Top Ten Best and Top Ten Favorite songs;

The top ten BEST songs of all time!!!


1) Dylan, Bob (1963). “blowin’ in the wind”. The freewheelin’ bob. In terms of content this song has a very universal idea of being or becoming a man. This piece of music is well structured and musically, as all of Dylan’s songs, has the perfect combination of instrumentals and vocals throughout the song.
2) Led Zepplin (1971). “Stairway to heaven”. Led Zepplin IV. This song is famous as one of the best songs ever because it has one of the best guitar solos (played by Jimmy Page) in the history of ; and the vocals of Robert Plant combine to make a completely amazing song.
3) Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan cover) (1967). “all along the watchtower”. John Wesley Harding. Jimi Hendrix’s cover of this song is better than Bob Dylan’s wonderful original because his voice better suits the song. In terms of subject matter, this song is universal because it shows the audacity of manipulating chronological time.
4) Lennon, John (2000). “Imagine” Imagine. This song is completely universal in terms of subject matter because everyone can “imagine all the people” and the song really shows an original universal outlook on life and approaches a peculiar way of looking at life and the people around you. The musical aspects of the song are mellow and flow well with the vocals of John Lennon.
5) Dylan, Bob (1964). “The times they are a changin.”The times they are a changin’.This song has a very universal concept because it is about time. and time itself is a universal idea. The musical aspects of the song create a melodramatic mood and create a duality with the theme. Musically, not one of the most amazing songs but the ideas portrayed through the song are what is truly influential.
6) John, Elton (1983). “I guess thats why they call it the blues”. Too low for zero. In terms of subject matter, John’s universal idea conveyed through this song is universal to almost anyone who has ever missed something and/or had “the blues”. Musically, this song is considered one of the greatest because of Elton John’s fantastic use of the harmonica. In this song, he combines the use of his harmonica and piano in order to convey a sad and true blues tone.
7) Presley, Elvis(Big Mama Thorton) (1953, 1956). “Hound dog”. Nightmare. This is a somewhat universal song. In terms of subject matter, this song is somewhat universal and has a recurring theme. In terms of the music itself, there is little creativity because this song has been redone many times. The first being originally by Big Mama Thorton then the song was covered by Charlie Gore & Louis Innis.
8) Bowie, David (1969). “Space oddity”. David Bowie. This song in terms of content has a completely universal topic because almost everyone knows about NASA.In terms of music itself, it is very soothing and slow like a lullabye and creates a drowsy mood Bowie’s voice is very smooth and somewhat monotone but this is used in a positive manner in
“space oddity”.
9) Cash, Johnny (1956). “I walk the Line”. (single). Cash’s song is , in terms of subject matter, is ambiguous because there is room for interpretation in this song. although “the line” in this song may have a certain meaning, it is open to interpret because it is an ambiguous topic. Musically, this song is strictly old fashioned country, acoustic guitar and deep voiced lyrics.
10) Jackson, Michael (1988). “man in the mirror”. Bad.This is one oof the most universal of Michael’s songs.It can be applied to almost anyone’s life and seen through their eyes. Musically, it is not the most creative but still has some good qualities.

