Labrinth is what many may consider a “triple threat,” there honestly isn’t much he cannot do. His variety in music ranges anywhere from alternative, pop, and R&B which is what makes his music so unique. Timothy Mckenzie (Labrinth) is from London and has been making his mark in the music industry as a writer, producer, singer and rapper all in one. Although many may not have heard of him or know his music, he is incredibly talented and can do almost anything he sets his mind to. One of the first recognizable songs I heard by Labrinth was in 2010 and called  “Let the Sunshine” which he produced, wrote and sang all on his own out of his small home studio in his bedroom. Labrinth says the song was inspired by the first rays of sun that peak into your room in the morning to welcome you into the day.

The sole fact that Labrinth is talented enough to write, produce and sing his own songs is the reason I think he should be included in future texts. Today many artists voices are tuned by other people to sing songs also written by other people. Making music for the sole purpose of making money seems to be the goal of many artists and singing what they think will make money rather than what moves them. This is something that makes him stand out and what makes his music so unique and valuable. His song, “jealous” from 2014 is a completely different sound than “Let The Sunshine” which only displays a taste of his abilities to produce all varieties of music.

So, how come I’ve never heard of him?

Labrinth seems to be behind the scenes in the music world and possibly underestimated but it seems he is only working his way up and if you have not heard of him I feel you will very soon. It seems only recently Labrinth has made his claim to fame “When Nicki Minaj released Queen on Friday, the album included a predictable cast of A-list guest vocalists — acts like Future, the Weeknd, Ariana Grande and Lil Wayne. But one singer on Queen is less well-known to American listeners: Labrinth, who co-wrote, co-produced and sang on “Majesty,” a schizophrenic, hard-hitting record with an astoundingly fast verse from Eminem.” Here Labrinth is emphasized for his ability to write, produce and sing his own songs but is only now being recognized because be collaborated with two of hip-hops most famous rappers. In the extremely famous  Rolling Stones, Labrinth talks about how he is inspired by every genre of music and takes inspiration from all around him to produce unique tracks.

“I know, it’s like, who’s this Labrinth guy? A lot of the music industry knows about me. It’s just taking time for the world to get to know what I do.” (Labrinth, 2018)

Not long ago in 2017, Labrinth dropped a hit that I personally fell in love with and listen to a lot. It is one of those songs that gets attention when I play it. People immediately like it and always ask who sings it or what the song is and I am happy to share because he has so much raw talent to offer.

Labrinth is different because every song he creates has a different and unique feel. Instead of creating the same music over and over, he is inspired and passionately creates what feels right to him and lets his emotions or what inspired him to shine through his music. Since he writes, produces and sings he is able to really insert his raw emotions into songs in every aspect and it is for that reason I think more should know of him and learn from him in the music industry. Not only is he multi-talented but it is obvious music is who he is and what he lives for when he is interviewed about the song “Majesty” and says,” I play piano and four instruments. I wanted it to feel like a Beatles record or a classic late Sixties-, early Seventies-style record. But then I wanted to switch from that into a crazy hip-hop drop. I missed classic hip-hop. I wanted to make an upgrade of that energy.” He has dedicated his life to learning all aspects of the music industry along with how to express himself and it seems that is a talent that may be overlooked.

Will we hear more of him?

Labrinth is currently working with two extremely famous artists, Sia and Diplo on an album of their own called LSD. He’s producing his own record and, besides names like those he has already started to climb. Like famous pop singer Sia, Labrinth has a unique feel and is extremely creative which can only indicate his future album will be one for the books.

“When we got the chance to do LSD, we jumped at it, and it’s one of the most creative projects I’ve been involved in.”(Labrinth,2018)

Personally, I think Sia is an extremely talented woman who will also be in future textbooks for both her raw talent and her ability to stand out in the music industry which can be hard to do especially in the pop scene. Often many pop, alternative or hip-hop artists music sounds similar but both Sia and Labrinth are able to create their own feel that separates their music from others.

Sources cited:

Rolling Stone (2018). LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC.
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Country Thunder, Craven SK.

