Rock & Roll

         In discussing rock and roll, we talked a lot about the "model of authenticity" that categorized different rock styles in time according to their level of authenticity. According to the model, teen idol rock, 70's disco, and 80's big hair and metal rock are at the bottom of the model while Elvis, the Beatles, 70's punk rock, and early 90's alternative rock are at the top of the authenticity scale. I think it is interesting to try and classify rock this way because within each movement and especially within a certain artist or groups career we can see differing levels of "authenticity". To define authenticity here, it seems that the quality of lyrics seems to be the overreaching principle behind whether a group or movement gets deemed worthy of being authentic or not. I think there are definitely other factors, but the substance of the lyrics would have to be the most important.
         For example, I can't think of a type of music who's lyrics sound more ridiculous than the teen idol bubble gum pop age. No substance whatsoever. Same with the Disco, I personally don't think it belongs within the realm of rock. Not that I hate it or anything, I just think it should be included among another music genre. Although the 80's big hair and metal movement brings the sounds of the songs back to what we would generally think rock should be like, the lyrics are equally stupid.
         In contrast, the more authentic types of rock and roll combine musical talent with lyrics that share a message or challenge existing cultural systems as in the case of punk rock (which I detest). So in the end, it's the combination of thought provoking lyrics with musical talent that makes a song authentic and memorable.
         As I said before though, I think the Beatles have many songs with little or no substance to their lyrics, so  does Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll himself. For this reason I believe the model is flawed, although it does provide us with some valuable comparisons and information. One things for sure, the 3 movements on the bottom of the authenticity totem pole deserve to stay there, I'm not a fan of any of them.

Architecture

            I find it incredible that art movements are found withing architecture. I believe that it takes an incredible amount of talent to be able to combine functionality and style, especially in modern style architecture. Modern architecture celebrates a "tradition of the new" approach in which architecture is made for the sake of architecture. It is very experimental and incorporates many different styles. It's sad that throughout time it devolved into a corporate/socialist style with everything the same and different defined class distinctions. Despite this, I find modern architecture to be one of the most interesting subjects we've covered this semester.

             I love this building and pool in Cancun Mexico that incorporates modern styling while adding the culture through the use of the pyramid style building. I think that it is a beautiful example of what modern architecture can accomplish when it is executed well. It creates a sleek non ornamented building. I think the simplicity of modern architecture is where the beauty is found.
On the left we see an example of modern art in the United States. Modern style generally rules the skys of intercity America with skyscrapers dominating the overall style of the city. I think modern architecture in this form comes across as powerul, once again accentuated by the simplicity and non ornamental nature of the art movement that causes one to focus on the overall size of the building rather than on individual parts.

           Postmodern architecture brings back the ornamentation that is absent in modern style architecture. It moves away from the austere and searches for a more aesthetically pleasing approach. Postmodern style combines many different styles that add up to some very interesting buildings. One thing I appreciate about postmodern style architecture is its attempt to bring back old styles and cultural roots in the formation of a building's style.

        These are two buildings that we discussed in class that incorporate postmodern styling in the choice of material as well as the ornamentation used in the building as a whole.

Art Within Differing Cultures

           Marcela Toledo and I did a power-point project about the differences in modern art and architecture in the United States and Mexico. We also discussed how Latin rhythms have influenced music in America, particularly through Carlos Santana’s rendition of “Oye Como Va”. Carlos Santana is an immigrant to the United States from Mexico. His father was an accomplished vocalist and Carlos began learning to play the guitar at age eight. Later he would practice his skills playing in clubs where he would mimic the musical style of many early American blues and rock artists like Little Richard and Ray Charles. Later he and his family moved to San Francisco where Santana was exposed to Jazz and other types of folk music common to the hippie movement centered in San Francisco. Santana decided to make music his professional career and formed the Santana Blues Band with some of his fellow musicians.

            I would say that Carlos Santana’s music has had a big impact on the style of music listened to in the United States. As far as pushing the envelope and changing the style and face of popular music in America, I think Santana played a huge roll. Music has a lot to do with culture obviously, so I would say that he played a big roll. He wasn’t an artist who really pushed social norms or fought against established social injustices or anything, but in his own way he affected the face of music in America.

            “Oye Como Va” is a prime example of the Latin/Rock fused style that defined Santana’s blues band. Latin beats were relatively unused within popular American music of the time, but Santana found a way to introduce them to the public through the use of the electric guitar. By using an instrument that was familiar to American ears, he successfully exposed Americans to Latin style music without them really knowing they were being exposed to it probably. From there we see the influence this song had on other popular rock and roll songs of the time like War’s “Spill the Wine” for example. I think this is really significant for Latin artists in the United States especially when we consider Santana’s routes in Mexico, the country with more immigrants in the United States than any other country by far.

