, it includes rhythm, despite the fact that both songs are performed in different styles. This feature can especially be noticed when a chorus is performed.

Conclusion

Hence, despite their evident similarities, Big Mama Thornton and Elvis Presleys versions of the song Hound Dog have different styles and tempos, making each performance distinctive in its own right. The first is that Elvis Presley is frequently referred to as the king of rock n roll, and each of his songs has elements of this genre. The songs originality comes from the use of an electronic piano, drums, and cello throughout the performance. In contrast, Big Mama Thorntons blues song uses fewer instruments and includes piano tones. In addition, the songs speed differs significantly between the two performances. Big Mama Thornton uses a slow lyrical tempo and a mix of vocals and musical instruments. Elvis Presley, in contrast, interprets at a higher pitch. In terms of similarities, the lyrics are the first element that comes to mind. Despite the fact that these songs are sung in distinct genres, there is another resemblance, which is rhythm.

Works Cited

Jorgeollie. Elvis Presley-Hound Dog [Video]. YouTube, 2008. Web.

Yxyoic. Big Mama Thornton  Live You Aint Nothing But a Hound Dog [Video]. YouTube, 2011. Web.

I think that Queens Bohemian Rhapsody is a song of the decade for the 70s. It is an obvious choice, but I think it is really difficult to name a more iconic and long-standing track. Being a rock ballad, it combines unexpected shifts of melody and style to the point that it is honestly strange to think that it became as popular as it is. That fact, to me, is a testament to the status of the Queen in pop culture and their musical prowess. While doing light research about the song, I also stumbled upon an interesting fact about the band itself. Did you know that there is a statue of Freddie Mercury in Switzerland? Speaking of Bohemian Rhapsody in specific though, I am fairly confident it is one of the most well-known songs not just from the 70s, but in all of music history. People from all around the world know the lyrics and can sing them together, which would be surprising in the case of almost any other song.

Introduction

Despite not being an explicitly political band, the New York-based indie/post-punk/alternative rock band The National frequently refer to the political issues and changes in their music, as well as use their band image, lyrics, and songs to support presidential candidates (such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton). Some of the songs (e.g. Fake Empire, The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness) were used to express negative or neutral feelings with the current political regimes, the President, and political movements in the country.

Signs of Hope and Change

Although it is difficult to call the National an overwhelmingly popular and well-recognized band, one of their songs has significantly contributed to the increasing popularity of the band. Fake Empire from the Nationals album Boxer released in 2007 was used in Barack Obamas Presidential Campaign in 2008, in the video titled Signs of Hope and Change. Furthermore, the band also performed some of the songs before Barack Obamas speeches to voters in Cincinnati (Ohio) and Iowa (Donaghey, 2012).

According to one of the band members, Aaron Dessner, Obamas campaign manager found the instrumental version of the song suitable for the campaign video (Donaghey, 2012). Nevertheless, despite the bands support of Obama, the real meaning of the song relates to the individuals unwillingness to think about politics and general tiredness of it, according to the bands lead singer Matt Berninger (Donaghey, 2012).

The lines Stay out super late tonight picking apples, making pies&/Were half-awake in a fake empire&/Lets not try to figure out everything at once express the protagonists approach to the countrys politics he/she lives in and his/her unwillingness to think about it (Berninger & Dessner, 2007). In my opinion, the phrase fake empire refers to the US media and international image of a powerful, wealthy, and dominating empire that is unable to deal with the internal issues and has some doubtful foreign policies that could be perceived as imperialistic. Berninger also points out that its pretty critical of the way our country works (Donaghey, 2012, para. 11).

The use of the song in the video also led to the invitation of the band to one of the Obamas speeches. According to Donaghey (2012), the votes of the younger generation in Ohio were decisive and tipped the scales. Thus, The Nationals involvement in Obamas speeches in Ohio possibly moderately influenced the voters choice for the Democratic candidate.

Another song that was also used with regard to Obamas presidential campaign was Mr. November from the album Alligator released in 2005. Initially, the song was about John Kerry during his presidential campaign in 2004, when the Democrat lost to the Republican George Bush. The song lyrics are quite specific and contain obscene language; at first, Berninger confidently states Im the new blue-blood/ Im the great white hope, but later in the song he expresses his (Kerrys?) anxiety about the outcomes of the future elections: I wont f*** us over, Im Mr. November/ Im Mr. November, I wont f*** us over (Berninger & Dessner, 2005).

