#1 Hits of the Current Decade....

This decade is coming to a close, much like this blog, and some crazy things have happened over the past 9-and-a-half years! The September 11th terrorist attacks on the US World Trade Centers certainly shook the nation up, resulting in the war with Iraq; Social networking websites, such as Xanga, Myspace, Facebook, etc., radically altered the patterns of communication between acquaintances and brought along fears of decreasing privacy; Same-sex marriages were deemed legal in some states; Global warming has evolved into a major economic and political issue, and the "Go Green" campaign has taken the nation by storm; "American Idol" was born; "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter" made their way to the big screen, grossing more than $1 billion each; and of course, the iPod has become a must-have to all music lovers.

Now, here are the Hits of the Decade:

2000- "Bye Bye Bye" by N'Sync; '01- "In the End" by Linkin Park; '02- "Without Me" by Eminem; '03- "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce; '04- "Yeah!" by Usher; '05- "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey; '06- "Sexyback" by Justin Timberlake; '07- "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse; '08- "Womanizer" by Britney Spears; Today- "Blame It" by Jamie Foxx.

Well, that concludes our musical journey through history! I hope you guys enjoyed reading, learning, and listening to/about these musical genres as much as I did....

Playlist: Songs 1-10

#1 Hits of the '90s....

The 1990s were....interesting. Nothing major happened, but it wasn't an insignificant decade, either. Taking a trip down memory lane...."Dolly" the sheep was cloned; a spaceship was sent to Mars; Bill Clinton becomes president, and is then impeached; the Mac computer was created; Amazon, EBay, Yahoo, AOL, and other popular Internet sites were created; the tragic Columbine High School massacre occurred; Pokemon made its way into the US, providing entertainment for children everywhere; bombings of the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City lead to awareness in U.S. of domestic and international terrorism as a potential threat; O.J. Simpson was found not guilty; fear of "Y.2.K" spread throughout the world; and "Friends" and "Seinfeld" are famous TV sitcoms presented in the '90s, as well as the cartoon, "The Simpson's."

But even with all of those neat things going on, my favorite part of the '90s would have to be the music. This is the decade I grew up listening to, and I love it! So, here are the #1 US hits of the 1990s:

'90- "Vogue" by Madonna; '91- "Black or White" by Michael Jackson; '92- "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston; '93- "I’d Do Anything for Love" by Meatloaf; '94- "Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen; '95- "Gangsta’s Paradise" by Coolio; '96- "Killing Me Softly" by The Fugees; '97- "I’ll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy; '98- "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion; '99- "Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears.

Playlist: Songs 11-20

#1 Hits of the '80s....

Well, throughout this blog we have been exploring the many different genres of music. We started with the foundations of music, learning about Renaissance music from the 1400s, on through the Classical era in the 1600s-1800s, and recently have covered several genres from the early 1900s. I thought we would finish out the blog by covering the biggest hits from the 1980s, '90s, and today. This post we will be flashing back to the '80s.....

The 1980s produced a very interesting decade, one that some people treasure, and one that some people try hard to forget. Ronald Reagan was elected the new president; the "Just Say No" campaign on drugs was created; the Cold War finally came to an end; the 1984 Olympics, held in LA, were boycotted by many countries; famous Beatles musician John Lennon is assassinated in 1980 in the US; the "compact disc" (CD's) was unveiled in 1980, and would gradually replace vinyl records; the Space Shuttle Challenger tragically exploded in 1986, with the deaths of 7 people on board; and Michael Jackson was by far the most popular entertainer, introducing several classing '80s trends, including the leather jacket, white glove, and the "Moonwalk."

Music of the 1980s was of a wide variety. There was of course the pop music teens loved thanks to the classic '80s movies. Here are some classic movie scenes from some of the classic movies (which also show off the fun '80s dance moves), just for fun!: Footloose, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Back to the Future, Flashdance, and Dirty Dancing.

