BTodd Blog Post 2

If I was to pick a favorite song/act from the 1950's rock and roll that we studied last week, I would pick "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry. The guitar riff is very, very 1950's and the accompanying vocals are also very 1950's. Chuck Berry was a prominent black man in music, yet you can hear how many white acts stole riffs or likenesses from artists like Chuck Berry and their music. Johnny B. Goode is my favorite song from what we studied because it's just a feel good tune. It makes me want to drink a couple beers on a Saturday and dance. It also reminds me of diners, and maybe that's because I'm from Jersey and whenever I go in to a diner it reminds me of the 1950's and there's a song like "Johnny B. Goode" playing.

Hudson Blog 2

Hey All, 

The rock song from the 1950s that was my favorite discovery was definitely “ I’m walking” by 

Fats Domino. The song is so upbeat and I think reflects Dominos personality and his goal which was to wright songs that people would remember, and the song “I’m walking” is just that. The song is catchy and anyone who has heard the song I think most likely would be able to repeat the first line "I'm walkin', yes indeed, and I'm talkin’.”   

Choosing just one song from the 1950s that I discovered last week was very hard because I discovered so many! Elvis for example also sang some amazing songs, but I decided to reflect on “Im Walkin” by Fats Domino because I grew up listening to Elvis with my Grandfather and so Fats Domino’s songs and voice were new to me.  

Fats Domino LIVE - I'm walking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaMD-h7qaj8

'Im Walkin', Fats Domino - Lyrics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An2xtkE8gf0

Killian Post 2

My favorite song from 1950's would have to be tough to choose. The 50s and 60s are my favorite time periods partly because they are made up of unique creative artists, but also partly because the sound is so nostalgic to the tunes by dad played in the car growing up. I loved resurfacing the girl group bands because they are so fun and exciting, it's hard not to sing along or even dance to the music and you can tell that that's the goal. In Loco-Motion by Little Eva, the lyrics are about doing the Loco-Motion and the beat and echoing from the girl group paints a picture in your mind of being surrounded by people which is what I think makes the girl group sound so charming and timeless.

Hanlon Blog Post 2

When listening to the playlists in this class I tend to shuffle the songs while I'm reading or doing other work. I've noticed that myself, and other people, tend to look up or come out of a stupor of sorts when they hear a new song they like. This is exactly what happened when I heard B.B King's Three O'clock Blues. My head snapped up and I instantly started tapping my foot and nodding my head to Kings iconic sound. What I really enjoyed about this song was Kings scales on his guitar over the sounds of the horn. I think King's sound, although very unique, has influenced many artists in the later generation of Rock as well as today. B.B. King was a special type of artist who played basically until his death. He was on tour and had suffered several strokes due to his diabetic condition. His remaining 8 shows were canceled and king passed away later that year. His love for his music as well as his passion for continuing to play his music to live audiences gives him a special place in the history of blues and rock and roll.

Below is a video of King playing Three O'clock Blues live.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9ozjCQkqZs

Stewart - Blog #2

My favorite rock song from the 1950’s is Donna by Ritchie Valens. He was such a talented musician. I enjoy a good portion of his music, and honestly couldn’t pick a favorite, so I went with this song. I really got into his music in 9th grade in High School because we had watched La Bamba in Spanish class. Learning about how he was self taught, being one of the first Latino stars, and about his tragic death at 17 just grabbed my attention and just felt inspiring. I definitely recommend you watch this movie. 

