News-Skrillex’s Next Hit May Come From India

SKRILLEX’S NEXT HIT MAY COME FROM INDIA

Skrillex is an electronic musician who focuses mainly on house music, but his music could be considered studio art too. This YOUREMD interview article is about his influences and his thoughts on who he has world with in the past.

Skrillex mentions that he is influenced by Indian artist, Yo! Yo! Honey Singh. Their genres seems so different as Yo! Yo! Honey Singh, an Indian R&B Artist. Skrillex also speaks about how he is a fan of Bollywood music and plans on purchasing some content while in India.

Yo! Yo! Honey Singh

Skrillex as talks about his influences as a youth. He says that he want to be a singer when he first saw Michael Jackson, but wanted to become a guitar player when he saw Metallica. It’s interesting that he settled on neither and choose the music studio as his instrument.

Images-Charlie Chaplin Bread Dance

This is a gif image of Charlie Chaplin in the 1925 movie, The Gold Rush. While I have not seen the movie, I have view clip of Mr. Chaplin performing Bread Dance see in the gif image. I choose this image because when I see the dance, it makes me smile. It is amazing that something produced in the 1920’s can still bring joy and laughter 90 years later.

The content in the image is still revalent in today’s pop culture. It has been remained for popular cartoon series  such as the Simpsons and movies such as Bennie and Joon. This material will most likely always be revalent because Chaplin is unforgettable.

Images- Queen, Live Aid 1985

This is a photo of Queen’s Freddie Mercury Standing in front of a huge crowd at Live Aid 1985. Queen’s set for Live Aid lasted about 25 minutes. Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, has told mastery of the crowd for the whole set. I choice this photo because it shows what music can do when people are totally transfixed in the moment. Mr. Mercury almost look an animal trainer taming a lion or a snake charmer with his voice being the whip or instrument.

During the performance at Live Aid, the audience were singing with Freddie word for word. Freddie would ask the audience to repeat lyrics and they would do it. Looking at the video I would describe as participatory and presentational performance and I also think you can see these descriptions just looking at the photo.

Image- Josephine Baker Banana Dance

This is a photo of Josephine Baker as starring performer of the Banana Dance in the ‘Danse sauvage’. In the early twentieth century moved to France for opportunities that she could not obtain in the United States. She felt disheartened by segregation and the racial injustices she had to endure as a Black performer.

I know that if most people saw this photo and did not who Josephine Baker was that they would assume that she was being belittled, but I think this photo shows an empowered black woman. I think that it matters little that she has on a banana skirt when she benefited in so many other ways as a performer in France.

As a dancer in France, she had the ability to perform in venues in which all races could come and see her perform. She was also treated with more respect than she would have been in the United States. Because of her performance of the ‘Dance sauvage’, she became one of the most famous acts in Europe. This would have never happened for her in the United States.

One little banana skirt led her to change the lives of so many and empower a whole race. I do not think that this would have happen for her if she stayed in the U.S.

News-From Crack House to Cocaine Apartment: The Privilege of Dying While White

From Crack House to Cocaine Apartment: The Privilege of Dying While White

This The Root article is about the coverage of the death of married doctor and mother of three, Kiersten Rickenbach Cerveny. The coverage of Kiersten Cerveny highlights racial inequality of media coverage between women of color and white women. Ms. Cerveny died of a cocaine overdose in a crack house.

In most articles, Ms. Cerveny is highlighted as a mother and a doctor who succumb to the stresses her life. She is given the respect that human beings deserve when they succumb, but when it comes to the death of people of color, they are depicted as drug fiends and trouble makers who got what they deserve.

I chose this article because of the content that we read in the book, Roll With It, pertaining to the band, Hot 8. It is interesting and dishearten to see the divisions in our culture and the unfairness in how human beings are portrayed. More upsetting is that these biases are based on unfounded and overplayed stereotypes.

In today’s society, many of these disparities are in the public eye. I hope that in the future that all people will be seen in comparable light depending how they live or die and not by stereotypes based on how they look.

Journal- Favela Rising

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5_DnxeEkts

Favela Rising is a documentary that follows Sa Anderson and his Afroreggae movement in the slums of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. As a youth, Sa Anderson looked up to the drug dealer who controlled the favelas. He was even involved in minor drug trafficking.

After the brutal murder of his brother and the massacre of favela resident by police officers and lack of justice, Sa Anderson and a group of favela teens establish Afroreggae. The movement was established as a way to detour teens away from being involved in drug dealing and police violence. Afroreggae teaches children percussion, citizenship, and life skills as a way of giving the children something to strive and retard the growth of drug dealers and gangs.

I was interested in writing about Favela Rising because the story is inspiring. It was amazing to see what can happen in a community with little hope when the citizens ban together and make positive change.

Journal- The Kristin Chenoweth Concert at KSU

On October 2, we went to the Kristin Chenoweth concert at McCain Theater. I was compelled to choose this event as a journal topic because I have not been to many music concerts with professional artists. She was amazing and had a killer voice.

It was really interesting that she related her experience as an Oklahoma native from a small town to life here in the Manhattan, Kansas. She talk about her affinity for Sonic’s drive inn and IHOP. She also state on a few occasions that the Manhattan crowd were just like the culture she grew up in. Ms. Chenoweth was definitely playing to her audience.

