Listening Journal #4

Chapters 7 and 8 describes music of the "Postwar Era. The styles and genres of music that were considered Postwar music provided America with a new found sense of enjoyment for music and life in general. The terms "rock and roll" "rhythm and blues", country and western, and the mambo came into play on television sets and radio stations. The listening exercise for module 4 has provided me with a better understanding of the music itself as well as possible contributing factors that led to the names of the genres of music of the Postwar Era.

As stated in the readings of chapter 7, many of the song from the 1940's and 1950's were romantic songs about love and possessed sentimental value. However, the Postwar Era music consisted of a mixture of current thoughts and emotions of life after the war, depression, as well as music that was uplifting and happy. Choo Choo Ch' Boogie by Louis Jordan was considered to be in a category called "jump blues. Choo Choo Ch' Boogie as a jazz feel in regards to rhythm, however had a slightly different style and feel. Choo Choo Ch' Boogie has a feel good sensation to it. It also has the feel that it is the type of music that is played at parties and jazz clubs. The hard swinging style, the not so ordinary lyrics and lively performances led to the name for another genre of music called rhythm and blues.

Rhythm and blues has become a well know style and description of music from yesterday to today. This particular style of music also had a new flavor and feel to the music. Surprisingly, until I completed my readings of chapter 7; I did not realize that rhythm and blues was considered music for African Americans. There were many contributors to the evolution of rhythm and blues. As I listened to " Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean", I could definitely still hear the jazz feel in regards to rhythm as well as the jump blues style feel. However, the lyrics and stylistic approach was quite different form other earlier songs that I have listened to in the past. I feel that this is what help set the scene for the standards of music for rhythm and blues, especially for women performers.

Rock and roll was another genre of music that took flight and never looked back during the Postwar Era. Like rhythm and blues, I did not know prior to my readings I chapter 8 that the term "rock and roll' was referencing music for whites. The term was first used commercially by Alan Freed; a disk jockey in Cleveland. Elvis Presley became the face and the king of rock and roll music. As I listened to "Don't be Cruel" I could definitely feel the expression of Elvis Presley's lyrics. The music was rhythmic and has a type of feel in which makes you want to dance along with the heartfelt lyrics.

 "You know I can be found,
sitting home all alone,
If you can't come around,
at least please telephone.
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true".

"Baby, if I made you mad
for something I might have said,
Please, let's forget the past,
the future looks bright ahead,
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true.
I don't want no other love,
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of"