Week 4 Listening Blog Post

                                                                                                                                         Ally Wright

"Waiting for a Train" 

by Jimmie Rodgers


    I critically listened to "Waiting for a Train" by Jimmie Rodgers a few times. I enjoyed hearing this song! The lyrics of this song tells the story of a man travelling by train who gets stuck in Texas because he doesn't have any more money. He tells this story using verses. Rodgers includes many rhyming words. This sounds like a folk ballad or country music. The yodeling in this song is so good!! This song contains guitar, vocals, banjo, and also sounds like there is a clarinet and cornet in there or something. I noticed examples of syncopation in this song, where the melody is played on off-beats. This song makes me smile, it sets a mood for a fun night on the town. My favorite part of this song starts at minute 1:13, where after the yodel the instruments take the melody solo and the vocals take a break. I love listening to how the different instruments come together to create a fun groove. This song includes the style of the twelve-bar blues. There is a riff in this song that is repeated many times, the first riff music phrase starts at second :06, and is continued throughout the song with the banjo and cornet. It is an upbeat, happy song. "Waiting for a Train" was Rodger's second best selling record. 













Comments

  1. Medana CincaSeptember 30, 2020 at 1:44 PM

    Jimmie Rodgers voice does add to the blues feel of the piece. Also, the soft voice contrasts a little to the blues mood but I think that is done on purpose. I have noticed in many songs that they use many contrasting elements to bring out one other specific element of the tune. This technique may be done to get the audience to get up and enjoy the piece but to also take a little breather from the piece as they pay close attention to the lyrics since they are sung softly than the actual music is.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Case CrandallOctober 1, 2020 at 3:25 PM

    This was a good song choice for this week. I've never heard this song before this class like many of the songs but I'm starting to grow into liking them a lot more. I agree that the yodeling is very good and one of my favorite parts of the song and the melody is great too. Overall good song.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jordan HansenOctober 2, 2020 at 4:36 PM

    I actually picked this same song for this week, and I have to agree, It has a nice country twang but it is not your average country song. I love it, It kind of a has sad-ish story to it but it definetly does not sound sad at all. Over all, definetly an instant classic.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Joss NemelkaOctober 5, 2020 at 9:35 PM

    That's what I think I like most about these old folk/country songs! I love songs like this because they tell stories. It helps us understand a little more of how the people lived when this song was made and gives us greater insight into their culture. The yodeling is really good as well.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 6 Listening Blog Post

Image
  "CHARLIE BROWN" by The Coasters     I critically listened to this song 3 times. I love the beginning of the song when they sing "Fee- Fi-Fo-Fum" with only the drums. My favorite part is the melody that the saxophone plays. I also enjoy listening to the part when there is a solo of "Why is everybody always picking on me," it is acapella so it brings emphasis on that part!  I noticed that this song is call and response with the vocals and the tenor saxophone. This song is an AABA form and the A sections are 12 Bar Blues. This is a happy, upbeat song and makes you want to dance! This song genre is the style of Rhythm and Blues. The lyrics are kind of silly. It talks about how Charlie Brown is a clown, who smokes in the auditorium, writes on the walls, goofs off in the halls, and throws spit balls. The music matches the lyrics though, its a fun, care-free song. I think this song is trying to target the teenagers because it's a funny song. I noticed some ...
Read more

Week 2 Listening Blog Post

MUSC 30R                                                                                                                                                                Ally Wright "Maple Leaf Rag" by Scott Joplin               I chose the song "Maple Leaf Rag" by Scott Joplin (1899) and listened to it critically three times. This is a beautiful song! This song was one of his earliest works and is the most famous of all ragtime works. This song does not have lyrics, it consists...
Read more