https://youtu.be/sGDvbJa1sb8 To me, “Love at the Pier” sounds like the type of song you would use for a surfing montage. The artist, Blondie, has this song set to a high tempo and the singer is on the verge of yelling as she sings which gives the song a reckless sort of mood. Lyrics such as “I’m no sentimental slob so don’t think I’m queer” and “you tanned your oily body looking like sin” show that, in the 70s, sexuality, expressing sexual behaviors as well as homosexuality, was becoming a more comfortable topic in America.
https://youtu.be/e5MAg_yWsq8 The article states, “there was an undercurrent of change that gave a sense of mission: trying to bring rock ‘n’ roll out of its ‘soft rock’.” Styx’s song, “Come Sail Away perfectly captures this feeling. The song starts off with a piano ballad but slowly builds as the song goes on to end with a “head-thrashing” crescendo. Music in the 70s seemed to be a time of taking what had been done before, in the 50s and 60s, and add a little spin to it. All in all, people in the 70s were just happy to be listening to good music.
https://youtu.be/Uc89WTEh-jE “Anarchy in the U.K.” by Sex Pistols sings directly against the 1950s, more in line with the counterculture of the 1960s. The song sings about going against the “typical societal values” and creating their own way of life. This song is perfectly summed up using a description in the article, “reckless abandon and celebratory magic.” As for musicality, this song is dominated by the drum line, electric guitar, and screaming vocals of Johnny Rotten force me to classify this song as punk rock.
According to the article, rock was a dying genre and it seems that bands were trying not to change music to something different, but rather revert music back to rock n’ roll. At the time, rock was more of an underground music genre for misfits and whatnot during the ‘70’s. Television seemed to be much more “detached” according to the article’s author and apparently a lot of the popular bands really didn’t like each other. Not only was music evolving, but it seemed that fashion was also having its own bout of alterations as well. Drag became popular during the ‘70’s and the way people saw the “gender” of clothes shifted dramatically. A drag racer claimed that they weren’t dressing like a woman, but rather wearing a dress meant for a man. David Bowie’s song “Rock N’ Roll Suicide” is a testament to what Huey Newton, one of the founders of the Black Panther Party, would consider a “revolutionary suicide” in the sense that Bowie’s character Ziggy Stardust gave his whole life to rock n’ roll just for it to be worth nothing in the end. He was probably alluding to the death of rock in the ‘70’s with the song name as well as the fact that it has a very folk rock-ish sort of feel to it as if it was meant to potray the ironic nostalgia of rock’s popularity during the ‘60’s. Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” sounds a lot like the modern punk rock one would hear in a rebellious teen’s garage, and the lyrics represent the kind of carefree, rebellious nature of the young audience during that time period. The vibes of the song tell that a substantial amount of the late ‘60’s rebellious nature seemed to carry over into the ‘70’s. Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” has more of a folk-country type feel to it, and it talks about cross-dressers who came to New York and became prostitutes. The content of the song makes sense with the historical context of drag’s popularity and homosexuality becoming more of a prevalent topic. He sympathized with a lot of the characters in his song as he himself struggled with his sexuality as there was even an attempt made by his parents to try to “cure” his homosexuality.
Along with the Patti Smith group, Pattie Smith was very unique in her own style. Wearing a feather boa, her performance was one of the most outstanding ones. From the article and the songs, her admiration for rock and roll music and her enjoyment in inspiring people are noticeable. Pattie Smith, an American singer-songwriter, is an influential artist who became the main component of the punk rock movement. Smith also being a poet and a author, she inspired many others after her with her numerous songs.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RmDr9L1p6wA&feature=youtu.be In the song, “Dancing Barefoot” by Patti Smith, her lyrics depicts her love of Shakespearean calibre. Smith dedicates the popularity of her song to the lyrics. This song was released in 1979 and was included in the album called Wave. Her usual genre of rock is portrayed throughout the song. Her self- realization of love is what it ultimately results in. By highlighting the nature of people, the tragic and yet beautiful lyrics goes along with the catchy melody. Although the music background is very powerful, her voice is dragged behind, showing the breakthrough of freedom.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BcivBprM0 The second song “Because The Night” in the Easter album by Patti Smith was released in 1978. This song being one of the most famous punk poet songs outlines her artistic works. The lyrics in this song are seen from a more feminine perspective of Patti Smith. The mood changes throughout the song as her voice does not sound like her usual self. The introduction to the song in the beginning is very sorrowful as it slowly crescendos into her voice. Then, the drum explodes as she roars her lyrics out loud, expressing her emotions of her “wait.” This song is also a part of rock and roll music.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-3V1rNEmbRo&feature=youtu.be The last song I chose was “Free Money” by Patti Smith released in 1975. This song was included in the album called Horses. I first chose the song because of the title. It was very interesting to name it free when money is something that comes with cost. In this song, she has a thick voice and includes a variety of tones and dynamic notes. Horses, being one of her biggest hit albums, portrays her best vocal performances. The ending of the song where “free money” is repeated over and and over again is what impacted me the most as a listener and an interpreter.
From the article and the songs I chose, I learned more about Pattie Smith, herself. Before, I did not know her at all but from reading, I recognized her contribution to the rock and roll, poetic, and artistic sides of society. By making music into glamorous and powerful art she did herself, she gained attention to make a change that would last forever.
https://youtu.be/GCmhefOpgII “Gloria” by Patti Smith originated from her own poem called “Oath.” Smith’s “Oath” and Them’s band staple “Gloria” merged into one creating a creative rock ‘n’ roll song. The drums pull the song together from a poem to a rock ‘n’ roll song. In the article, Smith stated how rock ‘n’ roll was made to inspire people, and that is what she wanted her own music to do. She wanted it to inspire people.
https://youtu.be/R8Yzkq2dUak David Bowie’s song, “Heroes”, allowed for a slower rock ‘n’ roll song with a melodic beat unlike your typical thinking of what a rock ‘n’ roll song would sound like. His song came to be after burning out from the music industry in LA. After moving from LA to Berlin, he was bale to produce hit songs including “Heroes.” This song tells the story of a German couple who are determined to be together despite all the odds that are against them. Along with the article, this song became a symbolic anthem that was able to capture the time of the divided Berlin city.
https://youtu.be/NIUZjSIXmyg Iggy Pop’s “FunTime” used a dry, monotonous tune to exemplify his idea of having fun. According to the article, it quoted Pop as he just wanted a quick thrill. This song shows that he had different views from others and wanted to show that his idea of having a fun time is different than others. It also mentioned how David Bowie helped Iggy Pop with this song as well as his others.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oG6fayQBm9w The first song that I listened to was Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed. This is a different kind of rock n roll song, it is not very loud and uptempo, it is quite the opposite. It is pretty slow paced and has soft vocals from Reed. I think it is a good song to represent the time period because it was definitely wild. In New York at this time there was a lot of crazy stuff going and a lot of that included drugs, sex, and a different sense of fashion as well. I think that this song is kind of a way of inviting an outsider to see what the lifestyle is really about and how wild it really is.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ScVi_L817ec The second song that I listened to was Young Americans by David Bowie. This is another different kind of sounding rock n roll song than i would have thought. It has a very upbeat sound to it, sounds a little bit like it might be a jazz record at the beginning. It has a very good balance of the instrumental and the vocals, they compliment each other rather than blocking each other out. I think the fact that it is talking about the young Americans also shows how in that time there was a lot of focus on the youth and the younger people who were going to make that change, and stray further and further away from the older more conservative ways of life. This is just another one of those songs that was showing how important that younger generation was.
