Graceland

Paul Simon, while successful earlier in his life, comes back in a decade of music without a lot of artistic quality or ability. Amongst a growing environment where Hair Metal was the norm, it is stunning that Graceland was received so well towards the popular audience. The 80s was a time of massive consumerism and it is amazing that such a deep album did so well. Paul Simon also did not match the epitome of a rocker at the time but certainly shined through as one of the best.

One refreshing thing regarding Paul Simon’s music that probably was received better during this era of music was the fact that it addressed deeper issues in society that were not so shallow. With the relatively talentless hair metal genre on the rise, Paul Simon brought back a culture of music that was popular in previous decades. He used his songs to push messages and his opinions about several issues about society. Simon jumps right into these touchy subjects with his very first song. A lot of times, albums like to lead in with something lighter but Simon told a story of a boy with autoimmune deficiency. To me, this just crosses over previously untouched subjects. The messages and intriguing stories that he is able to tell throughout his songs are a direct result of his uncanny lyricism ability.

Building off of this lyricism, I am also amazed at his remarkable and unique rhyming scheme. While at first I thought his rhyming scheme wasn’t that complex but as I listened further into this album, I began to uncover a much more deeper and intertwined rhyming scheme. To me, this just illustrates Simon’s phenomenal writing and composing ability as an artist.

Unlike the amazing lyricists that preceded him (like Bob Dylan), Paul Simon shines through as being a very versatile/multitalented artist. Not only is he able to create songs that challenge the intelligence of the listener and makes them ponder issues regarding society and the world, but he upholds the musical part as well. His vocals are soft but effective at matching the general tone of his music. While he has a softer voice, it is still powerful and strong throughout the album. He definitely has a distinctive voice but I think that it blends well with the countermelody. In general, his countermelodies also follow a general pattern. The songs lead in with an instrumental and then fade out a little in order for Simon to take control of the reigns with the vocals. Then they will slowly be reincorporated with the rest of the song. This is an effective and engaging method of using the countermelody in his songs because I think it adds a level of dynamic to each and every one of his songs.

While I may have made it sound like a lot of his songs follow a standard pattern, I am amazed at how well Simon is able to utilize a variety of different instruments and sounds to create COMPLETELY different musical fabrics in each of his songs. In one song, his voice and instruments ooze a country vibe. The very next one uses effectual guitars to portray a bluesy sound. And the next, uses an African choir as the complementing melody/introduction. The variety never stops throughout the album. Right when I think I’ve figured him out, he throws me a different way. At the beginning of the album I thought that he was primarily a country/blues style artist, but as the album progressed, I realized he basically made his own niche in the music scene (especially given the time period). He even uses horns and congas in the same song! I personally think this is astounding.

Overall, I’m pretty surprised how much the album appealed to me. I usually generalize the 80s like most people; a dark time of pop with a serious lack of talent. As I’ve become more exposed to more music from this time period, I realized that there are little spotlights of talent amongst the sea of hair metal. This album is definitely one of those spotlights. I think that because Paul Simon was an older artist at the time, it allowed him to succeed because he brought a “fresh” outlook (or probably more like a throwback style of music).  As I listen to his music, I keep thinking and comparing it to music of the 60s because that was a time where artists were pushing limits of what sounds they could create. Simon definitely brings a similar technique and style to the 80s that seems like an anachronism but is much appreciated.  For example, in “You Can Call Me Al”, Simon uses a unique studio method in order to spice up the song.

To get an appreciation for just how varied Paul Simon’s music is, check out the following two songs and compare them. I think the title song, “Graceland”, takes on a much more country vibe while it is really hard for me to even classify “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”. By that track on the album, I began to reevaluate how I categorized/viewed Paul Simon as an artist. I hope you see the rich music culture that he brings.

Icona Pop

Before I delve into this on-the-rise musical duo, I’d like to note that I’ve observed a trend recently regarding how I have digested and become exposed to music. The progression runs something like this. I listen to Pandora and suddenly, to my surprise, a new single comes on the air that I’ve never heard. Mind you, this is a pretty big deal because most of the time Pandora is pretty monotonous. I screenshot the song so I can remember it later and blog about the artist. When I get around to exploring more about this artist, I see that the song has skyrocketed to the top of the charts (apparently a lot of others are also listening). Weeks later, the song is way overplayed and dominates the airways.