Anyway, while there were hundreds of songs to choose from to put on the playlist, I though I'd put on the #1 hit in the US from each year of the '80s. So here they are:

1980- "Upside Down" by Diana Ross; '81- "Bette Avis Eyes" by Kim Carnes; '82- "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor; '83- "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson; '84- "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder; '85- "We Are the World" by USA for Africa; '86- "Papa Don’t Preach" by Madonna; '87- "La Bamba" by Los Lobos; '88- "Don’t Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin; '89- "Like a Prayer" by Madonna.

Playlist: Songs 21-30

Rhythm and Blues....

Rhythm & Blues is a genre that started with a bang in the late 1940s in African American communities, and has only only gotten bigger with time. Starting in the 1960s, after this style of music contributed to the development of rock and roll, the term Rhythm & Blues became used to refer to music styles that developed from and incorporated electric blues, as well as gospel and soul music. By the 1970s, the term rhythm and blues was being used as a blanket term to describe soul and funk. Since the 1990s, the term Contemporary R&B is now mainly used to refer to a modern version of soul and funk-influenced pop music.

In the 1940s, Louis Jordan and his band, the Tympany Five, which consisted of him on saxophone and vocals, along with musicians on trumpet, tenor saxophone, piano, bass and drums, dominated the R&B charts with three of the top five hits. The early 1950s introduced famous artists such as Johnny Otis, who produced ten top ten hits in 1951; Fat Domino; Little Richard; Ruth Brown, who placed hits in the top 5 every year from 1951 through 1954; and Ray Charles. Carl Perkins, Della Reese, and Chuck Berry dominated the charts in the late 1950s. Also at that time, the movie industry found a way to incorporate this popular genre of music, and Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Big Joe Turner, The Treniers, The Platters, The Flamingos, all made it onto the big screen starting in 1956. In 1957, extraordinaire Elvis Presley made his surprising debut on the R&B charts with "Jailhouse Rock"/"Treat Me Nice" at #1, and "All Shook Up" at #5, an unprecedented acceptance of a non-African American artist into a music category known for being created by blacks. Sam Cooke‘s #5 hit "Chain Gang" is indicative of R&B in 1960, as is Chubby Checker's #5 hit "The Twist". Also, Motown Records, an immediately successful Rhythm & Blues record label started in 1959 by Berry Gordy, had its first million-selling single in 1960 with The Miracles' "Shop Around."

Today, this genre is referred to as "Contemporary R&B," using inspirations from the great artists listed above, but also taking elements from modern soul, funk, dance, and hip hop. Contemporary R&B has a slick, electronic record production style, drum machine-backed rhythms, the occasional guitar riff to give the song a rock feel, the occasional saxophone solo to give a jazz feel, and a smooth, lush style of vocal arrangement. In the early to mid 1980s, new stars such as Prince and Michael Jackson rose in popularity, but the females led the scene in that decade with the introduction of Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and Janet Jackson. By the '90s, R&B artists were incorporating hip-hop sounds into their music, and popularity shifted to Boyz II Men, Brian McNight, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly, Usher, and Mariah Carey. Today, soulful R&B continues to be popular, with artists such as Rihanna, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J Blige, Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Mario, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, and John Legend showcasing classic influences in their work.

Playlist: Songs 31-39

Spiritual Hymns....

"You know when you're young you think you will always be. As you become more fragile, you reflect and you realize how much comfort can come from the past. Hymns can carry you into the future." -Andy Griffith

"Hymn" is a Greek word meaning "song of praise." They are often sung in church services, and a collection of hymns can be found in a book, called a hymnal. Christian/Jewish hymns were started through the book of Psalm in the Bible, and are also referred to as "psalms" as a synonym of the word. Other ancient hymns include the Egyptian Great Hymn to the Aten, composed by Pharaoh Akhenaten; the Vedas, a collection of hymns in the tradition of Hinduism; and the Western tradition of hymnody begins with the Homeric Hymns, a collection of ancient Greek hymns, the oldest of which were written in the 7th century BC, praising deities of the ancient Greek religions. During the Middle Ages a rich hymnody developed in the form of Gregorian chant or plainsong. Christian hymns are often written and sung with special or seasonal themes in mind, such as Christmas, Easter and the Feast of All Saints, during particular seasons such as Advent and Lent, or celebrations or mournful such as a baptisms, weddings and funerals. A writer of hymns is known as a hymnist or hymnodist, and the practice of singing hymns is called hymnody; the same word is used for the collectivity of hymns belonging to a particular denomination or period. According to Wikipedia, "Thomas Aquinas, in the introduction to his commentary on the Psalms, defined the Christian hymn as praise of God with song; a song is the exultation of the mind dwelling on eternal things, bursting forth in the voice."

