Since the 2000’s there have been many great artists, but there are only a few whose influence has spread around the world to create long-lasting, powerful changes. The task of determining who these artists are can be a difficult task for one who lives in their time, as it requires one to differentiate between them and artists whose music is massively popular for a short time but eventually fades away without much remembrance. Accomplishing this task gives you the answer to the question, ‘Which artists from the twenty-first century will be included in future versions of music textbooks?’ Looking at current artists with a future perspective, I believe that Beyoncé is a good contender for being in a future version of a music textbook, as she is not only a talented artist but also an advocate for feminism and is not afraid to speak her mind.

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born in Houston, Texas. She first started her music career at the young age of nine with a group called Destiny’s Child.[1] They were successful with their music and were one of the most popular R&B groups of the time; their album, The Writing’s on the Wall, won two Grammy Awards and sold over eight million copies.[2][3] Beyoncé was the leader of the group and wrote many of their songs. From there, she would go off to become a solo artist where she would use her songwriting skills to release her first album in 2003: Dangerously in Love. From this album, she became one of music’s top-selling artists, won five Grammy Awards, and went on many successful tours.[4]

Beyoncé showed her versatility as a singer when she released her second album, B’Day, which had elements of 1970’s funk. This versatility would continue to show itself in her third and fourth album. The third album, released in 2008 as a double album, was called I am… Sasha Fierce. The first part of this album, I am, has an introspective mood while the second part, Sasha Fierce, has more of a dance floor style song. Her fourth album came in 2011 and was simply called 4; it was a mixture of genres, ballads, and dance tracks, and was partially influenced by the Motown era.[5]

In addition to her immensely successful albums and tours, Beyoncé has many other achievements. One of these is her performance of At Last at the inaugural ball for President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.[6] Another is her receival of many Grammy Awards; in fact, at the 2010 Grammy Awards, she won six awards which in turn led to her being recognized as the first female artist to collect that many Grammys in one night.[7] Beyoncé has tied the record for number 1 hits on Billboard’s Pop Songs chart. She also made the 2011 Forbes Top 10 list of entertainment’s highest-earning women.[8]

To clearly show how much Beyoncé loves her fans, she decided to surprise them in December 2013 with an album called Beyoncé, which she referred to as a “visual album.” The response of her fans was that of amazement; within the first weekend, the album sold over 800,000 copies and would eventually lead to her becoming the first women to reach number one on the Billboard 200 with her first five albums.[9] The idea of the album—surprising fans by not releasing any information about an upcoming album—inspired other artists to do the same.

All the above should paint a clear picture of just how famous and well-liked Beyoncé has become. With that much fame, Beyoncé has been given the ability to influence many people; whether she intended to gain this ability or not, she uses it nobly. She promotes feminism and spreads its ideas so much so that she can be referred to as an advocate for feminism—or better yet, a champion for feminism.[10]

She does far more than just talk about feminism on the side, rather she incorporates it into her music. In an interview with Elle Magazine, she said:

“I put the definition of feminist in my song and on my tour, not for propaganda or to proclaim to the world that I’m a feminist, but to give clarity to the true meaning.”[11]

She also said:

“I’m not really sure people know or understand what a feminist is, but it’s very simple. It’s someone who believes in equal rights for men and women.”[12]

While this is the most prevalent example of how Beyoncé uses her fame and music to spread awareness about social issues, it is not the only one. Another example can be seen in her song Formation which has many powerful messages embedded into it. These messages became especially clear to people when it was performed at the Super Bowl halftime show. There, the performance was paired with a video; the entire act showed political awareness and images “touching on everything from black power to Hurricane Katrina.”[13]

To see one of the many issues touched on, consider the following lyrics from the song:

 I like my baby hair, with baby hair and afros
I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils.[14]

 These lyrics are an example of her empowering herself, embracing her identity, encouraging acceptance in others, and sending empowerment to those who need it.

We have now seen that Beyoncé is not only an extremely successful artist, but also a leader in spreading awareness about social issues—in particular, equal rights for women. She has incorporated these two things into one entity by embedding her messages about social issues into her music. To do this with such immense success has resulted in her positively influencing people from all over the world. That is what earns her place in future versions of a music textbook.

Endnotes

[1] “Beyoncé Knowles – Film Actor/Film Actress, Singer, Actress, Film Actress – Biography,” accessed August 6, 2018, https://www.biography.com/people/beyonce-knowles-39230.

[2] “Beyoncé Knowles – Film Actor/Film Actress, Singer, Actress, Film Actress – Biography.”