This past weekend I attended Country Thunder located just outside of Regina in Craven Saskatchewan. This is my second year and both have been the most amazing experience. Now, the majority of people I talk to have the wrong idea about Country Thunder. Many think it is a weekend dedicated to drinking and country people doing stupid things. To many, this weekend is more than just a party. It is some of the best music country has to offer all in one place where you are surrounded by the people you love without any worries.

The artist I have chosen to focus on from the entire weekend is Sundays headliner, Luke Bryan. I strongly believe that they left the best for last and they probably do that so nobody goes home early.

Before anything else, I want to touch on Lukes choice of clothing for his performance. Luke is wearing his Humboldt strong shirt proud in the perfect possible setting as all of Saskatchewan and so many attending Craven would have been affected by the tragic crash. I think this alone represents the overall environment of the concert: one large bonded community coming together. Bryan showed his support for Saskatchewan while sharing music with is that we loved. This tragedy would have also hit home with him as, at 19, Bryan’s brother was killed in a car accident and while wearing this shirt he was showing us that we all have each other and can heal through music as a family. Not only did he lose his brother in 1996 but his sister also passed in 2007 and it seems Bryan poured his mourning and feelings into his music.

Thomas Luther Bryan is an American Singer from Georgia who has made and continues to make a massive impact in popular country music. Born in 1976, Bryans family claimes they always knew he was going to make it and it was the death of his siblings that really inspired him to chase his dreams. this is clear because Luke Bryan first became known in 2007, shortly after the unexpected passing of his sister. It didn’t take long for Bryan to drop single after single and quickly make a name for himself in the world of country music. Aside from having an amazing voice and phenomenal country songs, Bryan is also extremely charming and fans fell in love with him when he began judging American Idol year after year.

This little girl accurately represents how my friends and I felt the second Luke Bryan stepped onto the stage. I’m sure all of Craven was feeling the same way or similarly.

Bryan’s music and songs tend to have a meaning to him and have connected with so many like he did at the concert in Craven. Yes some music is about partying and country people doing country things but like any genre of music, there is more to be heard that the surface. Bryans hit song, ‘Drink a Beer’ isn’t at all about drinking and partying but is a memorial to his siblings who passed.  Many probably didn’t know what this song means to Thomas and how the Hombolt crash and wearing of the shirt made him feel but he still wanted to reach the audience with his music. Country music, like all music, can be used as a form of healing or be used to bring up the mood of an audience with fun songs to dance to and forget everything that isn’t in the moment.

In this song, Bryan Sings, “Funny how the good ones go, too soon but the good lord knows” and “so long my friend until we meet again.” This song shows the strength behind country music and how it goes deeper into our roots. To me, Luke showing Humbolt pride while sharing his music and emotions with us made the concert that much more meaningful. Drink a beer is one of Bryans hit songs that has unbelievable powerful lyrics. Since this is a slower song I think I should also focus on a more fast-paced song to represent more of Bryans musical talent.

Above are just two more hot songs Bryan played at craven which he sang with perfect harmony. While it is clear how amazing his voice is, he also keeps his pitch and tune while staying on beat to all slow or fast songs. I think it’s crucial for artists to find a balance between songs people can party to with songs people can connect their emotions to and Bryan does an amazing job as a musician with finding that balance. While the tempo changes, Bryans talent remains amazing.

Craven was a perfect venue for Luke Bryan because country music is hugely celebrated and loved by prairie people. Personally, I have lived in towns all over Saskatchewan where country music is part of the culture and Luke Bryan has been one of my favorite artists for a while. Craven is a fun place where I got to see some of my favorite musicians while listening to some amazing live music and I plan to go back every year for as long as I can.

Bibliography:

Luke Bryan Biography. A&E Television Networks. The Biography.com website, 2018. https://www.biography.com/people/luke-bryan

“The Great American Songbook isn’t really a book. Rather, it’s a notional collection of several hundred pop songs.”(Yagoda, 2015)

The Great American Songbook was the start of something revolutionary. It was a collection of the influential jazz and popular American songs that stemmed from the 20th century. Although called a book, it is more of a grouping of enduring music from the 1920s-1950s that were intended for theatre and musical film in New York city. Many of the earliest influential Songbook classics were composed on New York’s Tin Pan Alley. Around the 1970s many pop and rock artists took over and recreated some of the music included but the original standards were composed by men like Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Michael Feinstein, Richard Rodgers, Johnny Mercer and others. Since some of these names may not be familiar as they were not to me, some more recognizable names may include; Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.  These men and few women made a living writing sheet music for American musical theatre and Hollywood movies.

