1: Macho Man by The Village People: Macho Man strongly addresses the issues of the socialization of boys. The lyrics strongly emphasize masculinity.
"Every man ought to be a macho macho man,
To live a life of freedom, machos make a stand,Have their own life style and ideals,
Possess the strength and confidence, life's a steal,
You can best believe that he's a macho man
He's a special person in anybody's land. "
In this excerpt the song lyrics claim that a man who acts 'macho' has more power, respect, and generally lives a better quality of life. 'Macho' is partially defined by large muscles, and an overall 'hot' body. The Tough Guise video we had watched specifically stated that the bicep size of GI Joes increased drastically to the point where they are simply disproportional. However, very much like in the song, such musculature is depicted as macho, therefore good.
Being 'macho' in such a way is glamorized by the song's Major tonality, which creates a sort of a happy mood. It is in 4/4, or standard time, emphasize on the 1st and 3rd beats. With a steady and consistent drumbeat and effective use of other instruments, an attractive beat is created, making listening to this song a pleasing experience.
2. The Wine Song by The Cat Empire: This song illustrates a few ideas that we formulated during the course of the school year.
"Song and melodies change and change
And swayBut they still stay the same
The songs that we sung when the dark days come
Are the songs that we sung when we chased them away "
This is reminiscent of Aristotle's form theory. 'songs and melodies' are metaphorical for material things which often change, but in essence are the same. Aristotle's form theory states that all material things are imperfect variations of a sort of 'stencil'. Similarly, 'songs and melodies' change in variation, but are of the same stencil, as 'the songs that we sung.....chased them away'.
"In summer the bush fires rage and rage
And rage
On such beautiful days
And we fight them with water that runs through the cracks
Water we're desperately trying to save
So I'll just live on wine and water my vines
And sleep on the wind with the fires right behind "
And rage
On such beautiful days
And we fight them with water that runs through the cracks
Water we're desperately trying to save
So I'll just live on wine and water my vines
And sleep on the wind with the fires right behind "
This excerpt relates to one of our current events articles about the shortage of water, and its inaccessibility. The singer says that fires (in Australia, where the band is from) burn and burn, and precious water does little help. Therefore he will instead use the water to make wine, and although the fires will keep burning he will at least enjoy himself, and water isn't wasted, perchance.
"Oh what a beautiful day today! Today's a day to celebrate"
This relates to one of the main messages from our town; To live life in the moment and enjoy life while it lasts.
This relates to one of the main messages from our town; To live life in the moment and enjoy life while it lasts.
This song is a jazz waltz, implementing devices such as walk-ups, but also crescendos, as well as lyrical repetition during such crescendos pull listeners along into the song, creating a rhythm, as well as a pattern of speeding up and crashing, then speeding up and crashing. This cycle is reminiscent of the Buddhist idea of reincarnation. Life starts out slow, then speeds up, as time keeps running out, at which point it stops. The person dies. But then the cycle starts all over again, in the next incarnation.
3. Wheels by CAKE: This song is one that indirectly addresses racial differences as an illusion. To see this, the chorus must first be interpreted.
"Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round spinning round Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round and round"
The chorus is always preceded by events in the song, suggesting that the chorus signifies that whatever happens, time just keeps going, and going, and it won't stop.
"Is a Japanese man in a business suit singing 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes' And the muscular cyborg German dudes dance with sexy French Canadians While the overweight Americans wear their patriotic jumpsuits Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round spinning round Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round and round"
In this particular excerpt, many various stereotypes are listed (i.e Japanese man in a business suit, overweight Americans, etc). However, the rhythmic guitar, drums, or bass does not change. They keep going as steadily as before. This implies that although the many differences/stereotypes, people are still the same. In addition, the racial stereotypes are so absurd (muscular cyborg German dudes dance with sexy French Canadians) that an initial reaction is to see this as a joke of sorts, or on a deeper level, as an illusion. Furthermore, it is also followed by the chorus, which as stated before, states that no matter the racial differences 'wheels keep on spinning round'.
4. The Cool by Lupe Fiasco: "This life goes passing you by It might go fast if you lie You go and you live then you die...O-oh-oh-ohh If life goes passing you by Don't cry If you breaking the rules Making your moves Paying your dues...Chasing the cool"
In many songs, there is more meaning in the verses than in the chorus. This chorus directly relates to the idea of making the most of life, like in Our Town and Siddhartha. Like in our town "Life goes passing you by......you go and you live then you die.....don't cry". Just as well, much like Siddhartha "It [life] might go fast if you lie....if you breaking the rules, making your moves, paying your dues", in relation to the part of Siddhartha's life when engorged in the material world with Kamaswami and Samsara. A different aspect of the chorus is like the epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh was trying to escape life and find immortality for a significant portion of his life. This is eerily resembling of "If life goes passing you by....making your moves.....chasing the cool" In which case 'the cool' would be the plant of immortality. Just like the characters in Lupe Fiasco's song never quite achieve the cool in all its glory, Gilgamesh never quite got his hands on the plant of immortality.
