I begin every lecture with a song from the era we’re about to discuss. Sometimes the song has a story associated with it. “Solidarity Forever” has its moment, “Sweet Home Alabama” is a good reflection of the Southernization of American culture in the 1970s, “Born in the USA” gets at the bifurcated nature of American society during the Reagan Revolution.
Others are just fun topical songs: “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,” “Over There,” and “There’s A Cold War Between Us” fit this category.
For the last lecture of the semester I usually play “The Final Countdown,” the silly 1986 sythesized rock song from “Europe” that takes the Korg Polysix keyboard to new heights. The song is fun in that it fits the bill, but this semester I asked my students what song they though fit the times, which song best symbolized the past 10 years. Answers varied: Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way” got some votes, as did a song I didn’t know by Rage Against the Machine got a vote too.
I’m going to ask for a point of extra credit on the final what song they’d nominate and why. We’ll see what turns up. What would you choose?
I feel this is a great idea as music can truly capture an era. I would go with the song “The Kill” by 30 Seconds to Mars. This song talks about the relationship one has with themselves.
From the lyrics: “I tried to be someone else, but nothing seemed to change. I know this is who I really am inside.” Can be taken the idea that one needs to confront their fear and confront how they view themselves. They need to bury the rest and face yourself head on to accept who you really are a person and not conform to what society says your should be.
I might be a little bit of an old soul but I would have to say The Riddle by Five For Fighting.
“theres a reason for the world, you and I”
I think that this means that the world goes around and has meaning because of what you make of yourself and of what you do and give to others. I think this is perfect for the song of the last 10 years. We have crime going up and abortion about to be outlawed and people’s rights being fought for and more and more people without jobs and I think that our world has become so materialistic that its taken even capitalism too far and that some of the most special moments in history are from someone caring about the life of someone else and doing something about it. Also, knowing who you are in your life is like “the riddle” everyone tries to work out. so this song to me is perfect.
Lyrics to The Riddle :
There was a man back in ’95
Whose heart ran out of summers
But before he died, I asked him
Wait, what’s the sense in life
Come over me, Come over me
He said,
Son why you got to sing that tune
Catch a Dylan song or some eclipse of the moon
Let an angel swing and make you swoon
Then you will see… You will see
Then he said,
Here’s a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There’s a reason for the world
You and I…
Picked up my kid from school today
Did you learn anything cause in the world today
You can’t live in a castle far away
Now talk to me, come talk to me
He said,
Dad I’m big but we’re smaller than small
In the scheme of things, well we’re nothing at all
Still every mother’s child sings a lonely song
So play with me, come play with me
And Hey Dad
Here’s a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There’s a reason for the world
You and I…
I said,
Son for all I’ve told you
When you get right down to the
Reason for the world…
Who am I?
There are secrets that we still have left to find
There have been mysteries from the beginning of time
There are answers we’re not wise enough to see
He said… You looking for a clue I Love You free…
The batter swings and the summer flies
As I look into my angel’s eyes
A song plays on while the moon is hiding over me
Something comes over me
I guess we’re big and I guess we’re small
If you think about it man you know we got it all
Cause we’re all we got on this bouncing ball
And I love you free
I love you freely
Here’s a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There’s a reason for the world
You and I…
“Georgia Bush” by Lil Wayne. Connects to Katrina, environmental disasters, racism, dissent and protest within rap, the mainstreaming of hip hop, mixtape culture and the internet, celebrity and the quest for “authenticity.”
Nice selections, all of them. Not a huge fan of Georgia Bush as a song, but the words are certainly compelling. The others I’m looking up now. I don’t know them. At the outset, they seem like good selections, although perhaps a bit more about the personal condition of a certain age group rather than a deeper reflection on the American condition? I don’t know, we’ll have to look them up. What else do people have?
After almost picking several songs like “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley and “Rebellion” by Arcade Fire I finally decided on “American Idiot” by Green Day.
Don’t wanna be an American idiot.
Don’t want a nation that doesn’t know media.
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind f*ck America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where Everything isn’t meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow.
Well that’s enough to argue.
Well maybe I’m the faggot America.
I’m not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along in the age of paranoia.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn’t meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow.
Well then that’s enough to argue.
Don’t wanna be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information nation of hysteria.
It’s going out to idiot America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn’t meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow.