Right now, I’m not sure if Icona Pop is going to have the same fate as some of those other artists without substance or if they’re going to explode into successful artists. While I discovered them just recently, I learned that this synthpop duo has been around for about 4 years now and just recently hit the international and popular stage. While they match other bands in the way that they come out of the underground music scene, I feel that Icona Pop has promise because I observed how their music has evolved and adapted to their audiences. After listening to a progression of samplings from throughout their career, I began to see that they slowly transitioned from their roots and grew into something more “sellable” to the music market. While in doing so, they might have lost some of their edge/depth, I think it shows perseverance in that they continued to strive towards stardom. Their style of synthetically derived music also is on the rise which makes me think that they will fit right into the new staple of music.

This might be a side note as well, but there’s no other place to say it so I’ll say it now. Recently, I’ve noticed two major trends surface in the most recent music scene/underground. The first trend encompasses alternative rock/indie rock. Bands like Mumford and Sons are slowly dominating the more “talent filled” part of the market. The second trend is synthesized music which utilizes technology and computer generated sounds to drive the melody forward. This is where Icona Pop comes in. Music is slowly evolving to meet both of these trends because there has been much positive feedback regarding them. Icona Pop started making music in 2009 and popular culture didn’t catch up with their forward-thinking music until right now. It also doesn’t hurt that their latest hit single, “I Love It”, is really catchy.

Icona Pop is a Swedish DJ/electro duo that has grasped the world with their fresh and captivating style. They fit right in with the rise of the electro-house genre and the computerized age of music as a whole. In the midst of dubstep and electro-house, Icona Pop is definitely on the rise and growing rapidly in popularity. Just viewing various YouTube clips of their singles, I got a vibe of just how much their popularity skyrocketed in the past year. One of their older songs had 70,000 views while the most recent hit single has over 11 million. Needless to say, there must be something attractive about their music.

The vocals of this duo’s songs are full of edge and attitude. The two artists are able to harmonize well together, even if some of it is due to heavy autotune (but, the genre is synthpop so you kind of have to expect that). Through their vocals, I feel a heavy vibe of rebellion and an influence of the punk mentality. Throughout their various songs, the lyrics also add to this. While the lyrics have digressed poetically throughout their career (in my humble opinion), they have maintained the heart and soul of their songs which is the meaning. Their meaning conveys a mindset of defiance which makes their songs appealing to their audiences (probably most likely the youth of the world).

Besides the meaning and lyrics, the countermelodies of Icona Pop’s songs are limitless. When you have unlimited possibilities at your fingertips due to advanced musical technology, anything is possible. No more does an artist have to rely on their ability to play a specific instrument to get a certain sound. Technology has revolutionized how music is not only listened to, but also how it is created. This is greatly appreciated when listening to the counter melodies of songs by such artists like Icona Pop because they are so dynamic and wild. While the rebellious vocals drive the main melody, synthesized guitars and driving beats add spice and flavor to the songs.

To understand what all the buzz is about, you really need to check out their songs. I would recommend watching both of these videos so that you can see how Icona Pop has progressed in their sound. The first song is one of their earlier hits while the second is their latest single, “I Love It”.

Thriller

Michael Jackson, in his prime, released a very distinct style of music. Various components added to his massive success as an artist. His songs have a very funky vibe. I can definitely feel a heavy disco influence on his music that ultimately sculpted the music composed of the album along with a lot of the 80s pop music. The dance aspect of 70s music slowly evolved into a pop-like boppy sound of the 80s. While a lot of the 80s music is famously bad, Jackson fully embraces this shift in music and at the beginning of the 80s sets the bar very high for other artists to follow.

One can really grasp how influential a piece of music is by how much it maintains appealing throughout various eras and fads of music. Many artists are incapable of having a lasting impression because their music is limited to merely a single slot of history. Michael Jackson had such a lasting impression on music as a whole because his songs were universally catchy. I was surprised when I browsed the track listing of this album before listening, as to just how many of the songs I ALREADY knew! I never would’ve expected that I would know these songs but sure enough they were very familiar. His talent as a vocalist and entertainer sustained which made his music be embraced by consumers of every generation.