I did not choose this recording because it was a special performance or anything. I could not find any such video like that upon searching. I enjoy the tone of his voice, and the relaxed tempo of the music. It is a song for his high school girlfriend and is just a sweet ballad to listen to.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMcHbh6HBDk

Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry (Bittel, #2)

I chose "Johnny B Goode" which I found a video of Chuck Berry performing in 1958. His overall execution is excellent, and he tells the tale of the rise of a rhythm and blues star who emerges from the countryside of Lousiana (original lyrics say "colored boy", but it became necessary to change it to "country boy") into musical stardom. Berry can only be referencing himself and the other Southern musicians who leaped into national prominence thanks to the rock n' roll craze at the time, and he rocks as hard as anyone else in this playing. The lyrics likely reflect Berry's feelings which came with the fiancial success which came with being a well-known musician, though as we read in his text, he didn't realize much more of the money he had earned was being siphoned away by the corrupt industry.  The director uses a few cameras here, but all of them center on Berry, who plays with a confident, cool swagger while his body rocks along with the powerful guitar notes. The melody is relatively simple, and the band is relegated to the background, leaving Berry as the star of the show. He covers a bit of ground through the video, stopping at times to sing into the microphone or to swing his hips in a funky dance move, but times his movements carefully to match the cadence of the song.

I found the choice to pan into an extreme close up angle of Berry's face at the end a bit odd, but it gives the opportunity for audiences watching at home to peer right into Berry's thoughts as he rocks across the floor. Berry doesn't mask his emotions on stage, he exaggerates them, contorting his face with the rhythm and playing with an intense passion. He's also covered in sweat, likely worsened by the hot lights and electrical equipment on set, but this only adds to his aura of a rock pioneer. I think this video really captures Chuck Berry for who he is, one of the first and best to ever do it.

Johnny B Goode (Live in 1958)

Diamond Blog 2

The song I chose from the 1950s rock era was Ain't That A Shame, performed by Fats Domino. I chose the song initially because I was a fan of the artist and I was a fan of the song, and knowing it was from this era I thought it was the perfect choice. I love his whole larger than life persona, both literally and figuratively, the sheer size of him dwarfs the piano that he is playing as he hammers away on the keys bringing down his full power on every note. The song itself isn't complex, I just like it because I can feel the soul behind it and watching his performance I can see the joy and liveliness he brings to each and every performance as he sways back and forth singing to the audience. He is flanked on either side by a full studio band, all African American just like him, a powerful stance to take in a segregated era. Both him and his band are all sharply dressed in suit and ties, showcasing the way they felt about performing and how they felt it was important to show class.

It was also very interesting to see the contrast in his performance and the listening audience, everyone on stage is black and everyone in the crowd is white. When the camera shows the crowd, the patrons look uneasy and almost rehearsed as if they were afraid to be on camera due to fear of being judged by their peers. Everyone is clapping in a way that is almost robotic with forced smiles on their faces, they look stiff and robotic rather than expressing themselves to the beat of the music. There are two closeups of two white males each, the first one has two of them looking rather uneasy and weary of what they are viewing and why they are there; the second one has the men turned to each other and then one of them cracks a smile as if he remembered he was on camera. It is interesting to see the greater political impact and history of this era expressed in a simple three minute performance that should only really be about music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbfMlk1PwGU

Kruk, Blog 2

Despite how important the 1950s were to rock and roll, it was one of my least favourite eras of the genre. I will always appreciate the music for what it is and how impactful it was, but the style just isn't my favourite. That being said, the song that I found I liked the most was Hound Dog by Elvis Presley. I think part of the reason I like this song so much more than others is that I heard it long before this class started. Not only that, but I like singing along with it. It fits my vocal range pretty well and is a fun style to sing in. Presley is also by far my favourite artist of this time. I got to listen to more of his songs during this course and discover other people aside from him that I didn't mind.

I couldn't really choose between Hound Dog and the other song that I liked, which was Put Your Head on my Shoulder by Paul Anka. Although it was released in 1959 and much closer to the 60s, I really enjoy this song. It's much slower than Hound Dog, which is part of the reason I like it. The speeds of these two songs are very different and have different vibes to them. Overall, I don't love the 50s, but I like these two songs.

