Critical Response #8

This critical response is on the example of opera; Sempre Libera - Stefania Bonfadelli.

Out of all the examples, I chose this example because throughout the whole video, I was amazed at the artist. She had a perfect pitch, not a single disharmoney was heard in my ears. To be honest, I was expecting a mistake; I was just waiting for the moment she would possibly go wrong at, especially at the point she reached the highest note. Silly of me to do so, but I had a feeling that she would make a screeching noise at one point. (of course, she did not) I had my jaw dropped since the moment the artist opened her mouth to sing. I was awed by her ability to "multitask." In other words, she managed to act and sing with such emotions simultaneously. I understand how emotions affect the way one sings, but hearing such power and concentration in her voice made it seem even more difficult to believe. Out of all the videos I saw on Ms. Huskins' blog, this video had me fascinated and "awake." I was aware of the techniques used in opera, but I never actually saw an opera singer singing in theatre. I have gained respect for them :)

Critical Response #7

Paradise - Coldplay 

This is a song called Paradise by Coldplay. As a fan of Coldplay, I was excited to hear about their new single by then, which was this song a few months ago. I could not stop pressing the replay button; I was obsessed with it for awhile. Rather than a direct emotion of happiness or sadness, this song made me think back to my life in the past and how far I've come. My emotions depended on the thinking process, depeding on whether or not it was a happy memory or sad memory. This lovely song made me reflect back to my high school years, all the highs and lows I have gone through. I don't know why, but it works like a charm sometimes making me feel motivated. I think the piano, violin, drums, and sound effects sound united. At around 1:38, there is a computer sound that imitates the sound of butterflies, where I tend to imagine them flying around the field of flowers.

LYRICS: 

When she was just a girl

She expected the world

But it flew away from her reach

So she ran away in her sleep

Dreamed of para- para- paradise

Para- para- paradise

Para- para- paradise

Every time she closed her eyes

Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh

She expected the world

But it flew away from her reach

And the bullets catch in her teeth

It gets so heavy

The wheel breaks the butterfly

Every tear, a waterfall

In the night, the stormy night

She closed her eyes

In the night, the stormy night

Away she'd fly.

Para- para- paradise

Para- para- paradise

Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh

Para- para- paradise

Para- para- paradise

Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh.

La la la

She said oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.

I know the sun must set to rise.

Para- para- paradise

This could be para- para- paradise

Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh.

Para- para- paradise

Could be para- para- paradise

Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh.

Para- para- paradise

Could be para- para- paradise

Whoa-oh-oh oh-oooh oh-oh-oh.

Oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo

Oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo, oo-oo-oo

This could be para- para- paradise

This could be para- para- paradise

This could be para- para- paradise

So lying underneath those stormy skies.

La la la La

She dreamed of para- para- paradise

And dreamed of para- para- paradise

Life goes on

When she was just a girl

Critical Response #6

These are two versions of the original song, Princess of China by Coldplay covered by: 

by Tori Kelly, Scott Hoying, and Kevin Olusola 

As I was scrolling down the list of covers, this one caught my attention because there was a cello in it. I actually saw couple of covers with cellos in it, but out of them all this one became my favourite. Cellist, Kevin Olusola, uses a technique of plucking the cello at first, then plays the cello and beatboxes simultaneously. The sound of the guitar is not very well heard, but it is heard enough to focus on the cello. 

 To begin with, the cello set the tempo and the beat for the singers in the beginning. Then the beat boxing joined in to emphasize the beat more due to the rising dynamic. As the dynamic grew louder for the singers, the cello began to use a bow to have a louder effect and the guitar also joined in. Furthermore, during the middle with only instruments, it provided the singers with the flow and emotion of the music which prompted them to actually get into the music and feel it more.

by The Fates and Joe Bissell 

The drum has the beat and tempo in this cover. The piano plays the role of cello compared to the first one, providing a melodic flow with the fixed tempo and beat. (For example, in the middle and the end) Therer was a bass guitar and an electric guitar, which i found it as like a climax of the song. It was also the loudest part of the cover. In my opinion, the drums gave it a rock feeling with an upbeat tempo. The piano emphasizes the tempo even more by having strong chords in numerous places. The way the singers sing also provided a feeling of punk rock.

