Author Archive: wcr723

Coldplay: The Evolution of Digital Music

Posted on by

 

Origins

In case you have never heard of Coldplay before, they are a pop/rock band that formed out of London, England in 1996. Chris Martin has led the group since the beginning and has made it his mission to unify the world and invoke happiness upon it; in a world full of inequality, hatred, and revenge, Coldplay takes advantage of Digital Media to pull the world closer together instead of tearing it apart. [1]

Music is more than just a means of entertainment, it affects its listeners by influencing their outlook of life. Coldplay’s music is no exception to that. Below you will find one of their early hits (2000), Yellow.

The song was recorded during a time where the world was rapidly changing and technology turned a new leaf. Applications like LimeWire (2000), iTunes (2001), and YouTube changed how people listened to music. With this idea in mind, Coldplay was able to effectively distribute their messages portrayed in this song on a global scale.

Yellow is an easy going song expressing how beautiful life is; that people should take a step back and look from the outside looking in, opposed to thinking you’re the center of the universe. The song actually originated when Chris Martin and his band were stargazing, realizing how wonderful this world is.[1] The lyrics:

“Look at the stars/Look, they shine for you/They were all yellow.”

Source: [1]

resulted from the band generally appreciating life which reflects on their image as a whole.

Transforming Pop Music

Coldplay is known as a rock band as well as a pop band. However, they make it quite apparent that they believe rock has been replaced by pop.[2] Again, going back to theme of life, Coldplay hopes to induce happiness when people listen to their music.

“The old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll lifestyle thing is great, but does it really make for great music? Does it make people happy? I don’t feel we’re embarrassed about being successful, but we don’t need the perm and the gold Rolex.”

– Chris Martin

Source: [2]

 

Coldplay impacted the transition from angry, rebellious rock into a heart-warming pop. Although not all of their songs are happy, the emotion and passion seems to be consistent throughout. “The Scientist” (2001) tells the story of a man filled with regret for hurting someone he loves; the music video shown below is played in reverse narrative which was quite innovative at that point in time.

This song is a good example of how rock was transformed into pop with the accompaniment of the piano alongside traditional rock instruments as well as a slower tempo and less angry mood. Coldplay expresses how important love is in this piece, and that we can’t go back in time no matter how bad we want it. This was a huge transition from the rebellious style of music that was popular in the ’90s; although it is important to experience a variety of emotions in life, Coldplay felt that happiness is something that everyone should pursue.[1]

Even though “The Scientist” isn’t necessarily a happy song, it still teaches a valuable lesson about happiness. It shows the importance of appreciating what someone has in their life, and that any moment it could change forever. The mood of the song becomes increasingly less depressing as it unravels; as the man travels back in time he is closer to being happy with the woman he loved. Coldplay cleverly sends the message that although its good to remember the past, it is important to live in the now in order to be happy.

Uniting the World

“No amount of unchoreographed movement from four little men can unite 80,000 people like one good chorus.”

– Chris Martin

Source: [2]

As mentioned earlier, Coldplay makes it their top priority to bring people together in a world that has been so torn apart in the past. “A Sky Full of Stars” (2014) is one of their more recent big hits and its chorus indicates that every human is fascinating in their own way.

The video shows the Coldplay crew out in the real world spreading joy with their upbeat music. Apart from their catchy music, they leave the listener in a healthy state of mind opposed to a hateful attitude which is what set them apart from other artists in the late 90’s/early 2000’s. Throughout their long existence in the music industry, their mood and theme hasn’t changed; it is easy to see the impact they’ve made judging just by how popular their music videos are.

Coldplay had perfect timing in that they were able to utilize the rapidly advancing technology of the time. Technology helped them get their message across the globe but at the same time, produced some innovative music videos that even today are still relevant. Coldplay will always be remembered as pop/rock group that helped unify the world with lively music.