Hound Dog:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eHJ12Vhpyc

Put Your Head on my Shoulder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7PxBc_rCGk

Mulderrig, Blog #2 - Favorite Rock Act/Song of the 1950s

The 1950s was a time of great technological advancements. By this time, television sets were common place in the homes and the national media made the country more connected than ever. The same could be said also for the music industry. Record labels were producing more music than ever before, and showcasing their hometown talent for everyone to enjoy,

Possibly one of the most famous acts of the 50s was none other than Elvis Presley. Presley was selling out concert venues and clubs for years; he even appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. However, the standout performance that cemented Presley's legacy within the rock community was his "Jailhouse Rock" music video which debuted in 1957. Music videos had always been around, but this was something different entirely. Never had a music video been so perfectly choreographed, nor produced to the extent of "Jailhouse Rock."

The music video genuinely opened my eyes to the world of Elvis Presley, and why he was such a massive draw for so many years. Listening to Presley's music is one thing; his voice is one-of-a-kind. However, simply listening does not bring to life the charisma and stage presence that Elvis brought to every one of his performances. He commanded the stage like no other, and the "Schoolhouse Rock" music video stands as a testament to his talent. As if that wasn't enough, the video on Youtube (I used as a reference) has over 160 million views. That would be a significant number for a music video being released today; let alone 60 years ago. 

Everything from the way he moved and danced, to how he interacted with the other performers is what made Elvis a household name. You simply cannot experience the "full effect" of Presley's performances without having actually watched him. Truly a legend and an icon of his time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj0Rz-uP4Mk

Crafts, Blog #2

The 1950's rock era was rich with new content and a ton of new music. A song that I really like from this era is "Stupid Cupid." This song has a nice laid back melody and groove. It tells a story of how love is getting in the way of her day to day life which I think related to a lot of people and of course still does. "Hey, hey set me free, stupid cupid stop picking on me." I picture this song today being played at a diner or old-style restaurant. "Stupid Cupid" features female singer Connie Francis and became a hit in 1958. Francis' vocals are crisp allowing listeners to hear the musicality she offers and truly tells a story. I think if this song was released by another female artist it might've been boring or might have not had the same effect it did on people. I also really like this era because we see female artists and girl groups evolving. I think Connie Francis helped pave the way for female artists entering in the rock world. After Connie, we see a lot from the supremes (which I also loved a lot of there music) and other girl groups.

After hearing "Stupid Cupid" I looked up on youtube to hear other versions of the song. I shortly discovered that people of that era (along with people from 2019 still commenting and covering "Stupid Cupid") really enjoyed this upbeat, relatable song. This was one of the songs from the 1950s that I really enjoy. The more I listened the more I discovered things within the song I loved!

Stupid Cupid - Connie Francis

Maguire Blog #2

A song from the 50's that I really like is "Blue Suede Shoes"by Carl Perkins.This song came out in 1956 but the guitar in this song is awesome. I like 00:40 to 01:00, to me it sounds like typical 50's rock with the pauses followed by the drums and the guitar. This song is a rockabilly song and when we were going over the styles of rock earlier I found that I like everything about rockabilly. From the clothes the people wear to the cars they drove to the way they even acted. Rockabilly left a large enough impact that there now is a rockabilly subculture and it is highly popular. This song was written and recorded by Carl Perkins, there is some confusion as to who originally owned the song because Elvis performed it on national TV 3 times. Another song that got my attention was"I Put A Spell On You" By Screamin Jay Hawkins. The reason this song got my attention is because I think that Biggie Smalls samples it for one of his song song s on the album "Life After Death." The song I'm thinking of is "Kick In The Door" Biggie seems to use an altered beat from Screamin Jay Hawkins and raps over it. "I Put A Spell On You" was recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a song that helped shape rock and roll. I find it pretty cool that Biggie used this beat because he helped shape rap music before his untimely death, just like Screamin Jay Hawkins.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1gggXjEobY (Blue Suede Shoes by Carl Perkins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwXai-sgM-s (I Put A Spell On You by Screamin Jay Hawkins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRfnWpV4i7E (Kick In The Door by N.O.T.O.R.I.O.U.S B.I.G)

Mulderrig, Blog #2.5 - 1960s: A Decade In Review

The 1960's is quite possibly the most interesting decade in American history. With everything from the rise of Rock & Roll to landing on the moon, the 60's was a revolutionary time period. It was in this decade that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights movement became a national phenomenon; which resulted in equality for all races under the eyes of the law. Artists, like the late, great Sam Cooke, wrote his most influential song, "A Change Is Gonna Come," from behind bars after being arrested at a 'whites only' hotel. While African Americans did not have a proper voice within the conventional media, they were still making headlines and topping the charts.