Well that’s enough to argue.
Last year, I ended with “Code Monkey” because it makes me think of The Office and Office Space, it was created basically in a garage band format, and it’s just fun.
I could also see using Katie Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” (one of my students recommended that in class) or any of the many songs that have black and white artists singing together (a form of musical integration that seems important to me as part of the times).
I definitely would have to agree with Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” It tells her listeners that it doesn’t matter who you love in life, you were born to be who you are and you should not be ashamed of it. In today’s world there are so many different types of people which makes our world unique in so many ways. Whether it be their sexuality, skin color, race, etc. everyone is made to be who they are in life. Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” just shows all of us how diverse our world is today and the changes of how society is.
“Born This Way”
[Intro:]
It doesn’t matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
’cause you were born this way, baby
[Verse:]
My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
“There’s nothing wrong with loving who you are”
She said, “‘Cause he made you perfect, babe”
“So hold your head up girl and you’ll go far,
Listen to me when I say”
[Chorus:]
I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
[Post-chorus:]
Oh there ain’t no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way
Oh there ain’t no other way
Baby I was born this way
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t be a drag ‒ just be a queen [x3]
Don’t be!
[Verse:]
Give yourself prudence
And love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice your truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth
A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M (Hey hey hey)
I love my life I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah (Love needs faith)
[Repeat chorus + post-chorus]
[Bridge:]
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Whether you’re broke or evergreen
You’re black, white, beige, chola descent
You’re Lebanese, you’re orient
Whether life’s disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied, or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
’cause baby you were born this way
No matter gay, straight, or bi,
Lesbian, transgendered life,
I’m on the right track baby,
I was born to survive.
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or orient made,
I’m on the right track baby,
I was born to be brave.
[Repeat chorus + post-chorus]
[Outro/refrain:]
I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I’m on the right track baby
I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I’m on the right track baby
I was born this way hey!
[Fade away:]
Same DNA, but born this way.
Same DNA, but born this way.
One of Katy Perry’s other songs invloves an intergration with Snoop Dogg. It’s called “California Gurls”. In the music video Katy as well as the other female back-up dancers are all wearing “daisy dukes” and bikini tops. There’s even a time where Katy is wearing nothing but a wig and cotton candy and even though Snoop Dogg isn’t in the same scene at this point, it would have still been shunned upon that he was even in the same music video with her being a white female, not so many years ago.
“California Gurls”
(feat. Snoop Dogg)
[Snoop Dogg:]
Greetings loved ones
Let’s take a journey
[Katy:]
I know a place
Where the grass is really greener
Warm, wet and wild
There must be something in the water
Sippin’ gin and juice
Laying underneath the palm trees
The boys
Break their necks
Try’na to creep a little sneak peek
(at us)
You could travel the world
But nothing comes close
To the golden coast
Once you party with us
You’ll be falling in love
Oooooh Oh Oooooh
California girls
We’re unforgettable
Daisy Dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We’ll melt your popsicle
Oooooh Oh Oooooh
California girls
We’re undeniable
Fine, fresh, fierce
We got it on lock
West coast represent
Now put your hands up
Oooooh Oh Oooooh
Sex on the beach
We don’t mind sand in our stilettoes
We freak
In my jeep
Snoop Doggy Dogg on the stereo
You could travel the world
But nothing comes close
To the golden coast
Once you party with us
You’ll be falling in love
Oooooh Oh Oooooh
California girls
We’re unforgettable
Daisy Dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We’ll melt your popsicle
Oooooh Oh Oooooh
California girls
We’re undeniable
Fine, fresh, fierce
We got it on lock
West coast represent
Now put your hands up
Oooooh Oh Oooooh
[Snoop Dogg:]
Tone, tan
Fit and ready
Turn it up cause its gettin’ heavy
Wild wild west coast
These are the girls I love the most
I mean the ones
I mean like she’s the one
Kiss her
Touch her
Squeeze her buns
The girl’s a freak
She drive a jeep
In Laguna Beach
I’m okay
I won’t play
I love the bay
Just like I love LA
Venice beach
And Palm Springs
Summertime is everything
Homeboys
Bangin’ out
All that ass
Hangin’ out
Bikinis, zucchinis
Martinis, no weenies
Just the King
And the Queeny
Katy my lady (yeah)
Lookie here baby (uh huh)
I’m all up on ya
Cuz you’re representin’ California (ohhh yeahh)
[Katy:]
California girls
We’re unforgettable
Daisy Dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We’ll melt your popsicle
Oooooh Oh Oooooh
California girls
We’re undeniable
Fine, fresh, fierce
We got it on lock
West coast represent
(West coast, west coast)
Now put your hands up
Oooooh Oh Oooooh
[Snoop Dogg:]
(Californiaaa, Californiaaa)
California girls man
I really wish you all could be
California girls
(Californiaaa)
-Kalina G
Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” is definitely a song that stands out for the way society today views life. It’s the year 2011 and everyone is all for equality and self expression. Lady Gaga is a strong woman in the entertainment world right now and many love and respect her and her music. I believe she wrote this song to support many people who may not have the courage to be themselves or a loud enough voice to speak their mind. Equality is something that we as the United States has strived for for many many years and we have come a long way since the Civil War in 1865.