On a side note- I personally LOVE hymns! I think, especially with my generation, hymns are getting lost and forgotten, but I think they are so powerful. The new, contemporary Christian songs are great, but I think it is important to remember where those songs started, and that was with hymns. And actually, some recent Christian artists have started rerecording hymns, and putting a contemporary spin on them, like with Chris Tomlin and his version of "Amazing Grace." That way, younger people are getting a mix of the old and the new. My favorite hymn is "How Great Thou Art," and Carrie Underwood did an amazing performance of the song last year that still can bring me to tears! Also, "Amazing Grace" is probably the most known and frequently sung hymn, and if you haven't seen the movie, called "Amazing Grace," which explains how the hymn was written, I recommend you watch it sometime. It's fabulous.

Playlist: Songs 40-46

"Life is like a song. For you are mine, at last..."

"Like a song of love that clings to me, how the thought of you does things to me..."

"Unforgettable" -Nat King Cole

Everybody enjoys a good love song every now and then. Whether a person is celebrating new love, or mourning love lost, these classic loves songs have lived throughout the decades to bring us the comfort we need. On the playlist, there are songs ranging from the 1920s, and the way to the 1990s. They are popular picks for weddings, night clubs, movies, etc. These are some of my favorite songs to listen to....

Playlist: Songs 47-57

Great American Country....

GAC is actually a country television network, recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, to 54 million viewers. The station launched December 31, 1995 and Garth Brooks' video, "The Thunder Rolls," was the first video to air on GAC. The television show not only plays the classics and hit country videos, but also features original programming, special musical performances and live concerts.

Interestingly enough, country music introduced two of the top selling solo artists of all time: Elvis Presley, who went on to introduce rock and roll music; and Garth Brooks, who, with 128 million albums sold, is the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history. Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family are widely considered to be important early country musicians from the 1920s, and later on artist such as Roy Rogers, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins stepped onto the country scene, and made fans fall even more in love with this genre. In the decades that followed, artists such as Alabama, Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, The Eagles, Tim McGraw, and many more made country music rise to the top, adding a bit of rock and pop into their styles, leaving many other genres were struggling to keep up.

Country music is one of the most popular genres currently, and has experience several changes and been introduced to many new things over the past few years. There have been many cross-over artists and duets, such as Jewel, Jessica Simpson, Bon Jovi, and Don Henley. Television shows have also found two of the top country female vocalists, including Carrie Underwood, who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol in 2005 and became a multi-platinum selling recording artist and a multiple Grammy Award winner, and Miranda Lambert, who gained fame as a finalist on the 2003 season of Nashville Star, where she finished in third place and later signed to Epic Records, and just won Album of the Year at the 2008 ACM Awards. And also, in 2008 Taylor Swift became the first country singer to reach number one on the pop charts with her single, "Love Story."

Playlist: Songs 58-66

Traditional Bluegrass Music.....

Bluegrass music is a sub-genre of classic American country, but has roots in Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and English traditional music, and is influenced by the music of immigrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as jazz and blues. This is where the acoustic string instruments, such as the banjo, fiddle, mandolin, upright bass, and acoustic guitar, became very popular. It began in the mid-1940s, only recorded after World War II because of "war rationing." Today Bill Monroe is referred to as the "founding father" of bluegrass music; the bluegrass style was named for his band, the Blue Grass Boys, formed in 1939. Bluegrass started in the rural areas of the country, meant for the popular buckdancing, flat-footing, or clogging dances, but became an instant hit and spread radically to the urban areas soon after. Again, because of war rationing, this genre of music could be played anywhere, and by anyone. It frowned upon the use of electricity, and therefore did not use electric instruments, making it easy and affordable for everyday people to play. Many legendary bluegrass singers and bands have been inducted into country's Grand Ole Opry, which has been around since 1925, and is the oldest continuous radio program/television show in the United States. Bluegrass isn't a popular genre anymore, but it sure is appreciated and respected in country music today. It produced great country music in its time, and continued to pave the way for today's style of country music. A fun movie that depicts this time period and genre of music was filmed in 2000, starring George Clooney, called "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" In the movie, Clooney's character records a bluegrass song, which has since become a hit with all music lovers across the country. Click on this link to check it out!

