Ally's Music 30R Blog

  A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke     I critically listened to "A Change Is Gonna Come" three times. This really is a beautiful song. The genre of this song is R&B and Soul. Sam Cooke has a very calming yet powerful sound to his voice, probably because of his background as a gospel singer. This song was inspired by Bob Dylan's "Blown in the Wind." This song was released after Cooke's death in 1964. This song includes violin, cello, bass, and some wind instruments. My favorite part of the song is the beginning when the string instruments do a little riff solo then the cello joins in. It is beautiful and Cooke's voice when he sings "I was born by the river," is amazing. I also really love the french horn at minute 1:22, where it does a call and response with Cooke's voice. These lyrics are also very meaningful. It consists of Cooke's personal expression of his experiences with racial struggles and the civil rights movements. This ...

  Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles     I critically listened to "Eleanor Rigby" three times. I honestly really enjoyed this song! The Beatles have such a fun and unique style. The introduction of the song starts off with loud vocals and intense strings. You would think the song started in the middle. This song shifts from major and minor chords sounds throughout the whole song. Instruments in this song contain violins and cello. My favorite part of this song is the violin...particularly, minute 1:08 to 1:25. The violin has a cool melody solo and then all the vocals join in on the chorus. This song demonstrates call and response, with one singer for the verses and then several voices joining in on the chorus. I also noticed there was examples of syncopation in this song. The lyrics talk about loneliness from a philosophical perspective. The lyrics have a progressing story line verses with repeated choruses but nothing happens in the characters' lives. This song is a folk balla...

  "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 ...

 The Great Speckled Bird     I listened to this song critically a few times. This song was sung by Roy Acuff in 1936 and written by Charles Swain. As I payed attention to the lyrics, I realized that the bird is a metaphor to being true to your beliefs. This is a country and western genre song that was popular during the swing era. It has the fluid, rocking rhythm. Acuff's vocals have a twangy sound. This song includes guitar, bass, and violin. I noticed there are examples of call and response between the vocals and guitar. I am thinking this song is a strophic because it has a lot of verses. This song takes on the AABA form, with the melody and different variations of the melody. In the beginning of the song, there is a riff/refrain in the beginning of the song including the guitar and is repeated throughout the whole song. It is catchy and creates a groove. My favorite part of this song starts at minute 2:29, when he is singing "great speckled bird" but the instruments ...