My Top Ten Favorite Songs

　
　
10) Nine Days(2000).“Absolutely (Story Of a Girl)”. The madding crowd. In terms of content, this song is one of my favorites because I can relate to it in almost everyway. The universal idea is telling the story of this girl who “cried a river and drown the whole world” but “she looked so sad in photographs” and the speaker loves her because he knows how beautiful she is when she smiles:) .Musically, this song isn’t the most original. The guitar isn’t amazing, but very well played, and the singer has a very smooth voice, nothing too shocking for a song like this.
9)Blind Melon(1993).“ No Rain”. (Single). This song, in terms of subject matter, is one of my favorites because it employs a universal idea by ways other songs do not. It uses the rain and things the speaker does in order to showcase his depression or sadness for the time being and how awful his life is because of these things. In terms of expertise in music,
8)Killswitch engage(2004). “The end of heartbreak”. The end of heartbreak. This is one of my favorite songs because it is the perfect song to listen to when you’re angry, upset, or depressed. It has a good balance of deliverance between screaming and singing.
7)The beatles(1967). “strawberry fields forever”. It was intended to be on the album
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band but it ended up being released as a single. This is my favorite Beatles song because it is very soothing and almost makes you drowsy when you listen to it. It has a very psychedelic tone and really puts you in a good mood.
6) Awolnation (2011). “sail”. (single). This song is a very ambiguous song because the lyrics are all over the place and hard to follow at times. Its one of my favorites because it really heightens your energy and gets you going.
5)Pearl jam(1998). “Last kiss”. (single). “Last kiss” tells the story of a car crash and the speaker’s girlfriend or wife’s tragic death. It is ironically both a happy and sad song because he does get to hold her this last time and he will see her in heaven but she won’t be able to share their lives together. This is a favorite of mine because the way he tells the story truly “yanks on my heartstrings”.
4)Panic at the disco(2005). “I write sins not tragedies”. A fever you can’t sweat out. Panic at the disco is one of my favorite bands. All of their songs are very original and make you want to get up and dance. “I write sins not tragedies” is one of my favorite songs by them because it was the first song I had ever heard from their album and it is the reason I started to listen to them. It explains how some people just don’t close the door.
3)Johnny Cash(1963). “ring of fire”. The best of Johnny Cash. This is my favorite country song. When I was little this song played on the radio twenty four seven and I always tried to sing along even though I didn’t know the words. This song brought my father to like country music.
2) Secondhand serenade (June 1 2010). “something more”. Hear me now. This song is my second favorite song because it basically tells the story of my life and how I’ve always felt. Because everyone is always fighting and being upset but really what are we fighting for? Do we even know all of the time what it is we are fighting for? Why cant we just try and be happy. This song really speaks to me and that is why it is my second favorite song.
1)Audio Summer (2008). “be there”. Audio summer. Thesis my ALL TIME favorite song because I can relate to it. The universal idea may not relate to everyone but it does to me. And musically, there is not much, it is very simple techno music. But, I think that is why it is my favorite song; because it is simple and clear.

American culture through music

Amanda Paulhus

4/10/12

G period POS

Mr.Kefor

                The subject matter, content and point of view in today’s top songs differ extremely from those of past artists and generations.

The songs included in the current top 100 employ many aspects of American culture today. The music itself and the genre explain a lot about the people who listen to it in this generation. Today, most of the music on the top 50 or 100 is pop, or rap. Of course not all of the music on the top 100 is pop or rap but a vast majority of it is. Most of the music selection talks about life now and how the speaker either has made theirs better or worse. In many cases there are pieces about how someone or something has greatly affected the speaker’s life.  Songs such as “boyfriend” by Justin Bieber and “Rack City” by Tyga are high up on the billboard but contain little to none poetic merit. Some devices are used weakly such as  imagery and rhyme scheme in “Swag swag swag, on you \Chillin’ by the fire why we eatin’ fondue \I dunno about me but I know about you\ So say hello to falsetto in three two” and hyperbole or exaggeration used in “ If I was your boyfriend, never let you go “Keep you on my arm girl you’d never be alone\I can be a gentleman, anything you want\If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go, never let you go”. Though poetic merit is lacking in most popular songs there are still aspects of it. The lack of merit employs laziness in today’s culture as well as incompetence. This makes the people seem less smart because they aren’t approaching their full potential of merit in song but rather trying to make them catchier.  

                Gender roles are presented steadily throughout today’s music. Though both men and women artists portray a strong appearance and manner in their work, some show sign of weakness, depending on the artist. Artists like Katy Perry and Christina Perri show weakness in some of their songs like most artists but surprisingly more than others, their melancholy songs are the ones that always seem to be at the top. Gender roles are portrayed in songs like Adele’s “set fire to the rain” and Snoop Dog’s “young wild and free”. In Adele’s “set fire to the rain” she employs gender roles in lines such as “I let it fall, my heart, \And as it fell you rose to claim it” and “It was dark and I was over\Until you kissed my lips and you saved me”. In these lines she is implying that the “you” she is speaking of is a man and that such a man has control over her and her life. In Perri’s song “arms” she refers to the same idea when she sings “ you put your arms around me and I believed that it’s easier for you to let me go” and “ you put your arms around me and I’m home”.  The fact that gender roles are somewhat presented in today’s music shows the idea that gender roles take place in our everyday lives, which they don’t as much as what is implied.   

