Claire's Crescendo

 "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...

 "Nature Boy" The song that I chose this week is called "Nature Boy" by Nat "King" Cole. The lyrics in this song are very clear. Unlike previous songs that I have listened to for this class, it is easy to understand the lyrics that Nat "King" Cole is singing. The lyrics of this song portray a story and a message. At the beginning of the song a boy is described. He is shy but smart. One day he comes over to the man singing the song and speaks many things to him, but he said the most important thing is "to love and be loved in return." This quote is repeated multiple times throughout the song. It is not only a hook but it also develops the message of the song to love each other. My favorite part of the "Nature Boy" is the crooning that is used by Nat "King" Cole. The manner in which he uses crooning helps to develop emotion in the song. It makes the song sound more genuine. It also creates motivation to take the lesson...

 "One O'Clock Jump" The song that I chose is called "One O'Clock Jump" by Count Basie. This song does not have any words, however it still has emotion. In the beginning of the song it is simply a piano being played but as the song continues there are many instruments and different rhythms that are added. At the beginning when there is only one instrument being played it is a calm mood, but as the second instrument is added to the song the tone changes to more of upbeat. I think that the second instrument that it added is a saxophone, however I am not completely sure. Throughout the song there are several instruments added that help build to the theme of the song. My favorite part of the song is the ending. I like that the song ends with like one last beat. It is a dramatic ending because the tempo of the song picks up at the end and then it ends with a simple beat. "One O'Clock Jump" is a twelve bar blue. During the time that this song was writ...

 "My Blue Heaven" The song I chose is called "My Blue Heaven," by Gene Austin. The singer of this song is expressing the amount of love he has for his family, especially "Molly." Throughout the song he conveys that he is happy and describes his "blue heaven." I think that his "blue heaven" is his house with his family. Gene Austin was one of the first singers to use the crooning technique. Due to the microphone he was able to get quieter during some parts and louder during others. I think that this helps the listener understand the emotion that he is feeling and allows the listener to connect with the words of the song. I also think that this song was a way for people to escape the pressures of life and enjoy music. My favorite part of the song is when the singer repeats just "Molly and Me." I like this because it is catchy and also has a good tune to it. I think this is due to the alliteration. Another part of the song that I...

"Stagolee"     The song I chose is called "Stagolee" by Mississippi John Hurt. The tone of this song from the beginning is sad and dark. The song is sung by an African American man complaining about the "cruel and mean Stagolee." From the start of the song it is obvious that the singer is not happy about the treatment that "Stagolee" is giving Billy Linus. The singer of the song grumbles throughout the song in order to convey his message and evoke a sorrowful emotion. The music that is being played in the background of the song as the man sings also contributes to the tone of the song. It is the same lines being played over and over again. It is not an upbeat rhythm, instead it is a despairing rhythm. The music and the lyrics interact with each as the rhythm is gloomy and the lyrics convey a sad message. Also, the singer gets straight to his point by addressing the police officer at the beginning of the song. Another element that is used to portr...