References

  1. Hiatt, Brian. “Chris Martin: The Rolling Stone Interview.” Rolling Stone. June 25, 2018. Accessed August 03, 2018. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chris-martin-the-rolling-stone-interview-190116/.
  2. McCormick, Neil. “Coldplay: ‘Rock Music Has Nowhere Left to Go’.” The Telegraph. December 10, 2015. Accessed August 03, 2018. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/coldplay-rock-music-has-nowhere-left-to-go/.

 

Coldplay: The Evolution of Digital Music

Posted on by

 

Origins

In case you have never heard of Coldplay before, they are a pop/rock band that formed out of London, England in 1996. Chris Martin has led the group since the beginning and has made it his mission to unify the world and invoke happiness upon it; in a world full of inequality, hatred, and revenge, Coldplay takes advantage of Digital Media to pull the world closer together instead of tearing it apart. [1]

Music is more than just a means of entertainment, it affects its listeners by influencing their outlook of life. Coldplay’s music is no exception to that. Below you will find one of their early hits (2000), Yellow.

The song was recorded during a time where the world was rapidly changing and technology turned a new leaf. Applications like LimeWire (2000), iTunes (2001), and YouTube changed how people listened to music. With this idea in mind, Coldplay was able to effectively distribute their messages portrayed in this song on a global scale.

Yellow is an easy going song expressing how beautiful life is; that people should take a step back and look from the outside looking in, opposed to thinking you’re the center of the universe. The song actually originated when Chris Martin and his band were stargazing, realizing how wonderful this world is.[1] The lyrics:

“Look at the stars/Look, they shine for you/They were all yellow.”

Source: [1]

resulted from the band generally appreciating life which reflects on their image as a whole.

Transforming Pop Music

Coldplay is known as a rock band as well as a pop band. However, they make it quite apparent that they believe rock has been replaced by pop.[2] Again, going back to theme of life, Coldplay hopes to induce happiness when people listen to their music.

“The old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll lifestyle thing is great, but does it really make for great music? Does it make people happy? I don’t feel we’re embarrassed about being successful, but we don’t need the perm and the gold Rolex.”

– Chris Martin

Source: [2]

 

Coldplay impacted the transition from angry, rebellious rock into a heart-warming pop. Although not all of their songs are happy, the emotion and passion seems to be consistent throughout. “The Scientist” (2001) tells the story of a man filled with regret for hurting someone he loves; the music video shown below is played in reverse narrative which was quite innovative at that point in time.

This song is a good example of how rock was transformed into pop with the accompaniment of the piano alongside traditional rock instruments as well as a slower tempo and less angry mood. Coldplay expresses how important love is in this piece, and that we can’t go back in time no matter how bad we want it. This was a huge transition from the rebellious style of music that was popular in the ’90s; although it is important to experience a variety of emotions in life, Coldplay felt that happiness is something that everyone should pursue.[1]

Even though “The Scientist” isn’t necessarily a happy song, it still teaches a valuable lesson about happiness. It shows the importance of appreciating what someone has in their life, and that any moment it could change forever. The mood of the song becomes increasingly less depressing as it unravels; as the man travels back in time he is closer to being happy with the woman he loved. Coldplay cleverly sends the message that although its good to remember the past, it is important to live in the now in order to be happy.

Uniting the World

“No amount of unchoreographed movement from four little men can unite 80,000 people like one good chorus.”

– Chris Martin

Source: [2]

As mentioned earlier, Coldplay makes it their top priority to bring people together in a world that has been so torn apart in the past. “A Sky Full of Stars” (2014) is one of their more recent big hits and its chorus indicates that every human is fascinating in their own way.

The video shows the Coldplay crew out in the real world spreading joy with their upbeat music. Apart from their catchy music, they leave the listener in a healthy state of mind opposed to a hateful attitude which is what set them apart from other artists in the late 90’s/early 2000’s. Throughout their long existence in the music industry, their mood and theme hasn’t changed; it is easy to see the impact they’ve made judging just by how popular their music videos are.

Coldplay had perfect timing in that they were able to utilize the rapidly advancing technology of the time. Technology helped them get their message across the globe but at the same time, produced some innovative music videos that even today are still relevant. Coldplay will always be remembered as pop/rock group that helped unify the world with lively music.