The final song that I listened to was Because the Night by Patti smith. This song is one that I think is speaking more about the night life in New York and how the night is there time. The day might belong to all those who work and the older generation, but when it is night, it is there time. It also talks about the night belongs to love and that can mean that the night allows for them to all finally get back together and that is when they can show their feelings for each other. While that is nice the next line can refer to the darker side of things in New York when it talks about the lust coming out at night, that can be referring to prostitution and such which was not uncommon at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al0hg1iLcLY During the 70’s, things were changing. One thing that stood out was how not only music was changing but other things and this is when drag started to become really popular. Drag impacted our world since now people were seeing the “gender” of clothes in a different way. David Johansen was in the band New York Dolls and even performed in drag. The article even said that he “wore a dress onstage only once at club 82.” His song, “Funky But Chic” is a fast tempo and very energetic song. It includes really loud sounds of the guitar and it sounds like a very fun song. This song shows how the times were changing and you can see it in the lyrics such as, “My momma thinks I look pretty fruity but in jeans I feel rockin.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U16Xg_rQZkA Along with music changing in the 70’s, David Bowie also showed how other things in the world were changing. His song, “Rebel Rebel” talks about how Bowie hints that he could possibly be gay or bisexual. This was still not common during this time so Bowie went against a lot of rules of society. The song has a pretty upbeat tune that can put you in a good mood. Bowie did a lot of things that broke stereotypes and this song helped a lot of those things. Rebel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPO0bTaWcFQ Patti Smith was another artist that inspired people especially during this time. Other than just being a singer and songwriter, she was also a poet and author. Her song, “Gloria” was a combination of the poem “Oath” and “Gloria” by Van Morrison. This song is very different and she has a very unique voice and sound. It starts off pretty slow and slowly gets more upbeat. Many of the lines throughout the song were very interesting and one of the lines that stuck out the most was the first line, “Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine.”
https://youtu.be/GvmvMFXWzc8 Rock in New York during the 70s did not come right away. It took about almost 2 years for rock to finally make an appearance in New York. Thanks to the famous rock band, The New York Dolls, they made rock something very popular. This song, “Looking For a Kiss” was released about a year later after the whole rock scene came full circle. You can definitely tell that this is a rock song with the heavy guitar as the featured instrument. It is a song that you can get pumped up to while working out. There is also that scream that most rock musicians do whenever performing on stage. At the end of the song, there is a kissing sound that you would imitate when you think of kissing. It really brings the song to life. https://youtu.be/bsYp9q3QNaQ This next song, “Heroes,” by David Bowie isn’t like a typical rock song. It does not sound as upbeat as most rock songs would normally sound. Before rock came around, David Bowie basically set up what rock would be like. He was the one with the glitter and makeup, something that was very uncommon in New York at the time. His lyrics, “I will be king / And you will be queen” can be interpreted as maybe a love song but in an upbeat tempo. It also shows hope for the future and maybe it talks about hope for the future of rock music. Either or, this song was great to listen to and I will definitely come back to this song again.
https://youtu.be/9wxI4KK9ZYo “Perfect Day.” Sounds like a very peaceful song. This song was very soothing and relaxing to listen to. The piano medley made this song very calm and maybe something you would listen to for relaxation. This is the perfect pick-me-up song whenever you’re feeling down. Though maybe not an ideal rock song, does rock always have to be uptempo? That’s a question I’ve always wondered and this song made me think about it. Yes, Lou Reed was part of a rock band, but his singles make him more of an innocent singer. It is so unique to see a different side of an artist from outside their bands. “Perfect Day” was my favorite song to listen to out of the three and it makes me wonder why are artists so different when they are not part of their band.
From the article, I learned that the New York 70s rock scene was a hardcore rebellion for many artists in the industry and a change in pace for the audience and fans. Some people thought that with a new decade the essence of rock ‘n’ roll would be lost, but it actually only grew stronger. Everything about the music industry was becoming more hip and its artists were being more open with their performances and lyrics. David Bowie was a prominent name in the 70s in the music industry for being one of the leading figures in his time. His song “Young Americans” was a hit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScVi_L817ec This song refers to Americans and their desires during the 70s. The article mentions that the music industry was directed towards its youth population. Bowie is saying in the song how everyone wants to feel young and be young. They even want to be with younger people. Many things in the 70s were associated with youth culture. Patti Smith was another popular artist in the 70s. One of the more popular songs that she sang was “Because the Night.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BcivBprM0 This song, like Bowie’s, revolves around the idea of sexuality/lovers. This song seems to be very empowering of women. It has a strong passionate tone and the lyrics match this energy. It is encouraging romance and seems that it would get the attention of many teenagers. Once again, the overarching theme of youth seems to play back here. Lou Reed was a great American musician, singer, and poet who was also the songwriter for the rock band the “Velvet Underground.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qK82JvRY5s A song he sings made for a good hit called “Sweet Jane.” This song clearly features the electric guitar but in a more subdued tone that almost seems peaceful to hear. This song seems to resemble rebellion and spontaneity which is what the article mentions to be important traits/values of the average American during the 70s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrpHBsI11Pk After listening to “Love at the Pier” by Blondie I realized that it kinda of reminded me of a “Teen Beach Movie” song, just not as Disney-y. This song was very upbeat and fast with a summer vibe to it. I think that this song was basically about how people were able to be more open about their sexuality. However, it mentioned that people who had different sexualities were not always accepted in society. The line: “we would have stood a change if we met in the frost, but we fell in love down at pier.” I think what she is trying to say that the pier is such a public place that people saw and were unaccepting but if they met in a more private place the would just have each other to worry about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BcivBprM0 The next song that I listened to was “Because the Night” by Patti Smith. This was a much slower and more dramatic song compared to “Love at the Pier.” Around the time this song was realized was when the FDA approved the use of birth control for women. So I think this song is about a women embracing her new freedoms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG6fayQBm9w The song “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed was a really interesting song. It was very slow but Reed wasn’t singing he was speaking the lyrics. I am not sure if I really liked the speaking rather than singing but it did make the song a lot more dramatic. This song is about New York becoming a new place of opportunity and excitement, it talks about people from all over the country who come to start their lives in this city.
