The 60s was more about counterculture, but going into the 70s, it was more about singer-songwriters, expand on this.
It went from experimentation and aggression to more personal and autobiographical. More emphasis on personal experience and political expression on social issues
Instead of slogans and protest anthems, what do artists explore here?
Identity, relationships, emotional life and personal struggle
What role did women play in the 70s shift to songwriting and being more personal?
The singer-songwriter culture included lots of women. It created space for women’s voices that were often excluded from the rock scenes
The singer songwriter genre came after what?
the 60s folk revival
What were signer-songwriter songs like compared to rock?
Rock bands relied on catchy guitar riffs, but songwriters build songs off of accompaniment patters, and simple music
Singer-songwriting used Rhythmic Arpeggio, what does this mean?
When notes of a chord are played one after another and not all at once (more flowy gentle sound)
The singer-songwriting genre used lots of fingerpicking, what is this?
A guitar technique using fingers instead of a pick to make the music feel more personal and intimate (almost like a private performance)
Who is Carol King (background)
Born on NY in 1942, she started as a Brill building songwriter (wrote hit songs for other artists). She divorced husband Gerry Goffin and moves to the West Coast which pushed her toward performing her own music.
Carol Kings first solo album, Writer” struggled, but the album after broke all existing sales records, which album is this?
Tapestry
Why did Carol Kings music stand out so much?
Unlike other artists, she was not political and didnt overshare personal drama. Her songs were calm, and had reassurance and stability.
(in 71, she outsold everyone in the music business)
Why was Tapestry so successful?
It matched what people wanted. It was autobiographical and relatable, warm and intimate, and described as naked (uncluttered production, simple)
An “Antidote to hard rock”
Who was Gordon Lightfoot?
A Canadian folk artist whos music reflected Canadia identity, his music connected to place, nature and personal narratives
What was Gordon Lightfoots “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” about?
Tells the story of laborers building the Canadian Pacific railway, the tempo resembles tempo of a train
Who was Joni Mitchell?
Songwriter from saskatoon who wrote music about environmental themes
Who is Willie Dunn?
An Indigenous artist (Mi’kmaq/scottish) from Montreal who adressed colonialism and racism in Canada through music.
By the early 70s, Funk became its own genre, what was funk like?
It was based on a single chord, more about feel, groove, and repetition as opposed to emotional melodies
What does it mean by Funk is a “Fragmentation of Soul”
Instead of one dominant soul sound, it splits off into different directions (funk, disco, smooth soul, psychedelic funk)
How did James Brown influence Funk?
He emphasized the first beat of a bar, not the backbeat. Drums and rhythm instruments act like the lead instruments. His songs had rhythmic and repetitive grooves
How did Jimi Hendrick influence Funk?
Funk borrows his psychedelic textures, his distorted experimental sound.
What was George Clintons Funk like?
He has clear backbeats, thick textures (many instrument’s playing at once), and group vocals rooted in gospel.
What is the difference between Funkadelic and Parliament, and what do they form?
Funkadelic = Warner records - psychedelic funk that has rock influence and has longer tracks
Parliament = Casablanca records - shorter, tighter, more danceable songs. Clear hooks and grooves
Together they form P-Funk
What exactly is P-Funk?
A collective of musicians , a style, and a movement centered on groove and identity, association with Clinton
What was Afrofuturism?
Afrofuturism blends black identity, sci-fi, space imagery, and future oriented themes to represent racial injsutice. Clinton used cosmic language to imagine freedom and power beyond earth and history
The album Maggot brain by Funkadelic (afrofuturism) was significant why?
It treated the studio like a creative instrument not just a place to record. it also was their last album of the original band configuration
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Week 1 readings11
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Week 1 things to know22
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Week 2 things to know25
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Week 3 things to know30
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Week 4 things to know28
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Week 5 things to know23
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Week 6 things to know30
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Midterm Songs21
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Week 844
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Week 940
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Week 1047
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Week 1232
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Week 1348
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Week 1417
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Music pt115
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Music pt.218
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Music pt.312
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Music pt4 (old)11