A song I feel that sums up this past decade would have to be “Testify” by Rage Against the Machine. One of the verses “mass graves for the pump and the price is set” refers to the wars on “terror” but are actually about resources with America trying to obtain oil. The oil crisis that we experienced a few years ago which caused prices to rise over four and even five dollars a gallon was an economic crisis for American citizens as prices approached high level prices never seen before. There are several verses that refer to American dependence of oil, “I’m empty, please fill me.” Not only does this song refer to the oil crisis, but also to the casualties that result from America’s eagerness to combat terror and “weapons of mass destruction” in oil rich countries, “Oily silence mocks the legless,
Ones who travel now in coffins.”
Getting away from the early part of the decade and the terrorist scare, this song also represents the sentiment of what is going on in today’s society at this very moment with the occupy movement. The verse “Now testify
Testify
It’s right outside our door
Now testify
Testify
It’s right outside our door” strongly shows what is happening with 99% being fed up with the 1% and finally protesting and making their voices heard. Granted that these occupy movements are recent, they’re showing the main message behind this song, that when something is wrong and you’re against it, step up and TESTIFY!!
In closing, I would like to end it with this verse, “Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now controls the past
Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now?”
So who controls the present now?
I have used the video of Eminem’s “Beautiful” for the last lecture. The images from that video, which portray the negative effects of deindustrialization in Detroit, provide me with an entry point to discuss the shift to a post-industrial economy in the U.S.
I would choose “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga for the song that would best symbolize the past 10 years. Todays views in society are definitely different than any time period before. Society today is all about being yourself and expressing yourself however you want. People can do what makes them happy without being ashamed of it because our society is more accepting of different things. Wether it be what your sexual preference is, if you have tattoos, what skin color you are, how you dress, what music you listen to, who you hang out with, what you like to do on the weekends etc. it is finally acceptable in society and you should be able to flaunt it. I believe that is exactly what Lady Gaga is stating in the song. You are perfect just the way you are and do what makes you happy and rock it. I believe many people in society have this general out look on life.
I believe that Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s song “Home” is very telling about our current times. The song is simply saying that home is whenever they are with each other and that they can get through the difficult things in life as long as they are together. With the recession and job losses, now is a time of finding ‘Home’ even if it is not a physical building. I believe that people will get through these difficult times with the support of their loved ones. In actuality, there is no way a house can be a home unless you are with loved ones. People will make it through these hard times, and even though their house may be gone or they have changed locations, home is always when they are with their family.
This video says it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L64c5vT3NBw
I think a good song to add to this list would be Jack Johnson’s “All At Once”.
It starts off with saying “All at once, the world can overwhelm me”. Though it is pretty obvious I think this refers to just all of the issues in the world happening at once, people don’t know how to handle it. Between an economic recession, climate change, the war on terror, poverty in our own country and others, the starvation and horrible way of life forced on those living in third world countries, etc. There really is SO much always going on at once it becomes really stressful to deal with. This is definitely a reason I think so many people remain oblivious to so many of our worlds issues because the thought of everything happening overwhelms them and they find it easier to just ignore it.
The verse:
“Which way will you run
When it’s always all around you
And the feelin’ lost and found you again
A feelin’ that we have no control”
Seems to relate to the discouraging issue that there is really nothing that we, as individuals, can do about it. Of course there is always volunteering, donating, etc., but that is only effective if mass amounts of people join in as well. It makes individuals feel that they alone are not making much of an impact at all and there is nothing they can do about it.