[3] “Beyoncé- Biography, Songs, & Facts,” Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed August 6, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Beyonce.

[4] “Beyoncé- Biography, Songs, & Facts.”

[5] “Beyoncé- Biography, Songs, & Facts.”

[6] “Beyoncé Knowles – Film Actor/Film Actress, Singer, Actress, Film Actress – Biography.”

[7] “Beyoncé- Biography, Songs, & Facts.”

[8] “Beyoncé Knowles – Film Actor/Film Actress, Singer, Actress, Film Actress – Biography.”

[9] “Beyoncé Knowles – Film Actor/Film Actress, Singer, Actress, Film Actress – Biography.”

[10] Kirsty Fairclough, “Why Beyoncé Matters,” The Conversation, accessed August 7, 2018, http://theconversation.com/why-beyonce-matters-58542.

[11] Team ELLE, “Beyonce? On Feminism, Motherhood, And The Real Message In Formation,” ELLE, April 5, 2016, http://www.elleuk.com/now-trending/beyonce-on-feminism-motherhood-and-the-real-message-in-formation.

[12] ELLE.

[13] “Beyoncé Knowles – Film Actor/Film Actress, Singer, Actress, Film Actress – Biography.”

[14] Fairclough, “Why Beyoncé Matters.”

Bibliography

“Beyoncé- Biography, Songs, & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed August 6, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Beyonce.

“Beyoncé Knowles – Film Actor/Film Actress, Singer, Actress, Film Actress – Biography.” Accessed August 6, 2018. https://www.biography.com/people/beyonce-knowles-39230.

ELLE, Team. “Beyonce? On Feminism, Motherhood, And The Real Message In Formation.” ELLE, April 5, 2016. http://www.elleuk.com/now-trending/beyonce-on-feminism-motherhood-and-the-real-message-in-formation.

Fairclough, Kirsty. “Why Beyoncé Matters.” The Conversation. Accessed August 7, 2018. http://theconversation.com/why-beyonce-matters-58542.

#M6Q1

The Elvisulization chart made by Spotify, uses the influence of Elvis Presley to identify and create links between many different artists. The root of the chart is Elvis and the connections made between him and other artists are the result of Elvis’ direct influence; for artists that are further along the chart, the influence of Elvis on them may be indirect. These artists, who were indirectly influenced by Elvis, may appear to have a musical style that is far different from Elvis’ and so the very existence of the connection to him may seem farfetched, but upon digging deep into both artists, a connection or a string of connections may be found in the form of style of music, way of performing, and fashion. For an example, we will follow the line on the chart that goes from Elvis Presley to the Bee Gees to Michael Jackson and then ends on Pharrell Williams.[1]

Elvis Presley

As many of us know, Elvis Presley was, and still is, a very influential person; even today, there are many artists who look up to him. Elvis was born January 8, 1935 and died August 16, 1977. Growing up, he listened to pop, country, church gospel, all-night gospel, and black R&B.[2] Listening to all these different genres helped Elvis create a unique sound which resulted in a new era of music, one which would influence future artists such as the Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, and Pharrell Williams.

Bee Gees

The Bee Gees were a trio of brothers that were heavily influenced by the rock genre—this already suggests that Elvis, commonly referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll,” had a great influence on them.[3][4] To see this clearer, one may look to the 1970s where the Bee Gees turned their attention to dance-oriented music, which is similar to Elvis.[5] Regarding the style of singing, Elvis had a romantic way of singing to his fans which is also evident in the Bee Gees. Yet another influence of Elvis on the Bee Gees can be found in their fashion styles. Elvis was known for his iconic attire: a white jumpsuit that had white bell bottoms and revealed some of his chest. Similarly, the Bee Gees also wore white bell bottom pants and a white shirt that left some of their chest exposed. This style is like a tease which, at that time, would be considered very unusual and sexual.

      

Michael Jackson

One of the defining traits of the Bee Gees is their high-pitched voice. This trait comes up often in later pop music, especially in the music of Michael Jackson. Being that the Bee Gees influenced Michael Jackson in this way, and that the Bee Gees were influenced by Elvis, one may then conclude that Michael Jackson was influenced by Elvis. To add to this, there is some evidence of Elvis’ direct influence on Michael Jackson through the two artists’ dance moves. Michael Jackson is well-known for his dancing which is characterized by moves involving a lot of motion with his legs. Likewise, Elvis is well-known for moving his legs when he danced. In terms of signature dance moves, Elvis had “The Pelvis” move which involved him moving his pelvis, while Michael Jackson had his “Crotch Grab,” the action of which is self-explanatory.[6] [7] Both signature moves are sexual in nature, causing people to be pleasantly caught off guard.