Playlist: Songs 67-71

Today's Hit Rock Music....

After going through the history and start of Rock and Roll, and then looking at some of Rock's legendary musicians, I though this time we'd look at current rock artists. Obviously, this genre has changed substantially from the 1950s, but today's rock artists are growing in popularity. These musicians and bands would probably not exist in the same capacity today if it weren't for the rock legends before them. And while rock music took a bit of a hit after the '80s, it is once again rising to the top of the billboards and music charts, with the help of the current songs on the newly updated playlist.

Playlist: Songs 72-80

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....

So the last couple of posts, we covered Rock and Roll, as well as Hard Rock. This time we're going to look at the ultimate classics according to the professionals themselves. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is "dedicated to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, and other people who have in some major way influenced the music industry, particularly in the area of rock and roll." It inducted its first group of artists, many of whom we have already covered (Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley), on January 23, 1986, and has had an annual induction ceremony, held in New York, ever since. An inductee, be it a singer, vocal group, band, or instrumentalist, "should have demonstrable influence and significance within the history of rock and roll," and will be inducted no earlier than 25 years after the release of their first album.

All of the artists inducted (there have been 230+!) have made a significant contribution to music, are known around the world, and are truly considered classic. On the playlist I have added songs from a few of the inductees- some of my favorites. There are several, but I couldn't decied; they're all so good! Enjoy!

Playlist: Songs 81-90

Rockin' Hard to Hard Rock.....

Hard rock is another subgenre of rock music, like Rock and Roll, and originated in the late 1960s in Britain. A typical hard rock band consists of electric and base guitars, drums, and pianos. Hard Rock was greatly influenced by the blues, particularly the "British Blues," which introduced more modern instruments to the sound of music, particularly the electric guitar and loud drum set, in the 1950s. The basis for this edgy genre of rock music was basically: the louder, the better. Instruments as well as vocals were all kicked up a notched. Groups such as The Kinks, Cream, The Who, and Deep Purple, as well as solo artists Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix too the world by storm with their new "heavy metal" sound. The 1970s made the genre even bigger by with the introduction of Queen, Guns 'N Roses, AC/DC, Metallica, Kiss, and Boston, just to name a few. And those legends were part of only the first "era" of Hard Rock, followed by two more.

The second era, covering the 1980s, is a time when many of the "classics" bands ended, and new ones began. This era introduced Def Leppard, Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Bon Jovi, and although this era was not as big as the first, these artists still left their mark on the music industry. The third era, picking up in the 1990s-present, carried on with some of the artists from the second era, but also adapted a more eclectic feel to the music, deeming the new name: "alternative rock." Artists such as Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Towers of London are some of the newest popular rock artists today, but are often viewed as "mainstream."

The playlist contains new songs from the classic hard rock artists from the first era, and are some of the most popular songs in the world to date. They are still frequently heard/played on classic rock radio stations, at sporting events by the pep-bands, or even on the hugely popular "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" games, which features music from this time and genre.

Playlist: Songs 91-96

Rock and Roll

Rock and Roll started in the late 1940s- early 1950s, and led to dozens of different forms of contemporary rock music (which we will touch on later in the blog!). It took sounds from several genres, including jazz, country, blues, and gospel, and created a sound that is now legendary. Rock and Roll bands did not use a lot of instruments, just a couple of guitars (electric and base) and drums to keep the beat going. Rock and Roll had an interesting impact on society, influencing fashion, lifestyles, dancing (the "Jitterbug" and "Sock Hop" dances), and language. The name was first used as a way to integrate white and black audiences; it came from the African American communities slang term for dancing, "rocking and rolling." This was at the time the Civil Rights Movement was beginning, and this genre of music gave the two separate communities something to enjoy together. Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" was the first rock song to hit the billboards, opening the doors for this hip new genre, and the hits kept coming. Famous artists such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Brown, Little Richard, Etta James, and many more dominated music in the '50s. A great current movie to check out for more on this genre would be "Walk the Line," which is about Johnny Cash and June Carter, who were primarily country singers. But the movie introduces some great Rock and Roll legends and songs! (Click on the title to see a clip!)