However, the 1960's was not all fighting and despair. Hippies with their message of peace and love was a trend within the young adult community, and no one group better epitomized these free loving young people than the Beach Boys. The Beach Boys were the gold coast boys. With their neat haircuts, and cool surfer vibe, they topped the charts time and time again. Their music was revolutionary in its own right due to its upbeat fast tempo. It lended itself to be played on the radio, in the clubs, and especially on the beach. They took inspiration from blues style rock and combined it with doo-wop harmony. The result: the perfect drive-along, sing-along, dance-along, summer sound track.

Finally, I think the most interesting part of module #2 were the comparisons between Motown and Stax music. Both had dedicated producers, song writers, and singers; both had dedicated fan basses, and both were wildly popular genres, as far as the charts are concerned. Yet, while the two seem so similar, they had polarizing differences. For starters, Stax was more of a combination between soul and gospel music. While Motown, on the other hand, had a stronger emphasis on layered instruments. Moreover, Stax fans often criticized Motown for overproducing their songs; essentially whitewashing their music in order to appeal to a broader fan base.

I found this module and time period to be rich with history. It was a radical time period with a soundtrack for the ages. 

Decker Blog 2

I think my favorite discovery from the 1950's rock chapter was the song Who Do You Love, by Bo Diddley. I was in the car on a road trip with the three playlists on shuffle and I listened to many many songs, but when I got to my destination I had one song stuck in my head and that was Who Do You Love. It is a short song, only 2 minutes and 27 seconds yet it kept playing in my head. I felt as though it had an upbeat tempo and kept things energetic. The chorus of Bo Diddley gracefully singing "Who Do You Love" was in my head for a few days after my road trip. I enjoyed listening to many Bo Diddley songs, such as Bo Diddley and I'm a Man. Prior to listening to the playlists I had briefly heard of Bo Diddley, but didn't know any of his songs or anything about his style of music.

I also came across some songs by Chuck Berry, such as Rock and Roll Music and Brown Eyed Handsome Man. I did not sing these songs for numerous days beyond first listening to them, but I did look to see what they were called and who the singer was. Chuck Berry's style is a little more relaxed than Bo Diddley but I really enjoy the style of his songs.

Who Do You Love, Bo Diddley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoTPhGvawl0


Rock and Roll Music, Chuck Berry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XSaKQlBZuE

Maguire Blog #1

Hey everyone,

I'm Coleman from Cranston Rhode Island, I'm going into my senior year as a Business Major and Philosophy Minor.

I chose this course because I need credits to graduate next spring and it seemed like something I'm interested in because I like to rock and roll. I've always liked rock and roll, growing up my Mom and Dad would always play Skynyrd, The Doors, AC/DC, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Led Zeppelin, The Who and so much more on the stereo in our house. Growing up with parents that liked rock and roll means we've seen a few of these bands live! I 've been lucky to see AC/DC, Roger Waters, The Grateful Dead and The Rolling Stones. Some of my favorite people in Rock and Roll are Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Lee, Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison.

My music tastes goes from hard rock and roll to rap music and nothing in between. I really like Future, Gucci Mane, Young Thug, and Wiz Khalifa those are my favorite rappers. Fun fact I read Gucci Mane's autobiography and it was unbelievable! When I'm working in my garage on my cars I like to just play some rock and roll loudly on my speaker while I work, it helps keep me focused. This is also how I find a lot of my rock music!