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams has a unique style and sound to his music, but upon listening closely to it, while keeping the music of Michael Jackson in mind, one may notice how the two artists sound similar; that is, Michael Jackson has influenced Pharrell Williams. For a specific example, one may compare Williams’ song “Happy” to Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” to see that they both share the style of high soft singing.

This style of high soft singing goes back to the Bee Gees which indirectly makes Pharrell influenced by the Bee Gees. These influences, coupled with the influence Elvis had on Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees, leads to the conclusion that Elvis has influenced Pharrell Williams both directly and indirectly. The direct influence comes from the sexual aspect present in Elvis’ music and performance. This sexual aspect, as mentioned before, is present in the Bee Gees and Michael Jackson; it happens to also be present in Pharrell Williams’ music, as can be seen in the music video for “Blurred Lines,” by Robin Thicke, featuring Pharrell Williams. In the music video, the sexuality presents itself in the form of several women walking around in barely any clothes.

As we have seen, Elvis has influenced the Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, and Pharrell Williams, but this is just one example from the Elvisulization. Elvis has influenced many others directly or indirectly.

Endnotes

[1] “The Elvisualization,” accessed July 13, 2018, http://static.echonest.com/insights/elvis/elvisulization.html.

[2] “Elvis Presley Biography – Elvis Presley Life Story – Official Elvis Biography,” accessed July 15, 2018, https://www.graceland.com/elvis/biography.aspx.

[3] “The Bee Gees – Biography,” accessed July 13, 2018, https://www.biography.com/people/groups/the-bee-gees.

[4] Dave Marsh, “Elvis Presley – Biography, Songs, Movies, & Facts,” accessed July 13, 2018, https://britannica.com/biography/Elvis-Presley.

[5] “Barry Gibb – Singer, Songwriter – Biography,” accessed July 13, 2018, https://www.biography.com/people/barry-gibb-20861655.

[6] “10 Classic Elvis Dance Moves In Honor Of The King’s 80^th Birthday,” HuffPost Canada, January 7, 2015, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/07/elvis-presley-birthday_n_6431940.html.

[7] “8 Of Michael Jackson’s Most Iconic Dance Moves,” accessed July 13, 2018, https://www.refinery29.com/2016/08/120661/michael-jackson-dance-moves-king-of-pop.

Bibliography

Marsh, Dave. “Elvis Presley – Biography, Songs, Movies, & Facts.” Accessed July 13, 2018. https://britannica.com/biography/Elvis-Presley.

“8 Of Michael Jackson’s Most Iconic Dance Moves.” Accessed July 13, 2018. https://www.refinery29.com/2016/08/120661/michael-jackson-dance-moves-king-of-pop.

“10 Classic Elvis Dance Moves In Honor Of The King’s 80^th Birthday.” HuffPost Canada. January 7, 2015. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/07/elvis-presley-birthday_n_6431940.html.

“Barry Gibb – Singer, Songwriter – Biography.” Accessed July 13, 2018. https://www.biography.com/people/barry-gibb-20861655.

“Elvis Presley Biography – Elvis Presley Life Story – Official Elvis Biography.” Accessed July 15, 2018. https://www.graceland.com/elvis/biography.aspx.

The Bee Gees – Biography.” Accessed July 13, 2018. https://www.biography.com/people/groups/the-bee-gees.

The Elvisualization.” Accessed July 13, 2018. http://static.echonest.com/insights/elvis/elvisulization.html.

 

 

 

 

#M5Q3

Paul Anka was born July 30, 1941 in Ottawa, Ontario.[1] He first showed an interest in music when he was young by singing in the choir at church as well as studying piano. At the age of thirteen, he was in his own vocal group. His dream of pursuing a career in music became especially clear when he went on a trip to New York; after that trip, he saved up his money and convinced his parents to let him

go to Los Angeles to pursue music. Working with Modern Records, he released his first single, though it was not a hit and did not do much to start his career.[2] What Paul really wanted was to move to New York; after some convincing, his father let him make the move under one condition: if he could not make it in New York then he would have to come back to Ottawa.[3]

In New York, Paul met with Don Costa, an executive at ABC/Paramount Records who showed great interest in Paul after listening to some of his music. A contract was written up and then signed by Paul. Following this, Paul wrote a song about a girl he had a crush on in Ottawa; the song was called “Diana.” Once the song was recorded and released, it became Paul’s first number one hit single.[4] By the age of twenty, which was then the late 1950s, Paul was travelling to perform songs such as “Lonely Boy” and “Put Your Head On My Shoulders.”[5]