Playlist: Songs 97-104

Disco Fever!

Disco was a popular genre of music in the 1960s-70s in the US, mainly in African American and Hispanic communities. It had funk, soul, and Motown influences, and featured famous artists such as the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, and the Jackson 5. Famous movies "Saturday Night Fever" and "Thank God It's Friday" brought disco to the big screen, helping to spread its popularity. By the late 1970s, Disco clubs could be found all over the US, mainly in Urban cities, with DJs playing the popular music to keep the people 'dancing all night long'. "Disco dances" and "Disco fashion" took America by storm, as well. Dances such as touch dancing, the hustle and the cha cha were frequently taught in dance schools, and sheer flowing dresses and double-knit suits with pointy collars and a bare chest were the preferred dancing attire. All of this could be seen on the world famous "Soul Train," a popular, live R&B show that started in the 1970s with disco dancing, and continued on until 2006. (Click on the name to see a clip of the show...HUGE in the 1970s!)

The Disco era wasn't all party and play, however. In order to enhance the whole experience, the music and disco balls, etc., people turned to sex and drugs. Cocaine was also a major hit on the disco dance floors, and sex in the clubs was not uncommon. Because of this, and the fact that disco was becoming too "main-stream" with all of the Hollywood publicity (movies), disco hit its peak shortly after the dance clubs opened, about the same time hard rock started to make its debut.

Playlist: Songs 105-110

"The Motown Sound"

Motown is a record label for genres such as hip-hop, r&b, and rhythm and blues. It was founded in Michigan in 1959, and has been a success ever since. It is described as soul music with pop influence, and was primarily meant to reach an African American audience, but became popular with almost everybody, selling hit records to over 45 musical genres! Actually, African American artists signed to the label early on were told to act like royalty, representing themselves and the Motown industry in such a way that would appeal to white audiences, as they were paving the way for all African American artists in hit music. In its first 10 years, Motown had 110+ hits on the top 10 billboards, featuring artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, and The Temptations. Motown moved to LA, and became known as "The Sound of Young Americans." Currently, Motown is in New York City, and features popular artists such as Brian McKnight, Michael McDonald, and India Arie. Motown's 50th Anniversary was on January 12, 2009.

Playlist: Songs 111-118

Night of the Big Band....

Big Band is one of my favorite genres of music! The music is so pure, and just makes you want to get all dressed up and go dancing! It originated, and dominated music, in the 1920s, as a form of Swing, and was popular through the 1950s. Big Bands consisted of approximately 12-25 musicians, and the music was arranged and practiced thoroughly on sheet music before a performance. Big Bands made appearances in ballrooms and clubs across the country during the 1930s and 1940s, and also began to appear in movies and on television programs in the 1930’s right on through to the 1960’s. Common instruments used were saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section, including drums, guitars, and pianos. Vocalists became included in Big Bands around the mid-1930s. The music started out with a fast-paced melody, and soloists and "shout choruses" followed, which often included a call-and-response section with the audience. Most of the popular Big Band artists in those decades have since been forgotten, but I added some of the classics to the playlist! And here is a link to a performance by a Big Band on a television show in the 1920s-30s.

Playlist: Songs 119-123

Appreciating the Classics....

The definition of "classic" is to serve as a standard, model, or guide, and that is exactly what classical music did for all music to follow. There are three different categories of classical music: early (the Renaissance), common practice (what this post will be focusing on), and modern and contemporary. It started as early as 476, although the most common/popular time was from 1600-1910, during the "common practice." This is where all of the renowned composers, such as Beethoven, Bach, Debussy, Mozart, Brahms, etc. made there debut into music history.