As it seems, the song reflects the burden of responsibility that the presidential candidate has to bear and the fear that he will be unable to do it. Furthermore, it also reflects citizens anxiety with the course of elections and their influence on the country. As the bands guitarist, Aaron Dessner, stated, it was also about the lead singers attitude toward the upcoming events, the anxiety and pressure leading up to the election (Hogwood, 2005, para. 11). After George Bush won, the band couldnt work for a couple of days as we were too depressed (Hogwood, 2005, para. 12).

Despite the fact that the song was written about another presidential candidate, the phrase Mr. November was used to support Obama as a presidential candidate. The band printed gray T-Shirts with Obamas portraits on it and blue-red inscriptions Mr. November. The line Im the great white hope also perfectly resonates with the famous posters of Yes We Can campaign, where Obamas portrait also contained an inscription HOPE. Therefore, the fear and anxiety expressed in the song can relate both to Kerry and Obama and their responsibility as presidential candidates (and, in Obamas case, the Presidents responsibility as well).

High Violet

It would not be precise to call The Nationals songs extremely political or protest songs because they rarely protest against anything explicitly. Still, as Street (2012) points out, rock music tends to reflect its times and social issues as well, even if not in an explicit form. Music and lyrics are forms of news reporting, and musicians can be perceived as political commentators (Street, 2012, p. 48).

In this section, I aim to analyze the political aspect of lyrics from the bands album High Violet released in 2010. The social issues triggered by economics and politics are reflected in the bands song Bloodbuzz Ohio: I still owe money to the money to the money I owe; it was released in 2010 and presumably displayed how the 2008 financial crisis affected Americans, leading to loans and debts (Berninger & Dessner, 2010b).

The song Afraid of Everyone is significantly more clear about the characters perception of the world: Venom radio and/ Venom television/ Im afraid of everyone (Berninger & Dessner, 2010a). The lyrics refer to the endless information flow that the character absorbs from the media and due to their content labels them as venom, implying that they poison his/her life or provide him/her with bad news only.

The next lines reveal the characters anxiety more deeply: Lay the young blue bodies/ With the old red bodies/ Im afraid of everyone (Berninger & Dessner, 2010a). It is evident that the red color represents Republican politicians and voters, whereas blue color refers to Democrats. Berninger describes the indifference toward both political parties, and the characters uncertainty or even anxiety related to the partys aims, objectives, and beliefs because he/she is afraid of both.

Considering the bands support for Democrats, one can also conclude that this song addresses the band members disappointment in the Democratic Party or their criticism toward it. The general anxiety toward the future of the individuals family and the country is expressed in the following lines: With my kid on my shoulders I try/ Not to hurt anybody I like&/I defend my family/ With my orange umbrella (Berninger & Dessner, 2010a). The orange color of the umbrella is likely to refer to the homeland security advisory system, where the orange level is the second-to-highest one and indicates a high risk of possible terrorist attack.

There were several terrorist attacks and shootings in 2010 in the USA, which probably influenced the lyrics. The future of the country and its impact on the childrens life of band members is also addressed in the upcoming album title Sleep Well Beast, but in this song, Berninger expresses ones fear for the childs future where everyone (especially political parties) remain unreliable and evoke fear in the songs character.

Another hint on political parties and disagreements is expressed in the song Little Faith: Leave our red Southern souls/ Head for the coast (Berninger & Dessner, 2010c). Neither the song nor the lyrics explicitly comment on any of the parties but rather reflect the bands personal experience: all of the members are from Cincinnati, OH, where the number of Republicans present in the state government is higher than the number of Democrats. Still, the word Southern implies that the lyrics refer to southern red states where Republicans are more supported. The coast, in this case, can represent the East Coast, i.e. New York or a more liberal state/city where the songs characters are heading. It should be noted that the band is also New York-based, although its members are living in different cities now.

The National and Trump Era

The National is sometimes referred to as an indie-rock band; the genre indie-rock is interpreted differently, and bands that have little similarity still can be labeled as indie. Bennett and Strange (2015) point out that the importance of independent, alternative bands is in their link to the idea that independence might contribute to the formation of different and better ways of organizing cultural production and consumption, and society itself (p. 95). The role of such bands is to translate specific agenda that might (or might not) influence the society and its choices.

The bands frontman, Matt Berninger, explicitly expressed his attitude to Hillary Clinton by stating that he was a little bit in love with her (Strauss, 2016b, para. 1). Therefore, it is not surprising that the new album Sleep Well Beast will also reflect on the USA under Donald Trumps presidency. Berninger took part in a side project called EL VY that recorded a song Are These My Jets.

