Rip Remix Manefesto

Last class we watched the documentary about the struggle between the copyright owners of music and the upcoming generation using old music to make their own. When we finished watching the documentary, if you would have asked me how I felt I would have immediately said that the corporations were being greedy and needed to loosen up and let kids be free and improve on music. However, as the ideas of the video started to sink in, my views started to change. The video was really pervasive and I commend it for that, but I felt that the actual facts that they used so support their ideas weren't exactly good. I think there is a reason for laws to be there, and the reason they used for breaking it are stupid in my opinion. They say that the big corporations take all the artists money and keep it for themselves, and yeah a while ago that happened, but now there are laws to protect that from happening. I understand where the video producer is coming from, but I'm sure a documentary about the artists that hve their music taken away and turning them into broke, people would take that side. Sure the video was persuasive, but I think the facts and the idea behind the documentary isn't true.

Lady Gaga

In class a while ago, we were talking about the appeals that kids had to new artists, and kind of what kind singer is desirable. We started talking about that it was someone who was kind of "different" from the rest of the crowd, and someone a little dangerous. This kind of reminded me of the popular pop singer Lady Gaga. When she first came out with the song "Just Dance" I really liked it, but then I felt her music got pretty boring and repetitive, but she continued to grow in popularity. Why? I think because of her crazy outfits and downright wierd music videos, people liked that she was different. She really played that up, always being the wackiest dressed and having the weirdest songs, but it seemed to work for her. I don't think her music would have made it alone, but her strangeness made her desirable.

Black Sabboth

Today in class we listened to Black Sabboth. I am not, in general, a very big fan of metal rock music because I don't like the harsh sounds and the twisted lyrics, and listening to Black Sabboth didn't really change my mind. I liked at the beginning of the first song ( I think it was a little conceited to name it after themselves but oh well) I liked the rain and other odd sounds, and I likes the beat of the music for a while, but then I felt it just kinda became repetitive and boring. The lyrics were interesting to call the least, and honestly I don't like songs about sadness and death. His voice also kind of bothered me for some reason, I don't know that is probably just a personal preference. I did like how in the middle of the song the beat changed, and the strong guitar solo got me reinterested, but again I feel the song was kind of same. I did however like the strong and powerful ending where it had loud music and then suddenly got quiet. Although I don't really like the instrument that started the second song (I think the harmonica or something) it was a nice change. I definitely liked the second song more, but overall I found them just ok. I like peppier songs like the Beatles, but as metal rock go's, they are pretty good.

Greyson Chance- Waiting Outside the Lines

Although I like the pop artists like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, one thing that even though is fun to listen to but that gets old is the love songs constantly published about a breakup, then a new love, then a break up, so on and so forth. That is why I really am impressed by Greyson Chance. He was only 13 when he wrote this song so no one would expect him to have troubles and problems with his love life, but I really think that is a good thing because he wrote a song deeper than most I hear on the radio. It's called waiting outside the lines, and it's a song about taking chances and not just staying inside your comfort zones. Of course, don't pay attention to the music video because it is as cheesy as you would expect a 13 year old to have, but listen to the message and the beat.

Woodstock and the Appreciation of Live Music

There is no doubt that Woodstock looked like an incredible experience, I was trying to think of what set it so much apart from the festivals and concerts of today. That was pretty easy to answer, thinking that Woodstock was one of the first of its time, and had such a huge turnout of people that were there for the peace, love, and music. But the part that is also still important today, and the reason for the festivals was the music. I think people being able to see the hard work and soul that the artists put into their songs make people get a better understanding of how beautiful and hard great music is to achieve. In present times, live music is so incredible because you can watch an artist perform for their talent without wondering how much autotune and retakes. Just their voices, natural and one take. Of course, back then they didn't have autotune, but what people really saw for the first time was the artists and their instruments, and the work they put into the killer baseline that the song would be nothing without. I think Woodstock helped people get a better appreciation for not just the voice part of music, but the incredible work put into the instruments that make a song possible.

Music Videos

Now as we are getting more and more into the digital age of music, people are staring to put out music videos to songs. I know some people don't like music videos and would rather just listen the song, I like something visual to put with the song. This however, can have problems. Sometimes music videos are really good and help with the song but sometimes they are heir plain terrible. I am definitely an advocate for Taykor Swift, but her music video for Back to December was completely, in my opinion, stupid.
 
Next, here are two music videos that I really liked, even if I didn't like the song all that much.

And 

These really help add a new meaning to the songs and I really like it.

Woodstock

In class we watched the movie about Woodstock, and although I wasn't even there to experience it's epicness, it looked so cool! As places go, Austin is definitely one of the most live music, free spirited downs in the United States, and although we have some awesome bands and AWEOSME festivals, it doesn't even come close to comparing to what Woodstock was! I have never been super into going to shows and bands and concerts, like the first one I went to was just last year, and it was not a rock band, it was Taylor Swift. I found out recently that my dad went to Woodstock when he was 17, and when I asked him about it he said that is literally changed his life and is one of his favorite memories. I think I would have been so cool to be able to witness so many music icons at one place, and be part of something that changed the music world forever. If I were given the chance, I would have loved to see the amazing artists and adventures of Woodstock.