Despite being a true poet and a writer, Patti Smith put herself out as a main character of the punk rock movement. She was different from the typical woman in the music industry. She wore a feather boa while performing a combination of her poetry and carburetors songs which you wouldn’t really see before her. She definitely made a contribution to the newer sounds of that era.
I listened to “Free Money” by Patti Smith. I noticed right away that the photo on the YouTube video was her album cover of “Horses”. She’s wearing suspenders and a suit jacket, I almost mistaken her as a man. This already set the tone for me which matched the song. It’s an upbeat song that packs a punch with her bold yet fun tone. Repeating the words “free money” it almost sounded like a rebellious song as if she was chanting for “free money!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OjW1TDANxk
I then listened to “Because The Night” by Patti Smith. Straight off the bat, I noticed her clothes. Nothing about her is feminine which makes it super cool to see her performing rock and roll, it gives the familiar rebellious vibe from “Free Money”. Her voice sounds like a man and her bold hand movement really gives a punchy tone but in a fun way, something we could sing along to. This song delivers the idea of the dangers of the night which brings in the lust/love in people. It’s an impactful song with a message behind it, something I always love to see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPO0bTaWcFQ
Listening to “Gloria” by Patti Smith. This song is noticeably different from her other songs. It starts with her quiet voice and calmer instrumentals. It of course perfectly set her up to break through with a significant climax in the tone and volume of her singing, almost as if she’s marching along to her song. She includes the rock and roll voice break or some sort of snarl that I completely love. This song definitely leans heavier on the rock side of her music.
In the 1970’s, the 60’s notion of counter culture evolved to it’s furthest stages of rebellion as well as the importance of youth and how it impacts life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydLcs4VrjZQ David Bowie’s “Young Americans” is about how the American dream is the antithesis to what the youth want and need. The article speaks about how Rock’n’Roll was an act of rebellion, and it became popular with many just because of how against the mold it was, evident by how people would cheer at just the mention of a swear word. Bowie’s song is a good example of what the youth wanted to rebel against. For example, in the beginning of the song, Bowie talks about a dissatisfied suburban wife and how she felt like she was forced into her role because she thought that the husband and kids were what would have made her happy, when it instead made her feel miserable. Many women probably feared that this would have become then, which is why they felt the need to act out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbmWs6Jf5dc “Anarchy in the UK” is a typical rebellious rock song with strong guitar chords and provocative lyrics. It’s the perfect example of what the youth loved but what the establishment hated, as this song was even banned in England. The song goes against many English Values, like christianity and unity, pushing them aside for anarchy and chaos. This seems to be exactly what Rock’n’Roll was to the Sex Pistols, a way to act out against the status quo and provoke people
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BcivBprM0 Patti Smith’s “Because the night” is an example of some of the sexual freedom afforded under the cover of night in new york. Sexuality was more accepted in the rock’n’roll scene, so this song, which talks about lust and love in the night, isn’t as out there as it would have been just two decades earlier. It’s also important to note that its female sexuality that’s being sung about in the song, a far cry from the chaste womanly ideal that was present in the 50s, showing the changes in ideas that occurred between then and the 70’s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U16Xg_rQZkA The first song that I listen to was “Rebel Rebel” by David Bowie. When first listening to the song my reaction was a feeling of excitement and has a feeling that makes you want to do physical activity. It felt like of like a hype up song and had a really nice tune to the song. When I looked at the lyrics something that came out at me was “ She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl”. This kind of related to what I read before with the kind of styles they had, because they wore makeup and platforms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPO0bTaWcFQ The next song that I listened to was “Gloria” by Patti Smith. My first reaction to the song wasn’t one hundred percent rock and roll. But slowly but surely more guitar and started coming in. Even the tone in her voice because stronger and stronger. The song would come to a higher and higher climax as the song went on. I overall really liked the song because it kind of felt like the artist was giving everything that she had into the song ending the song with a climax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG6fayQBm9w The last song that i listened to was “ Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed. I thought of the beginning of the song to be simular to the gloria smith song where it started off very slow, but it kept this slow pace all throughout the song. It sounded like bedside story being retold. I thought the song was very different and really liked it. It was very different from what I heard before and was very intrigued all throughout.
Overall from the article I learned a lot including much of the start of the 70s rock and roll. I found it very interesting that it started with New York Dolls and how they were perceived with drugs and alcohol. I was very interested int he way that they would dress too with wearing very flashing clothing and even wearing heels. But what was important was that they were fun and were very entertaining created this really fun environment that they were around. And this is how much of the style and attitude of rock and roll was created.
The first song that I listened to was “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed. The song was released in 1972 and was produced by David Bowie. This particular song was Lou Reed’s biggest hit and was a part of his Transformer album. At the time Lou was described by Lenny Kaye as being “not in the best shape”. The song opens with the distinct sound of a deep and mellow guitar being plucked along with a drum with the fainter sound of a higher guitar being strummed. Shortly after, Lou transitions in and begins reciting the lyrics. He isn’t really singing the lyrics, it's more like he is reciting poetry on the beat. I really liked Lou’s voice. It's very unique and has a deeper soothing feel to it. The song's lyrics were definitely the most interesting part. The song is about a bunch of girls who are working as prostitutes. In order to indices the men to spend money on them they all say “Hey, babe take a walk on the wild side”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y7i_3Fgu3E
The second song I listened to was David Bowie’s “Young Americans”. The song has a more upbeat tune to it and I definitely can see it as being a dancing song. The song features drum and trumpet instrumentals. It was a little hard to understand what Bowie was saying at some points of the song. There was also a chorus that accompanied Bowie which gave the song a nice church sound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai0pnjDoLn0
The third song I listened to was “1984” by David Bowie. The song's opening background music kinda reminded me of the music from a thriller/horror movie. But then it changes into a faster more jazz-like sound that sounds like it could be played in an action scene of a James Bond movie. The song is more of a faster and upbeat pace that definitely would be a good concert song. “1984” is definitely the most rock sounding song out the 3 and has a lot of the crazy rock energy.
http://historyamericansong.blogspot.com/2018/01/new-york-in-1970s.html#comment-form The first song I listened to was “Gloria” by Pattie Smith, this song is very rock and roll. The true essence of rock and roll is to inspire and the song did that right from the beginning. At first the song starts out soft which is very deceiving as it gradually builds up with Smith’s harsh voice. The song originated from a poem that Smith had written and together with the guitarist Lenny Kaye and the rest of the band. Throughout the song half the time Smith is singing and the other half she is talking emphasizing each lyric until she reaches the chorus “GLORIA.”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-3V1rNEmbRo&feature=youtu.be The second song I listened to was “Free Money,” by Patti Smith. This song was a very interesting one because the title was pretty controversial, considering how money isn’t usually free. The song starts off soft with the piano and Smith singing softly then the drums starts to pick up the pace as well as her singing. I think this song is about rebelling and having freedom with a partner when they start off by saying, “I know they’re stolen, but I don’t feel bad,” Then the song ends with the chorus, “free money.”
https://youtu.be/Uc89WTEh-jE The last song I listened to was “Anarchy in the UK,” by the Sex Pistols. The Sex Pistols was one of the first bands to make a rock and roll song political. Many Punk Rock songs didn’t go over current events but the Sex Pistols were right on the dot with their song. Similarly to the first song I listened to it started off very soft with a piano until it gradually became louder and turned into real Punk Rock.