So what exactly did Michael Jackson have that made him stand out so much during this time period of music? Without even considering his very showy performances and methods of entertainment during shows, we can easily see how he became so popular. Even right now, as I listen to this album, I sit in my chair and can’t help but bob my head and tap my foot to the beat. Even though some of the songs sound fairly similar, this consistency connects all of his songs and makes the album easier to digest as a whole. Usually, I have the opposite philosophy, but Jackson was able to really transform his consistent voice and countermelodies into versatile songs. His songs also seem to have universal purpose. I feel that you could dance to all the music or simply easy listening. While the lyrics don’t necessarily have a very deep meaning that makes me challenge society, Jackson is still able to tell stories with each of his songs. These stories are very interesting and serve their purpose to entertain.

Musically speaking, Jackson is able to forge a new strong countermelody for each and every song that drives his music forward. I don’t think I’ve ever heard such countermelodies that keep the listener so engaged. They play such an instrumental (no pun intended) part of the music that I cannot simply ignore it. This commanding presence makes Jackson’s music catchy and appealing to the masses. The other main factor of Jackson’s music is his distinct voice. Although he has a high vocal range, he is still able to have many vocal fluctuations that add to the variety of his songs. Although you might think he would get overpowered by his strong countermelody, the vocals withstand this and surge ahead as a dominating aspect. If there was a less talented and commanding lead vocalist, the songs would seem lopsided and disfigured. Luckily for Jackson, his variety of vocal ticks and edgy voice allows for his songs to thrive. He definitely adds a level of edginess to his songs by building attitude throughout his music. This attitude is utilized as another instrument because it sets the tone of each of Jackson’s songs.

A great example of how Jackson’s vocals take control and bleed edginess would be in “Billie Jean”. This song has all of the components that make Jackson’s songs to stand out in the abyss of 80s music. With a captivating melody and harsh drum beats, the overall tone of the song (set by the pent-up vocals) is greatly accentuated. This song is one of Michael Jackson’s classic singles and embodies his younger singing days very well. Check it out:

I can’t leave out the title song either! “Thriller” is much different than anything else I’ve heard in a while because Michael Jackson seemingly takes on an alternative ego/personality throughout the song. While it is also famous for dance choreography during performances, merely a song, “Thriller” has thrilled a variety of audiences for years. He tells a haunted and dangerous story throughout the song that allows the listener to escape from everyday life. And you've just have to watch the music videod! Check out what all the buzz was about:

Fall Out Boy

After analyzing the rise of punk in the 70s, I think it would be nice to compare a more recent punk band, Fall Out Boy. This band is hard to classify and thus lands in the large conglomeration of “punk” music. Their music has a very distinct sound yet doesn’t exactly follow standards of the music realm today. Today, a lot of people like to classify the “fresh” type of music as “alternative rock”. This is similar to what occurred in the 70s because people didn’t know how to deal with this new music that was rising at an exponential rate. In the most recent years, we have seen a similar trend occur with music again! This influx of alternative rock music, from Imagine Dragons to Cold Play to Fall Out Boy, has sculpted a new niche in the music scene. I think people are finally getting tired of the cheesy pop sounds of bubbly artists (like Katy Perry or Lady Gaga or Kesha). In response to this shallow pop music, consumers and artists are responding by the rise of such alternative rock bands.

To my surprise, Fall Out Boy had been around a lot longer than I thought. While starting in the underground music scene, they entered the mainstream in 2001. From Illinois, this band released various hits that topped the charts. They also came out with several albums. If you look at the Wikipedia page, however, the classification of their music ranges from pop punk, alternative rock, pop rock, to emo! This wide range of classification shows that current music doesn’t know what to do with them because they are so different!