It is included in the 30 Days 30 Songs anti-Trump project and contains the lines I like to mix ladies drinks with my fingers, which refer to the Trumps accusations of harassment and sexual assaults (Strauss, 2016a, para. 2). As for the new upcoming album (release date 8 September), it was stated in a Pitchfork interview that the name of the newly released track The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness relates to darkness before dawn or hibernation, it is an abstract portrait of a weird time were in (Sodomsky, 2017, para. 9).

The album title refers to the future of the USA, namely, the younger citizens, including the band members children: Theyve got a challenge ahead of them, but I feel positive about the future. The beast is like, wait until the youth wakes up (Sodomsky, 2017, para. 12). The band stated that the next album would be political, but there was not any intention to make it more political than the previous albums (Sodomsky, 2017). Therefore, it is possible to assume that the theme of politics will be reflected upon in the same manner as it was before: not explicitly, but with attention and a variety of details.

Conclusion

Although it is difficult to label The National as a political band, controversies and issues that arise in the USA are constantly reflected in their lyrics in an implicit, vague manner that intertwines with the daily lives of characters who also have to resolve the problems in their personal lives. The band examines politics as a significant part of anyones life that is often embedded in ones personal story.

References

Bennett, J., & Strange, N. (2015). Media independence: working with freedom or working for free? London, England: Routledge.

Berninger, M., & Dessner, B. (2005). Mr. November. On Alligator [CD]. London, England: Beggars Banquet.

Berninger, M., & Dessner, B. (2007). Fake Empire. On Boxer [CD]. London, England: Beggars Banquet.

Berninger, M., & Dessner, B. (2010a). Afraid of Everyone. On High Violet [CD]. London, England: 4AD.

Berninger, M., & Dessner, B. (2010b). Bloodbuzz Ohio. On High Violet [CD]. London, England: 4AD.

Berninger, M., & Dessner, B. (2010c). Little Faith. On High Violet [CD]. London, England: 4AD.

Donaghey, R. (2012). The National helped elect Obama, but dont call them a political band. Web.

Hogwood, B. (2005). Interview: The National. Web.

Sodomsky, S. (2017). The National on the Anything Goes Spirit of new album Sleep Well Beast. Web.

Strauss, M. (2016a). EL VY (The National/Menomena) share new anti-Trump song. Web.

Strauss, M. (2016b). The Nationals Matt Berninger: Im a little bit in love with Hillary Clinton. Web.

Street, J. (2012). Music and politics. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

Music, like any other compulsive work, causes emotions and communicates powerful information to the audience. It is more than words and the instrumentals that accompany it and writers appreciate the texture and flow of phrases. On the other hand, the listeners decide on the music that goes with their personality or a genre that reflects their current situations. After developing enough appreciation for a specified set of music genres, the desire to explore more types is minimized. With an objective of discovering new tastes and help from the Internet, this reflection ventures into classic music and discover Leonard Cohens song Hallelujah.

Leonard Cohen was a Canadian nationalist known for his various songs. He was an exceptional individual venturing into different works of etiquette composition. The song was not recognized until Bob Dylan played it in some of his shows (Parks). Leonards poetry and music were among his leading works. His tracks were a bliss of poetry and rhyme, setting standards that have since natured the music industry. Leonard Cohens Hallelujah is unlike any other release; many covers available provide evidence of the quality of the song. The music has a complex history and overlying information, which hides its true meaning. However, hallelujah refers to spiritual praise, Cohens melody is more about love and loss (Parks). The presentation brings a lot of resemblance to spirituality and human needs for consolation in times of grief, indicating hallelujah has wider contexts.

The song has diverse interpretations which makes it efficient for many cultural themes. The tunes genre is not certain to the general audience, but Leonards composition imposes a feeling of sorrow after the loss of a partner who brought many memories to the writers life (Mondanaro 116). As mentioned above, hallelujah in the spiritual context refers to praise and worship, relating to the feeling of joy and fulfillment from the departed partner. Moreover, the song is etic; it has been listened and fits across all cultures. Such attributes of the song make a variety of emotions hence captivating an audience in multiple emotional states; the music goes well with times of distress, regret, and reunion and can also do for celebratory occasions.

Cohen used poetry to highlight different interpretations of the song, to present the sense of rushed sexual orgasm. The understanding Leonard Cohen had acquired during his career life is accelerating for any song lover; the twists of phrases and words make the track outstanding. Furthermore, the lines in the song are open-ended making the audience to actively participate in recreating the songs scenes as per their imagination. Leonard Cohens production is an example and reflection of his capability to compose and influence the brain, an attribute that defines a true artist. Leonards creation reflected his acceptance of religion as well as his passion and understanding of sexuality. He captures the romantic scripture when he mentions both King David and Solomons romantic sagas mentioned in the Jewish religion.