Journal- The Documentary, War/Dance

https://youtu.be/UATS5K9IZT0

War/Dance documents the lives of refugee children in war-torn Uganda. As members of their school, the children are preparing for the National Music Competition. This documentary also highlights the lives of three children in particular: 13 year old Nancy, 12 year old Rose and 14 year old Dominic.

I found the film interesting and was compelled to write about it because that it shows that the human spirit is strong. Although I really enjoyed the film, it was disheartening to see the children believe that if they made a mistake that they could be the single point of failure on whether they win or lose the completion. At the end of the film, it was nice to see that even if they lost the overall competition that they were glad they brought home at best dance award.

I felt the makers of War/Dance were making a concerted effort in showing how war can affect the lives of young people. It was nice to see that although the children have been through horrible things and seen horrible things that they haven’t been defeated.

The Golden Record: My Music Edition

These are the pieces of music that I would include on the Golden Record. Links for the songs are included.

1. I’ve Seen It All- Bjork, 2000.

The titled song is by Singer/Songwriter Bjork from the  musical film, “Dancer in the Dark.” This song is about someone reconciling that their life will be end soon. The protagonist in the film had to sacrifice her life for the sake of her son. In the song she is explaining to her friend that her life is done, and it is okay. She has accomplished what she need to do. I think it would be a good addition to the Golden record because it shows a dynamic between a man and a woman with her higher voice and his deeper voice working together instead of against each other.

2. Nessun dorma- Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot. Sung by Luciano Pavarotti

“Nessun dorma” is an aria from Puccini’s Turandot. Pavarotti’s character, Calaf, is expressing his hope that by day he will marry his love by dawn. If Pavarotti did not sing this aria I do not think I would have included this in the Golden Record. I think Pavarotti has a voice that transcends language and is full of emotion and passion. If music is universal I think they will feel the emotion that most human beings feel when they listen to Pavarotti.

3. Over the Rainbow. Sung by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwoʻole, 1997.

This is a version of Somewhere over the Rainbow from the movie, Wizard of Oz. I think the simplicity of the song, one voice/one instrument (ukulele), is what makes this song beautiful. Also, it showcases an artist from a group of people (Native Hawaiian) that were not put on the original Golden Record.

4. Adagio for Strings- Samuel Barber. 1936.

“Adagio for Strings” is the second movement from Samuel Barber’s String Quartet, Op. 11. I do not have an account of Barber’s inspiration for the piece. When I listen to it I imagine that it is someone attempting to journey out of their personal hell into their version of heaven. When I listen to this piece, I shed a few tears, and I am not a particularly emotional person. I figure that an extra-terrestrial might have a few heartstrings pulled too.

5. You’re All I Need To Get By -Marvin Gaye with Tammi Terrell, 1968.

This song is an R &B duet between Motown stars, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. I included this song because it is dialogue between a man and a woman much like “I’ve Seen It All,” based on the content of the song and emotions from the singers the relationship is different. I would say that Tammi Terrell is less dismissive that Bjork. I think it’s important that they hear this dynamic, because I think it would be possible that they figure out at least one human language and understand the words. Also, I think it’s odd that Motown was not included on the record.

6. I Say a Little Prayer- Aretha Franklin, 1968.

“I Say a Little Prayer” is a R&B remake of Dionne Warwick’s 1967 pop version. This song  is about a woman who always has her love on her mind. I think this is  beautiful song and Aretha Franklin is wonderful. It is important that popular music be on the recording. Most Americans have probably had more exposure to this song and the voice of Aretha than that of Bach, and it is American tax payers’ money that financed the Voyager mission.

7. Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen, 1975.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a operatic rock song for Queen’s 1975 album, A Night at the Opera. This song is about a suicidal murderer who has just come to terms about the act he has committed. I would include this in the Golden Record because this song is iconic as lot of people worldwide have probably had exposure to this song.

8. Kodo- Yoshida Brothers, 2002.

“Kodo” is a based on traditional Japanese Tsugaru-jamisen music. The group is composed of two brother who play the samisen. I would include this song because it very rhythmic. If aliens do not understand music, they would at least probably understand the mathematics of this song.

News- Misty Copeland Is Promoted to Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theater

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/arts/dance/misty-copeland-is-promoted-to-principal-dancer-at-american-ballet-theater.html?_r=0

This New York Times article is about the newly promoted Principal Ballerina, Misty Copeland and the lack of representation for African American dancers in the American ballet scene.

On June 30 2015, Misty Copeland became the first American Principal Ballerina in the American Ballet Theater. The American Ballet Theater has been in existence for 75 years. The only other African American principal dancer, Desmond Richardson, joined the American Ballet Theater in 1997. Since 1962, there have only been three African American principal ballet dancers in major U.S. ballet companies.

Misty’s promotion has opened up the discussion about the underrepresented of African Americans, particularly women, in ballet. I think this is a discussion that needs to be had. I hope the first question as will be. “Why is race still an issue in American ballet?”  The author of this article, Journalist Michael Cooper, points to the major reason in following excerpt.

“The dearth of black women in the top ballet companies has been attributed to a variety of factors, from the legacy of discrimination and lingering stereotypical concepts of what ballerinas should look like to the lack of exposure to ballet and training opportunities in many communities.”

In 2015, it would be a great achievement to remove old and inaccurate stereotypes about African Americans from this art form because these stereotypes only serve to hurt the careers of performers  that have the potential to be future Principal dancers. I hope that Misty Copeland’s promotion continues to fuel this conversation on race discrimination in ballet.