I had never heard of Fall Out Boy until they came out with their lead single for their comeback album just a couple weeks ago. When I’m not analyzing music, I am a casual Pandora listener. I’ve noticed that at a certain time of year, Pandora begins to shift to newly released material. This is when I get exposed to songs that are on the rise and can look into them in more depth. As you might expect then, I was casually listening to Pandora when Fall Out Boy’s new single, “My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark” came on the air. I know, the title sounds pretty stupid but they were able to grab my attention. Maybe it was just because it was the first time I’d heard anything new in the past month or so, but it still intrigued me! From there, I began to look at more of their earlier hits and singles as well.

Fall Out Boy relies heavily on their instrumentals. They love blaring the guitar and kicking an insane beat. They are great at utilizing their countermelody to build tension and suspense. This ultimately helps construct a decent song arc. The vocals are present but (like most punk bands) are nothing to speak of per say. I feel like the lead vocals is more screaming and shouting rather than actually making music with his voice. Despite this, I think if it was any other way, the attitude and tone of the songs would not be accurately depicted. Because of the way the vocals are delivered, the songs can take on that classic punk idea of rebellion. Thus, in a variety of ways this band greatly mirrors the punk bands of the 70s, especially the Ramones. Both bands rely on instrumentals to carry the song. Both have passionate vocals that are not anywhere near being polished. And both are able to deliver a pretty kickass show.

Before you go and buy all the Fall Out Boy paraphernalia you can get, I’d like to vocalize the fact that I definitely have mixed feelings about the band as a whole. A lot of their past songs didn’t really appeal to me. Songs like “Dance Dance” seemed rather simplistic, repetitive and way too long to stay interesting. Despite this, their seeming lack of talent may be due to the fact that they hadn’t yet grown as a band. That is why I’m really interested to see what their next album, “Save Rock and Roll”, will bring. I can’t quite decide if their music is a flash in the pan or revolutionary in the whole scheme of things. I think that this band brings a fresh outlook on music and a vibe of rebellion that music really needs today. As bands like Fall Out Boy enter the stage, we see our current music being spiced up. While they may not have as much talent as other bands and artists I’ve blogged about, I’m excited to see how Fall Out Boy influences music as a whole.

Check out the following videos I’ve found of their songs. I think you’ll understand my mixed feelings as well as identify similar comparisons between 70s punk bands and their music. Enjoy (or not, that’s up to you):

DISCO!

Disco seems to get a bad rap nowadays. While the music may possess less musical quality which music purists would stick their noses up at, I personally feel that disco provided a type of music that was all about just letting yourself go. This music obviously is not going to make someone sit down and ponder their life or feelings. There is no hidden meaning. Everything is thrown right out in front of the listener bare. Disco basically said, “Here ya go! Have fun!” The music emits a certain carefree attitude that was the perfect mold for dance music to flourish into.

Disco as a style and genre of music really revolutionized the whole social aspect of listening to music. By throwing together a hodge-podge of catchy beats, fun rhythms, and poppy countermelodies, people began to congregate around music. Music became a focal point of hang outs and dancing became a great and fun social activity. I also think that disco was able to revolutionize dance as well. Its message was reflected by the consumers and the music ultimately is designed to make people want to dance. Because there is no underlying theme or great moral, disco is amazing at serving its one purpose: to make people want to dance.

And, even if you are one of those people who pride themselves as being a music connoisseur, you can’t help but tap your foot subconsciously to the beats of the songs. The catchiness of it all is enough to make one want to run outside and just start randomly dancing like in a cheesy musical. Disco is so well known because it provides melodies that stick in your head. I STILL can’t get melodies out of my head from this morning! I found myself running the beat inside my head of Sugarhill Gang Apache! We have finally entered an era in which the music has become actually familiar with me. I don’t know how or when I was exposed to such disco music but I had heard a majority of the top disco hits of the 70s. This was somewhat scary to contemplate but doesn’t seem that far off. Because of the high energy and pure catchiness of the songs, disco music wiggled its way into all kinds of media (from movies to television to the oldies station on the radio). I became familiar with such tunes because they were actually being played around me, even though I was a few decades late.