Paul’s music tended to be influenced by artists like Nat Cole and Frank Sinatra. In particular, in “Put Your Head On My Shoulders,” Paul’s voice is strong, singular, and is the main element of the song. Also, his performance style exemplifies the characteristic of almost talking to the audience as he sings. These traits are certainly present in the music of Nat Cole and Frank Sinatra, whose voices are known to be the centrepiece of their music as they sing, and talk, to their audience.  Now consider “Unforgettable” by Nat Cole, which was a change in music style post-war and was ideal for slow dancing instead of the foxtrot.[6] When comparing this song with Paul’s “Put Your Head On My Shoulders,” one gets the sense that they have a similar feel to them. That is, Nat and Paul have a more personal way of performing, where they are sharing their feelings through singing, referred to as emphasizing the song to the singer. To add to the similarity in a small way, there is pizzicato present in Nat Cole’s song and also a small, subtle amount of pizzicato in Paul’s song.[7] On the other hand, the music of Frank Sinatra tends to be more upbeat, lively, and slightly less soothing then Nat Cole’s music.[8] This certainly seems to be a quality that influenced Paul, as his song shares this characteristic quite closely. For this particular Paul Anka song, it should be noted that, unlike the music of Frank Sinatra and Nat Cole, there is not much instrumentation in it; the lack of instrumentation seems to be made up for with the presence of minor vocalists.

Despite his success, Paul encountered a problem when he performed his music back in Ottawa: people were booing him and would not embrace his music—this resulted in Paul not performing there for decades. When the 1960’s came about, people started to like rock ‘n’ roll from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.[9] This led Paul on a different career route. He performed his music to an older group of people in nightclubs in New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.[10] Unlike many other crooners of the time, Paul enjoyed writing music for other artists such as Tom Jones, Michael Jackson, and his friend Frank Sinatra (for whom he wrote “My Way”). It is also interesting to note that Paul co-wrote the popular Michael Jackson song, “This is it.”[11] In 1974, he released another song called “You’re Having My Baby,” which became number one on the charts despite being very controversial for feminists. In the 1990s, Paul continued his career through acting; to this day, he continues to make appearances in TV shows and movies.[12]

Paul Anka has had a significant impact on popular music. To recognize them, he has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the American Songwriters Hall of Fame.[13]

End Notes

[1] “Paul Anka – Singer, Songwriter, Television Actor, Film Actor, Guitarist, Pianist, Actor – Biography,” accessed July 12, 2018, https://www.biography.com/people/paul-anka-3424.

[2] “Paul Anka – Canadian Music Hall Of Fame,” accessed July 12, 2018, http://canadianmusichalloffame.ca/inductee/paul-anka/.

[3] “Paul Anka – Singer, Songwriter, Television Actor, Film Actor, Guitarist, Pianist, Actor – Biography,”

[4] “Paul Anka – Canadian Music Hall Of Fame.”

[5] “Paul Anka – Singer, Songwriter, Television Actor, Film Actor, Guitarist, Pianist, Actor – Biography,”

[6] Michael Campbell, Popular Music in America The Beat Goes On, Fourth Edition (Boston, MA: Schirmer Cengage Learning, 2013), 153 and 154.

[7] Michael Campbell, 154.

[8] Michael Campbell, 155.

[9] “Paul Anka – Singer, Songwriter, Television Actor, Film Actor, Guitarist, Pianist, Actor – Biography,”

[10] Rachel Cole, “Paul Anka- American Singer and Songwriter,” accessed July 12, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-Anka.

[11] Rachel Cole.

[12] “Paul Anka – Singer, Songwriter, Television Actor, Film Actor, Guitarist, Pianist, Actor – Biography,”

[13] Betty Nygaard King, “Paul Anka,” The Canadian Encyclopedia, accessed July 13, 2018, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paul-anka-emc/.

Bibliography

Campbell, Michael. Popular Music in American The Beat Goes On. Boston, MA: Schirmer Cengage Learning, 2013.

Cole, Rachel. “Paul Anka- American Singer and Songwriter.” Accessed July 12, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-Anka.

King, Betty Nygarrd. “Paul Anka.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed July 13, 2018. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paul-anka-emc/.

“Paul Anka- Canadian Music Hall of Fame” Accessed July 12, 2018. http://canadianmusichalloffame.ca/inductee/paul-anka/.

“Paul Anka – Singer, Songwriter, Television Actor, Film Actor, Guitarist, Pianist, Actor – Biography.” Accessed July 12, 2018. https://www.biography.com/people/paul-anka-3424.