Since majority of the composers from the Songbook were men, I have chosen to place a focus on some of the women. Dorothy fields song, ‘I cant Give You Anything But Love, Baby’ which was co-wrote with Jimmy McHugh in 1928 and sung by Adelaide Hall at Les Ambassadeurs Club in New York is a staple example in the Songbook.

The first recording of this songs stems from the 1920s but is again introduced in the Songbook in the late 1930s by the well known, Billie Holiday. This is a perfect example of how songs included in The Great American Songbook were almost passed down or passed on to different artists to place their own swing on. I believe Holidays version of the song became famous because of her incredibly strong vocals, pitch and tone. She sings soft and smooth while still keeping powerful vocals.

This song in particular is one of so many that have continued to influence both the history and world of music we live in today. Although it origionated in the 1920’s, singers have contonued to keep it alive. Ella Fitzgerald also did a beautiful and more groovy version of the song in 1957. The main differance between the 1920s version when compared to the 1950s version is the more upbeat pace. Fitzgerald takes it from a smooth jazz to a more ragtime jazz.

Between the three-different version provided, I personally prefer Ella Fitzgerald’s version not because it is the most recent out of the three but because I prefer a faster-paced beat. It doesn’t mean I don’t like soft smooth music, but everyone has different taste and often, taste changes. I believe a change in musical taste and preferences is one of the main reasons the era of the Great American Songbook may have faded as Rock and Roll took over around the 1970s and post-war period. In Module three the class really gets to understand the impacts technology and advancement had on the world of new music and I think the main reason The Great American Songbook faded can be explained in one statement:

Out with the old and in with the new?

I place a question mark here because this is a widely debated topic. Peoples taste in music prewar was probably very different from their taste in music post-war and post-Great Depression which had a massive impact on places like Harlem where music grew and thrived. People and placed who once flourished with jazz and life became corrupt and worn down, leaving room for new opportunities and new music. People alongside popular music changed after World War II. Another popular belief behind the fade of the Great American Songbook is the fact that in 1953, 34 songwriters sued radio stations and record companies and by the time the suit was over, other artists and music genres such as the African Americans who came after the Great Migration started to open the door to new flavours of popular music. Rock seems to be the most drastic turning point which led to the fade of The Great American Songbook.

So, why were songs not added after the 1960’s?

The Beatles (formed 1960) and Elvis Presley(peaked in the 1960’s).

Are The Beatles and Elvis really the reason The Great American Songbook faded?

No, they are not solely to blame but they, alongside many other artists introduced an entirely new genre of music that people loved. If you listen to ‘I Can’t Give You Anything but Love, Baby’ and then listen to ‘Twist and Shout’ it’s crystal clear the distinct difference between the two and how music drastically began to change in the 1960’s-1970’s and I’m betting more people know those two legendary names and recognized much less of the original composers in the Great American Songbook. It seems all good things come to an end and as time goes on, peoples taste in music will continue to change and some great things may fade while new things bloom.

Personally, I have the utmost respect for all the composers and songs included in the Great American Songbook as well as all musicians because music is one massive butterfly effect. Without one, who knows where we would be now. The music from the Great American Songbook is beautiful and although it may have faded it is still a staple in the history of popular music.

Works Cited:

Cafe Songbook, www.greatamericansongbook.net

Chilton, Martin. “Cover to Cover: The Story of The Great American Songbook.” You Discover Music, 2018.

Mcdermott, Jeffrey C. “What is the Great American Songbook.” The Centre for Performing Arts, 2016.

Yagoda, Ben. “Have we turned the last page in Americas Songbook?” Zocalo Public Square, 2015.