Withing the "common practice" category, there are three forms of classical music, including Baroque, Classical, and Romantic. In the Baroquet period (1600-1760), instruments such as the harpsichord, violin, and pipe organ became popular, as well as musical cantatas and orchestras. Famed composers Pachelbel and Johann Sebastian Bach were from the Baroquet time. The Classical (within classical) time period was approx. from 170-1820, created many of the norms of composition, presentation and style, and introduced the piano as a main instrument in an orchestra. They Sypmhony became a common musical from, and the orchestra's instrumentation increased to include wind instruments. This style was prominent in Italy, France, Germany, and Russia, and included the famous composers Beethoven (also a "Romantic" composer) and Mozart. Lastly is the "Romantic" practice, was from 1820-1910, and paid more attention to the melodies and rhythms, and the more emotional aspects of a composition. The size of a typical orchestra was more than doubled, and compositions were greatly influenced by the European musical ideas. The genre include famous composers, such as Chopin, Wagner, Brahms, and Debussy.

Classical music has influenced all genres since its time, including rock, folk, and television and movie scores, and is still not only remembered, but cherished. It is still taught in homes and schools (elementary to graduate) all over the world, with the belief that knowledge of classical music can actually make an individual more intelligent. There is a multiplicity of amazing classical composers and their compositions- too many to choose from- so I stuck to the most well-known in adding songs to the playlist. A lot of the songs can still be heard in movies, weddings, stores, etc. I also included a personal favorite, from the Trans Siberian Orchestra, which is a current, popular, "rock orchestra," with influences from classical music, which is allowing younger generations to appreciate the classics, with a slightly modern twist. Classical music sure has come a long way!

Playlist: Songs 124-134

The Jazz-Age....

The first time music was referred to as "jazz," was in San Fransisco in 1913. Jazz music is primarily a mixture of African and European music from the 19th century, and has since influence all types of music and created some musical genres, including: swing, big band, bebop, and hip-hop. It started out smooth and blues-y, and evolved into a big-band type music, and features instruments such as the trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and vocalist. Many jazz pieces include a "call-and-response" pattern, with interaction from the audience, and soloists, who never play exactly the same lyric twice. Jazz was really a product of the blues, when composers and singers wanted a little more freedom and lively entertainment. In the 1920s, the "Queen of the Blues," Bessie Smith, recorded her first jazz album, and won a Grammy Hall of Fame award for her jazz single, "St. Louis Blues." Two of the most famous types of New Orleans/American jazz were called "Dixieland" and "Swing," and combined brass/blues ensembles with rhythm sections, featuring the piano, guitar, banjo, drums, and a double bass or tuba, and use much faster tempos. "When the Saints Go Marching In" was probably the most famous "Dixieland" composition to date, and the infamous Louis Armstrong was the master of swing music. It is ironic, because in the time of the "Roaring Twenties," jazz was viewed as "immoral" and threatening to old values and times, and was not supported outside of large African American communities, but by the 1930s jazz had made it's mark on history with famous composers/singers, such as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby ("Where the Blue of the Night" was composed by Bing and was used as the theme for his radio show, and was later covered by Rosemary Clooney, another famous jazz artist), and many more, and is still listened to religiously. Those artists are featured on the newly-updated playlist, along with the famous theme to "The Cosby Show," which, due to Bill Cosby's love of jazz music, was a jazz piece.

Playlist: Songs 135-141

Music on the Big Screen....

A movie is not complete without the music. I believe the music can either make or break the movie....it allows more emotions to be brought to life, fitting the mood of any given scene. Music in movies are called "film scores," not to be confused with the movie soundtrack. A film score is written by a composer of the director's choice, and s/he writes a specific piece, or pieces, for that movie. Film scores are instrumental, and did not start until the 1920s, when the films were silent, so a pianist would play the score live in the theatre. Once the composer has the film script, they then begin writing the score. Some composers still like to write sheet music (on paper), but in the 1950s, with excelling technology, most composer's began using a computer-based environment, and would work on the score there until the final orchestra recording. The orchestra records the music in front of a large screen portraying the movie, allowing the conductor, who is often the composer, to synchronize the music with the film.

On the playlist are some of the most famous film scores. Imagine "Jaws," which may be most well-known for it's music, without the music...the shark is about the attack, and the people don't have a clue. Add the music, and it creates a whole new level of suspense. Or "Indiana Jones," with it's exciting, staccato music, which increases the movie's adventure. And remember when you were watching "The Lion King" as a child, and Mufasa's ghost comes back to speak with Simba, saying, "Remember who you are. You are my son," and Simba runs after him begging him no to leave him again. I think I teared up when I watched it. Now picture that scene without the music....the emotion just would not have been the same. Here's a video of it, in case you've forgotten. :) If you really think about scenes in a specific movie, without the music, the mood shifts. Film scores add so much emotion to a film, and make for a great soundtrack!

Playlist: Songs 142-146

A Dance Through the Music of Ballet....

Ballet music appeared in the 1630s, but did not become recognized until the mid-1800s. Even then, composing ballet pieces was considered a demeaning job, filled by otherwise unsuccessful composers. This dance was most often found in a transition point of an opera- short, and allowing only enough time for the actors to change costumes and sets. At first, ballet was a story told without words, so the music was very important. Gradually, opera-styled singing became a part of the ballet, and the story became only partly danced, and partly sung...the music became less and less important. However, a defining change was made in the early 1800s, when dancers simply changed their dancing shoes. Ballerinas decided to wear ballet slippers, allowing them to dance more freely and gracefully than when wearing their hard shoes. Because of this, the ballet music could return to its original form, expressive and flowing, and responsible for telling the story of the ballet. In 1924, ballet music split into two separate directions: modernism and jazz-dance. Jazz dance is similar to the previously mention opera-incorporated ballet, using words to tell the story rather than just the music. Modernism ballet is more typically heard of, and is the romantic ballet told simply through a classic-style of music, not influenced by jazz or any other kind of popular music.

There are five new ballet songs on the playlist, as you can hear:
The first is by Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-93). He is most famous for his compositions in the ballets, "Swan Lake," "The Nutcracker," and, "The 1812 Overture/Concert No. 1," which is the song on the playlist. You may click on the titles of the other two ballets to see performances of them, as well as hear his beautiful symphonies.
Second is Russian composer, Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971). "The Rite of Spring" actually caused a riot when it premiered, as Stravinsky was often pushing the musical boundaries, deeming him as a "musical revolutionary." Although he was born in Russia, he moved to the US in 1939, when WWII began, where he then taught at Harvard University. Stravinsky now has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and posthumously received the Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1987.
Next is yet another Russian composer, Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953). He wrote his first composition at age five, and his first opera at seven. He is known as one of the "greatest composers of the 20th century."
I think we have all heard the "Sabre Dance," by Russian composer Aram Khachaturian (1903-78). Random fact: He composed the Armenian state anthem, and in 1998 was honored by appearing on their money.
Joseph-Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was actually a French composer. He made an American tour in 1928, which was the root of his international fame. Among the twenty-five cities he visited was New Orleans, where he fell in love with jazz music and later started including some jazz elements into his music. Ravel was also friends with the revered classical French composer, Achille-Claude Debussy, who is also currently on my playlist.

Playlist: Songs 147-151

War Songs and Drinking Songs, Then and Now....

War songs started as early as the 1700s, typically anti-war and used in many peace protests. Some of this country's most famous songs were created as either a protest to a war we were fighting, or as a victory song after the conclusion of a war. In 1861, William Steffe and abolitionist Julia Ward Howe wrote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," which became particularly popular for all US citizens during the Civil War. But not all war songs were soft and serious- some were downright humorous, in order to make the soldiers smile. Songs like, "Pack Up Your Troubles" helped US soldiers get through World War I, reminding them of home and giving them a positive outlook on the war, and "Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major" was a British soldier song, written in 1939, mocking their officers: "Don't forget to wake me in the morning, and bring me 'round a nice hot cup of tea. Kiss me goodnight, Sergeant-MajorSergeant-Major, be a mother to me!"