Success is measured, in music, by how many people listen to it and whether or not it makes the top 100 or so. If a song never reaches the charts it is viewed as not as popular or successful. Most of the music proffered today lacks meaning unlike much music from an earlier generation. Much of the music today that has meaning doesn’t make the top 100 but is still popular with certain groups of people. People today, mostly, conform to a stereotype and, again mostly, listen to whatever is popular for the time being and follows the crowd when what’s “cool” changes. The music that is most popular in our culture today does not represent all of Americans just the majority. This generation does not compare to past ones, the thought behind its music is lost.

Short Story: people are crazy by Billy Currington

               “He returned home rather late last night” I said. “There were peculiar noises throughout the night; although it was nothing I thought to call the police over. They asked me to go into the house with them and look around for anything out of the ordinary; I agreed to do so but wondered if I truly had the opportunity to say no.  

                We were both older, and I had been his neighbor for a long time at that point. He was nice to my children and I, although, he was an alcoholic. He always went to new bars; “whatever the kids were in to” he’d say. He would come home and tell all of us about his experience. But he would always say after he told us “god is great, beer is good, but people are crazy”. They didn’t let me see where my dear friend had passed but they asked me questions like they would a victim of a horrid crime. They were obvious questions though  such as “ did he have any family members? “ and the answer would always be the same, it was clear he did but none of them cared enough to come visit the poor old man. “He had six children.” I told them he married twice; both times it evil women with cold hearts, if one at all. They only came around years earlier around Christmas time before the old man started drinking. His ex wives thought he was a terrible influence on the children at such a young age.” I paused; they were already teenagers at that point so why they thought of it that way I don’t understand.

                I had forgotten to mention money although they had forgot to ask, I thought it was relevant to bring up. “He had a lot of money,” I told them. “But he didn’t care much about anything…he didn’t really care too much about his money either. He assumed it would go to a better cause once he passed away.”  I continued to answer their obvious and rather narrative questions and eventually, they let me go home. I had the whole speech about not leaving town in case they need me for further questioning but honestly?  “Me leave town? I’m 68 years old…where do you think I’m going?” I thought. Although, I was far older than him, he had always looked like he was at least twenty years older because of the alcohol abuse done to his body.

                But, anyways I heard they found the bartender who had been tending that night. I couldn’t wait to hear all about it the next morning. I guess it went something like this; I’m sure they did the whole “I’m going to show you a picture …do you know this man?” Thing.  They didn’t. They took me to watch his interview; so I could see what did and didn’t match mine. He said “I know I saw that man but I can’t remember his name or anything like that.” he paused. “He was sitting with a rather young fellow compared to himself and he’d bought a lot to drink…you know what?” he exclaimed. :” the guy he was with…his name was Tommy. I remember hearing him say something like ‘you’re a good man Tommy’ throughout the night.” Then the police asked him something about the way Tommy looked and he said he didn’t know but that is beyond the matter.

                Many questions went buy and they still hadn’t mentioned money, I had been waiting.  Once they finally did it didn’t do them any good anyways. All he said was “he didn’t mention money. They had this sort of family reunion feeling about them. They ranted about women they had been with and how much fun they had so far. It seemed like they thought time was slowing down and their opportunities were slowly drifting away. They both purchased abundance that night. He may have bought a lot of beer but so did everyone else and that didn’t mean they had fat pockets either.” he exclaimed. The men interviewing him gave him the most interrogating stares that day, I remember, when he stopped speaking or paused you could tell he was scared to answer. He practically sweat a puddle in that very room.

               

                The police and detectives had all their stories, all their interviews and still nothing was good enough for them. They knew this case was dry. But they didn’t even know the mysterious man’s name…

The next day, two days after Eddie’s tragic death, this beloved neighbor was skimming though his will , because of course Melanie was Eddie’s much older sister if you haven’t figured that out by now and  she was the only sibling he had left. As she read through the listings of who gets what and what goes to charity and whatnot she finally made it to the end and read “I now, as of June 20^th 2001, give all of my fortune and my houses to this man I met at ‘Louie’s bar’ this evening and PS: his name is Tommy Walker (he’ll know I am when he reads my obituary though so don’t write his name too clearly).

