I found this class really entertaining I learned about music in a different way, instead of from my mother who has been my main source of music since I was a little kid. This class to me showed how diverse everyone’s music taste is but we were still able to connect with each other. I was able to gain more knowledge on artists I already listen to and be introduced to new music. With a class like this, it’s amazing to see how much music has changed over the years. Different generations have different music tastes and some are able to like the new stuff but some stick to their own. I would like to thank Dr. Baumer for conducting this class, and everybody else I had an amazing time learning about popular music and sometimes other genres in between. I hope to take another class like this in the future.
Author Archives: vdjw
Prince Vault and song Nothing Compares 2U
What I found interesting was our short discussion on Prince and that fact in his house he as a “vault” of unreleased music. I am not surprised that he has a bunch of music that nobody has heard, and I’m excited to hear more of his music. What I wanted to write about is the song Nothing Compares 2 U which was released last year. Prince wrote and produced the song but never put it out until the Irish singer Sinéad O’ Connor made the song popular in the 90s. I found this really interesting that he wrote and produced this song and probably planned on releasing it but decided to give it to someone else and have them make it popular. Then after his death released the original version of the song. I have posted the cover and the original.
Music I have been listening to
Over the past two months, I have been listening to a lot of artists but Three artists I have been listening to a lot are BTS, the band Tennis, and the band Muse. First, with BTS I have been a fan of them since 2014 so I kept myself notified when they were dropping a new album. I recently saw them in September last year for their recent tour and now they are currently on a world stadium tour with a new album. The new album Persona: Map of the Soul is kinda a throwback to their original sound and dedication to their fans. I really like the album and cannot wait for more music. Next, is the band Tennis my I first heard of them when itunes used to do single of the week ( I used it to get free music and to find new artists). I forgot about them for a while and my sister reintroduced me to them after seeing them in concert in Washington D.C I then fell back into their music and have had it on repeat. Lastly is Muse, I loved this band since middle school but forgot about them for a while until they released an album last year. I saw the music video for the new song and had to listen to the album. Soon I fell in love with the new album and had it on repeat. I am not surprised with myself my music choices change constantly sometimes daily. I love finding new music and I hope you like these artists I have chosen.
Korean pop rock group The Rose
Another group I got into is a pop-rock group called The Rose. The group has 4 members Kim Woo-Sung (Sammy), Park Do-Joon (Leo), Lee Ha-Joon (Dylan), and Lee Jae-Hyeong (Jeff). The group was actually quite popular before debut, in 2017 they debuted with the song “Sorry”. With their debut they quickly became mainstream. Same as Hyukoh they have versatile to their music but because they debuted recently there is not much much from them. The Rose only released 2 eps Void and Dawn. Because they became so popular, they had multiple tours in Korea and a World tour last year in Europe, USA ( i wanted to go see them but couldn’t), Mexico and South America including Australia. I found out about them on youtube and instantly started following them. The leader Woo-sung has a really interesting voice it’s airy and raspy at the same time when he sings. His voice is very different from anyone I have ever heard sing. Here are two of my favorite songs that they have released.
for this song I couldn’t find the music video so here is a lyric video
Influence of music in Korea after the Travel Ban was lifted
I mentioned this in my presentation of Seotaiji and Boys and it was brought up before that music is somewhat universal and can influence countries to start changing music. What I wanted to focus on was the travel ban that was lifted in Korea during 1988. Stated in my presentation, Trot was the only music Korea had because they closed off the country to overseas. From the aftermath of the Korean War, there were many restrictions on traveling and currency because the war took so much from them. So for music, the country stuck to the traditional music they have had for years. There was no other music but that when the country dropped the ban and allowed music, people and cultures to come into Korea. the k hip hop group Seotaiji and Boys is a great example of what overseas influence can expand a genre of music that would eventually take over South Korea. In addition to the travel ban being dropped, tourism in Korea has been a very huge thing for the country. there are multiple activities to participate throughout Korea.
Korean Indie band HYUKOH
A band I have been listening to a lot lately is Korean indie rock band HYUKOH. The band has 4 members, Oh Hyuk, Im Dong-geon, Lim Hyun-Jae, and Lee In-Woo. The band debuted 2014 with an EP called 20. The name of the albums all correlates with their ages. From 2014 to 2018 the albums are 20, 22,23 and 24. I am not sure why there is no 21 I could not find info on it. More on their music sound the leader Oh Hyuk was in inspired by the Beatles and another band named The Whitest Boy Alive. The music ranges from rock to really soft and relaxing. Later the band became really popular and they recently performed at Coachella this year. I found this band in 2015 when I was still getting into Kpop, but I wanted to find more Korean music outside of the kpop genre. Through social media, I found a tweet about them and looked up their music. I found them really interesting and have been a fan since. HYUKOH have also been on multiple tours in the U.S and I wish to see them in concert I have heard really great reviews. Lastly here are three of my favorite songs by them. I think they are a great example of how versatile their music is.
