Punk music: bringing out the rough edge...

Dear all,

For today's blog we were asked to look at an episode from the BBC series 'Seven Ages of Rock'. The episode concerned Punk. Here a small overview of the development.

It is usually said that punk started in the mid-1960's, with The Velvet Underground. When looking at the documentary, this seems perfectly logical. Their music was so different from the rock that was common those days. Then with it came the influence of Andy Warhol as their manager, and Punk was born. The influences they had can also be seen in the clothing that comes with punk: it is different, it is rough and it is also somewhat Andy Warhol.

Influence also clearly comes from David Bowie and his colleagues. . Artists like him were dressing outrageously, living extravagantly and producing loud trashy rock and roll. All these elements can be seen back in punk.

A third influence came from society. There, there was a group that did not feel like the hippies, the group that controlled the 1960's. They wanted something different: not the flower power, love, peace and happiness, but a rough edge. Punk only filled up this empty hole, and fulfilled the wishes of these people.

Looking at the documentary does not change my view on punk. I still do not really like it. I miss ingenious melodies etcetera. I can see why other people like it though, and why it thrills them. But personally, I do not get a kick out of it.

This might well be the last blog ever. If so, thank you for reading all posts. I felt it was fun writing them.

If it is not, then I'll see you soon with a new post!

Talking 'bout the Godfather of Soul

Hey everybody,

Long time no posting because of a lot of school work and some technical difficulties. I will soon catch up with a report of The Beatles in concert, Pinkpop and a story on The Velvet Underground. But for now, let's talk about James Brown and his performance at the T.A.M.I. Show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1wuygdHFtg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TddsRNL7uc8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeGsFnwRPq4&feature=related

James Brown was a black Soul artist, but one of the first blacks to have success outside of Motown. Still, he did quite some things that were similar to Motown's performances and successes. First of all, James Brown did not only have success with black people, he was also popular amongst whites. This is also shown in the show he performs in. It is clearly a white show, because it is hosted by a white man. Secondly, what is similar is the way the performance is set up. He has a big band behind him, and some background singers that dance around a little, quite like the Temptations did.

On the other hand, he was also very different. James Brown's songs were not as neat as Motown's. They had a rough edge. His voice is also much rougher, and less polished. Last, the dances that they perform are a lot more vulgar for those days. He moves his hips around, and dances all over the floor going wild. This was opposite to what Motown did.

Personally, I think that this performance is great. I love James Brown, his rough voice, his dances, the band he has with him, and the way he performs. He is a true entertainer, and the man that made the true black Soul popular amongst whites. We lost him a couple of years ago, but I think that everybody will always remember Mr. James Brown, The Godfather of Soul!

Musical destruction: masterpiece or madness? The other side of the story...

Dear all,

Some time ago I wrote about the destruction of musical instruments in clips by The Who and Jimmy Hendrix. For this weeks assignment we were asked to take the opposite side in this debate. Since last week I said that the destruction was great and an extra dimension to the art, this week I should take the conservative side of life's values, and the protection of our poor little children.

First of all, the demolition of the musical instruments is bad because it is the destruction of a piece of art, a persons life. Somebody has put effort into making this instrument, and then some fool goes on destroying it. Besides that it is a waste of money, because they have to be bought again. Last but not least, if they really wanted to get rid of their instruments, they might as well have given them to me. I would not have minded having a guitar of Jimmy Hendrix or The Who.

Secondly, it is a bad example to young people and future musicians. It shows how not to take care of your belongings. That is a sad thing, because these people who are an example to many should be the ones showing our youngsters how to do things right. For future musicians it shows how not to play the guitar or the drums, whilst these people also copy these artists behaviour.

That was the other side of the story...

See you guys soon. I still own you a concert review!

P.S. (Shhhhht, don't tell anyone, but secretly I still think the destruction is awesome!)

Musical destruction: masterpiece or madness?

Hey everybody,

This weeks assignment was to look at the following performance of The Who's famous song My Generation, as well as the following performance by Jimmy Hendrix singing Wild Thing. Both can be seen below when clicking the links below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr81olQ1ibk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPvehX2aWb8

The thing that these clips have in common, is that they both feature the destruction of instruments at the end of the song. Destroying the instruments you have just played with sounds very strange, doesn't it? I mean, you destroy the tool with which you have just played your heart out.

When I saw both clips for the first time I was kind of shocked. It does not seem logical to me, for the above reasons. Still, when looking at both again, I must say that I do understand the destruction. I think that both artists have different motives for the breaking of their instrument...