While people may consider disco cheesy in the present, the bubble gummy sound of disco heavily influenced music in its time. It created a new type of dance music that maintained pretty consistent throughout later musical eras and varying subgenres. All of the dance music was very fast paced and fashion-oriented. This shifting mentality towards “what’s hot right now” may have also lent itself to why albums became less common as artists shifted towards production of singles. Disco is not something that you can simply sit down and listen to for 30 to 45 minutes at a time. Consuming an album of disco would not be a fun task. But in brief bursts, disco thrives. The only other way you could handle listening to disco for that long is if you were getting up and moving to the beat! Disco did not provide the depth of earlier music, but was able to allow people to escape from the boring life and simply dance with one another.

Before I show some specific examples of disco that stood out to me, I would also like to make a brief note about the style of the day. Clothing was horrendous (whew glad I got that off my chest). The dancing, while seemingly full of flailing around, was rather interesting though. It was a very good visual interpretation to what I think disco’s message was; letting go.

Some of my favorites of the time include “Chic le Freak” and “Sugarhill Gang Apache”. I can’t quite place where the appeal lies but these songs just resonate in my head. Chic le Freak had a lot of elements of funk incorporated into the song. The driving bass and drum set gave that song an appalling edge. And Sugarhill Gang Apache is just good. Check them out:

Elvis Costello – My Aim is True

I haven’t heard much of Costello before but from what I’ve listened to, I think his music is rather dynamic and well balanced. Overall, I definitely feel a great influence of pop bands of the 60s such as the Beatles or the Beach Boys as well as classic rock from the 50s. His songs are very hip and pop-like and he enables the countermelody to accentuate his very versatile voice. The various parts that add to the success of Elvis Costello is his uncanny ability to adjust his vocals to the type of song that he is singing, strong lyrics, and being able to create tunes that simply make your head nod to the beat. This is something that makes his songs rather appealing to listen to. I’m literally sitting in my seat and bouncing to the catchy rhythms that each of his songs uniquely provides.

Additionally, he also has the perfect mix of various types of songs and sounds throughout the album. He doesn’t merely stay to a single dimensional pop sound but is able to venture off and make some crazy (more classic) rock that heavily utilizes electric guitar and countermelody. “I’m Not Angry” is a prime example of how he makes his passion bleed into and mesh with the song. In that song, Costello reveals a level of powerful aggression (through his voice and intense guitar countermelody) that adds variety to the album as a whole. Other songs, however, such as “Red Shoes”, take on a much more pop vibe that adds a more bubbly sound. Even others, such as “Watching the Detectives”, have a heavy reggae influence like many punk songs of the time.

While I could probably also endlessly analyze Costello’s vocals, what makes me most impressed with his music is the strong/heavily developed countermelody. I don’t know why the background music strikes me as so compelling today, but I am noticing it as the dominating factor in his music. This is obviously my personal opinion of his music and by no means do I believe that the background music overpowers the vocals or distracts from the lyrical meaning of the songs. I simply believe that Costello has developed the countermelody to a point that it perfectly blends with his voice in order to create an almost perfect fabric of a tune, despite what “type” of song (as mentioned earlier) he chooses. The countermelody is also not highly focused on a specific instrument. Depending on whatever song he is performing, various things come to the forefront. Whether it’s a sick bass line or a wild guitar strum, he creates a great sound. I also like his knack for taking intentional breaks in the rhythm in the middle of songs.

Lastly, Elvis Costello also brought lyricism to a new level. Each of his songs is like an individual narrative poem. Every one of his songs is able to tell a complete story that is unique and intriguing in its own right. Then, when you add wild and awesome music to accompany these amazing lyrics, you get one fantastic song. He covers ideas such from Nazis to incest in a single song! Tell me that isn’t crazy. With these lyrics, he is also able to adopt the idea of punk in his own unique method. While Costello may not “sound” like punk, once again, punk is merely an idea rather than a sound. This idea of rebellion oozes through certain aspects of his songs that makes his music defiant despite a great musical vibe.

Overall, Elvis Costello sounds very UNIQUE in his time period. With the rise of a bunch of classic punk bands having a serious lack of talent, Costello produces music that mashes sounds of the 50s and 60s with biting and insightful lyrics. Sharply contrasting the bad vocals of Patti Smith or the Ramones, Costello shines through as a dominating factor in the music world at this time in the 70s.

Check out some of his songs below: