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Music in Music in ContextContext

Contrasting Versions Contrasting Versions of Songsof Songs

Thanks to Professor CC, a Thanks to Professor CC, a MusicianMusician

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The Star Spangled Banner as performed by the U.S. Marine Band

Our country’s national anthem, performed beautifully by a military band.

Tracks 5-6

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Questions to Guide Analysis

The anthem can be tedious. Is this version tedious?

What happens to the music at the bridge, corresponding to the lyrics, "and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air . . ."?

What feelings or images does this version of the anthem evoke in you, and why?

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Brisk and anything but tedious. The bridge is soft and gentle, even though it

coincides with violent lyrics: “and the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air.”

Whether played at a sports event or a military or presidential appearance inspires feelings of pride and patriotism

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The Star Spangled Banner as performed by Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock 1969

Notice the bridge in Hendrix’s version

Accompanies the violent lyrics with equally violent sounds of bombs and screams on his guitar

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How would you describe the nature and style of this version?

What context or intention on the musician's part helps to explain the huge difference in style?

Questions to Guide AnalysisQuestions to Guide Analysis

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Answers

Wild and irreverent Performed at the Woodstock music festival in

the late 1960’s, near the height of the Vietnam War.

A protest of American policies and perhaps of war in general.

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• Now skip ahead to tune #9.

• The next set of songs feature two versions of Don’t Let me Be Misunderstood

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Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood by Eric Burdon and the Animals

This English rock group was influenced by American blues and R&B, as reflected in its biggest hit, The House of the Rising Sun.

What musical instruments are prevalent, and what musical style or styles are represented? What emotions are conveyed by the voice and lyrics?

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Lyrics

Baby, do you understand me now, Sometimes I feel a little mad. But don’t you know that no one alive can

always be an angel, When things go wrong, I seem to be bad. I’m just a soul whose intentions are good, Oh, Lord please don’t let me be

misunderstood.

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Lyrics Continue…

Baby, sometimes I’m so carefree, With a joy that’s hard to hide. And sometimes it seems that all I have to do is

worry, And then you’re bound to see my side. I’m just a soul whose intentions are good, Oh, Lord please don’t let me be misunderstood.

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If I seem edgy, I want you to know, That I never mean to take it out on you, Life has its problems, and I get my share, And that’s one thing I never mean to do. Because I love you, Oh, baby don’t you know

I’m human, have thoughts like any other one. Sometimes I find myself long regretting, some foolish thing, some sinful thing I’ve done.

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I’m just a soul whose intentions are good, Oh, Lord please don’t let me be misunderstood.

{Repeat . . .}

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Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood bySanta Esmeralda

What different musical styles or genres seem to be represented throughout the entire song?

Do you recognize this song from a movie soundtrack, and does that form part of your context for it?

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• Fusing rock, orchestral backgrounds, Latin horns, and the insistent bass drum beat of disco with flamenco clapping and guitar.

• The multicultural fusion of this version

• A climatic Samurai sword battle in a snow-covered Japanese tea garden in the movie Kill Bill.

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The hand clapping suggests the rhythms The hand clapping suggests the rhythms of ???of ???

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Proud MaryProud Mary as performed by as performed by Creedence Clearwater RevivalCreedence Clearwater Revival

• Country rock tune• Huge hit on the pop charts, reaching

#2• The tempo was perfect for dancing,

and John Fogerty’s vocals were compelling.

• Feeling: one of hometown familiarity, security, and reliability.

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Lyrics to Proud MaryLyrics to Proud Mary

• Left a good job in the City,

• Workin’ for the man every night and day;

• Then I never lost a minute of sleepin’

• Worryin’ ‘bout how things might have been.

• Big wheel keep on turnin’

• Proud Mary keeps on burnin’

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• Rollin,’ Rollin,’

• Rollin’ on the River.

• {Notice the catchy guitar bridge that separates the verses.}

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• Seen a lot of places in Memphis.Hogged a lot of playing down in New Orleans.But I never saw the good side of the city'til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen.

• Big wheel keeps on turnin,’

• Proud Mary keeps on burnin’

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• Rollin,’ Rollin,’

• Rollin’ on the River.

• {Okay, now skip to the next version of this song.}

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• Version 2 of Proud Mary

• Okay, this is a later version of Proud Mary, arranged by Ike Turner, a pioneer of early rock ‘n roll and soul music, whose own fame was eclipsed by his wife and his band’s lead singer, Tina Turner.

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Proud MaryProud Mary by by The Ike and Tina Turner RevueThe Ike and Tina Turner Revue

• The version performed by the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, consisting entirely of African-American singers, dancers, and musicians, was an up-tempo, soulful mix of horn licks, double-time dancing, and Tina Turner’s high-energy vocals.

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The ContextThe Context

• The Revue’s version was arranged and choreographed for live performances, particularly for the Revue’s tour as opening act for the Rolling Stones. Excitement was the key element.

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The IntroductionThe Introduction• For drama and dynamics, Tina begins slowly,

with her famous reference to beginning “nice and easy” . . . and progressing to “nice and rough.”

• After the second verse, listen for the transition to the up-tempo verses, with the transition driven by drums and sharp horn arrangements.

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• The lyrics are the same, but the style and energy are different in this version. Only a version like this could warm up the audience for the Rolling Stones.