Cd packaging in America vs. Korea
From the earlier discussion on music and how it is all digital instead of going out and buying the cd. Most American artists do not put much effort into the physical aspect of their albums. However, for the Korean music genre physical albums are a crucial part of selling music. From being in the genre for a few years, I have noticed some differences between the two. First, for American artists, the cd is usually in a small case with a booklet of lyrics, photos, and dedications to family. Last, the cd is in a holder. On the other hand, for Korean artists, the albums usually have a concept so the album work follows that concept. Inside the packaging, there is a booklet of single and group photos of the members, lyrics and each member writes dedications at the end. Then there are smaller parts like photo cards, stickers and some object related to the concept. Some album packaging is small and some are very large. For example, a Korean group by the name of Shinee put out an album in 2016 called 1 of 1 sold as a regular album. For a limited time, they sold the album as a cassette tape. The small case held a cassette tape of the album, stickers and a random photo card of one of the members. A larger example would be another boy group by the name of Winner. Their first album in 2014 was a large case with a book full of single and group photos. Included in that was the cd in secure placement, 2 booklets, a poster and photo cards of all 5 members. America has changed some ways they have put albums out but I still think the Korean music industry is better. I only have one album but I hope in further years I am able to buy more albums and cannot wait to see what other companies come up with. I posted pictures of the two albums so that you can see the size difference.
Seotaiji and Boys song choice Come Back Home
Seotaiji and Boys 서태지와 아이들
The genius website has both english and korean lyrics. Here are the english translation.
https://genius.com/Seotaiji-and-boys-come-back-home-lyrics
English Translation
[Intro]
What am I trying to find now?
What am I trying to find now?
[Verse 1]
I see the end of my life
Feeling heavy in my heart
My life is blocked
By the fear of tomorrow
[Verse 2]
After I see myself abandoned
Day after day
I am not there
And tomorrow is not there either
[Verse 3]
My rage toward this society
Is getting greater and greater
Finally, it turned into disgust
Truths disappear at the tip of the tongue
[Pre-Chorus]
Ay’ body get it up
Throw your hands up
[Verse 4]
One more life is born
And parents take charge
No love for me
My painful tears have dried up
[Verse 5]
The world is like an empty bubble
Look around, waiting for you
Yes, that’s enough now
I wish I could fly in the sky
[Verse 6]
Because we are still young
And our future is good enough
Here! Now wipe the cold tears out
And come back home
[Chorus]
[Bridge: DMC]
In the place to be
One, two, three
Come on!
In the place to be
Come on!
In the place to be
Yes-yes y’all
In the place to be
Yes-yes-yes-yes y’all yes y’all
[Verse 7]
My heart is about to burst
I thought it would drive me crazy
I realized now
That you loved me
[Chorus]
You must come back home
To warm up the coldness in your heart
You must come back home
In this harsh life
You must come back home
To warm up the coldness in your heart
You must come back home
I will keep trying
(What am I trying to find now
Where am I going now?)
[Chorus]
You must come back home
[Outro]
What am I trying to find now
What am I trying to find now
What am I trying to find now
What I am now
What I learned about Minstrelsy and Blackface
After learning about Minstrelsy at the beginning of our class, I searched the internet for more information on the character and why he existed. The textbook stated the man who started the Jim Crow persona was Thomas Dartmouth Rice. He performed the song Jim Crow in blackface while imitating a dance step called the cakewalk. Rice’s background in creating this character began when he studied slaves and their dancing. Minstrel shows became popular after Rice’s performance until his death in 1860. The reason Rice fabricated Jim Crow was for the entertainment of High-class white people but soon turned in to a set of laws and practices that tormented African Americans from the 1890s to the late 1960s. I find it tiring when certain people accuse others of committing blackface when they do not know anything about the history or the reason behind it. For example, there are incidents where using black charcoal face masks is considered blackface now. Personally, I think that is really stupid the main focus of face masks to help your skin. Of course, the people accusing do not have any background knowledge on what really is blackface and not. People just assume if you wear have something darker than brown on your face, you are doing blackface. I think people need to educate themselves so they can tell the difference between what can be considered blackface and what is not. Hopefully, the misuse of the racial issue will be restored and people can stop doing blackface completely.