Three Topic Ideas

These are the three ideas that I have been thinking about the past few weeks.  I think all of them are pretty good ideas and are ones that I could easily find sources for.  I hope to get some good feedback and ideas that I can incorporate into my project!



Music Copyright Laws-

The wonderful professor for this course actually helped to give me this idea the very first week of class:) I work for Attorney General's Office and I plan to attend law school, so I think this would be a good research project for me and I have several resources at work (including smart attorneys!).  I would like to do this so that I can check Into the specific copyright laws along with checking into some questions that I have always had.  Such as the new "Anaconda" song that is now using lyrics from the old song "I Like Big Butts" by Sir Mix A Lot.  This has happened in quite a few songs and I think it would be interesting to find out the process for using lyrics from other songs.  


The Affect of Today's Music on Our Youth-

I think this is a major concern for a lot of people, especially parents like myself.   A lot of the lyrics in songs today are very negative and explicit.  When I was younger I used to think that it was silly to think that music could change one's behavior, but now that I am a parent I can see where people worry that it may affect their child's actions.  Especially children who are more susceptible and tend to follow the lead of others.  I would also like to go back as far as possible and see if this was a problem of the past as well and if so when it began and with what music genre.


Combining Music Genres-

I used to love county music and I actually still do, but I feel that country music is not really country anymore.  It's turned into a kind of pop county, which is not for me.  I like pop and I like county, but I do not like them together.  I either want to hear one or the other, not both at once.  I feel that lately this has happened with a lot of the music we listen to and I'm not sure of the reason.  If I chose this topic I would explore all the music genres this is happening in, how society feels about it, and what's causing it, whether it be a broader audience or just a decision making issue. 

My Culture

 

My post will probably be a little odd because, as awful as this seems, I am not exactly sure what my culture is.  I know what language I speak, what my religion is, what my beliefs are, etc., but I really am unsure about how to define my culture.  I have lived in West Virginia my whole life and I grew up in a Christian family.  I believe that God must be put first in my life and I also believe in doing good deeds.  I believe that karma is very real and that we will be rewarded for how we treat others, in this life and in the next.  Treating everyone equally and doing good deeds for others always makes me feel amazing.  I guess you could say that my culture is one that revolves around God and doing good deeds for others. 

 

     I have actually never heard of this group or of this song, but I went on a search to find a song about being confused about who you are.  I cannot relate to the sadness and darkness that they express, but I can relate to being confused about who I am culture wise, as I am sure a lot of others can as well.  The song was written to express teenage angst about life becoming frustrating and confusing.  It basically shows a lot of scenes regarding dysfunctional families, and to this I can relate, which can in turn cause confusion about who you are.  I believe this sums up a lot of people and how they feel about their culture, especially in this day and age.  We take that stuff for granted nowadays and don't much pay attention to who we are and what we came from.  The band members include David Desrosiers who plays bass guitar, Sebastian Lefebvre who plays guitar, Chuck Comeau who plays the drums, Jeff Stinco who plays lead guitar, and Pierre Bouvier who plays bass guitar.  It is most obvious that the band's instrumentation consists of mainly drums and guitar. 

     As I said before, this piece doesn't exactly express my culture, but explains that I am confused about my culture.  I believe this is the case for most people today, so it could be an expression of culture for many.  I wish I could've been more specific, but this is definitely something that I have to look into and learn and not something that I can make up in an evening's time.  Honesty is the best policy!
     

Least-Favoite Genre of Music

    I pretty much enjoy any gene of music, but I would have to say that my least favorite would have to be heavy metal.  I have never understood the need for a lot of yelling and screaming when it comes to music.  Music, in my opinion, should be beautiful and harmonious.  I hate to say that I completely dislike the music because I don't.   It just isn't my favorite to listen to when I am looking for some good and soothing music to listen to.  An example of a heavy metal band is Metallica, and again I actually like Metallica, but they aren't one of my favorites.  Metallica got their start when Lars Ulrich made James Hatfield an offer that would've been hard for anyone not to take.  There was no actual band until a couple others (Ron McGovney & Dave Mustaine) joined and "Metallica" was formed. 

 

      Again, my reasoning for not being too crazy about this genre of music, is the yelling and screaming.  When I listen to music I like a lot of harmony and even a little falsetto.  I also enjoy, when I'm in the mood, to hear music that has a little bit of bass.   There are times when heavy metal contains a little bass, especially during  a ballad section, but it's mostly just very loud.  Which is odd, because I do like my music loud, I just like to understand what I'm listening to.  I like music that contains lyrical enunciation and heavy metal, in my opinion, is void of that.  

     There isn't a whole lot that I don't like about the social/emotional background of heavy metal or heavy metal bands.  They are people just like the rest of us.  It's just their choice in expression that doesn't really fit my musical criteria.  Every genre of music can fit our culture considering that each and every one of us are different.  Their style of music may not fit my definition of good music, but it could fit that criteria for someone else.  One of the great things about today and today's music is that we are one big mix of cultures.  It doesn't seem that any one culture stands out in today's society.  

 

     There is no sense in my being too defensive about it because as I said, I do not completely dislike the music.  There is no genre of music that I feel this way about; I enjoy them all.  However, I do feel that their lyrics should be more enunciated to give the listener more of a "lyrical understanding."  I like to not only hear the words to the music I'm listening to, but relate to them on some level as well.