Analyzing Music

Analyzing Music

It is important to analyze music because you can learn so much about what the meanings are in the lyrics and form your own opinion on the depth of the music. Analyzing music is like dissecting the lyrics and feelings behind the music. The good thing about music today is that there are many genres and styles to listen to and interpret in your own words. Analyzing a song can help bring meaning to things and we can learn a lot about what a person was feeling at the time that they wrote the song. It is not easy to understand a person through their music unless they word their music in a way that it is obvious.

A lot of musicians use metaphors and sayings that we may not be familiar with and this is when analyzing comes in hand. Analyzing the true meanings in music can also help enhance our way of thinking and come to realize that we may have the same feelings as some artists. Analyzing music does not detract from the experience because music is more enjoyable when you understand what the artist is trying to say. Music can be appreciated more once we understand the lyrics and look past the slowness or hardness of the music itself. A lot of people will not listen to certain music because of the way that it sounds but when one does this; you miss out on the feelings behind it if you do not analyze the music.

Anyone can enjoy music based on how it sounds but to really listen and analyze the words within the music takes some effort. According to Aaron Copland in “Music and Culture” by Anna Tamasino, he states that the quality in the ideal gifted listener is imagination. He believes that a person’s imagination is important with analyzing music and in understanding the lyrics. The meanings may change from one person to another but it is mostly easy to find the meanings in music in analyzing and interpreting what they are saying.

Like for many musicians, music can be an outlet through hard and troubling times. When you analyze a song past what it sounds like, you might find that the song correlates with emotions or feelings you might be having at the time. A song can help you cope and get past some troubling times in your life. A song might make you feel better and help you understand why you are feeling the way you are and that it is ok because you are not alone. You might find that someone else might have already gone through some of the same hardships you may be going through.

A good example of why analyzing music is a good thing is the story from Mellisa Ethridge about how music changed her life and gave her the outlet she needed through troubling times. It wasn’t until she came across a verse in a song that she felt better about her troubling times and began to make music herself. This is proof that analyzing and truly listening to music can change how you are feeling a pose an outlet for those hard times we go through.

Music Surver

Jacqueline Garcia

Music Survey

            I would like to say that my musical taste is a taste for happy music. A lot of the music I have is upbeat and it makes you want to dance. I call it, clubbing music. There’s hip hop, some rock, and some slow music. I know that in the car, I enjoy listening to music that is easy to sing to or if I know the lyrics. I also enjoy listening to music you can dance to when I’m driving to a party or get together. It gets me in a happy and social mood so I can have a good time.

            The taste in music that I have now has definitely changed drastically over the years. When I was a young teen I remember listening to more music groups and pop. For instance, I liked *Nsync, backstreet boys, spice girls, Britney Spears, no doubt, and other similar groups. It’s almost hard to admit that I liked some of those groups. Gwen Stefani, I still like some of her songs now. A lot of the music I listened to when I was a young teen does not exist so much now. Now I enjoy music with more meaning and feelings behind it. Maybe it has to do with being grown up that the same type of music is not as appealing as you get older.

            When ever I was in a relationship, I enjoyed more love songs that reflected how I felt about the person I was with. I listened to more mellow music than when I was single. When I was single, it was all about what I can dance to in a club. Then while I was in a relationship, I liked music with feelings and love. I never realized that I did that until actually thinking about it and writing this blog today. Some songs that I like now, I like because my daughters like them. The only reason I like their music is because I enjoy hearing them sing. When my girls are not in the car and I hear a song that they enjoy singing to, it brings a warm smile to my face. Having kids will also alter what you enjoy and the type of music you listen to.

            New friends also changed my taste in music because in a way I would alter my taste to meet with theirs. I was not a follower but sometimes what my friends listened to was actually pretty good even if I never thought that it would be something I was interested in. Sometimes you need someone to show you the different things out there and shine a new light on your taste in music. For example, Blue October is a rock band.  A lot of their music is slow and even depressing. But, their music has a lot of feeling and true emotion and that is the type of music that I enjoy listening to. The best music is when someone sings from the heart and from true life experiences, not just because they get paid for writing as many songs as they can come up with in a year.

            The patterns in my musical style, depends on my mood, the occasion, and others around me. If I am in the car driving, I consider what the other person may want to listen to and adjust to that type of style for the moment. If I am going to a get together or a party, I like music that makes me want to dance. When I am sad, mad, and just plain not happy, I listen to slower songs. In the car, I like to sing even though I am not American Idol material so I listen to music that is catchy or easy to sing to.

Music

Music plays a big part of my life now thanks to my daughters. Music is what keeps them calm and happy in the car or anywhere for that matter. They love to sing and dance as much as they can. If they are bored, I can just turn on music and they dance and sing along. My girls being happy, keeps me happy. Their memory retention is amazing with a lot of the lyrics of songs and they keep me laughing. My youngest is 2 years old and she specifies what songs she wants to listen to in the car by singing a part of it. It is too cute that I just can't get enough of their singing and dancing.

Music has influenced me by keeping music on at all times in the car for my girls. Music also helps me relax while driving and keeps me comfortable. I work better when there is music playing and focus better because the music keeps me calm and relaxed no matter what I'm doing. Music has made many dreams come true for others and to watch people make it to the top in music is inspiring for me and my daughters to work hard in everything they do. Shows like diary on MTV is proof of how people made it in music and they are a big inspiration.

I do not feel that music has changed me or how I view life. My life experiences has changed how I view life, not music itself. Music is not a big thing to me therefore, other than entertaining my girls, it has not actually changed me. I do understand that music is a big part of other's lives but it has not impacted me that much. Music has changed the community because may young adults are following the trends of musicians and now wanting to achieve in life in the music industry. The world has changed by music and the views of how music should be because it has changed so much in the past years that there are so many different genres now and styles of music. The good thing about this, is that many will find that they enjoy some kind of music because there are so many options now like rap, hip hop, country, classical, and more.

Music can be a stress reliever and something that can help with relaxation which is something we all need at one point or another. I appreciate music for the entertainment it provides and for the open doors to those whose life revolve around music. My daughter for instance is a dancer is ballet and tap and she loved it from the moment she could walk. I appreciated that my daughter found something very positive in her life that she enjoys and loves. I enjoy seeing her perform on stage. It feels like it's my first time watching her every time, and the smile she puts on when she is on stage makes me appreciate music. The best thing about music is that it will aways be around and will aways be an open door for anyone with and interest and the talent to achieve a career in music.

Jackie Garcia
February 12, 2011