I listened to “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou reed released in 1972. What surprised me most about this song was the way Lou reed performed it which was very unique and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song like that before. Instead of singing the lyrics Reed almost talks for the entirety of the song. This style brought more attention to the lyrics and the overall feeling of the song. The song is about life in New York, the hope of new beginnings and the vibrant life of the city.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BcivBprM0 I listened to “Because the Night” by Patti Smith released in 1978. This was a slow dramatic song and because of the lyrics and the time it was released I think it is about empowering women. It is a song about romance and love but also about staying young. Her voice is very moving and I really enjoyed how her voice could portray emotion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXgkuM2NhYI The third song I listened to was “Heroes” by David Bowie released in 1977. This song was in a slow, melodic rhythm and didn’t sound like other David Bowie songs I have heard in the past. It tells the story of a German couple struggling to make it by while constantly being bombarded with obstacles. It primarily focuses on the couples relationship to each other and the commitment they have.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g8JBhju-m1I “Frankenstein” by the New York Dolls seems to talk about a talented performer who is held back by their rigid society of origin and the expectations of an abusive partner, promoting them to move to “a place where they don’t expect nothing.” In this new location, which is full of misfits, the Dolls ask “Is it a crime for you to fall in love with Frankenstein.” They then go on to describe this figurative Frankenstein’s unorthodox appearance and actions. This narrative of pushing the boundaries surrounding what’s considered normal seems indicative of the early 70’s. As the article states, the Dolls and other artists of this era were trying to sustain Rock n’ Roll while also moving the genre in their own direction with flamboyant performances and the exploration of drag. Thus, many of these artists might have felt like frankensteins.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6ssoBUb2cJk Like most Ramones songs, “Teenage Lobotomy” is fast, loud, and intense, reflecting their signature carefree attitude. The content of the song is relatively straightforward. It talks about the effects of the drug DDT on a teenagers brain. The line “I got no mind to lose all the girls / Are in love with me I’m a teenage lobotomy” is an ironic take on the image of a hooking up 1970’s teenager. The Ramones suggest that the use of drugs distorts normal perceptions and twists the behaviors that were once considered twisted in and of themselves. This song internalizes and describes the confusing but exhilarating nature of the 70’s.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G3OaMZojJRg In Iggy Pop’s “Nightclubbing” overlapping, distorted electric guitar chords accompany his slow delivery of the lyrics. The song is not thematically deep or complex, but rather takes a simple look at the thrill of clubbing. Lines like “We learn brand new dances / Like the nuclear bomb” and “We see people brand new people” highlight in particular that nightclubbing offered an opportunity to have new experiences that were way out there and wild. Iggy further reinforces this idea by ending each verse with “Oh isn’t it wild...” Unusually, this song ends on a verse rather than on its chorus, which demonstrates that musical conventions were of little importance in the 1970’s.
https://youtu.be/kL6zaPy6kdI https://youtu.be/jlbunmCbTBA https://youtu.be/cBojbjoMttI “Personality Crisis” is an example of a New York Dolls rock song that is the musical embodiment of the experience of not having a set personality and not being able to decide on it. Its a loud and messy song which can be interpreted as the inner thoughts of the girl that the song is centered around. The New York Dolls’ member David Johansen was seen as rather eccentric at the time. I found it interesting how he would wear more feminine clothing on stage and be proud about it saying that “I’m perfectly satisfied with who I am”. It feels like self expression was an important part of theatrical performances of music on stage. The Television’s “Marquee Moon” feels much more mellow compared to the loud guitar playing of New York Dolls. The “more bohemian, but deadpan, detached, glamorous” description fits them perfectly as song feels like a simple head bop compared to whipping your head back and forth of the New York Dolls. Sex Pistols music on the other hand felt like a rush to listen to. Similar to the Doll’s performance, “Anarchy in the U.K.” feels like a yelling song that focused more on the message rather than traditional singing talent. Musically, it felt like a song of rebellion considering it ends with the lead vocalist yelling “destroy”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy-rvsHsi1o “Rebel Rebel” is my favorite David Bowie song. It reflects the “spirit” of rock music. “We like dancing and we look divine//You love bands when they're playing hard//You want more and you want it fast” shows what rock was all about: the music. Sex and drugs were always part of rock culture, but as written in the article, the music was the real unifying factor. “Rebel Rebel” also an inherently queer song, most obviously with the lyrics “You've got your mother in a whirl//She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl.” Queer culture had a huge impact on rock and roll. Bowie, Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, 7and many other people who were essential to the rock scene were queer. I learned in the article that a major influence of glam rock along with Bowie were the Cockettes, a drag-queen group from San Fransisco. Iggy Pop is quoted in the article saying, “This isn’t a woman’s dress, this is a man’s dress.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP5ngHRuoTI The New York Dolls were a groundbreaking band because they didn’t sound polished like other rock bands such as Journey or Styx. According to the article, “People said the Dolls couldn’t play. People had also said Bob Dylan couldn’t sing. That wasn’t the point.” The point was the energy, not the musical proficiency. The thing that captured the audiences watching the New York Dolls was not the quality of their music, but the energy they put into playing and performing, and the pure loudness of it. The video I watched opens with David Johansson screaming and growling into the microphone before he then launches into the lyrics. I listened to the song “Personality Crisis.” I think it represents the era well, because rock music itself was going through it’s own personality crisis. This crisis is shown in the article: “Forget trying to change the world—the music of the 1960s had actually changed the world. In the 1970s the bands were just trying to change the music back.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywZBtka5BrM “Heart of Glass” was one of Blondie’s greatest hits. It signals the ending of the New York rock scene. From the article: “After 1978 the New York rock scene started to fizzle out. The Dolls were over. Bowie was starring on Broadway in The Elephant Man. Television broke up. Alongside these other major rock influences, Blondie was experimenting with other genres. “Heart of Glass is a disco song, and they also began to incorporate rap into their music. The music of the time was changing with the end of the decade. “It wasn’t just the drugs and the promiscuous sex—although that was a plus. It also was, truly, about the music.” The rock scene couldn’t continue if the music changed, and that change is represented by the song “Heart of Glass.”