References

  1. Hiatt, Brian. “Chris Martin: The Rolling Stone Interview.” Rolling Stone. June 25, 2018. Accessed August 03, 2018. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chris-martin-the-rolling-stone-interview-190116/.
  2. McCormick, Neil. “Coldplay: ‘Rock Music Has Nowhere Left to Go’.” The Telegraph. December 10, 2015. Accessed August 03, 2018. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/coldplay-rock-music-has-nowhere-left-to-go/.

 

A transformation of Rock and Roll: Elvis Presley to Linkin Park

Posted on by

Sources: Elvis Presley, Linkin Park

Summary

Together we will explore the journey of rock and roll between the legendary Elvis Presley and the modern artist Linkin Park. Led Zeppelin and Helmet will also be discussed as they form the bridge that connect the two very different iterations of rock. With the help of  Elvisualization (made by Spotify),we can see how each band influenced one another. It is remember to note that Elvis Presley is the root in the Elvisualization graph; he has heavily influenced popular music in today’s world and will continue to in the future. First we will look at how Linkin Park was affected by Helmet. Then we will explore how Led Zeppelin impacted Helmet, and close the article on how Elvis Presley influenced Led Zeppelin.

Linkin Park – Helmet

Linkin Park
Linkin Park                                                                                     Source

 

 

 

 

 

Linkin Park has transformed throughout the years, starting with an angry style of punk rock. The song linked below (In the End) is a great example of how their earlier music sounded. In 2014, Yahoo interviewed Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda and questioned him about their roots; in the article Shinoda expresses: [1]

“The kind of aggressive and angry lyrics that we were coming up with for The Hunting Party were more mature than what we would have written to these types of songs 10 years ago.”

 – Mike Shinoda (2014 , Yahoo Interview)

This aggressive style of rock expressed in the popular hit In the End is also heard in Helmet’s songs as well which we will explore soon. In an LA times interview also conducted in 2014 when their newest album Hunting Party was just released; in it they mention that Linkin Park relied on bands such as Helmet, Minor threat, and Refused for inspiration when they initially began.[4] The Yahoo interview also confirmed that bands like Helmet, Strife, and Refused were major influences in their uprising.[3] 

Apart from musical similarities between the two bands, one can simply look at their album and band covers to see the resemblance. Both bands tend to wear darker colours and a casual to semi-casual attire with the occasional plaid shirt mixed in as well.

Helmet
Helmet attire                                                        Source
Linkin Park
Early Linkin Park attire                                                    Source

 

 

 

 

 

Before we move on to talk about Led Zeppelin’s influences on Helmet, its worth talking about the song linked below One More Light – Linkin Park.

Chester Bennington, the previous singer for Linkin Park commit suicide nearly one year ago on July 17th (2017).The song expresses the importance of human life and self-worth, that everyone should care about the health and happiness of others; it will serves as a tribute to Chester and many others who’ve decided to take their own life. It also shows the transformation of Linkin Park from angry punk rock to a more soothing and relaxed punk rock that focuses on incorporating deeper meaning into their lyrics.

Helmet – Led Zeppelin

Helmet
Helmet                                                                                          Source

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helmet has seen several different members come and go but Page Hamilton has been with them since 1989. Its worth noting his significance to the band before we dive into an interview between him and Guitar World. In this interview Hamilton reveals that he was inspired to start playing guitar after listening to Led Zeppelin at the age of 17.[1]  Hamilton goes onto to express his love for guitar and that he really wanted to create his own style of music. [1]   This explains why Helmet and Led Zeppelin have their own distinct sounds, not a carbon copy of one another. However, both have an emphasis on letting the guitar “sing” with magical solos.

Appearance-wise, Helmet was formed nearly a decade after Led Zeppelin’s first break-up in 1980; as such, there aren’t any outstanding physical similarities between the two groups. Unfortunately for Helmet, long luscious hair seemed to die with the first rendition of Led Zeppelin.  Before our next discussion, here is Unsung, a popular hit by Helmet. Notice the role that the electrical guitar plays in their song and keep that in mind when we explore Led Zeppelin and Elvis Presley.

