Hey y’all!

For my final blog post, I would like to let y’all know why Florida Georgia Line could and should end up in our textbook in the future to come.

 Florida Georgia Line is a duo comprised of members Tyler Hubbard (from Monroe, Georgia) and Brian Kelley (from Ormond Beach, Florida). Their sound combines electrifying, hard-driving rock with honest, expressive lyrics. The Cruise Songfacts explains that both Hubbard and Kelley began playing guitar individually while they were in high school before meeting at Nashville’s Belmont University. They began writing songs together between classes and soon found themselves playing local clubs, quickly building a fanbase. Hubbard and Kelley signed a publishing/production/management deal with Craig Wiseman’s Big Loud Mountain record label in December 2011 and released their first five-song EP, It‘z Just What We Do, the following May. “Cruise” is their first single from the collection.[1]

Cruise

Florida Georgia Line came out of nowhere in 2012 to become the biggest country group of the new decade. The vehicle of their success was “Cruise,” a slick, shimmering ode to the wide-open road that became an unkillable crossover hit in 2013 and, eventually, the biggest country single of all time.

“Cruise” kept many other hits away from the number one position and that included two subsequent singles by Florida Georgia Line: the January 2013 single “Get Your Shine On” and its sequel, “Round Here.” Both of these were huge hits, topping the Country Airplay chart on their way to platinum certification, but they were dwarfed by “Cruise,” which wound up selling over 6,500,000 units on its way to becoming the biggest country single of all time.[2]

 

DIRT

The duo revealed on August 15, 2014, that their second studio album would be titled “Anything Goes” with a release date of October 14, 2014. The album’s first single, “Dirt”, was released to country radio and digital sales outlets on July 8, 2014 and became the sixth consecutive single by Florida Georgia Line to make the top five on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[3]

The song is a mid-tempo ballad about various life events centering on dirt. This song shows a different side of FGL in comparison to their “Cruise” hit. And provided a great change to the music the group had be releasing prior to this song, not a huge change but change of pace. This just goes to show that these fellas could craft upbeat country, but also hit the hearts of listeners through storytelling songs.

 

Simple

Simple is their fifteenth solo single release, and the lead to their upcoming fourth studio album. The song expresses romantic love as a “simple” concept, which makes it simple to listen along and sing along.

“Simple” exemplifies how life shouldn’t be over complicated, but rather simple. The concept of the song makes it super relatable as life can be complicated and filled with such complexity. Giving this song a listen not only makes me blessed for life itself but also for how simple it can be if you find the right people to share it with.

 

I chose this group of talented artists for this blog as growing up I had zero tolerance for any type of country. As this group made their debut my preference for country altered due to the songs  that these guys have created. In my opinion, their music stands out compared to other artists as the storyline behind each song reminds me of nothing but great times with the people I love. Some of the songs really hit the soft spot, while others make you want to get up and dance. Overall, the amount of times I have had the chance to listen to these songs has made me enjoy life much more than I already have. This type of music is so moving and everyone should have the chance to give it a listen because it give you that extra something that you are missing.

 

With that, FGL would be an exceptional addition to the music textbook not only for how successful they have been, but also for the outstanding music they have created and will continue to create.

 

References

1. https://www.eventim.co.uk/florida-georgia-line-biography.html?affiliate=EUK&doc=artistPages/biography&fun=artist&action=biography&kuid=474066
2. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/florida-georgia-line-mn0002942900/biography
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Georgia_Line

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey all, this will be my second blog!

Hello, my name is Travis and I am a 4th year Finance major at Edwards School of Business. I have selected to take this class as an elective as I had hoped to gain some insight and knowledge around popular music in America. The course material has sufficed up to this point and has helped me better grasp concepts, ideas, and information on previous and exciting music.

After reading the part on Albert von Tilzer in the textbook, his older brother Harry von Tilzer, was only briefly introduced and sparked an interest for me. With one of the challenge questions for module two being the option to research one of the six listed artists or singers, I decided that I would take the opportunity further my interest in Harry von Tizler. So today I would like to talk about Harry Gumm or as you may know as Harry von Tilzer, the older brother of Albert von Tilzer.

Harry Gumm was born in Detroit, Michigan on July 8, 1872.  At a young age Harry participated in circus acts, which helped him better himself in playing piano and acting. At this point in life Harry had decided to adopt his mother’s maiden name of Tilzer and added the von because he thought it showed more class. Ever since, he has been known as Harry von Tilzer and had influenced his other siblings to take the name as well. From the constant practice and play of piano he was able to secure a job as a saloon pianist. After some years of this occupation he had finally published his first song “My Old New Hampshire Home”  one of the many that would become a smashing hit and #1 sheet music seller.

The success of “My Old New Hampshire Home” prompted Maurice Shapiro of Shapiro-Bernstein Music Publishers to make Von Tilzer a partner, and the firm renamed ‘Shapiro, Bernstein and Von Tilzer’. (Reublin and Beil 2018) Soon after, Harry had come out with another successful song “A Bird in a Gilded Cage” and shortly after left Shapiro Bernstein to form Harry Von Tilzer Music Company. This song is considered a Ballad and tells the story of a woman who has married a man for only money and not love.

One of the songs created under his own label was “In the Sweet Bye Bye” and was not highly recognized as the former two discussed above. Although, the song is very catchy and has a romantic storyline.

 Harry Gumm AKA Harry von Tilzer is noted as one of the best ‘Tin Pan Alley‘ songwriters of the 20th century. He contributed a numerous amount waltz songs and songs in general. His story did not contain much hardship or challenges, but only because he worked hard to achieve the status he gained. I would consider him a major contributor to the beginning of popular American music.

 

Reublin, Richard, and Richard Beil. 2018. “Songs About U.S. States; Missouri To Oregon, Page 1”. Parlorsongs.Com. Accessed July 20. http://parlorsongs.com/issues/2003-8/thismonth/feature.php.

Reublin, Rick. 2009. “In Search Of Tin Pan Alley”. Parlorsongs.Com. http://parlorsongs.com/insearch/tinpanalley/tinpanalley.php.

Songwriters Hall of Fame. 2018. “Harry Von Tilzer | Songwriters Hall Of Fame”. Songhall.Org. https://www.songhall.org/profile/Harry_Von_Tilzer.

Youtube. 2015. “A Bird In A Gilded Cage” 1900 Cylinder (Song By Arthur J. Lamb And Harry Von Tilzer) Lambert. Image. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkc9f-5ZW-k.

Youtube. 2016. Consolidated Quartet – My Old New Hampshire Home. Image. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE0dQafOIsY.

Youtube. 2016. In The Sweet Bye And Bye (1902). Image. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAJ1d2uaUr8.