https://youtu.be/sGDvbJa1sb8
ReplyDeleteTo me, “Love at the Pier” sounds like the type of song you would use for a surfing montage. The artist, Blondie, has this song set to a high tempo and the singer is on the verge of yelling as she sings which gives the song a reckless sort of mood. Lyrics such as “I’m no sentimental slob so don’t think I’m queer” and “you tanned your oily body looking like sin” show that, in the 70s, sexuality, expressing sexual behaviors as well as homosexuality, was becoming a more comfortable topic in America.
https://youtu.be/e5MAg_yWsq8
The article states, “there was an undercurrent of change that gave a sense of mission: trying to bring rock ‘n’ roll out of its ‘soft rock’.” Styx’s song, “Come Sail Away perfectly captures this feeling. The song starts off with a piano ballad but slowly builds as the song goes on to end with a “head-thrashing” crescendo. Music in the 70s seemed to be a time of taking what had been done before, in the 50s and 60s, and add a little spin to it. All in all, people in the 70s were just happy to be listening to good music.
https://youtu.be/Uc89WTEh-jE
“Anarchy in the U.K.” by Sex Pistols sings directly against the 1950s, more in line with the counterculture of the 1960s. The song sings about going against the “typical societal values” and creating their own way of life. This song is perfectly summed up using a description in the article, “reckless abandon and celebratory magic.” As for musicality, this song is dominated by the drum line, electric guitar, and screaming vocals of Johnny Rotten force me to classify this song as punk rock.
According to the article, rock was a dying genre and it seems that bands were trying not to change music to something different, but rather revert music back to rock n’ roll. At the time, rock was more of an underground music genre for misfits and whatnot during the ‘70’s. Television seemed to be much more “detached” according to the article’s author and apparently a lot of the popular bands really didn’t like each other. Not only was music evolving, but it seemed that fashion was also having its own bout of alterations as well. Drag became popular during the ‘70’s and the way people saw the “gender” of clothes shifted dramatically. A drag racer claimed that they weren’t dressing like a woman, but rather wearing a dress meant for a man. David Bowie’s song “Rock N’ Roll Suicide” is a testament to what Huey Newton, one of the founders of the Black Panther Party, would consider a “revolutionary suicide” in the sense that Bowie’s character Ziggy Stardust gave his whole life to rock n’ roll just for it to be worth nothing in the end. He was probably alluding to the death of rock in the ‘70’s with the song name as well as the fact that it has a very folk rock-ish sort of feel to it as if it was meant to potray the ironic nostalgia of rock’s popularity during the ‘60’s. Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” sounds a lot like the modern punk rock one would hear in a rebellious teen’s garage, and the lyrics represent the kind of carefree, rebellious nature of the young audience during that time period. The vibes of the song tell that a substantial amount of the late ‘60’s rebellious nature seemed to carry over into the ‘70’s. Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” has more of a folk-country type feel to it, and it talks about cross-dressers who came to New York and became prostitutes. The content of the song makes sense with the historical context of drag’s popularity and homosexuality becoming more of a prevalent topic. He sympathized with a lot of the characters in his song as he himself struggled with his sexuality as there was even an attempt made by his parents to try to “cure” his homosexuality.
ReplyDeleteAlong with the Patti Smith group, Pattie Smith was very unique in her own style. Wearing a feather boa, her performance was one of the most outstanding ones. From the article and the songs, her admiration for rock and roll music and her enjoyment in inspiring people are noticeable. Pattie Smith, an American singer-songwriter, is an influential artist who became the main component of the punk rock movement. Smith also being a poet and a author, she inspired many others after her with her numerous songs.
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RmDr9L1p6wA&feature=youtu.be
In the song, “Dancing Barefoot” by Patti Smith, her lyrics depicts her love of Shakespearean calibre. Smith dedicates the popularity of her song to the lyrics. This song was released in 1979 and was included in the album called Wave. Her usual genre of rock is portrayed throughout the song. Her self- realization of love is what it ultimately results in. By highlighting the nature of people, the tragic and yet beautiful lyrics goes along with the catchy melody. Although the music background is very powerful, her voice is dragged behind, showing the breakthrough of freedom.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BcivBprM0
The second song “Because The Night” in the Easter album by Patti Smith was released in 1978. This song being one of the most famous punk poet songs outlines her artistic works. The lyrics in this song are seen from a more feminine perspective of Patti Smith. The mood changes throughout the song as her voice does not sound like her usual self. The introduction to the song in the beginning is very sorrowful as it slowly crescendos into her voice. Then, the drum explodes as she roars her lyrics out loud, expressing her emotions of her “wait.” This song is also a part of rock and roll music.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-3V1rNEmbRo&feature=youtu.be
The last song I chose was “Free Money” by Patti Smith released in 1975. This song was included in the album called Horses. I first chose the song because of the title. It was very interesting to name it free when money is something that comes with cost. In this song, she has a thick voice and includes a variety of tones and dynamic notes. Horses, being one of her biggest hit albums, portrays her best vocal performances. The ending of the song where “free money” is repeated over and and over again is what impacted me the most as a listener and an interpreter.
From the article and the songs I chose, I learned more about Pattie Smith, herself. Before, I did not know her at all but from reading, I recognized her contribution to the rock and roll, poetic, and artistic sides of society. By making music into glamorous and powerful art she did herself, she gained attention to make a change that would last forever.
https://youtu.be/GCmhefOpgII
ReplyDelete“Gloria” by Patti Smith originated from her own poem called “Oath.” Smith’s “Oath” and Them’s band staple “Gloria” merged into one creating a creative rock ‘n’ roll song. The drums pull the song together from a poem to a rock ‘n’ roll song. In the article, Smith stated how rock ‘n’ roll was made to inspire people, and that is what she wanted her own music to do. She wanted it to inspire people.
https://youtu.be/R8Yzkq2dUak
David Bowie’s song, “Heroes”, allowed for a slower rock ‘n’ roll song with a melodic beat unlike your typical thinking of what a rock ‘n’ roll song would sound like. His song came to be after burning out from the music industry in LA. After moving from LA to Berlin, he was bale to produce hit songs including “Heroes.” This song tells the story of a German couple who are determined to be together despite all the odds that are against them. Along with the article, this song became a symbolic anthem that was able to capture the time of the divided Berlin city.
https://youtu.be/NIUZjSIXmyg
Iggy Pop’s “FunTime” used a dry, monotonous tune to exemplify his idea of having fun. According to the article, it quoted Pop as he just wanted a quick thrill. This song shows that he had different views from others and wanted to show that his idea of having a fun time is different than others. It also mentioned how David Bowie helped Iggy Pop with this song as well as his others.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oG6fayQBm9w
ReplyDeleteThe first song that I listened to was Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed. This is a different kind of rock n roll song, it is not very loud and uptempo, it is quite the opposite. It is pretty slow paced and has soft vocals from Reed. I think it is a good song to represent the time period because it was definitely wild. In New York at this time there was a lot of crazy stuff going and a lot of that included drugs, sex, and a different sense of fashion as well. I think that this song is kind of a way of inviting an outsider to see what the lifestyle is really about and how wild it really is.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ScVi_L817ec
The second song that I listened to was Young Americans by David Bowie. This is another different kind of sounding rock n roll song than i would have thought. It has a very upbeat sound to it, sounds a little bit like it might be a jazz record at the beginning. It has a very good balance of the instrumental and the vocals, they compliment each other rather than blocking each other out. I think the fact that it is talking about the young Americans also shows how in that time there was a lot of focus on the youth and the younger people who were going to make that change, and stray further and further away from the older more conservative ways of life. This is just another one of those songs that was showing how important that younger generation was.