“The Great American Songbook isn’t really a book. Rather, it’s a notional collection of several hundred pop songs.”(Yagoda, 2015)

The Great American Songbook was the start of something revolutionary. It was a collection of the influential jazz and popular American songs that stemmed from the 20th century. Although called a book, it is more of a grouping of enduring music from the 1920s-1950s that were intended for theatre and musical film in New York city. Many of the earliest influential Songbook classics were composed on New York’s Tin Pan Alley. Around the 1970s many pop and rock artists took over and recreated some of the music included but the original standards were composed by men like Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Michael Feinstein, Richard Rodgers, Johnny Mercer and others. Since some of these names may not be familiar as they were not to me, some more recognizable names may include; Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.  These men and few women made a living writing sheet music for American musical theatre and Hollywood movies.

Since majority of the composers from the Songbook were men, I have chosen to place a focus on some of the women. Dorothy fields song, ‘I cant Give You Anything But Love, Baby’ which was co-wrote with Jimmy McHugh in 1928 and sung by Adelaide Hall at Les Ambassadeurs Club in New York is a staple example in the Songbook.

The first recording of this songs stems from the 1920s but is again introduced in the Songbook in the late 1930s by the well known, Billie Holiday. This is a perfect example of how songs included in The Great American Songbook were almost passed down or passed on to different artists to place their own swing on. I believe Holidays version of the song became famous because of her incredibly strong vocals, pitch and tone. She sings soft and smooth while still keeping powerful vocals.

This song in particular is one of so many that have continued to influence both the history and world of music we live in today. Although it origionated in the 1920’s, singers have contonued to keep it alive. Ella Fitzgerald also did a beautiful and more groovy version of the song in 1957. The main differance between the 1920s version when compared to the 1950s version is the more upbeat pace. Fitzgerald takes it from a smooth jazz to a more ragtime jazz.

Between the three-different version provided, I personally prefer Ella Fitzgerald’s version not because it is the most recent out of the three but because I prefer a faster-paced beat. It doesn’t mean I don’t like soft smooth music, but everyone has different taste and often, taste changes. I believe a change in musical taste and preferences is one of the main reasons the era of the Great American Songbook may have faded as Rock and Roll took over around the 1970s and post-war period. In Module three the class really gets to understand the impacts technology and advancement had on the world of new music and I think the main reason The Great American Songbook faded can be explained in one statement:

Out with the old and in with the new?

I place a question mark here because this is a widely debated topic. Peoples taste in music prewar was probably very different from their taste in music post-war and post-Great Depression which had a massive impact on places like Harlem where music grew and thrived. People and placed who once flourished with jazz and life became corrupt and worn down, leaving room for new opportunities and new music. People alongside popular music changed after World War II. Another popular belief behind the fade of the Great American Songbook is the fact that in 1953, 34 songwriters sued radio stations and record companies and by the time the suit was over, other artists and music genres such as the African Americans who came after the Great Migration started to open the door to new flavours of popular music. Rock seems to be the most drastic turning point which led to the fade of The Great American Songbook.

So, why were songs not added after the 1960’s?

The Beatles (formed 1960) and Elvis Presley(peaked in the 1960’s).

Are The Beatles and Elvis really the reason The Great American Songbook faded?

No, they are not solely to blame but they, alongside many other artists introduced an entirely new genre of music that people loved. If you listen to ‘I Can’t Give You Anything but Love, Baby’ and then listen to ‘Twist and Shout’ it’s crystal clear the distinct difference between the two and how music drastically began to change in the 1960’s-1970’s and I’m betting more people know those two legendary names and recognized much less of the original composers in the Great American Songbook. It seems all good things come to an end and as time goes on, peoples taste in music will continue to change and some great things may fade while new things bloom.

Personally, I have the utmost respect for all the composers and songs included in the Great American Songbook as well as all musicians because music is one massive butterfly effect. Without one, who knows where we would be now. The music from the Great American Songbook is beautiful and although it may have faded it is still a staple in the history of popular music.

Works Cited:

Cafe Songbook, www.greatamericansongbook.net

Chilton, Martin. “Cover to Cover: The Story of The Great American Songbook.” You Discover Music, 2018.

Mcdermott, Jeffrey C. “What is the Great American Songbook.” The Centre for Performing Arts, 2016.

Yagoda, Ben. “Have we turned the last page in Americas Songbook?” Zocalo Public Square, 2015.

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