Posts

Final Project

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  Music & Society Music is such an important part of life. From its first introduction to the world, to now. I see music as a place where you can release or boost your emotions, relive memories or make connections with other people. I grew up with some 80's, a lot of 90's and 00's music. As I got older the style of music has changed dramatically, we see and hear more intense and inappropriate verbiage and a lot more "inspiration" to drugs and alcohol. Although, I do enjoy all genres of music from hip-hop, R&B, country, gospel, and fiddle, I sometimes wish I grew up in the older era, in which I feel like I can mostly relate to the music style. According to John Hopkins, Keep Your Brian Young With Music , it states that " Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory."   I can agree with this statement because I do see how music can affect

Take a Musical Trip

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 Take a Musical Trip                                                                                                                               Amber Dennis Tejano (Mexico, US) Musical Trip This has spiked my attention when I was reminded that a Mexican Musical Trip qualified as something that isn't American or European, because the first person I thought about was the Mexican-American singer, Selena Quintanilla. Tejano has evolved from the Mexican population in South and Central Texas, and makes up of three musical styles; Conjunto, Orchestra and Modern. Like many other music cultures it changes and modernizes over time with the influences of new technology and equipment and diverse communities. Tejano music is said to be "local music with a global identity," which means that they have used many parts of other cultures of music into their own.  Although, Selena's most recent music was more American influenced, she still held deep respect for her community, culture

Music and the Fictive Dream

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Amber Dennis Moana Background The movie Moana was produced in 2016 by Walt Disney Animation Studios. This movie demonstrates the peoples connection to the Earth through a "human island," which was inspired by Polynesian myths. In the movie, the people of Motununi, worship Ta Fiti, the living island who brought life to the sea with her heart which is a stone with powers. In the beginning, Ti Fiti gets her heart taken by Maui, who tried to use the stone to allow humans to create with powers. In doing that Maui had taken away the heart of Ta Fiti, who resulted in her deterioration and anger. The people of  Motununi , who were once voyagers, no longer think it it safe to leave their deteriorating island. The parents of Moana has shielded her from danger, especially the ocean to help her reach becoming the chief of the island. Through this Moana, has grown up and become very curious and does everything in her power in gaining the knowledge and history of  Motununi. Moana  puts ef

Innovations and Evolutions

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Eskimo Dancing, Drumming, Singing                Innovations & Evolutions The topic I chose for this assignment is unique to other musical instruments, Eskimo Dancing, the Yupik term is "yuraq." When I say Eskimo Dance, it includes everything from singing, drumming, and performing as they all need one or the other to be complete in itself. Eskimo Dancing is an Alaskan Native connection from the real world to the spiritual world, or as it explained in " Yupik dance in Bethel, Alaska, 1995," is a form of prayer.    One of the important evolutions I would like to bring up is the spiritual connection, in the modern day you see a lot of these connections and "rules" of Eskimo Dancing slowly fading away.  So, what is Eskimo dancing? Eskimo Dancing is a group of people where there are men who drum and sing using a round drum and sing songs in Yup'ik (may also be another Alaskan Native Language.) While they do that at a rhythm, ladies stand and dance to th

2024 Musical Analysis #1

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 "Favorite Song" -Ft. Toosii w Kahlid [Remix]               2024 Music Analysis #1 by Amber Dennis Favorite Song was released in 2023 and is a very popular hip-hop and R&B song. It has gained my attention by my relation to the lyrics and the catchy melody- it is written in D major. The song starts out slow and steady with what sounds like an electronically processed voice then later Toosii begins singing. This song is a romantic, heartbreak, healing, and unlearning toxicity in relationships. As someone who has experienced love loss, this song quickly caught my attention and has helped me understand that holding standards for myself, and especially raising kids has set the bar up high. After finding someone who loves me and cares for me the way this song explains, I truly understand the meaning of "don't settle and affection is not just a word."  The lyrics of this song are so deep, Toosii uses them to express his love for his significant other, or what he ca

Role of the Performer

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 Robyn "Rihanna" Fenty Sooooo, who is Rihanna? Rihanna is a Barbadian pop and R&B singer who was recognized world wide. Rihanna was born on February 20, 1988 and is known for her vocals and her dress fashion. She was discovered at the age of 15 by a man named Evan Rodgers. Rihanna had a tough living situation as a child facing family issues as well as "crippling headaches" that made her insecure about herself. Rihanna loved to sing, but it was thanks to Roberts and his wife for taking her in from Caribbean islands of Barbados to America after recognizing her worth and potential in singing.  To this day, Rihanna has released 8 albums, 2 remix albums, 1 reissue, 7 box sets and 3 extended plays. Rihanna is considered the best selling artists of all time. Her first album  Music of the Sun released in August 12, 2005 when Rihanna was at the age of 16 signing in with Def Jam Records. Rihanna's first single " Pon De Replay " which not surprisingly reached

Musical Analysis #2

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" Heaven " - Kane Brown                                                       Amber Dennis As a person of my being, I could imagine what life is like on the other side. Peaceful, forgiving, happy.... home. We as humans are constantly finding ourselves craving that feeling here on earth. When I first heard this song, I felt my body coming into tune with the voice of Kane Brown. He helps me to convince myself that maybe after all the heartbreaks and trauma, love still exists- and maybe I will experience being "his angel" sent to this world.  Click the link below to listen to this amazing song!  Heaven - Kane Brown   - 2017, USA Singer Kane Brown is a 27-year-old American singer and songwriter. Kane faced racism as a young child, shuffled homes around Georgia, and then eventually settled in Tennessee with his mother Tabitha Brown. In 2014, Kane realized his talent in singing and began posting cover songs on social media which actually went viral with Lee Brice's so