The final song that I listened to was Because the Night by Patti smith. This song is one that I think is speaking more about the night life in New York and how the night is there time. The day might belong to all those who work and the older generation, but when it is night, it is there time. It also talks about the night belongs to love and that can mean that the night allows for them to all finally get back together and that is when they can show their feelings for each other. While that is nice the next line can refer to the darker side of things in New York when it talks about the lust coming out at night, that can be referring to prostitution and such which was not uncommon at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al0hg1iLcLY
ReplyDeleteDuring the 70’s, things were changing. One thing that stood out was how not only music was changing but other things and this is when drag started to become really popular. Drag impacted our world since now people were seeing the “gender” of clothes in a different way. David Johansen was in the band New York Dolls and even performed in drag. The article even said that he “wore a dress onstage only once at club 82.” His song, “Funky But Chic” is a fast tempo and very energetic song. It includes really loud sounds of the guitar and it sounds like a very fun song. This song shows how the times were changing and you can see it in the lyrics such as, “My momma thinks I look pretty fruity but in jeans I feel rockin.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U16Xg_rQZkA
Along with music changing in the 70’s, David Bowie also showed how other things in the world were changing. His song, “Rebel Rebel” talks about how Bowie hints that he could possibly be gay or bisexual. This was still not common during this time so Bowie went against a lot of rules of society. The song has a pretty upbeat tune that can put you in a good mood. Bowie did a lot of things that broke stereotypes and this song helped a lot of those things. Rebel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPO0bTaWcFQ
Patti Smith was another artist that inspired people especially during this time. Other than just being a singer and songwriter, she was also a poet and author. Her song, “Gloria” was a combination of the poem “Oath” and “Gloria” by Van Morrison. This song is very different and she has a very unique voice and sound. It starts off pretty slow and slowly gets more upbeat. Many of the lines throughout the song were very interesting and one of the lines that stuck out the most was the first line, “Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine.”
https://youtu.be/GvmvMFXWzc8
ReplyDeleteRock in New York during the 70s did not come right away. It took about almost 2 years for rock to finally make an appearance in New York. Thanks to the famous rock band, The New York Dolls, they made rock something very popular. This song, “Looking For a Kiss” was released about a year later after the whole rock scene came full circle. You can definitely tell that this is a rock song with the heavy guitar as the featured instrument. It is a song that you can get pumped up to while working out. There is also that scream that most rock musicians do whenever performing on stage. At the end of the song, there is a kissing sound that you would imitate when you think of kissing. It really brings the song to life.
https://youtu.be/bsYp9q3QNaQ
This next song, “Heroes,” by David Bowie isn’t like a typical rock song. It does not sound as upbeat as most rock songs would normally sound. Before rock came around, David Bowie basically set up what rock would be like. He was the one with the glitter and makeup, something that was very uncommon in New York at the time. His lyrics, “I will be king / And you will be queen” can be interpreted as maybe a love song but in an upbeat tempo. It also shows hope for the future and maybe it talks about hope for the future of rock music. Either or, this song was great to listen to and I will definitely come back to this song again.
https://youtu.be/9wxI4KK9ZYo
“Perfect Day.” Sounds like a very peaceful song. This song was very soothing and relaxing to listen to. The piano medley made this song very calm and maybe something you would listen to for relaxation. This is the perfect pick-me-up song whenever you’re feeling down. Though maybe not an ideal rock song, does rock always have to be uptempo? That’s a question I’ve always wondered and this song made me think about it. Yes, Lou Reed was part of a rock band, but his singles make him more of an innocent singer. It is so unique to see a different side of an artist from outside their bands. “Perfect Day” was my favorite song to listen to out of the three and it makes me wonder why are artists so different when they are not part of their band.
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ReplyDeleteFrom the article, I learned that the New York 70s rock scene was a hardcore rebellion for many artists in the industry and a change in pace for the audience and fans. Some people thought that with a new decade the essence of rock ‘n’ roll would be lost, but it actually only grew stronger. Everything about the music industry was becoming more hip and its artists were being more open with their performances and lyrics. David Bowie was a prominent name in the 70s in the music industry for being one of the leading figures in his time. His song “Young Americans” was a hit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScVi_L817ec This song refers to Americans and their desires during the 70s. The article mentions that the music industry was directed towards its youth population. Bowie is saying in the song how everyone wants to feel young and be young. They even want to be with younger people. Many things in the 70s were associated with youth culture. Patti Smith was another popular artist in the 70s. One of the more popular songs that she sang was “Because the Night.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BcivBprM0 This song, like Bowie’s, revolves around the idea of sexuality/lovers. This song seems to be very empowering of women. It has a strong passionate tone and the lyrics match this energy. It is encouraging romance and seems that it would get the attention of many teenagers. Once again, the overarching theme of youth seems to play back here. Lou Reed was a great American musician, singer, and poet who was also the songwriter for the rock band the “Velvet Underground.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qK82JvRY5s A song he sings made for a good hit called “Sweet Jane.” This song clearly features the electric guitar but in a more subdued tone that almost seems peaceful to hear. This song seems to resemble rebellion and spontaneity which is what the article mentions to be important traits/values of the average American during the 70s.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrpHBsI11Pk
After listening to “Love at the Pier” by Blondie I realized that it kinda of reminded me of a “Teen Beach Movie” song, just not as Disney-y. This song was very upbeat and fast with a summer vibe to it. I think that this song was basically about how people were able to be more open about their sexuality. However, it mentioned that people who had different sexualities were not always accepted in society. The line: “we would have stood a change if we met in the frost, but we fell in love down at pier.” I think what she is trying to say that the pier is such a public place that people saw and were unaccepting but if they met in a more private place the would just have each other to worry about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BcivBprM0
The next song that I listened to was “Because the Night” by Patti Smith. This was a much slower and more dramatic song compared to “Love at the Pier.” Around the time this song was realized was when the FDA approved the use of birth control for women. So I think this song is about a women embracing her new freedoms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG6fayQBm9w
The song “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed was a really interesting song. It was very slow but Reed wasn’t singing he was speaking the lyrics. I am not sure if I really liked the speaking rather than singing but it did make the song a lot more dramatic. This song is about New York becoming a new place of opportunity and excitement, it talks about people from all over the country who come to start their lives in this city.