Here are some songs that I like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ6QHfZwTSw (War Pigs- Black Sabbath)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c3d7QgZr7g (Stranglehold- Ted Nugent)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRDgihVDEko (Money For Nothing- Dire Straits)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr1HHL4gSt4 (Looks That Kill- Motley Crue)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ZmErXkbxE (Paradise City- Guns and Roses)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJRdDhnTRoo ( Gimme Shelter- The Rolling Stones)

Hope you like those songs, these guys can ROCK!- Coleman

Killian, Blog 1

My name is Helen Killian and I am from Groton, Massachusetts. I am rising Junior majoring in Environmental Science with Chemistry and Spanish minors. 

 I chose this course because I wanted a unique course for my art credit, and I am genuinely really interested in learning more about how rock came to be. My dad was a big rock fan always playing it in the car when I was a kid, so it definitely has shaped me growing up.

I’ve also been playing piano since I was 5 and played different instruments in middle school and high school (clarinet, oboe and bass clarinet) and also tried chorus for a couple semesters. I am excited to take what I have learned from playing music and see how history has shaped it be what it is now.

I am hoping that by the end of the course I will be able to hear rock from various generations and be able to pinpoint the different influences and sounds. 

My music taste is a bunch of random genres and it changes with my mood but currently at the moment I have been obsessed with Astrovan by Mt Joy . It's a great song to roll the windows down and drive to on a warm summer night. 

Intro (Bittel)

My name is Christopher Bittel, I am also a "senior" from San Jose, California, and I am wrapping up my psychology degree. I'm also a part of the cross country team and spend my free time on campus engaging in wholesome activities. I enrolled in this course because I'm tired of listening to the Chainsmokers and SoundCloud mumble rap, and rock seemed like a good place to start. I'm hooked so far on Chuck Berry and Elvis, and my neighbors have definitely noticed.

The two songs I've had on repeat the last few days have been Roll Over Beethoven and Return to Sender, and I've been listening to a decent amount of Little Richard as well. Outside of rock n' roll I've also been recently listening to a lot of Lupe Fiasco, especially his newer albums which haven't received as much airtime as the hits I remember from when I was a kid. If I had to pick a favorite song, it would probably be Shine on You Crazy Diamond or Wish You Were Here, which is probably typical for a twenty-something college student.

Return to Sender
Roll Over Beethoven
Jump (Lupe Fiasco)

Blog post 1
Hi, my name is Conor Hanlon. I'm from Worcester, Massachusetts and I'm a senior studying political science at saint Michaels. I took this class because I've always been interested in music of all types. I also took a class in high school called history of jazz and rock that really changed the way I listened to music. My ideas about certain music were completely altered and to this day I still find songs from the artists we studied. I'm taking this class now because I want to go more in depth into the history of rock. How earlier artists have influenced todays artists and find new music to listen to and enjoy.

I have a very eclectic taste in music. I'll listen to anything from Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis junior, or Dizzy Gillespie to rappers like  Mos Def, Biggie Smalls, Eminem or Joyner Lucas and everything in between. I have a soft spot for the boss, Bruce Springsteen and U2. These were two artists my dad always played in the car or at home and my interest in music started there. My first concern was a Springsteen concert when I was 10. He played a a song Ain't Good Enough For You, which still is one of my favorite songs today. I've listed a few of my other favorite bruce songs below. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPg6ZZC3AcY (aint good enough for you)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boJhWtw-6Gg (hungry heart)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAxm_GSM7L4 (waiting on a sunny day)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3eu1gW-bQ8 (atlantic city)

Hartley, Blog 1

Hey everyone!

I'm Nathaniel (Nate) Hartley. I'm a music and English major here at Saint Mikes (Rising Sophomore) and I'm also working here over the summer. I'm from Hadley, NY, a town with a population about the size of this school.

I'm a musician, or at least i'm trying to be one. I'm not quite sure I'm good enough to call myself a frontman or a guitarist, but that's what i'm aiming for, at any rate. If you go to Saint Mikes you might have seen me and my band playing around campus.

Music is sort of everything to me. It's an unhealthy, unprofitable habit, and I'm bad at it, but it's fun. Honestly in this course I just want to get a better understanding of what rock was built on, and maybe get a little better as a musician along the way.