The verse:
“Around the sun
Some say it’s going to be the new hell
Some say it’s still too early to tell
Some say it really ain’t no myth at all”
Seems to be describing the issue of global warming.
And lastly,
“We keep asking ourselves
Are we really strong enough?
There’s so many things
That we got too proud of
We’re too proud of
We’re too proud of”
To me, I would say is discussing the war in the Middle East, questioning if we should really still be there or if we are only there because we are too proud to give it up.
Jack Johnson
All At Once lyrics
All at once,
The world can overwhelm me
There’s almost nothing that you could tell me
That could ease my mind
Which way will you run
When it’s always all around you
And the feelin’ lost and found you again
A feelin’ that we have no control
Around the sun
Some say it’s going to be the new hell
Some say it’s still too early to tell
Some say it really ain’t no myth at all
We keep asking ourselves
Are we really strong enough?
There’s so many things
That we got too proud of
We’re too proud of
We’re too proud of
I wanna take the preconceived
Out from underneath your feet
We could shake it off
And instead we’ll plant some seeds
We’ll watch them as they grow
And with each new beat
From your heart the roots grow deeper
The branches, well they reach for what?
Nobody really knows
But underneath it all
There’s this heart all alone
What about when it’s gone?
It really won’t be so long
Sometimes it feels like a heart
Is no place to be singing from at all
There’s a world we’ve never seen
There’s still hope between the dreams
The weight of it all could blow away
With a breeze
But if your waiting on the wind
Don’t forget to breathe
Because as the darkness gets deeper
We’re sinkin’ as we reach for love
At least something we can hold
But I’ll reach to you
From where time just can’t go
What about when it’s gone?
It really won’t be so long
Sometimes it feels like a heart
Is no place to be singing from at all
More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jack_johnson/#share
I was looking for question on the final, but I didnt see it so I’ll answer it here. I am torn between two different songs and I am hesitant to post about both of them simply because its going to sound like I am a pessimist, which I am not, but I am going to share both of them. The fist one would be “Rehab” by Amy Winehouse.
With lyrics like “I aint got the time” and ” I aint got 70 days” I think reflects upon todays society that we are always on the go and always in a rush.
other lyrics in the song and the main point of the song project the refusal to go to rehab. this personifies the high amount of narcotic abusers that spotlighted in society with shows like ‘Dr Drew’s celebrity rehab’ and headlined on the news. it seems that in this time in history, as a society we are more infatuation with Hollywood more than ever, even though they fall short of role model status by making poor choices like developing drug addictions.
The other song I thought about is a song called “revival” by soulsavers. Great song. I love this song. these are some of the lyrics: I wanna see a revival yeah
Gonna be a revival tonight
Lord, let there be a revival yeah
Forgive what I have done
It means my soul’s survival, oohh
More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/revival_lyrics_soulsavers.html
All about Soulsavers: http://www.musictory.com/music/Soulsavers
with everything going on today with the occupy wall street, the economic fall we are in, global warming, and essentially divided nation we have been for the last decade. this songs seems perfect. the song is calling out for a revival. saying forgive what we have done and lets move one. I think this is everyone’s attitude these days, we NEED a revival for the our own sake.
so thats my take.
-G. Aldaba
the times are a changin’ by bob dylan. the title itself can be used to describe the past 10 years which is why i believe this song is appropriate to describe that time span.
Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.
Although this song was was written in the 60s, the lyrics can be applied to any time period because significant changes occur as the years move forward. compared to 2001, the world has changed around me which is why i feel this song best symbolizes the past 10 years.
“Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall”
[this can be associated with politicians who have stood in the way of civil liberties during the past decade and continue onto the present.]
“Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.”
[This is in relation to the differences in views between the younger generation and their elders. older and younger generations have conflicting views due to a generation gap. A lot elders have a hard time adjusting to these changes and criticize todays society. in the last 10 years children have grown into adults and have taken their own social and political stance that differ from their parents.]
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.
[This last line can relate to the changes in the world of politics. In this past decade society has become more tolerant and allowed the possibility of having a black president. in the 90s, society would not be so accepting and an african americans running for presidency would be an underdog. over the past 10 years society has grown and the person who would have been the underdog in the past is now a strong competitor in the present.]
-dominic V