5. No Handlebars by Flobots: This song warns about ambition, and its dangers. If watching the music video, it is obvious that the song is in fact a conflict between two friends. Aside from the chorus, there are three stanzaas. The first is of the first persona, the one who believes in freedom. The second is an ambitious personality. Lastly the third is the ambitious man's obsession over power and the collapse of society.
The second persona (which sings about being ambitious, then achieving great things, in the end going to far and crashing) is directly relating to Creon from Antigone. Creon also went power-hungry, and just like the persona in the song shows his power by "I can hand out a million vaccinations
Or let'em all die in exasperation
Have'em all healed of their lacerations
Have'em all killed by assassination
I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don't like'em and
I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command"
Creon attempts to control the situation of Antigone burying her cousin. Just like the persona claims he can do whatever he likes to people, Creon does his will with HIS subjects. Just as well "My cause is noble
My power is pure".
Both Creon and the ambitious persona believe they are doing the best for their subjects, even though the action of being in charge in itself is harming them.
The first persona, which one might describe as more honorable, would be the equivalent of Antigone. Both Antigone and said first persona had good intentions that were thwarted by by Creon and the second persona respectively. In the end, both the second persona and Creon harm themselves. Creon realized his mistake (as did the second persona) when it is already too late, and just suffer.
The piece offers a lot of repetition "no handlebars no handlebars no handlebars", "no microphone, no microphone, no microphone". As well as lyrical repetition, there is much instrumental repetition as well, like an unchanging drum beat. All the examples use negative terms, in addition to minor key tonality that emphasizes the point when the second persona's ambition drives everyone into the dust. For repetition is a technique that is very widely used in advertising and propaganda, which in the song, exemplifies politics, to which negativity is adhered.
Or let'em all die in exasperation
Have'em all healed of their lacerations
Have'em all killed by assassination
I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don't like'em and
I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command"
Creon attempts to control the situation of Antigone burying her cousin. Just like the persona claims he can do whatever he likes to people, Creon does his will with HIS subjects. Just as well "My cause is noble
My power is pure".
Both Creon and the ambitious persona believe they are doing the best for their subjects, even though the action of being in charge in itself is harming them.
The first persona, which one might describe as more honorable, would be the equivalent of Antigone. Both Antigone and said first persona had good intentions that were thwarted by by Creon and the second persona respectively. In the end, both the second persona and Creon harm themselves. Creon realized his mistake (as did the second persona) when it is already too late, and just suffer.
The piece offers a lot of repetition "no handlebars no handlebars no handlebars", "no microphone, no microphone, no microphone". As well as lyrical repetition, there is much instrumental repetition as well, like an unchanging drum beat. All the examples use negative terms, in addition to minor key tonality that emphasizes the point when the second persona's ambition drives everyone into the dust. For repetition is a technique that is very widely used in advertising and propaganda, which in the song, exemplifies politics, to which negativity is adhered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuK2A1ZqoWs
6. Protons, Neutrons, Electrons by The Cat Empire: This song goes hand in hand with our readings on Buddhism and Siddhartha. "I’ve changed and changed and changed and changed From one thing to another" is a perfect example of the transitivity of the material world. In addition, just like Siddhartha, "Sometimes I eat KFC Other times I give up meat And I just eat lentils". In this case, KFC is analogical to Siddhartha's living in Kamaswami village, and giving up meat his life as an ascetic.
The thought behind the chorus can be seen as Buddhist as well. "(Cause we’re all just)Protons, Neutrons, Electrons That rest on a Sunday Work on a Monday and someday soon We’ll be singing the old tunes Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-doo I’ll be sitting on the porch with you Then I’ll die and I’ll fly off into the blue". Because Buddhists believe in reincarnation, their views towards death are very relaxed just as the singer is.
The song itself is very relaxed, and there is no stress, like in heavy metal, on the lyrics or the instruments. Further securing the similarity to Eastern thought, the song emphasizes instruments that are relaxing to listen to, like trumpets.
7. Reflection Song: The Car Song by The Cat Empire: This song relates to my freshman year, although, to be honest, it emphasizes a slightly more negative aspect of it. Lyrics like "I forgot to do my homework and I only got one sock" relates to me being unable to not procrastinate on my homework assignments. Another aspect of the song relates to my high stress the entire year, as shown by lyrics like "I need to concentrate, If I don't get this grade, I might never be a lawyer someday". Coincidentally, the activities in with which the singer is preoccupied with are very similar to those I was. These being basketball, dating, grades, [wanting to] drive, and just as well, the song is written in a basic C boogie jam blues style, which is something I have been working with my jazz teacher since October. The boogie blues emits a feeling of happiness and optimism, which has generally been my temperament throughout the year (and as far as I can remember really). The left piano hand uses a shuffle rhythm, which in total makes eight eighth notes per measure. This creates a sort of rushed feeling, even though the song itself may be a full four minutes long. Similar to my freshman year, although it was a long nine months, it feels like I rushed through the whole year and summer has arrived.
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