Despite being a true poet and a writer, Patti Smith put herself out as a main character of the punk rock movement. She was different from the typical woman in the music industry. She wore a feather boa while performing a combination of her poetry and carburetors songs which you wouldn’t really see before her. She definitely made a contribution to the newer sounds of that era.
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-3V1rNEmbRo&feature=youtu.be
I listened to “Free Money” by Patti Smith. I noticed right away that the photo on the YouTube video was her album cover of “Horses”. She’s wearing suspenders and a suit jacket, I almost mistaken her as a man. This already set the tone for me which matched the song. It’s an upbeat song that packs a punch with her bold yet fun tone. Repeating the words “free money” it almost sounded like a rebellious song as if she was chanting for “free money!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OjW1TDANxk
I then listened to “Because The Night” by Patti Smith. Straight off the bat, I noticed her clothes. Nothing about her is feminine which makes it super cool to see her performing rock and roll, it gives the familiar rebellious vibe from “Free Money”. Her voice sounds like a man and her bold hand movement really gives a punchy tone but in a fun way, something we could sing along to. This song delivers the idea of the dangers of the night which brings in the lust/love in people. It’s an impactful song with a message behind it, something I always love to see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPO0bTaWcFQ
Listening to “Gloria” by Patti Smith. This song is noticeably different from her other songs. It starts with her quiet voice and calmer instrumentals. It of course perfectly set her up to break through with a significant climax in the tone and volume of her singing, almost as if she’s marching along to her song. She includes the rock and roll voice break or some sort of snarl that I completely love. This song definitely leans heavier on the rock side of her music.
In the 1970’s, the 60’s notion of counter culture evolved to it’s furthest stages of rebellion as well as the importance of youth and how it impacts life.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydLcs4VrjZQ
David Bowie’s “Young Americans” is about how the American dream is the antithesis to what the youth want and need. The article speaks about how Rock’n’Roll was an act of rebellion, and it became popular with many just because of how against the mold it was, evident by how people would cheer at just the mention of a swear word. Bowie’s song is a good example of what the youth wanted to rebel against. For example, in the beginning of the song, Bowie talks about a dissatisfied suburban wife and how she felt like she was forced into her role because she thought that the husband and kids were what would have made her happy, when it instead made her feel miserable. Many women probably feared that this would have become then, which is why they felt the need to act out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbmWs6Jf5dc
“Anarchy in the UK” is a typical rebellious rock song with strong guitar chords and provocative lyrics. It’s the perfect example of what the youth loved but what the establishment hated, as this song was even banned in England. The song goes against many English Values, like christianity and unity, pushing them aside for anarchy and chaos. This seems to be exactly what Rock’n’Roll was to the Sex Pistols, a way to act out against the status quo and provoke people
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BcivBprM0
Patti Smith’s “Because the night” is an example of some of the sexual freedom afforded under the cover of night in new york. Sexuality was more accepted in the rock’n’roll scene, so this song, which talks about lust and love in the night, isn’t as out there as it would have been just two decades earlier. It’s also important to note that its female sexuality that’s being sung about in the song, a far cry from the chaste womanly ideal that was present in the 50s, showing the changes in ideas that occurred between then and the 70’s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U16Xg_rQZkA
ReplyDeleteThe first song that I listen to was “Rebel Rebel” by David Bowie. When first listening to the song my reaction was a feeling of excitement and has a feeling that makes you want to do physical activity. It felt like of like a hype up song and had a really nice tune to the song. When I looked at the lyrics something that came out at me was “ She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl”. This kind of related to what I read before with the kind of styles they had, because they wore makeup and platforms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPO0bTaWcFQ
The next song that I listened to was “Gloria” by Patti Smith. My first reaction to the song wasn’t one hundred percent rock and roll. But slowly but surely more guitar and started coming in. Even the tone in her voice because stronger and stronger. The song would come to a higher and higher climax as the song went on. I overall really liked the song because it kind of felt like the artist was giving everything that she had into the song ending the song with a climax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG6fayQBm9w
The last song that i listened to was “ Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed. I thought of the beginning of the song to be simular to the gloria smith song where it started off very slow, but it kept this slow pace all throughout the song. It sounded like bedside story being retold. I thought the song was very different and really liked it. It was very different from what I heard before and was very intrigued all throughout.
Overall from the article I learned a lot including much of the start of the 70s rock and roll. I found it very interesting that it started with New York Dolls and how they were perceived with drugs and alcohol. I was very interested int he way that they would dress too with wearing very flashing clothing and even wearing heels. But what was important was that they were fun and were very entertaining created this really fun environment that they were around. And this is how much of the style and attitude of rock and roll was created.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG6fayQBm9w
ReplyDeleteThe first song that I listened to was “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou Reed. The song was released in 1972 and was produced by David Bowie. This particular song was Lou Reed’s biggest hit and was a part of his Transformer album. At the time Lou was described by Lenny Kaye as being “not in the best shape”. The song opens with the distinct sound of a deep and mellow guitar being plucked along with a drum with the fainter sound of a higher guitar being strummed. Shortly after, Lou transitions in and begins reciting the lyrics. He isn’t really singing the lyrics, it's more like he is reciting poetry on the beat. I really liked Lou’s voice. It's very unique and has a deeper soothing feel to it. The song's lyrics were definitely the most interesting part. The song is about a bunch of girls who are working as prostitutes. In order to indices the men to spend money on them they all say “Hey, babe take a walk on the wild side”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y7i_3Fgu3E
The second song I listened to was David Bowie’s “Young Americans”. The song has a more upbeat tune to it and I definitely can see it as being a dancing song. The song features drum and trumpet instrumentals. It was a little hard to understand what Bowie was saying at some points of the song. There was also a chorus that accompanied Bowie which gave the song a nice church sound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai0pnjDoLn0
The third song I listened to was “1984” by David Bowie. The song's opening background music kinda reminded me of the music from a thriller/horror movie. But then it changes into a faster more jazz-like sound that sounds like it could be played in an action scene of a James Bond movie. The song is more of a faster and upbeat pace that definitely would be a good concert song. “1984” is definitely the most rock sounding song out the 3 and has a lot of the crazy rock energy.
