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.

Florida Georgia Line- Cruise

Again this is a coincidence where what I listen to in normal life overlaps with what we talk about it class. We were talking about the division of music into genres. Personally, I don't like the division at all. I feel although it might make it easier for people to find music they like, it closes out opportunities of music that they could of liked but never heard because it is in a different "genre" than their norm. That's why I don't really say that I like some music or only like other genres, because you never know what you will like. An example is the song Cruise by Florida Georgia line. Until I looked the song up on youtube, I thought it was a kind of popish rockish song. It has an awesome up beat and I really like it, but when I did look it up I found it wash actually country! It amazed me and proved that you can't really classify songs into genres because its really a personal preference of what each person thinks the song sounds like.

The Band- The Weight

In class on Thursday, we listened to "The Weight" by the band "The Band". When you told us the story of how it was written, I was preparing myself mentally for a terrible song that made no sense at all. I couldn't imagine how one could make a decent song using a jumble of lyrics from different people. All this changed when I heard the song. I was surprised that I really liked it!!! I thought it was cool how even though it was different people writing each line, you could get a feel of how close and connected the band was because the lines really flowed!! In some song the frequent repetition can sound lazy, but in this song I really liked it. I also really liked how they sang it! I could have thought about 30 million different ways to sing those words badly, but I really liked the beat. I really liked how the lead singer sang and then they harmonized and split into two parts. Overall I really liked the song.

Johnny Cash

Today we listened to Johnny Cash, and on most of the artists we have listened to I have liked them or disliked them, but there weren't any that I really didn't like; that is until I listened to Johnny Cash. In present time, many of the artists are being criticized for using auto-tune or having iffy voices, but honestly I feel like Johnny Cash's voice, or maybe just the way he sings, is terrible! Its like he just talks the words of the song, but it sounds weird and off. For example, rappers are sometimes said to "fast talk" their words, but they do it in a beat and it fits with the music, but I feel like Johnny Cash just adds awkward noise to his music. I know what made him famous was that his music was "different", but honestly I do not like it at all.