Tone analysis

Amanda Paulhus

4/5/12

G period

Mr.Kefor

                Though both Boston’s “Rock n Roll Band” and Pink Floyds “Have a Cigar” are both about success in the music industry, “Rock n’ Roll Band” incorporates Local color and a reminiscing tone in order to employ what it is truly like to be “another Band out of Boston” while “Have a Cigar” combines hyperbole and a cynical tone with the aim of explaining “the game” and how to “ride the gravy train”.             

 Local color, details pertaining to a particular geographical location, is used pertaining to New England throughout Boston’s song, “Rock n’ Roll Band”. In the first verse Brad Delp, the lead singer, sings, “we were just another band out of Boston” which is local color pertaining to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Later on in the song he sings, “Playin’ for a week in Rhode Island” Which alludes to the state of Rhode Island which is located in New England. This shows that the band doesn’t travel far to where they play. In the second verse Brad sings, “Dancin’ in the streets of Hyannis”. This allusion to Hyannis, Massachusetts inquires the idea of both weather and setting along with Boston and Rhode Island because of what is known about
New England.

                The manner in which the songwriter uses words to convey a mood, or tone, is used in Boston’s song “Rock n’ Roll Band” in order to portray a reminiscent aspect of the song. Brad sings as if he remembers “playin’ at all the bars, sleepin’ in our cars” which shows how cool they think it is because they used to do it. They also remember “[practicing] right on the street”. Lastly they recall “a man came to the stage one night” and that “he smoked a cigar” and “drove a Cadillac car”. They are reminiscent of this because it was an important memory for them. It was most likely a big day in the music business for them and is important to their music career.  

                Hyperbole, an exaggeration used to create some effect, is used in Pink Floyd’s “ Have a Cigar” in order to show how sleazy the music business can be.  The record dealer or band owner in the song says “I’ve always had a deep respect” which one would believe until he says “which one’s Pink? “ because no one in the band Pink Floyd is actually named Pink so he must know nothing about the band even though he implies he is a fan. Hyperbole is also used when he says their “so happy they can hardly count”. Which alludes to counting money and practically having so much that one cannot even count it.  When the record producer tells them they’ll be “riding the gravy train” he is exaggerating the idea that it will be very easy and smooth for them; that they will have everything they want and need without doing much work.  The last instance of hyperbole occurs when the speaker says “everybody else is just green”.  This exaggeration is meaning to show that everyone else is greedy or jealous of what they have and they wish that they had it all.

                A cynical tone is used in Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar” in order to create the idea that the song writer is almost mocking the band and saying that their career is a joke.  Floyd writes “come in here, dear boy have a cigar” which is very most mocking the band or “boy” because he is called “boy” although he would be considered a man and the idea of offering a boy a cigar is mocking him as a person.  In an aforementioned line, Floyd writes “and did we tell you the name of the game boy? \ We call it riding the gravy train”. This also adds to the idea of calling him boy but as well has a demeaning tone because he’s basically saying that this business is a hard game to be in but if you make it, it gets easier. The tone is somewhat sarcastic because the song writer writes “the band is just fantastic, \ that is what I really think”.

"Funny the way it is" Analysis

                                                                                                                                                Amanda Paulhus             

                                                                                                                                                3/29/12

                                                                                                                                                G block P.O.S.

                                                                                                                                                Mr.Kefor

Dave Matthews Band combines multiple devices in order to employ their ideas. They use hidden devices that allude to other devices throughout the song. They use many oxymoronic phrases, irony and paradoxes to add to their ideas.  Speaking in a  contradictory fashion , in “Funny the Way It Is”, Dave Matthews Band combines ironic imagery, mood departure as a chorus, and interpretive paradox in order  to convey how “Funny the way it is, if you think about it”.