I actually prefered the first one better than this one because I did not really like the ending of this one, where they just suddenly stop unexpectedly that it did not really feel like the ending. On the other hand, I thought the first cover was unique because they used the cello and beatboxing, which was unexpected. I thought the first cover gave it more of a smoother, relaxing, with a hint of sadness, while the second one was a rock and upbeat version of the original song.

Assignment #5

                         Example of a marching band

Georgia Tech University marching band performance

Critical Response #4 Rhythm

                                             An example of 2/4 meter music:

7th Symphony 2nd Movement by Beethoven

3/4 meter music: 

Swan Lake (Waltz) by Wolfgang Sawallisch

4/4 meter music: 

Viva La Vida by Coldplay 

World Music:               Traditional Chinese Music- Jasmine Flower 

Song name: Jasmine Flower (Mo Li Hua) 

Performing Artist: Song Zuying 

Lyrics: (translation)

What a beautiful jasmine flower 

What a beautiful jasmine flower 

A spray of fragrant and lovely petals 

Everyone loves your snow-white buds 

Let me pick a jasmine flower 

And give it to my beau 

Jasmine flower 

Jasmine flower 

Summary:

Jasmine Flower is a chinese folk song from the 18th century. 

I have never heard this song before, I came across this song as I was searching for Chinese cultural music. I guess I was looking to compare it to korean folk songs I know, to see if they have similar atmosphere, flow, and accents throughout the song. I like how this song is calming, peaceful, and makes me want to go back to my childhood, when I was so curious and fascinated by the world. As I listen to this song, I can picture a field of jasmine flowers in springtime with butterflies. I think it would sound prettier if there was piano included as well. In addition, what really caught me is how the big choir at the back includes people from different race than Asian. It gave me a thought that music unites people :)

-4/4 meter 

-Slow pace, andante 

Critical Response #3

                             Happy Ending - MIKA 


Lyrics: 


This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

Wake up in the morning, stumble on my life
Can't get no love without sacrifice
If anything should happen, I guess I wish you well
A little bit of heaven, but a little bit of hell

This is the hardest story that I've ever told
No hope, no love, no glory
Happy endings gone forever more
I feel as if I'm wasted
And I'm wastin' every day

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

2 o'clock in the morning, something's on my mind
Can't get no rest; keep walkin' around
If I pretend that nothin' ever went wrong, I can get to my sleep
I can think that we just carried on

This is the hardest story that I've ever told
No hope, no love, no glory
Happy endings gone forever more
I feel as if I'm wasted
And I'm wastin' every day

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

A Little bit of love, little bit of love
Little bit of love, little bit of love (X17)
This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
To live the rest of our life,
But not together.

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
To live the rest of our life,
But not together.

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.


Elements of music: 
Genre of this song is a pop rock. The tempo is not too fast, not too slow.  There is a part where harmony comes in at:
A Little bit of love, little bit of love
Little bit of love, little bit of love (X17),
It sounds beautifully powerful compared to the chorus (has harmony too, but not catchy as the part above). It gives a touch of anger and betrayal, while the rest of the song gives a feeling of numbness and dullness due to the pain. 
The use of instruments (piano, strings like violins, cellos) goes well with the flow of the song. In a way, they support the emotion and feelings the performer is expressing. 


Summary: 
Happy Ending by MIKA is one of the songs sang by Axis of Awesome in their "Four Chords Song."
I did not recognize 20% of the songs in the video and this song happens to be one of them. When I first heard the song, it didn't "click"," but the more I heard it, the more I liked it that I became obsessed with it for awhile. 
I think the song is about a man who got out of a long-term relationship, his love being the one to end it; "This is the way you left me."He expresses pain and depression caused by her departure, leaving him broken-hearted. Most importantly, he feels lost and probably empty without having her in his life. 
I guess this can be related to my memories from the past. 
The chorus really gets me: 
This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
To live the rest of our life,
But not together.
I think it is really true that when you fall in love, you love hard without thinking about having them out of your life. So when they leave you, numbness and pain come first. The weirdest part is, although they cause you great pain, instead of hating or cursing them, you still wish them well. Just like what Mika says, "If anything should happen, I guess I wish you well." This is "the song" to listen to when you're out of a relationship you were not willing to be out of, but unfortunately your love just wasn't feeling the same and left you.