I really don't think I could choose a favorite song or act, so here are a couple of songs that get stuck in my head a lot.

Lou Reed- Sweet Jane (Live)
Against Me- True Trans Soul Rebel (Live) 
Bikini Kill- Rebel Girl 

Hudson Blog 1

Hey everyone! 

My name is Lauren Hudson, I am a rising senior at Saint Michaels Collage, majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Biology. During the school year I live at school, but I am originally from Towson Maryland, near Baltimore. 

I took this class because it sounded the most interesting out of all the art class options. I also love music and have found that I actually don’t know the history surrounding any style of it, so I am excited and eager to learn about rock. 

I like all types of music but my favorite is probably country music. Here are some of my favorite country songs right now.  

Zac Brown Band - "Knee Deep" Feat. Jimmy Buffett

https://youtu.be/9n5G0qFBsHM

Thomas Rhett – “Center Point Road” Feat.  Kelsea Ballerini

https://youtu.be/hwh-MGb0EP8

Todd Blog 1

Hi,

My name is Brendan Todd and I am a Senior Psychology student here at Saint Mike's. I grew up in Northern New Jersey in a town called Ho-Ho-Kus, located about 20 minutes from New York City. I now live in Waitsfield, VT!
I picked this class because I love music and specifically rock music and I'm interested in the roots and history of the genre. I hope to gain more knowledge on the chronological progression of rock music, where it came from, and how it spread. I'm also extremely interested to learn how certain cultural events throughout the 20th century shaped the music coming out at the time.
Picking a favorite song is extremely hard for me but if I had to pick my absolute favorite act it would be probably be The Replacements.
Can't wait to see what else this class has to offer!

Brendan

Kruk, Blog 1

Hey everyone!

My name is Kelcie Kruk and I am an upcoming senior at CVU. I was born and raised in Vermont and originally come from Essex. I'm really looking forward to my final year of high school and I'm hoping to go to Champlain College.

The reason I'm taking this class is to get some credits over the summer with my spare time. There were a lot of options to choose from, but I have a love for music and have a genuine interest in the history of rock music more than other genres. I'm hoping to add on to the little knowledge I have during this course.

I've grown up surrounded by music. I found a love for theatre at a young age and have been participating in school musicals since. I grew up listening to rock (specifically AC/DC, Guns and Roses, Metallica, and Poison) under the influence of my dad. Not only this, but I listened to a lot of rap like Eminem (a personal favourite), Dr. Dre, Kanye West, and Jay-Z. Overall, I have a really wide range of music taste. Country and jazz are the only genres I don't listen to as much. I've been to a bunch of concerts as well, the most recent being Panic! At the Disco and The Avett Brothers.

These are some of my favourite songs. I'm gonna try to mix up the genres a bit.

Change Your Mind from Steven Universe. I really appreciate the message and simplicity of the song. Plus it has a ukulele in it, which I have been playing for a long time.

Candy by Robbie Williams. This is my pump-up song before TaeKwonDo tournaments.

Monster by Kanye West, JAY-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Bon Iver. Wildly inappropriate, but a massive guilty pleasure for me. It's also really fun to rap to.

Gazo- Blog post #1

Hey there everyone!

My name is Leland Gazo, I was born and raised in Colchester, VT. I am the goalkeeper for the men's soccer team at SMC and I am finishing up my last semester in the fall. This summer has been good to me so far; lots of fishing, lots of soccer, and a bit of travel here and there. I am a political science major here at SMC and might complete my french minor.

As far as music goes, I'm a fan of everything. I listen to a lot of country music; the old stuff and the new stuff. Everything from Bocephus and Cash to Luke Combs, Jon Pardi Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, etc. Fun fact, my uncle was actually named after Johnny Cash... But my music taste even goes everywhere, even into reggaeton and western african afrobeats...

Anyways, i'm looking forward to this class. It's not a class i'd usually take so i'm excited to have something a bit different to apply myself in!