Led Zeppelin – Elvis Presley

Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin                                                      Source

 

 

 

 

 

The legendary Led Zeppelin is hard rock band that formed out of England in the late 1960’s. Their most iconic song is without a doubt Stairway to Heaven.

You might be wondering why the song is over 10 minutes long at first but will then shortly realize how much emphasis they like to put on their guitar solos. Although the band may not have the magical voice that the King, Elvis Presley had, they make up for it in their ridiculous solos. Ultimate Class Rock covers the first human interaction that Led Zeppelin had with Elvis; during their meeting, Led Zeppelin member Robert Plant made a joke about how they never perform sounds checks, but if they did it would be to Presley’s music.[2] This puts into perspective how influential Elvis really was on the world of rock when Led Zeppelin worships him too.

Elvis Presley’s influence on Led Zeppelin, Helmet, and Linkin Park

Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley                                                                   Source

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elvis Presley serves as the ultimate role model for rock music even in today’s world. His mesmerizing guitar skills definitely had on impact on all three of the bands we focused on. Although Led Zeppelin, Helmet, and Linkin Park all had a different style and mood than Elvis, they all had strong support from their lead guitarist and drummer. They did not adopt his fashion sense or dance moves but were still able to put on a show much like he did, getting the crowd into their respective moods.

In the Ghetto is an emotional song about the cycle of poverty in America; although it is not an original, Elvis turns it into his own here.  One More Light by Linkin Park has a lot of similarities with In the Ghetto. In both instances the artists pour all of their emotion into the song to raise awareness for their listeners. It is clear to see that Elvis has made a long-lasting impact on today’s music as current artists still cast a shadow of what once was the King.

References

  1. “Interview – Guitar World – August 1992.” Interview with Auster. Accessed July 17, 2018. http://www.bluecricket.com/helmet/interviews/gw892.html.
  2. Corbinreiff. “The Day Led Zeppelin Met Elvis Presley.” Ultimate Classic Rock. May 11, 2015. Accessed July 17, 2018. http://ultimateclassicrock.com/led-zeppelin-meet-elvis-presley/.
  3. Wiederhorn, Jon. “Linkin Park Seek Original Sound for ‘The Hunting Party’.” Yahoo! News. June 25, 2014. Accessed July 17, 2018. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/yahoo-music/linkin-park-seek-original-sound-hunting-party-183836270.html.
  4. Wood, Mikael. “Linkin Park Comes Screaming Back with ‘Hunting Party’.” Los Angeles Times. June 21, 2014. Accessed July 17, 2018. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-linkin-park-hunting-party-20140621-story.html.

 

Jelly Roll Morton and the Dawn of Jazz

Posted on by

Source: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1fySqZg6wL._SL1000_.png

Synopsis

Jelly Roll Morton was an American pianist and song writer, born somewhere between 1885 and 1890 in New Orleans.[2] Although there can be a debate about whether or not Jelly Roll invented jazz music, there is no denying the impact he had on bringing jazz to life.[1] In 1917, he rose to stardom and toured the west coast of of the United States; shortly afterwards in 1922, he moved to Chicago to form the band, the Red Hot Peppers.[3] His fame did not last long however, as his career vanished as the country entered the era of the Great Depression in the 1930’s. [1][3]

Great Depression
Jobs were scarce all over the United States during the Great Depression Source: https://www.nceagletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/great-depression-900×600.jpg

In 1935, Jelly Roll decided to give up on his musical career and so he moved to Washington, D.C. in 1935 to manage a bar.[4]In 1938 he was stabbed in the chest while working at the bar.[4] Him and his wife Mabel decided it was best that they left the area for their safety. They moved to Los Angeles but Morton eventually passed away in 1941 due to asthma that was worsened due to the stabbing he endured.[2][4] Jelly Roll will always be remembered for his efforts in the transition between ragtime and jazz music.

