Listening Journal #1

I would like to begin my very first journal post by saying how wonderful it is to be able to have access to listen to various genres of music and vernacular. Music has been a part of my life from childhood to adulthood, therefore,  I have many favorite songs, singers, and musical groups. However, I have not explored in depth to which such wonderful music was derived from. My goal  throughout the progression of this class along with the listening journal exercises is for my knowledge and appreciation of American popular Music to increase. The selections that we were required to listen to for our first journal entry was an eye opening experience for me. Eye opening in a sense that at times we often forget the historic values that America Popular Music posses. I feel that such music has had a strong contribution to the success of the type of music that we listen to today.

As I listened to the selections I was often placed back in time to which the songs were created. Some people may feel that the selections for our first listening journal may be too old to enjoy. I have to say that personally I definitely enjoyed listening to the songs for a number of reasons. One reason being that most of the songs told a story. I feel that some of the music today lacks the intriguing lyrical aspects of music and are solely focused upon repetitive beats. For example, as I listened to "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair", I was instantly placed in the moment. I was able to feel a type of emotion that stylistically could have been tied to love as well as sadness. I feel that these type of feelings were felt because of the acapella style and approach in which Barbary Allen sang the song.

Another selection that caught my attention was "Long John" by Lightning Washington and his fellow prisoners. I have never heard of Lighting Washington prior to this listening exercise. However, I have heard of work songs in which "Long John" reminded me of. Such songs have a deep rooted history in which I feel Blues, Jazz, and even Country music were derived from. Again, these types of songs did not involve instruments. The only instruments that can be heard were the vocal sounds of the men singing and the hammers and ax's that were being used in rhythm and unison as they worked.  I feel that the prion songs or work songs helped the men to sung to keep their spirits lifted while they worked and also often told stories or even calls and signals.

Finally, the similarities of "Coo Coo" by Dink Roberts and "Stagolee" by Mississippi John Hurt caught my attention from a lyrical ad stylistic approach . Both singers used string instruments such as the banjo and guitar to accompany their lyrics. I must say that thankfully I was able to view the lyrics in the textbook to Dink Roberts "Coo Coo". The words were a bit difficult for me to understand the first time I listened to the song. Although the words were difficult to understand, I was able to feel the flow and rhythm of the banjo. The most interesting aspect of this song is the call and response factors between Dink Roberts and his banjo. Mississippi John Hurt used call and response factors as well with his guitar  however, I feel that he was able to tell a story through his lyrics and guitar playing.