In the music, chords and melody are more basic compared to the typical song, with below standard levels in chord and melody intricacy, chord-melody tension, chord-bass melody, and chord progression novelty. The tune is due to the repetition of hallelujah with varied strength and length, developing the musicality (Lebold 109). The song is six minutes long with a tempo of 172 BPM and a signature of 3 beats per bar. The tracks original key is key C which most recent covers have maintained over the years. Although there is a contrast in claims that the song was originally of key D, the vocal range proves otherwise. The singers maintained a range of keys C3-E4, which are high voices associated with key C.

The song applies a range of dynamics such as starting softly with a touch of piano, crescendo followed by the main melody and then decrescendo to the fort range. The tunes rhythm is estimated at a 6/8 measure. The analysis shows an accent in the first and third words in the melody, with the second notes accent in each cord being reflected by the guitar (Lebold 105). It has a homophonic texture evident when the guitar accompanies the singer in the background. Leonard Cohens original production blended religion and sexuality, however, the lyrics later changed during tours and performances of the peace. Artists who developed covers of the original songs have since merged the two songs, with each production having different keys and moods. The initial version was interpreted as sexual but covers produced over the years have different evaluations since some depicts sorrowful and cheerful status, contrasting the original dispassionate tone. The producers then opted for Bb instruments ranging from the soprano saxophone, clarinet, and tenor saxophone.

Conclusively the song Hallelujah can be considered among the best music the world has witnessed. Leonard Cohen had a talent; his track reminded the audience of the times when writing was about perfection and emotional captivation. Compared to other melodies, hallelujah fits the pop genre, presumably why it has such sway over emotions. Most tracks lose sentimentality once they have been released. However, the hallelujah tune is likely to outlive even the latest productions. The musics dynamics and texture set the track on a platform that surpassed its time when it was first produced. Furthermore, the tracks open-endedness still mesmerizes new producers to add their touches to the song.

Works Cited

Lebold, C. Nothing on Their Tongue but Hallelujah: Why Leonard Cohens Dark Hymn Will Forever Escape Trumping. Popular Music and Society, vol. 44, no. 1, 2021, pp. 107-110.

Mondanaro, John. Resourcing Popular Music for Relevant Themes in Music Therapy with Perinatal Loss. Music Therapy Perspectives, vol. 39, no. 2, 2021, pp. 116-125.

Parks, Kyson. The Meaning and History of the Song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. Spinditty, 2021.

The World Health Organization estimates that over 800,000 people die by suicide each year, with the 15-29 age group particularly affected. Studies show that adolescents listen to music for approximately two to three hours per day, especially when feeling distressed (Limited, 2019). Different types of music have an effect on all kinds of people. Fans of “Emo” music for example are associated with depression and drugs which can lead into suicide. Sad music has a high psychoticism which means there’s a link between behavior and music that can affect psychological moods. If someone is depressed they tend to listen to sad songs which doesn’t help their psychological state. They would feel low, hopeless, and lean towards the more sad songs, heavy rock , emo, and heavy metal. Fans of country music have the highest rate in suicide. Additionally, country songs often portray alcohol consumption as a “necessary” method for dealing with life’s problems which caused a lot of people dying from suicide. There are Crossover thrash, thrash metal, hardcore punk, funk metal, and skate punk just to name a few more in the “Suicide music” catagory. Being in the Gothic culture and listening to that kind of music is kind of a cult because in order to be a true “goth” you would have to have gone through self harm or a suicide attempt. A lot of music relates to real life situations and touch on themes of hopelessness, dissatisfaction with work, financial strain, and loneliness.

For the vulnerable people who were suffering from depression or anything else psychological would have a higher rate of suicide if they listened to this kind of music. Youths who listen to the kind of music that was mentioned love the aggression, the exploitation, the drug references, and the sex references. They feel like they belong somewhere and they feel like they’re not alone and that somebody else is also going through the same things that they are. They get more and more attached then kind of act out the lyrics thinking that the artist of the songs are telling them to do these things because they look up to them and it’s all psychological.

