Module 10: Learning Material

Module 10 looks closely at the music of the 1980s and 1990s, and covers the major salient details. We refer to the women’s singer-songwriter movement in the introduction to this module, and we encourage you to follow the hyperlinks to learn more about that.

This week will be a bit heavier on reading. Our learning material for this week is an essay entitled “Pop Goes to War, 2001-2004: U.S. Popular Music After 9/11.” For popular culture fans who are old enough to have been teenagers or adults in the 1990s, it is easy to mentally distinguish between the music, movies, and mentality of the 90s and that of the early aughts. Without hyperbole, the day the Twin Towers fell, many things changed. A culture of fear – new to North America –  resulted in changes in how we traveled, how news was interpreted and distributed, and, most notable for this class, what music we were exposed to through public channels and how the artistic freedom of musicians has been governed since 2001.

The fallout from 9/11 has also resulted in a growing divisiveness between liberal and conservative ideologies in the US, the extent of which had not really been seen since the Civil Rights Era of the 1960s (although it truly never went away). Some argue that this divisiveness helped plant the seeds for the Black Lives Matter movement, which we will discuss in the next module, and the rise of the movement that elected President Trump in 2016. In any event, the paper you are about to read is really about the music of the early 2000s, but as you read it, reflect on the music of our current era. Have things changed? Do you feel the censorship of the early 2000s was appropriate in light of 9/11? Inappropriate? Has the growing place of the Internet in our lives helped balance out the censorship of the early aughts? Why do you think some of these tracks are no longer easy to find online? Again, these questions are food for thought – you do not need to answer them now, but consider them, as they may appear on your final.

Garofalo, Reebee. “Pop Goes to War, 2001-2004: U.S. Popular Music After 9/11,” in Music in the Post-9/11 World. Eds. Jonathan Ritter and J. Martin Daughtry, 3-25. New York: Routledge, 2007.

Pop Goes to War, 2001-2004: U.S. Popular Music After 9/11 PDF

Additional listening for Garofalo essay:

NOTE: Please proceed with caution. You may find some of these videos and lyrics disturbing or offensive. These are not the views of the instructors, the Department of Music, or the University of Saskatchewan. They are presented to augment your understanding of the essay.

You do not need to watch them all. They are compiled here for ease of reference as you read the essay.

  1. America: A Tribute to Heroes (concert playlist): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi_Tm_g6KdA&list=PL4CFDA891835F28EC
  2. Concert for New York City (pay to view full concert): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6lQqT2Qw2E&list=PLZZbBm-bN__ylykhLoDcUetVCR3f0_MUk
  3. Alan Jackson, “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPHnadJ-0hE
  4. Aaron Tippin, “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTKmjhJ1__o
  5. Lee Greenwood, “God Bless the USA”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E
  6. Toby Keith, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruNrdmjcNTc
  7. Darryl Worley, “Have you Forgotton”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6yLQRF-cEU
  8. Pat Garrett, “Saddam Stomp”: original not available online; versions are available on Spotify.
  9. Clint Black, “I Raq and Roll”: original not available online; versions available on Spotify.
  10. Lynryd Skynyrd, “Red, White, and Blue”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-ZQ5T8wjsg
  11. Kelly, “A Soldier’s Heart”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG1U8qGum6c
  12. Neil Young, “Let’s Roll”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A6dYR7q0Uw
  13. Steve Earle, “John Walker’s Blues”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar7K_kUPwLw
  14. Dixie Chicks, “Truth No. 2”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7qlp-gxESM
  15. The Strokes, “New York City Cops”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhgYg_ktRdE
  16. Dave Matthews, “When the World Ends”: https://youtu.be/38O_uRZa5jo
  17. Bruce Springsteen, “American Skin (41 Shots)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQMqWAiWPMs
  18. Pearl Jam, “Bushleaguer”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1psBo_vz0E
  19. Madonna, “American Life”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYduJw5LyFM
  20. Beastie Boys, “In a World Gone Mad”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3szSKD3meg
  21. Luka Bloom, “I Am Not at War with Anyone”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv_bsNP-pC0
  22. Billy Bragg, “The Price of Oil”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaUzxJQrpyA
  23. Chuck D, “A Twisted Sense of God”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjEeQe92oZ0
  24. Zack de la Rocha (w/DJ Shadow), “March of Death”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFnABAF_rWU
  25. Nanci Griffith, “Big Blue Ball of War”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFCQnpQmNtw
  26. Mick Jones, “Why Do Men Fight”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7my7zZg-As
  27. Lenny Kravitz, “We Want Peace”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-72yd8Q8aY
  28. John McCutcheon, “We Know War”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stjQ7AyoMNc
  29. John Mellencamp, “To Washington”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR5HuJU0Ndw
  30. Meshell Ndegéocello, “Forgiveness & Love”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF-OMRgAFcM
  31. Leslie Nuchow, “An Eye for an Eye (Will Leave the Whole World Blind)”: available on Spotify.
  32. R.E.M., “The Final Straw”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtkdW9w2PJw
  33. Spearhead, “Bomb the World”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U2FXbsv_Bk
  34. Cat Stevens, “Peace Train” (from 1971): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaNtV_iU61U
  35. System of a Down, “Boom”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE2r7r7VVic
  36. Bruce Springsteen, “Into the Fire”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylt1ZqPZYOc
  37. “You’re Missing”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXxsJM0mPeQ
  38. “Lonesome Day”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAMkFVJ-ews
  39. Steve Earle, “Ashes to Ashes”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kxHeixRhog
  40. Sleater Kinney, “Faraway”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fPZWHdkr2s
  41. “Combat Rock”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibrXJRfhsNs
  42. George Michael, “Shoot the Dog”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABhZQ_VRbsQ
  43. Anti-Flag, “911 for Peace”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNt4CGLPe5o
  44. NOFX, “Idiot Son of an Asshole”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1fUaXCmqME
  45. Sage Francis, “Makeshift Patriot”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtNMly0aDUk
  46. Outkast, “The Whole World”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udmTfK6_aM8
  47. Talib Queli, “The Proud”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFSiM874Jxg
  48. Wu Tang Clan, “Rules”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2FwXz539fo
  49. Mr. Lif, “Home of the Brave”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzvFYaWej0M
  50. Paris, “Bush Killa”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLPX7VHcnes
  51. “What Would You Do”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrrzHjPC9p8
  52. Jadakiss, “Why”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-cpL–0AQA
  53. Nas, “Rule”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erCM_cISWuw
  54. Eminem, “Business”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6J_vbXyx-Y
  55. “I Think My Dad’s Gone Crazy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg43XyRCkkw
  56. “Without Me”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVkUvmDQ3HY
  57. “Square Dance”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHSCCRIw4uc
  58. “Mosh”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj_dTZ4KL3Y

Prince, 1958-2016

The legendary rock/funk/fusion composer, producer, actor, and musician Prince died in April of 2016. Like Bowie, his range and influence went far beyond what our textbook is capable of covering, and some have even placed him in the “genius” category due to his exceptional talents and musical innovations. You can read more about his life, and death, here.

Challenge Questions

If you have chosen to blog for your assignments, you may choose ONE of the following blog questions to blog on this week, for a total of 10% of your overall assignment grade. Note that there are blogging questions available for each module, and you need to complete up to two for the first deadline and up to two for the second deadline. Please see the Assignment Details and Blogging assignment pages for more information.

  1. Present day: keeping your selections within the realm of pop, rock, country, Latin, or alternative music (basically everything except electronica and rap), choose one artist or group who has been making music any time since 2000, whom you feel will be included in textbooks in the future. Why have you chosen this artist or group? What do you feel they have done differently to move popular music in a new direction? Use three embedded videos and include a source list. #M10Q1
  2. Please read “Over and Out: Indie Rock Values in the Age of Alternative Million Sellers” by Eric Weisbard (now with working link! It will appear directly in your downloads), and answer the following questions: How does Weisbard define indie, and how does this compare to our text? What are the main conflicts between the original indie scene and the larger alternative scene it influenced? What are some of the positives of 90s indie culture? What are the drawbacks? How do the original ideals get in the way of progress, according to Weisbard? Dig up and embed a video of one of your favourite 90s indie or alternative tracks (nothing that is already in the learning materials or textbook!), and briefly explain where it falls in relation to this article (indie? alternative? where was the band situated, and why do you place them there?). Be sure to properly quote and cite your sources. #M10Q2
  3. Reflect on the Garafalo article, above. In a thoughtful, well-researched and objective post, find one current piece of popular music (any genre; current being 2015 or later) and explain how you feel it reflects our current political climate. Embed the video, and quote and cite your sources properly. Your selection may be overtly political or not; it may not be covered in any way in our course (be sure to check module 11 just in case). This is a more advanced question, and requires you to craft an answer based on your understanding of coursework and learning materials this term, as well as a a grasp of current events. Be objective, and try to be balanced in your analysis. #M10Q3
  4. Live Concert Review:Attend a live concert and write a review detailing your experience. You may only complete one concert review for the whole course. If there are multiple groups on the bill, choose only one. The concert must take place during the course and reflect the knowledge you’ve gained from the course materials. It should be the same length as your other blog posts but must describe the following features:
    1. Performer: biographies, band history, current place in popular music. Assume the reader is unfamiliar with the group.
    2. Sound: specifics of the music – harmony, rhythm, instrumentation, lyrics (if applicable) etc. Focus on one or more songs and construct a thorough description.
    3. Venue and Audience: describe not only the practical details of the environment, but how the music might inform us of the social realities of the audience and vice versa.
    4. Reflection: how meaningful was this concert to you? Was it meaningful to a broader group of people? What contributed to this feeling, or what was lacking? Use your knowledge of the history of popular music to support these feelings.
    5. Organization, Spelling, References: cite what research you use, utilizing a recognized citation method (Chicago is preferred).
    6. Proof of Attendance: take pictures of the event for your blog post and/or a selfie.

    #M10Q4

Continue to Module 10: Music