Claire's Crescendo

 "Gone Country" The song that I chose this week is called "Gone Country," by Alan Jackson. The reason that I chose this song is because my favorite genre of music is country and Alan Jackson is one of my favorite singers. The reason that I love Alan Jackson's songs is because they are true country. Today, it seems like a lot of the music that is considered country is not really country, it is more in the pop genre. Alan Jackson's southern sound, along with the music being played helps the song sound country. I have been listening to Alan Jackson since I was little and I love all of his songs. I also appreciate the lyrics in this song. I feel like I can relate to them, as I am from Alabama. The place where I lived in Alabama was pretty country and this song reminds me of home. The line that is repeated and is catchy in this song is "He's gone country." There are several different phrases that follow this phrase, but this phrase is the hook of th...

 "Jump" The song I chose this week is called "Jump" by Van Helen. At the beginning of this song there is a beat that has a lot of staccato notes. The beat is trying to make the effect of jumping, similar to the title of the song. There are several different instruments in the introduction. It is a pretty long introduction before Van Helen comes in and sings, "I get up and nothing gets me down." This is a motivational line. This song could be used as a pump up song as the lyrics are used to encourage the listener. At about 2:20 into the song another instrument is added to the song. I am not sure what instrument but it sounds like an electric guitar. After this instrument there is a long instrumental piece and then the jumping from the intro returns. This adds a dramatic effect to the song and then Van Helen comes back in and simply sings "jump" until the end of the song. The word "jump" is repeated several times throughout the song makin...

 "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" The song that I chose this week is called "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," by Willie Nelson. This song has a very peaceful melody to it, however the lyrics are sad. In the song, the singer, Willie Nelson, is talking about having to say goodbye to someone and knowing that he will never see that person again. He loved the person that he is having to say goodbye to, so he is sad. The listener of this song is able to feel the emotion that Willie Nelson is experiencing. The tune makes the listener able to put themselves in Willie Nelson's situation. The lyrics "blue eyes crying in the rain" are repeated several times throughout the song and are used as a hook. They make the song catchy. I like this song because it is has a country tune to it and country is my favorite genre of music. I also like it because the instrumental music in the background of the song is calm and then the voice of Willie Nelson is also soothing. I think...

 "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" The song that I chose this week is called "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by John Denver. The reason that I chose this song is because country is my favorite genre of music and I am familiar with this song. The beginning of the song starts with a clapping noice and then John Denver joins in. This creates a good rhythm. The hook "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" makes the song memorable. This phrase is repeated several times throughout the song and makes it catchy. After listening to this song it will have the effect of being in stuck in your head for a while. This song is an example of original country music as the lyrics reflect being a country boy and the instruments in the song reflect a country tune. A unique aspect of this song occurs at the end, when John Denver speaks in a normal voice and says "Thank God I'm a Country Boy, yeah" and then one instrument begins to play by itself, eventually other ins...

 "A Change is Gonna Come" The song that I chose this week is called "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. At the beginning of the song there is an instrumental introduction. The music in the intro reminds me of the music that you would hear in a movie when suspense is building. After this the Sam Cooke starts to sing. Emotion is evoked from from the very first moment Sam Cooke starts singing. In "A Change is Gonna Come," a message is portrayed as the singer is telling a personal story. The lyrics let the audience know that the singer did not grow up in the best conditions as he states, "I was born in a river...and have been running ever since." These are some of the first lines, and they set the sad tone of the song. Then throughout the song the line "but I know a change gonna come" is repeated. The singer of the song is trying to look at the positive in his life. Throughout the song the Sam Cooke complains but every time after he does...

"Be My Baby" The song that I chose this week is called "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes. I liked this song because it is unique and unlike any other song that we have heard so far in this class. In the lyrics of this song the singer is trying to convince the audience to "be her baby" or in other words love her. The lyrics constantly repeat the phrase "be my, be my baby." This is very catchy and is used as a hook. After listening to the song three times I had this part playing through my brain over and over. I also liked the background singers that always come in during the chorus of "be my, be my baby." Another thing that I found interesting in this song is that around the two minute mark there is a pause, it gets completely silent for less than a second. Then it gets back into the song with a beat and then continues with the "be my baby." This element really builds to the song. It makes the audience pause and think about the song...