Lyrics to songs have a huge impact on people. For example, people say that there are some songs that have hidden messages in them like satanic rituals and there are some artists that have been taken to court because the song wasn’t understood how it was supposed to have been. This happened to the artist Ozzy Osbourne. A young boy named John McCallum listened to Ozzy Osbourne’s song called “Suicide Solution” and shot himself. His parents took Osbourne to court, claiming that his lyrics incited the youth to kill himself. Osbourne stated that the song was actually about avoiding alcohol and not an endorsement of suicide at all (Olson, n.d.). Moreover, the increased tempo inherent in rock music caused excitement and tension in listeners and implicitly evoked aggression, anger, depression, and other negative emotions specific to suicidality (Papers, 2017).

Some people are more attracted to sad songs, and people find sad songs more appealing when they are in certain moods or in particular circumstances. People with a propensity to absorption were more likely to enjoy negative emotions in music. Absorption in music enables a listener to identify with the vocalist and the message expressed by the lyrics. People who possess greater musical empathy are more likely to enjoy listening to music that makes them feel sadness or grief and can lead into suicide attempts or actual fatal suicide. The risk of some music that reinforces sadness is especially troublesome for people who have depressive disorders, thinking about their engagement in past bad situations and experiences and losses for example.

People with these thoughts and disorders often listen to these high risk “suicide music” especially in situations they deem embarrassing, disappointing, or involving argument or conflict because they feel like it will give them some comfort but instead it can lead into suicide. Rap music has a lot of references to gangs, gun violence, sex, money, materialistic things, and suicide. Young teens often try to fit in and think it’s “cool” to do what the lyrics say and then kids end up committing suicide because they can’t handle being in a gang or they’re getting bullied by a gang member. Also because they can’t afford the materialistic things or keep up with the new trends all because of some lyrics in a sad rap song.

People who have an obsession with an artist will literally do anything they say. They worship them like it’s a religion. If the artist writes sad or dark lyrics talking about suicide, the people with the obsession will more than likely take that like the artist is saying it’s a good thing, and that’s what needs to happen and will sadly commit suicide. If the artist posts something directed at another artist negatively or to boost and praise them their fans will do the same thing. It’s like they have been brain washed and it’s also like a cult. Having a hardcore fan base is like having your own cult because anything the artist says the fans will do whether it’s good or bad because they look up to them and respect them. They love that person or group so much that they will literally do anything for them. In their eyes the artist is the leader of their world.

In conclusion, this doesn’t mean that all genres of music will cause depression or suicide. It really depends on what your personality is and how your brain works because everybody is different. Music can definitely help people and music can definitely have an impact on the negative minded people and those who are vulnerable. Music is designed to create moods, get you dancing, or thinking, or singing along, so it seems pretty reasonable that sad music could make someone more depressed. It probably wouldn’t affect someone without anxiety or another existing cause, but if you are already down, it could be a tipping point. It might not even be sad music, just songs with a personal meaning or connection. But, it can definitely cause suicide.

Crazy World

The song “Crazy World” was produced by a South African reggae musician, Lucky Dube. It was featured in the artist’s 1991 House of Exile studio album. According to the recording, people still live in a time where leaders constantly start a war for selfish reasons, some for fun and glorifying themselves, and some for their wants. Furthermore, he says it is painful to see innocent people die for the wrong they did not commit. Lastly, he urges people to pray before they sleep as they live in a crazy world where they do not know what will happen the next day. The song is about social change since it describes situations where people are confronted with the reality that has been built by enabler’s egos and the need to dominate. Additionally, it is an individual response to temporary changes that the collective war enterprise responsibility has created.

Relationship Between Conflict Theory and “Crazy World”

Lucky Dube has used the song to talk about the social injustice that leaders in society inflict on their subordinates. These high-class individuals start war at any time to suppress others who want the status quo to change. The singer elaborates on how officials begin conflict for fun because they enjoy seeing low-class citizens suffering and losing lives for no reason as they maintain their position. The song recommends a change in society by empowering sensitive leaders who value humanity. The social premise that suits this explanation is the conflict theory. The theory stipulates a constant state of conflict between high-class and low-class individuals in society (Harper & Leicht, 2018). The wealthy try to maintain their social status while the underprivileged attempt to climb the social status ladder.

The “Crazy World” song and the conflict theory claim that the wealthy use their riches and power to suppress the poor, thus safeguarding their supremacy. To achieve this, they begin conflict by creating artificial scarcities so that the unfortunate suffer more and seek their support, making them look like gods in society (Harper & Leicht, 2018). But, based on Lucky Dube’s song, the underprivileged can win this fight by dethroning these leaders and electing those who are considerate and mindful of others.

Reference

Harper, C. L., & Leicht, K. T. (2018). Exploring social change: America and the world. Taylor and Francis Group. (pp. 15-57).