In the The Who clip, I think the destruction of the instruments was part of their image, and also part of the point they wanted to make with the song. My Generation is about the new generation that has occurred, and how they do not want the older people to get involved with this new movement. A way to show this is by doing something new, something that offends the older generations and that distinguishes them from others: they destroy their instruments. The Who wanted to be this rebelling group, and so they showed that in this performance. Looking at the explosions and the smoke, by the way, I have the feeling that this destruction was planned long before they started this particular performance.

Jimmy Hendrix on the other hand really feels the vibe of his music. He completely loses himself in it. The music really stirs him and the crowd up. It is as if he is in some kind of trance. He is completely mesmerized by the music, and this makes him live up to the title of the song: he becomes a Wild Thing, and destroys his guitar.

Soon more posting, also on a concert I went to: Beatles in Symphony. Several singers singing two complete Beatles albums accompanied by the Metropole Orchestra.

See ya!

Blogging again: 80 dB 2010

Long time no posting everybody, I know. Let's just say I was very busy with school and music etc.

The annual musical spectacular of our school has gone by without further notice this march, so I thought I'd catch you guys up with a small evaluation of it all.

This year’s edition of 80 dB, as the event is called, was one of very mixed quality. There were some songs that were very good, and others that disappointed me quite a bit. Several songs were very good, such as Peace Without the Rest, Stand up to Cancer, Son of a Preacherman and I Don't Need no Doctor. On the other hand, (and I apologize to those who participated in the following numbers), Mamma is Morgen van Mij, Happiness and Empire State of Mind were somewhat disappointing. This was not always due to a lack of quality in the band, but some songs just lacked that little indescribable thing. The singer in Empire State of Mind, for instance, was extremely good, but it just felt empty without the rap part.

Another thing that bothered me sometimeswas the lack of presentation of in a song. Maybe this aspect should be included in the audition process in addition to the singing. In an event as 80 dB, singing well is not the only criterion for a performance to be good: the song has to be presented as well. I understand that people are nervous, but you can still perform a song properly, right?

When it comes to the band I think that the level of musicianship was very high. I have deep respect for the band that accompanied the song Moeilijk Bescheiden te Blijven. This song was sung by Chris Zeeuw van der Laan, a guy who has no sense of rhythm whatsoever. The band had, therefore, to constantly correct itself in order to follow him. They managed very well, which is very hard to do.

Also deep respect for Brian Abraas. This guy is an extremely good rapper with a very, very nice flow. Performing the song Peace Without the Rest, whose lyrics are not easy, he managed to get the entire crowd to go wild.

What worked quite well this year was the variation in the program. Not only with respect to the different genres, but also the time from which the songs originated and the age of the singers. I think that we have gotten some great new singers into our school with Noor Thierry and Isabel Leur. The latter, especially, is not only an amazing singer but - also very important - a good performer.

Last but not least, I would like to say thanks to Mr. Speelman. This man has directed the L&B Horns for many years, but is now retiring, and has announced that this would be his final 80 dB. We will miss him greatly. I hope that I can be a good replacement as the director of the L&B Horns, which I will try my best to be.

I will post other things soon.

See ya

Bands and songs I have discoverd lately

Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls. PLEASE LISTEN TO THESE SONGS AND BANDS: THEY ROCK!!!!

Goldfish - Soundtracks and Comebacks

Hold Tight

This South-African duo creates a different type of dance which even I enjoy listening to when not dancing. They mix beats with influences from Jazz and R&B, and it all sounds great.

Michael Jackson - Workin' Day And Night

This quite unknown song from the Jackson's first solo album is incredibly good. It grooves a lot and really makes you wanna move.

John Legend - This Time

This song from Legend's latest album 'Evolver' is one that I really like. It is quite a classical soul song, and I find it really enjoyable and sometimes even touching.

More advises to come!

Elvis Rockin' The House

Dear all,

During the lessons after Klassiek & Unplugged we watched a documentary on the recording of his first album. I must say that I found in very interesting and inspiring. It was interesting to see how a white man dared to sing black music in that time.

Elvis' music was an indication that the times were changing. Before, the lives of black people and white people were completely apart. There was a lot of racism between the two groups. But, there came Elvis: A white man, with a black man's voice singing black people's music: the Blues. This new thing, showed that the differences between the two races were changing: they were coming closer together.

Also, Elvis really developed Rock 'N Roll. Then, I must say that all the factors were there. For the first time children and teenagers had money. Also, they for the first time wanted to differentiate from the parents, rebel against them. And there came Rock 'N Roll: A new style of music, with screams and shouts, subjects which at the time were very rude, and dancing moves that came with it that shocked the public. So what do teens do? They buy the records, to be different from their parents.

Still, Elvis of course also had an amazing voice and a real sense for music. Pity that he died so young, and the last years he had to sell himself so badly. Well, "only the good die young" to quote Queen...