Tuesday 7/18
Blues Class #3
SNL SKETCH
Where does the Humor in this Sketch come from?
What does it mean to be authentic?
How could an Artist be authentic?
How do we as an audience KNOW?
Authentic: “Of Undisputed Origin: Genuine”
Genuine: “truly what something is said to be”
Sincere : “Preceding from Genuine feelings”
Blues Music is almost always about hardship - Authentic Hardship that have truly felt in their life - It is one of the defining Characteristics
This is something that can be applied to all music when defining Authenticity - regardless of genre or subject matter or genre ETC (could be anything , not just hardship/Blues)
Inspired by genuine feelings and real experiences.
Quote from JB Docu: “His life personified the music, his music reflected his life experiences”
WHY DOES AUTHENTICITY MATTER (if it does - to you)
Is All art (music/paintings/sculptures ETC.) more meaningful when
we the story behind it and when we know the story is true!
Examples:
Think about movies that are based on a true story
-Doesn't it make it much more interesting know that this amazing story is true?
-Contrast that with a film like Harry Potter..... Doesn't this the of story hold a different kind of meaning?
-This doesn't meant it is worse
Think of 2 Paintings
Painting A is of a King Henry VIII Painting B is of a Wizard Battling A Dragon
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Isn't it a different kind of meaning held by Painting A , knowing the story of Henry VIII and that he really existed
VS
Painting B Which we know is about Fictional Content?
Regardless of which you think is better , it is a different kind of response to are when we
KNOW IT HAPPENED
vs
INSPIRING our IMAGINATION
HOW ABOUT....
The Feeling of fear we get from a Roller Coaster / Scary Movie VS The feeling of fear if someone is chasing you with a knife.....
VS
Painting B Which we know is about Fictional Content?
Regardless of which you think is better , it is a different kind of response to are when we
KNOW IT HAPPENED
vs
INSPIRING our IMAGINATION
HOW ABOUT....
The Feeling of fear we get from a Roller Coaster / Scary Movie VS The feeling of fear if someone is chasing you with a knife.....
In Music:
Think of a modern song of any genre that is about some kind of Relationship or Problem (should be Easy)
Aren't we usually assuming that the subject matter is true - i.e. that relationship or problem actually happened at some point?
Should we be able to think of that those things in that song actually happening to that artist (as if it were a movie)?
If the story about that relationship or problem is completely fictional - fake people, fake places, etc - doesn't that have a different kind of meaning?
Does this in some way take away from the validity of the story?
(EVEN THOUGH we might be able to imagine it is really - or imagine ourselves in those situations - This is a different way of relating to the music!!)
This to me is the definition of authenticity in music:
Inspired by genuine feelings and real experiences.
Quote from JB Docu: “His life personified the music, his music reflected his life experiences”
Authenticity Questions:
How Honest/Truthful is the Artist
Did the Experiences/Events int he song actually happen?
Did the Artist Actually Feel the Emotions he is singing about?
AND.....
To What degree?
Is it totally Authentic?
Sort of?
IS it just "Based" on a true story, but embellished to make more entertaining?
AND FINALLY ....
DO WE CARE?
DOES THIS AFFECT OUR OVERALL JUDGEMENT OF THE SONG WHEN ASKED "IS IT GOOD"
.... We must assume that there are TONS of successful songs that aren't AUTHENTIC by the definition that applies to James Brown and the Blues
Think of a modern song of any genre that is about some kind of Relationship or Problem (should be Easy)
Aren't we usually assuming that the subject matter is true - i.e. that relationship or problem actually happened at some point?
Should we be able to think of that those things in that song actually happening to that artist (as if it were a movie)?
If the story about that relationship or problem is completely fictional - fake people, fake places, etc - doesn't that have a different kind of meaning?
Does this in some way take away from the validity of the story?
(EVEN THOUGH we might be able to imagine it is really - or imagine ourselves in those situations - This is a different way of relating to the music!!)
This to me is the definition of authenticity in music:
Inspired by genuine feelings and real experiences.
Quote from JB Docu: “His life personified the music, his music reflected his life experiences”
Authenticity Questions:
How Honest/Truthful is the Artist
Did the Experiences/Events int he song actually happen?
Did the Artist Actually Feel the Emotions he is singing about?
AND.....
To What degree?
Is it totally Authentic?
Sort of?