ReplyDeletehttp://historyamericansong.blogspot.com/2018/01/new-york-in-1970s.html#comment-form
The first song I listened to was “Gloria” by Pattie Smith, this song is very rock and roll. The true essence of rock and roll is to inspire and the song did that right from the beginning. At first the song starts out soft which is very deceiving as it gradually builds up with Smith’s harsh voice. The song originated from a poem that Smith had written and together with the guitarist Lenny Kaye and the rest of the band. Throughout the song half the time Smith is singing and the other half she is talking emphasizing each lyric until she reaches the chorus “GLORIA.”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-3V1rNEmbRo&feature=youtu.be
The second song I listened to was “Free Money,” by Patti Smith. This song was a very interesting one because the title was pretty controversial, considering how money isn’t usually free. The song starts off soft with the piano and Smith singing softly then the drums starts to pick up the pace as well as her singing. I think this song is about rebelling and having freedom with a partner when they start off by saying, “I know they’re stolen, but I don’t feel bad,” Then the song ends with the chorus, “free money.”
https://youtu.be/Uc89WTEh-jE
The last song I listened to was “Anarchy in the UK,” by the Sex Pistols. The Sex Pistols was one of the first bands to make a rock and roll song political. Many Punk Rock songs didn’t go over current events but the Sex Pistols were right on the dot with their song. Similarly to the first song I listened to it started off very soft with a piano until it gradually became louder and turned into real Punk Rock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG6fayQBm9w
ReplyDeleteI listened to “Walk on the Wild Side” by Lou reed released in 1972. What surprised me most about this song was the way Lou reed performed it which was very unique and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song like that before. Instead of singing the lyrics Reed almost talks for the entirety of the song. This style brought more attention to the lyrics and the overall feeling of the song. The song is about life in New York, the hope of new beginnings and the vibrant life of the city.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BcivBprM0
I listened to “Because the Night” by Patti Smith released in 1978. This was a slow dramatic song and because of the lyrics and the time it was released I think it is about empowering women. It is a song about romance and love but also about staying young. Her voice is very moving and I really enjoyed how her voice could portray emotion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXgkuM2NhYI
The third song I listened to was “Heroes” by David Bowie released in 1977. This song was in a slow, melodic rhythm and didn’t sound like other David Bowie songs I have heard in the past. It tells the story of a German couple struggling to make it by while constantly being bombarded with obstacles. It primarily focuses on the couples relationship to each other and the commitment they have.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g8JBhju-m1I
ReplyDelete“Frankenstein” by the New York Dolls seems to talk about a talented performer who is held back by their rigid society of origin and the expectations of an abusive partner, promoting them to move to “a place where they don’t expect nothing.” In this new location, which is full of misfits, the Dolls ask “Is it a crime for you to fall in love with Frankenstein.” They then go on to describe this figurative Frankenstein’s unorthodox appearance and actions. This narrative of pushing the boundaries surrounding what’s considered normal seems indicative of the early 70’s. As the article states, the Dolls and other artists of this era were trying to sustain Rock n’ Roll while also moving the genre in their own direction with flamboyant performances and the exploration of drag. Thus, many of these artists might have felt like frankensteins.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6ssoBUb2cJk
Like most Ramones songs, “Teenage Lobotomy” is fast, loud, and intense, reflecting their signature carefree attitude. The content of the song is relatively straightforward. It talks about the effects of the drug DDT on a teenagers brain. The line “I got no mind to lose all the girls / Are in love with me I’m a teenage lobotomy” is an ironic take on the image of a hooking up 1970’s teenager. The Ramones suggest that the use of drugs distorts normal perceptions and twists the behaviors that were once considered twisted in and of themselves. This song internalizes and describes the confusing but exhilarating nature of the 70’s.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G3OaMZojJRg
In Iggy Pop’s “Nightclubbing” overlapping, distorted electric guitar chords accompany his slow delivery of the lyrics. The song is not thematically deep or complex, but rather takes a simple look at the thrill of clubbing. Lines like “We learn brand new dances / Like the nuclear bomb” and “We see people brand new people” highlight in particular that nightclubbing offered an opportunity to have new experiences that were way out there and wild. Iggy further reinforces this idea by ending each verse with “Oh isn’t it wild...” Unusually, this song ends on a verse rather than on its chorus, which demonstrates that musical conventions were of little importance in the 1970’s.
https://youtu.be/kL6zaPy6kdI
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/jlbunmCbTBA
https://youtu.be/cBojbjoMttI
“Personality Crisis” is an example of a New York Dolls rock song that is the musical embodiment of the experience of not having a set personality and not being able to decide on it. Its a loud and messy song which can be interpreted as the inner thoughts of the girl that the song is centered around. The New York Dolls’ member David Johansen was seen as rather eccentric at the time. I found it interesting how he would wear more feminine clothing on stage and be proud about it saying that “I’m perfectly satisfied with who I am”. It feels like self expression was an important part of theatrical performances of music on stage. The Television’s “Marquee Moon” feels much more mellow compared to the loud guitar playing of New York Dolls. The “more bohemian, but deadpan, detached, glamorous” description fits them perfectly as song feels like a simple head bop compared to whipping your head back and forth of the New York Dolls. Sex Pistols music on the other hand felt like a rush to listen to. Similar to the Doll’s performance, “Anarchy in the U.K.” feels like a yelling song that focused more on the message rather than traditional singing talent. Musically, it felt like a song of rebellion considering it ends with the lead vocalist yelling “destroy”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy-rvsHsi1o
ReplyDelete“Rebel Rebel” is my favorite David Bowie song. It reflects the “spirit” of rock music. “We like dancing and we look divine//You love bands when they're playing hard//You want more and you want it fast” shows what rock was all about: the music. Sex and drugs were always part of rock culture, but as written in the article, the music was the real unifying factor. “Rebel Rebel” also an inherently queer song, most obviously with the lyrics “You've got your mother in a whirl//She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl.” Queer culture had a huge impact on rock and roll. Bowie, Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, 7and many other people who were essential to the rock scene were queer. I learned in the article that a major influence of glam rock along with Bowie were the Cockettes, a drag-queen group from San Fransisco. Iggy Pop is quoted in the article saying, “This isn’t a woman’s dress, this is a man’s dress.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP5ngHRuoTI
The New York Dolls were a groundbreaking band because they didn’t sound polished like other rock bands such as Journey or Styx. According to the article, “People said the Dolls couldn’t play. People had also said Bob Dylan couldn’t sing. That wasn’t the point.” The point was the energy, not the musical proficiency. The thing that captured the audiences watching the New York Dolls was not the quality of their music, but the energy they put into playing and performing, and the pure loudness of it. The video I watched opens with David Johansson screaming and growling into the microphone before he then launches into the lyrics. I listened to the song “Personality Crisis.” I think it represents the era well, because rock music itself was going through it’s own personality crisis. This crisis is shown in the article: “Forget trying to change the world—the music of the 1960s had actually changed the world. In the 1970s the bands were just trying to change the music back.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywZBtka5BrM
“Heart of Glass” was one of Blondie’s greatest hits. It signals the ending of the New York rock scene. From the article: “After 1978 the New York rock scene started to fizzle out. The Dolls were over. Bowie was starring on Broadway in The Elephant Man. Television broke up. Alongside these other major rock influences, Blondie was experimenting with other genres. “Heart of Glass is a disco song, and they also began to incorporate rap into their music. The music of the time was changing with the end of the decade. “It wasn’t just the drugs and the promiscuous sex—although that was a plus. It also was, truly, about the music.” The rock scene couldn’t continue if the music changed, and that change is represented by the song “Heart of Glass.”