February is essentially over. March means one thing to me besides the basketball madness that ensues: We are one step closer to baseball, and one step closer to this:
(For whatever reason, the GIF will not automatically play. You will have to click on the image to watch the swing.)
Footage is from a Spring Training game against Toronto earlier this week. Good to see Prince’s swing in mid-season form. Cheers to baseball, this mammoth home run, and to Spring Break.
After a lot of thought following last night’s class (and some basketball game…), here is the list I have came up with ranking my “intelligences”. #1 = strongest, #11 = weakest.
1. Existential
2. Linguistic
3. Bodily/kinisthetic
4. Interpersonal
5. Naturalist
6. Emotional
7. Musical/Rhythmic
8. Intrapersonal
9. Creative
10. Spatial
11. Logical/Mathematical
I think my Turkey Bacon Cheddar sandwich is trying to tell me something…
What musical elements do you like about the piece?
This particular song is very fast paced, and becomes increasingly so as more instruments and Jim Morrison’s distinct vocals are introduced. The song is in “4/4 time”, which as we have learned is common in Western popular music. I appreciate how The Doors fused elements of blues, rock ‘n roll and jazz to induce the “psychedelic rock” vibe that they were so familiar with. The organs that come alive from Ray Manzarek’s keyboard are a perfect complement for the steady bass line he holds throughout the song. I also enjoy the passion displayed in Morrison’s voice as he begins to scream the chorus, and the drums kick in speedily near the end of the song. I often find myself intensely drumming on the steering wheel of my car when this song comes on my iPod, or the radio.
Why does this piece have meaning for you personally?
The Doors’ did not emerge as one of my favorite bands until late in high school. I had heard many of their songs on the radio growing up, but had never given the time to listen to one of their albums in entirety. I “came across” a download link for their entire discography, and started from the first LP – their self-titled, 1967 release. “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” was the opening song and I was hooked. The fast-paced, yet attainable rhythm immediately had my head nodding and my fingers tapping. I gained an immediate appreciation for Jim Morrison’s obvious charisma and his bandmates’ unique talents. The Doors would soon become my favorite band from the 1960’s, and one of my all-time favorites as well. “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” was my first, and most memorable experience from courtesy of this legendary band.
How does this song relate to your culture?
The song relates greatly to my culture because of the impact that the time period this music was created in had on current society. The 1960’s were full of turmoil, change (wanted – or not), and creative outlets for those observing these ongoings. Jim Morrison was a cultural icon in America for his short life because of his unabashedly controversial behavior – as well as his unique vocal talents that could put listeners into a trance, or raise them out of their seats. His leadership (he struggled with alcohol and drugs frequently; but his demise was also the band’s) with The Doors helped cement their status as an iconic rock band.
Why is this a song that someone should listen to?
I would venture to guess that most of my classmates enjoy at least one of the two following genres of music – whether they know it or not: blues, and jazz. You may think that not everybody is walking to class listening to Keb Mo, or Louis Armstrong on their iPod. However, two of the most popular genres of music in American culture are heavily influenced and arguably even developed from their generational forefathers – rock, and hip-hop music. Finding the progression from these seemingly unlike genres is an easy task if you give it the time and ear. The Doors’ music is wonderful to me because it incorporates these newer and older genres into a unique sound that had previously never been heard. No band before had been so successful experimenting with the harsh sounds of the organ, and fusing them with jazz-flavored drumming and the more modern, rock ‘n roll approved, electric guitar. Morrison’s often bluesy vocals also helped complete the circle from past eras of music, to the star status that was now bestowed on popular American bands. I believe that “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” perfectly illustrates all of the elements that make The Doors such a great listening experience.
Blues Readings w/ Ethan + Taylor.
This is a little drawing/comic that I made in class while we were brainstorming ideas to save the US Postal Service with the picture of the scorpion. The captions may be a little tough to read and the drawings nondescript, but the basic idea is this: Train thousands of the most deadly scorpions in the world to infiltrate buildings with the most important internet servers, cut the wires, and effectively destroy the internet. People would now be forced to use the Postal Service to communicate with others. This incredibly irrational idea somehow does not seem completely unrealistic in the realm of public policy that runs our society today.
I present, “Project Server Sting”.
The differences among the many ethnic groups that reside in the United States combine to give our country one of the most diverse music cultures in the world. In today’s society, one does not even need to leave the comfort of his or her home to experience these differences. The internet fulfills our auditory cravings by allowing us immediate access to any kind of music – from any era. Once it becomes obvious that there are an almost unlimited amount of musical talents waiting to be heard, it becomes natural to desire to differentiate and somehow add order to this form of communication. Hence – genres. I believe that this word – overused, and overemphasized in the digital era – can often be interchangeable with another. Ethnicity is usually considered to be a term to differentiate human beings from others, but it can also be used to describe the many different musical stylings in our world. “Hip-hop” music developed from African-American culture, just as “blues” music did many years before. The lyrics in hip-hop music often describe African-American culture – typically in lower-income areas engulfed in poverty. Different ethnic groups may find some hip-hop songs to be “offensive”, “vulgar” or “ignorant” because they have been raised in a culture that teaches other values. In stark contrast is the “country” genre that is spearheaded by mostly Caucasian artists that are often instilling Christian values into their songs. Ask a man that lives in downtown Detroit what he thinks of country music, and his response will probably be similar to a farmer in Tennessee’s opinion on hip-hop. That does not make one ethnic group right, or wrong. This is often where there seems to be a disconnect between ethnic groups in America. The internet can play a key role in bridging these ethnic gaps, because it is a medium where all can share their music and develop new listening tastes. What is the likelihood of an album from 1967 (from the band Love – a counterculture group with an underrated masterpiece from the “Summer of Love”) becoming one of my all-time favorite musical compositions without the internet? Unless I happened to stumble upon an old record at a family’s house, the chances of me discovering Love’s music would have been extremely low. This is proof that the internet can fuse relationship’s between different ethnic groups even from different eras. My appreciation for African-American culture is likely to be higher than someone who has not delved into blues music, and hip-hop music. A musician is never asking the listener to BE their music – rather to at least understand, and appreciate it. Ethnic understanding can be accomplished through music, and is one of the most accessible and enriching paths to do so.
Ways to improve your experience in the dentist chair: – Non-shitty reading material
– Planetarium style dentist office (stars above)
– Interactive trivia games on monitor screens
– Free usage of the x-ray machine
– Role-playing – tell your dentist that it’s their turn to sit in the chair!
Brickslap 