IS it just "Based" on a true story, but embellished to make more entertaining?
AND FINALLY ....
DO WE CARE?
DOES THIS AFFECT OUR OVERALL JUDGEMENT OF THE SONG WHEN ASKED "IS IT GOOD"
.... We must assume that there are TONS of successful songs that aren't AUTHENTIC by the definition that applies to James Brown and the Blues
Class Activity #3 : Find an example of a Current Blues (Post 2000's)
- How is it similar/different from the delta blues examples?
- How it is similar/different from the blues folk music predecessors
- Does it seam more authentic , or less?
- How is it similar/different from the delta blues examples?
- How it is similar/different from the blues folk music predecessors
- Does it seam more authentic , or less?
Homework Activity:
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Death Letter Blues - Son House Lyrics
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Is This song Authentic, and WHY: 1. What is This Song / Story about (Brief)? And What emotions did you think the artist was trying to make us feel?
3. Do you think the Artist Actually Felt the Emotions they were singing about? Is This song Authentic, and WHY:
1. What is This Song / Story about (Brief)? And What emotions did you think the artist was trying to make us feel?
3. Do you think the Artist Actually Felt the Emotions they were singing about? |
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I Heard Love Was Blind - Amy Winehouse Lyrics
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Is This song Authentic, and WHY: 1. What is This Song / Story about (Brief)? And What emotions did you think the artist was trying to make us feel?
3. Do you think the Artist Actually Felt the Emotions they were singing about? |
Overall:
Do you think it is possible / fair to judge the authenticity of a piece without at least some knowledge of the artist's background? Explain.
Do you think it is possible / fair to judge the authenticity of a piece without at least some knowledge of the artist's background? Explain.
Example 1
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Is it Authentic? How do we Know?
Authentic: “Of Undisputed Origin: Genuine”
Genuine: “truly what something is said to be”
Sincere : “Preceding from Genuine feelings”
Inspired by genuine feelings and real experiences.
This is very prominent in regards to the blues -
Think of early blues musicians , or even the blues predecessors (work songs, hollers, chants). These are inspired by true life experience, the “music’ only ever happen as a result of the life situation they are put in (i.e. they wouldn’t’ even be singing these work songs if they weren’t force to work) so by definition they are an inspired by life experience - In this case, the oppression they were living in.
Genuine: “truly what something is said to be”
Sincere : “Preceding from Genuine feelings”
Inspired by genuine feelings and real experiences.
This is very prominent in regards to the blues -
Think of early blues musicians , or even the blues predecessors (work songs, hollers, chants). These are inspired by true life experience, the “music’ only ever happen as a result of the life situation they are put in (i.e. they wouldn’t’ even be singing these work songs if they weren’t force to work) so by definition they are an inspired by life experience - In this case, the oppression they were living in.
Quote from JB Docu: “His life personified the music, his music reflected his life experiences”
They gave great examples of this throughout the Documentary:
Early Career examples
“Please Please Please”
“Try Me”
What was his early career about? Just trying to make it!
Think about his what we learned about his childhood... he had JUST been released from prison....think about what we learned about his previous employment.... he wanted desperately just to succeed an be accepted!
Mid-Later Career
“Papa’s got a Brand New Bag”
Remember with the new Jazz influence ( think "Cold Sweat" vs. "Try me") in the 60's his music literally was 'brand new'
Late sixties during the height of the civil rights movements
“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud”
(This is the one he said he wrote when he got back to his hotel room after witnessing violence in new york city )
“I don’t want nobody to give me nothing, (open up the door and I’ll get it for myself”
Support of Nixon and Bootstrap economics
They gave great examples of this throughout the Documentary:
Early Career examples
“Please Please Please”
“Try Me”
What was his early career about? Just trying to make it!
Think about his what we learned about his childhood... he had JUST been released from prison....think about what we learned about his previous employment.... he wanted desperately just to succeed an be accepted!
Mid-Later Career
“Papa’s got a Brand New Bag”
Remember with the new Jazz influence ( think "Cold Sweat" vs. "Try me") in the 60's his music literally was 'brand new'
Late sixties during the height of the civil rights movements
“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud”
(This is the one he said he wrote when he got back to his hotel room after witnessing violence in new york city )
“I don’t want nobody to give me nothing, (open up the door and I’ll get it for myself”
Support of Nixon and Bootstrap economics