The Dirty 30’s

The 1930’s, more commonly know as the Great Depression or the Dirty 30’s was not a pleasant time to be living in the United States. Food was scarce and jobs were spread thin; it was not a coincidence that Jelly Roll’s musical career took a dive when it did. Coming from a Creole background, he unfortunately faced discrimination throughout his life, as did others with African roots.[2][4] When he was stabbed in 1938, he was declined help from a nearby “whites-only” hospital; he was finally transferred to a hospital that would treat him, but one must wonder how much life Morton lost due to being refused treatment initially.[4]

Racism in America
Discrimination in America                                          Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hczPYFur2sk/T4onug95AmI/AAAAAAAACOw/CNxiy6sobUQ/s1600/1abs9.jpg

Morton lived in New York between 1928 and 1935 where he really struggled to make a living.[3] He did what any other composer did at that time, and simply kept performing. Morton’s persistence and love for music drove him through those tough times, before he inevitably decided to quit his musical career. Some sources say that the rise of performers like Louis Armstrong took the spotlight from Morton.[1] It is worth re-iterating that this was a time where people were generally more concerned with their survival than listening to music. His decision to move to Washington and manage a bar  saved him economically but unfortunately racial discrimination didn’t allow him to stay there long. Even though his last very years weren’t easy, Morton endured over a decade of fame; he recorded many pieces throughout his life that will carry his legacy into the future.

Significant Contributions

    The following three songs by Jelly Roll are his most influential pieces in my opinion. Their unique style and rhythm helped birth a new genre, jazz.

#1. King Porter Stomp

King Porter Stomp is one of Jelly Roll’s first popular hits. It is a good landmark for where we start seeing the transition between ragtime piano and jazz music. The song utilizes a irregular bass rhythm which has become so common in what we now know as jazz music. His confidence rings throughout the song and creates increasing buildup throughout the piece. This buildup seems to raise in pitch as the song progresses and finally at the end releases it all with a long steady tone. King Port Stomp is an influential piece in the jazz world because of how much it utilizes a swing-like rhythm.

#2. Doctor Jazz

Doctor Jazz is an upbeat and swift song recorded by his band the Red Hot Peppers. The shift from ragtime piano to jazz meant incorporating a full band in the mix. Throughout the song there are very brief improvisations from various instruments. Jelly Roll was not only important in the uprising of jazz, but was a role model in the African-American community. Doctor Jazz brings in a happy mood that could make everyone in the room forget about the racial discrimination and hate that occurred during that era.

#3. Blackbottom Stomp

Blackbottom Stomp another popular song composed by Jelly Roll’s Red Hot Peppers. In this piece you can clearly hear  the slightly staggered timing between the instruments which helps create a swing rhythm. In this song like Doctor Jazz, we hear several improvisations/solos that have become a key part of jazz music today. Jelly Roll’s compositions were, for the most part, very lively and upbeat which was impactful for the African-American community at the time.

Closing Thoughts

The debate of who “invented” jazz music is not of great importance in my humble opinion. The impact on the jazz world from composers like Jelly Roll Morton should be all that is considered in remembering their legacy. In a time where racial tension was high, he persevered through it all and delivered many great hits for America and the rest of the world to enjoy. Morton’s compositions are and always will be living proof that he influenced the great transition between ragtime and jazz music.

References
  1. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Jelly Roll Morton.” Encyclopædia Britannica. July 06, 2018. Accessed July 15, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jelly-Roll-Morton.
  2. “Jelly Roll Morton.” Biography.com. April 02, 2014. Accessed July 15, 2018.       https://www.biography.com/people/jelly-roll-morton-9415945.
  3.  “Jelly Roll Morton.” Original Dixieland Jass Band. Accessed July 15, 2018. http://www.redhotjazz.com/jellyroll.html.
  4. “Jelly Roll Morton – Composer Biography, Facts and Music Compositions.” FAMOUS COMPOSERS. Accessed July 15, 2018. http://www.famouscomposers.net/jelly-roll-morton.