                Imagery, language evoking sensory images, is utilized by Dave Matthews Band throughout their song “Funny the Way It Is”.  They start off creating imagery of “lying in the park on a beautiful day\sunshine in the grass, and the children [playing]”.  Then the imagery drastically changes to that of “siren’s passing, fire engine red” and “someone’s house… burning down”.  This idea of imagery is ironic because one usually does not think of beautiful days and houses burning down consecutively. The contrast between the two examples is important. Another example of ironic imagery is in the third verse when he sings”somebody’s going hungry and someone else is eating out”. This quote crates imagery of someone, a happy person, eating out with their family or significant other enjoying their meal. But then the imagery changes to someone who is starving and has no food to eat such as a homeless person. The last example of strong ironic imagery in the song “Funny the Way It Is” is in the 6^th stanza. It creates imagery of “one kid [walking] 10 miles to school” and “another’s dropping out”.

                Mood is a somewhat long lasting emotional state differing from simple emotions in that they are less specific and less intense. The chorus creates a mood departure by changing the melody of the music and the ideas given and compares them to today. The chorus occurs both halfway through the song and towards the end. It changes the mood completely because the music becomes more rapid and the words are sang closer together in order to imply that there is a lot to say in little time. Dave Matthews Band’s line “ standing on a bridge, watch the water passing under me \ It must’ve been much harder when there was no bridge just water” not only creates imagery but alludes to this idea that the world has evolved from what it used to be. The idea comes up and makes you wonder how it was “when there was no bridge just water”.  Saying that “now the world is small” contributes to the mood change because when one thinks about the world they wouldn’t think “small” but truly if one compares the world today to the world illustrated earlier in the song it seems small. Though the departure is brief, the mood changes drastically and is indeed important to the mood of the song; it causes the listener to stop and think.

                An inherently contradictory statement which may be construed as true or possible, or paradox, is employed throughout Dave Matthews Band’s song “Funny the Way It Is”. When one first approaches this they would think “No! That’s not right!” but after looking into it and really thinking deeply about how the two ideas expressed can be equal or compared one thinks “ oh, this makes sense!”; that is a paradox for a lack of better terms.  The idea that a “war song is playing” and yet this song is well-known as a war song, it is saying “why can’t we be friends?” is a paradox. Because it is a war song one would expect it to be angry and demonic sounding but they’re just simply asking why they cannot be friends. But when one thinks deeper you can figure that if “they” are asking to be friends don’t they have to be enemies at this time? Otherwise why would they ask? A second paradox in their song appears just before the first chorus and alludes to “a soldier’s last breath” being the exact moment when “his baby’s being born”. When looking at this line one thinks that it would be coincidence and unusual for a soldier’s baby to be born the moment he is passing. But really the deeper meaning is that the baby itself is replacing the passing soldier and almost filling his place. The last example of paradox in the song is, in an aforementioned line, “Now the world is small”. The idea of something as large as the world being small appears absurd at first glance. After processing this idea one sees that there are things such as the universe and solar system which are larger than the world in a sense and that there must always be something larger.

                Dave Matthews Band utilizes many hidden devices throughout their song “Funny the Way It Is”. Thinking about paradoxes and how they have true attributes and require a lot of thought at times is employed in their song. Their song itself could be considered a paradox because it contains so much irony and paradox just to help explain their ideas. The examples they use are vivid and though they are somewhat easier to pick out, they are still important and truly impact the song. Speaking in a contradictory fashion , in “Funny the Way It Is”, Dave Matthews Band combines ironic imagery, mood departure as a chorus, and interpretive paradox in order  to convey how “Funny the way it is, if you think about it”.

Song Analyisis 1

                Pat Monahan and Gregg Wattenburg write their songs and music about their opinions and emotions. Love and happy endings are controversial ideas that people all view diversely. Many agree with Monahan and Wattenburg’s ideas. Pat and Gregg agree that this is true; love and a happy ending are known to go hand in hand. Speaking in first person narrative mode, in “If It’s Love” pat Monahan combines sensory symbolism, dramatic hyperbole, and ironic metaphor in order to convey his idea of fear of “no happy ending”.

                Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent things such as ideas and emotions. Pat uses symbolism to exaggerate his emotions. In the third verse Pat uses”Henry Lee” as symbolism for his fear of “no happy endings” when he sings “no happy endings, no Henry Lee”. He does this because Henry Lee is known for having many wives and being identifiably happy with each one. He also uses birds to symbolize how much the speaker cares for his significant other declaring “we can be them two birds of a feather, and flock together”.  Monahan explains how he feels inseparable from her and wants to be with her always. He also portrays this idea when he explains “traveling to Spain” as an example of things they could do together because he wants to do everything by her side.

                Hyperbole, an exaggeration that is used to create an effect, is combined by Pat Monahan in his song “If It’s Love”. This idea is almost a controversial idea in that he dramatically exaggerates things beyond comprehension. The idea is so clear that it seems unclear when one over thinks about it. He brings up the idea of bearing children with this woman and sings “have 10 kids and give them everything”; which further exaggerates the idea that he wants to be with this woman forever. He also over-exaggerates when he says “and just be glad we made it here alive on a spinning ball in the middle of space”. This hyperbole exaggerates his fear of no happy ending because he didn’t think they would make it but he’s implying a sort of shock and happiness after the fact. Though Pat’s use of hyperbole is brief it is also potent because it truly affects the meaning of the song as well as provides it with more literary merit.

                A comparison void or “like” or “as” is a metaphor. Simile, a comparison using like or as is a type of metaphor. Pat utilizes both simile and metaphor in his song “If It’s Love”. In the first verse of the song he compares himself to everyone else in this line “when everybody else is getting out of bed, \I’m usually getting in it” this line to show how deeply different he is form other people. Pat sings “buy you everything except cologne, \ cause its poison”. This is a metaphor comparing cologne to poison because people who wear cologne wear too much and it poisons them as a person. He also uses simile to compare in this symbolic statement “my feet have been on the floor, flat like an idle singer”. This compares his “feet” to an idle singer in a sense that he’s got a solid life and idea of where he’s at; his feet are firmly on the ground.

                Pat Monahan uses many literary devices in his song “If It’s Love”. He utilizes such devices to show one of his fears. Monahan’s song employs the idea that if one really loves someone one would do anything for them. He also employs in the song “If It‘s Love“, that if it’s love, that should be enough for everyone.  Speaking in first person narrative mode, in if its love pat Monahan combines sensory symbolism, dramatic hyperbole, and ironic metaphor in order to convey his idea of fear of “no happy ending”.

If It's Love Lyrics

While everybody else is getting out of bed

I'm usually getting in it, I'm not in it to win it

And there's a thousand ways you can skin it

My feet have been on the floor flat like an idle singer

Remember winger, I digress

I confess you are the best thing in my life

But I'm afraid when I hear stories about a husband and wife

There's no happy endings, no Henry Lee

But you are the greatest thing about me

If it's love

And we decide that it's forever

No one else could do it better

If it's love

And we're two birds of a feather

Then the rest is just whenever

And if I'm addicted to loving you

And you're addicted to my love too

We can be them two birds of a feather that flock together

Love, love

Got to have something to keep us together

Love, love

That's enough for me

Took a loan on a house I own

Can't be a queen bee without a bee throne

I wanna buy you everything except cologne 'cause it's poison

We can travel to Spain where the rain falls

Mainly on the plain side and sing

'Cause it is we can laugh, we can sing

Have ten kids and give them everything

Hold our cell phones up in the air

And just be glad that we made it here alive

On a spinning ball in the middle of space

I love you from your toes to your face

If it's love

And we decide that it's forever

No one else could do it better

If it's love

And we're two birds of a feather

Then the rest is just whenever

And if I'm addicted to loving you

And you're addicted to my love too

We can be them two birds of a feather that flock together

Love, love

Got to have something to keep us together

Love, love

That's enough for me

You can move in, I won't ask where you've been

'Cause everybody has a past

When we're older we'll do it all over again

When everybody else is getting out of bed

I'm usually getting in it, I'm not in it to win it

I'm in it for you

If it's love

And we're two birds of a feather

Then the rest is just whenever

Then the rest is just whenever

If it's love

And we decide that it's forever

No one else could do it better

And if I'm addicted to loving you

nd you're addicted to my love too

We can be them two birds of a feather that flock together

Love, love

Got to have something to keep us together

Love, love

Got to have something to keep us together

Love, love

That's enough for me