During class today we talked about the impact that Motown had due to the hard work from producers and organizers, such as Berry Gordy. We mentioned several bands but the one that stuck out to me was the Temptations. The Temptations were probably the first Motown Band I heard as a child with their song My Girl. After listening to the song in class today I noticed parts that I had never payed attention to before. For instance, the angelic sounds that lead to the build up of the first time Smokey Robinson says “My Girl”, then the ushering in of the string instruments as well as the horns, make an accompanying sound that I have never heard before. Although, Motown doesn’t exactly blow my mind, but I am a fan of the Funk. Hearing some Classic James Brown tunes like “say it loud” remind me of rhythmically sound bass lines and solo stealing vocal lines. Earlier in the semester, when we studied Chuck Berry and Little Richard we saw a dominating form of stage presence, we saw how these men were pioneers to the stage presence that a “frontman” is suppose to bring to the table in a band. Now, as we watch James Brown do splits and exaggerate the music by being donned with a cape, only to return to the mic to shout even louder than before, we can see how the stage and showmanship of the 1950s have carried over and even evolved with the introduction of new artists and styles. The second half of class today we talked about The Beatles, oh boy. The Beatles are in my opinion both the Cat’s pajamas and his meow. In the early years of the Beatles, they became a huge sensation all around the world. Later in their career, after all the fan girls calmed down a bit, they released one of my favorite albums as well as one of the most influential albums of all time, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. This electric concept album created a surge of artists recreating and making the ideas that John, Paul, George, and Ringo started. The sheer polar diversity of the Beatles discography from the beginning of their careers to the end, marks them as a band that was able to adapt with times as well as never fail to reach an audience of captive awaiting fans to hear fantastic music. Even though the Beatles are sometimes referred to as one of the biggest “sellout” bands, you have to admit that because they changed their style from a bar band with leather jackets playing in Germany, to the suit wearing mop tops that became commercial successes, it was totally worth it. If the Beatles had never changed their appearance or how they carried themselves, we may have never heard about them or the huge impact that they left on not only rock and roll but the music industry as a whole. I can’t wait to see what we talk about in class on Thursday.