I've attached some of my favorite songs at the moment below.

Southern Style, Darius Rucker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpKFRP05Po4

Redneck Love Song, Morgan Wallen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhmvh_cZRS0

All Summer Long, Kid Rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSkFygPCTwE

Diamond Blog 1

Hey Guys!

My name is Jack Diamond and I am currently a "Senior" with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Literature. I am from the south shore of Massachusetts, I live in Hingham, which is a little town located on the east coast.

So I put senior in quotations because I technically am still a few credits shortchanged of actually getting my degree, even though I got to walk at graduation this past Spring. The main reason I decided to enroll in this class is because I needed the credits, but I also chose this class because of my love of music. I had taken a similar class in high school called Evolution of Rock and I am curious to see the differences between the two courses.

I have a little bit of a musical background, I never really got into playing an instrument, but I was a member of my chorus all the way from elementary school to high school. I wasn't that great of a singer, but it was just something I liked to do for fun and I felt more confident as part of a large group.

I love all kinds of music, everything from rap to classical, although if I had to narrow it down to a specific genre I would have to choose Alternative Rock. Rock and Roll is such a broad genre that has many different sub genres built in, I love the sound of a full band but I tend to gravitate towards more of a laid back and mellow sound. I hope to learn in this class just exactly where the many sub genres of Rock began to break off and form, and overall I hope to just learn more about different artists and songs that I wasn't previously aware of.

Some of my favorite songs:

Coldplay: Life in Technicolor ii https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXSovfzyx28

Gorillaz: On Melancholy Hill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04mfKJWDSzI

The Killers: Read My Mind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc8hbSM1zVo

Decker Blog 1

Hello,

My name is Tim Decker and I am a rising senior at St Mikes. I am an accounting and economics major from Liverpool, NY, just outside of Syracuse.

I needed an elective for my LSC requirement and thought History of Rock would be an exciting way to fulfill the requirement. I am not very musically inclined, nor do I know much about music but I am excited to learn. My dad and some of my cousins have always had an interest in classic rock and I am hoping to be able to contribute to the conversation.

I enjoy listening to all types of music but learning the difference and seeing how rock has grown and changed throughout the 20th century. I grew up listening to bands like ACDC, the Beatles and Tom Petty. Modest mouse is my go to band, I listen to them whether I am driving, or doing work.

I am excited to expand my knowledge in all aspects of music and maybe find a couple more songs to listen to.

Missed the Boat - Modest Mouse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSfTdzoO4ic

Push Matchbox Twenty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAkHqYlqops

Crafts, Blog 1

Hi Everyone! My name is Molly Crafts and I will be a junior this year at St. Mikes studying elementary education and music! I am from Everett, Massachusetts which is actually ten minutes north of Boston. This summer I am living on campus working an internship in the admissions office...which has been so much fun!

As a music major, I chose to take this course as it is one of the last music courses I will have to take to complete my major. Next semester I will be going abroad to Ireland and wanna get ahead a couple of credits to have a lighter workload while over there. Like most people, I have loved music from a young age. I was involved in local theater companies and music groups during my younger years and continued a little bit throughout high school. At St. Mikes I was in the Chorale for two semesters and then decided I wanted to do something more up my alley so I joined Sleepless Knights!

Personally, my music style is all over the place...it changes every single day. Although I don't listen to much rock I am excited to be exposed and learning about a different genre of music. I grew up hearing classic rock songs at family gatherings and BBQ's from my dad and uncles but it isn't necessarily what I gravitate towards on my own. When I think of rock I think of the Bohemian Rhapsody, Living on a Prayer and Highway to Hell...I am excited to go deeper into the rock world.

I am also hoping to find some new music through this class and look forward to hearing what other music styles people are interested in. Right now, a couple of my favorite songs are Lost by Frank Ocean, 3 Nights by Dominic Fike and Sit Next to Me by Foster the People.

Similar to what most of my peers have voiced so far, I am very excited to broaden my horizons by taking this course this summer and am really excited to get to know everyone!

- Molly