Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 10:13 PM Posted this in the wrong place earlier…
I really enjoyed Bill Monroe’s rendition of In the Pines, at some parts I was almost laughing because the ambling, folky sound of it is just something we never hear anymore, especially in popular music, and I just found it humorous. And I assume that we’re going to be learning about how this type of music connects with more modern popular music, so I’m anticipating that connection. I think it’s interesting that, like we talked about in class, it has a more upbeat melody and sound despite the nature of the topics it addresses, which are difficult and sad. To be honest, the first time I listened to this song I didn’t even hear the lyrics or listen to them, and then I had to relisten and concentrate on hearing the words of the song as I read them.
I think it’s interesting in contrast with Lead Belly’s version, which has a more melancholy sound, and this is enhanced by the tone of the singer’s voice and the specific words he stresses and the way he stresses them. I really enjoyed both of these tracks, and I almost wish I would hear more of this folky music today. I’m sure people are still doing it.
Reader Comments (2)
In your posts, many of you considered the effect Lead Belly’s spoken interjections had on the authenticity or lack thereof in his version of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” Christopher Yoshonis made an interesting point when he noted the Jazz influence in Lead Belly’s interjections, implying that they detracted authenticity. Check out Christopher’s post here: (http://benleedscarson.com/by-banks-in-pines/2009/10/10/lead-bellys-in-the-pines.html). Hannah Sherman, on the other hand, felt that these interjections increased authenticity as they reflected what Lead Belly “felt and experienced.” Take a look at Hannah’s post here: (http://benleedscarson.com/by-banks-in-pines/2009/10/9/where-did-you-sleep-last-night-by-leadbelly.html). Using these examples as a springboard, what effect do you think Lead Belly’s spoken interjections have on the song’s authenticity and on the song in general? Why do you think Lead Belly chose to speak the specific lines that he did, as opposed to any other lines? And looking at the topic in broader terms, what effect do you think spoken interjections have on songs today? Feel free to post youtube links to examples of present-day songs featuring spoken interjections and to discuss these examples with your classmates!
I think alot of today's folk music and Bluegrass uses the tension between the lyrics and the melody to add power to the songs. however, there has been a crossover where the melody strongly backs up the message of the lyrics.