            The bigger part of our slide show had to do with modern architecture and art, which in addition to the music is a topic of great interest to me. I personally love the Latin culture because I served my mission among people mostly from Mexico. As I searched for modern style architecture in Mexico and the U. S. I was able to see parts of their culture and ways of thinking come out in their art. It was interesting to see how within a specific art movement, there is room for differences in culture and also for similarities between cultures. I loved to see how Carlos Santana was able to help bring Latin music into the United States through his song “Oye Como Va”. Before doing this project I didn’t really like modernist art and architecture that much. But after searching through different pictures of modern style buildings trying to find the right ones for our slide show I have a heightened respect for the level of talent it must take to create and design modern style buildings. 

America's Music

          The first song I chose to write about is “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix. I had heard this song many times without having the slightest clue about what the lyrics were even referring to. I had always liked it because of the use of the electric guitar and my general interest in classic rock. After listening to the commentary I now know that it is not really necessary to understand the meaning of the lyrics. The song is based on a dream that Hendrix had after reading a science fiction novel. In learning about Jimi Hendrix’s musical history, the seemingly strange and unorthodox nature of the lyrics in “Purple Haze” makes more sense to me. Hendrix was a self-taught guitarist who restrung his guitar and flipped it upside down to accommodate his being left handed. After feeling frustrated as a side artist in a rock band, he left for England where he started his first makeshift band. “Purple Haze,” which was first played in London, was Hendrix’s first big hit and it became a clear representation of Hendrix’s musical style as well as his freestyle approach to life in general.

            “Purple Haze” breaks the classic blues structure mold in its use of the electric guitar and faster tempo. Jimi Hendrix, although undoubtedly inspired by the early blues and “Muddy Water” music, was able to fuse rock and roll with the blues as well as revolutionize the use of the electric guitar in his short four-year career. Hendrix died of a drug overdose only years after writing and singing “Purple Haze.”

            I personally have always loved this song mostly because of the sounds produced by the electric guitar. Hendrix often turned up the sound of his amplifier in order to produce different sounds from his instrument. When I listen to the song, I feel like the guitar almost sounds like a second person that responds to Hendrix’s words. I am a big fan of classic rock and have always considered this song as one of the most important and influential songs of the genre. I believe that this song not only captures the feeling and mindset of the sixties, but that it also paved the way for much of the popular music made during and after this time period. “Purple Haze” is a great representation of Jimi Hendrix’s pure talent as a musician as well as his daringness to try new sounds and techniques.

            The second song I chose is “Oye Como Va,” originally by Tito Puente and remade by Carlos Santana. In listening to the commentary on this song I learned various details about how Carlos Santana took an already great song and made it more accessible to a broader audience. Tito Puente originally produced the song using Cuban rhythms and Latin based instruments. Seven years later Carlos Santana, an immigrant to the United States from Tijuana, Mexico, reproduced the song using different rock instruments while keeping the same Cuban rhythm and Latin style. Santana’s fusion of rock and Latin music in this song caught the attention of American listeners who had previously never really been exposed to Latin style music and rhythms. I believe that the use of the electric guitar really helped make “Oye Como Va” so influential because it gave the song a different feel that allowed listeners from the United States to relate in some way to the sounds, while introducing them at the same time to a musical genre they had not experienced.

            I personally love this song mostly because of the interest I have in Latin culture and music. I served my mission Spanish speaking and have developed a deep love for the people and their way of life. The fact that this song helped introduce Latin music style in the United States makes it a very important song to me personally. I love that people appreciate and like this song without having to understand what the lyrics are saying. This says much about both Santana and Puente’s musical genius as well as the effect Latin music has had and continues to have on American culture and music. Many songs such as the 1970 hit “Spill the Wine” have been influenced by the rhythms and use of instruments in “Oye Como Va.” This song is well labeled as one of the hundred most influential songs in America.

            Lastly, I chose to listen and write about James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain.” Listening to the commentary helped me learn the meaning of the song, and to more fully appreciate the artist James Taylor’s musical talent. The song has three verses that communicate Taylor’s feelings about three different subjects. The first has to do with the suicide of one of his close friends. In the second Taylor sings of his struggle with Heroine and possibly other hard drugs. The third and final verse is about a mental hospital and a band Taylor played in during the earlier stages of his career. I had always understood that the song had to do with the death of someone, but I had never realized the meanings of the second and third verses. My appreciation grew for the power of music in communicating feelings that are somewhat difficult to communicate or express. In writing this song Taylor was able to relieve many feelings of tension that these events had caused for him in his life, and I feel that listeners can in return release feelings of sadness or distress through his lyrics.

            I personally love listening to this song because I think the way the guitar is used goes so well with the lyrics and message of the song. A tone of sadness is expressed by the words, yet to me there is also a feeling of hope created by the way Taylor plays his guitar and uses the piano in the background. What I most appreciate about this song however is that has to do with real events in a real persons life. To me it is powerful when a person can express himself or herself in such a way through music. I think the popularity and effect of the song is enhanced by the reality of the events in the song because Taylor was able to really communicate what actually happened to him.