Drinking songs were very popular in the 1800s, and many of our present-day hymns, and even our national anthem, were taken from the tunes of drinking songs. "The Star Spangled Banner" was set to the tune of a popular British drinking song, written by John Stafford Smith, and The lyrics come from a poem written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key. "Barnacle Bill the Sailor" was an American drinking song, written in between World War I & II, and was later used as inspiration for the cartoon, "Popeye the Sailor Man" (the first link takes you to a video of the actual song, the second to the episode of "Popeye" that uses the song).

Times of war were hard for people in America, and people all over the world. They found a way to release their stresses, joys, and frustrations in writing music. I'd say we still do this today, just in different ways. "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning," written by country singer Alan Jackson, was a direct response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001, when the US declared war against Afghanistan, and I would say it is a modern-day war song. It was a different world back in the 18th and 19th centuries, and even in the early 1900s. A lot has changed since those times. But one thing that has stayed the same is the power of music to help people carry on through whatever their country is going through, together.

Playlist: Songs 152-155

The Renaissance, a Time of Revival

The Renaissance was a movement in Europe throughout the 14th-17th Centuries, and explored, expanded, and forever changed literature, art, religion, human philosophy, and music. Fortunately, much of the Renaissance music has been saved due to the creation of the Printing Press in the 1400s, which was about the time this sacred music started. Due to all of the political, economic, and religious events happening during this time, styles of composing, means of circulating music, and new musical genres were all drastically impacted and reformed.

Many people have a misconstrued perception of what Renaissance music actually sounded like, often of light instrumental dancing music using string instruments, like in this video: “A Knight’s Tale” (click on title to go to video) is a movie set in the Renaissance period, and in this scene, the characters are performing a timely dance…I thought it would be fun to add to this particular post. :)

In actuality, music at this time was more orthodox, and choral. “Polyphonic” was a genre important especially for church choruses, and was often composed of multiple choirs of singers, brass and strings, resembling classical music, as well as opera. Many popular instruments were created in this grand period, including the trumpet, tambourine, harp, lyre, viol (predecessor of violin), sackbut (trombone), bagpipe, flute, and cornett.

I added five new songs to the playlist, including “Angelus ad Pastores Ait” by Andrea Gabrieli, “Sicut Cervus” by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and “O Magnum Mysterium” by Tomas Luis de Victoria. Gabrieli was an Italian composer and organist in the 16th Century, as well as the first internationally renowned member of the Venetian School of Composers. Those composers spread Venetian music throughout Europe, and had an enormous influence over the music concluding the Renaissance, which in turn developed the well known genre: opera. Palestrina was an Italian Renaissance composer in the 16th Century, as well as a representative of the Roman School of Musical Composition, where he had a large impact on the Roman Catholic Church music, and the beginning of “polyphonic” compositions. Victoria is known as the most important and famous Spanish Renaissance composers of the late 16th-early 17th Centuries, the Counter-Reformation.

The other two songs are different versions of the renowned song, “Ave Maria.” First is by Giulio Caccini, a famous Italian composer of the late Renaissance period, and one of the founders of Opera music. In contrast, the second version is by the current R&B artist, Beyonce. I thought it was very interesting to compare the difference of the two versions, one from the song in its original time period, one from today’s period. My, how music has changed! And yet, music today would be nothing if it weren't for this crucial time in music history....

Playlist: Songs 156-160

And So the Journey Begins....

"Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies."

~Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

Music has been around since the beginning of time. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of genres of music in the world now. Regardless of your age or where you're from, chances are there is some kind of music you enjoy listening to- be it classical, country, Christian or reggae. There is simply something about music that human nature cannot live without, and although music has gone through many changes over the centuries, and still continues to change, it contains a certain unexplainable power over people, and we simply have to have it.

I've grown up listening to all kinds of music. My grandparents are classically trained musicians, my father is a band director, and his sister is a choir director. Music is in my blood. I would like to think I have a wide variety of musical interests....I like anything from Mozart to Brad Paisley. As long as the artist is actually singing and not screaming, I'm pretty accepting of any and all music. I have actually created a playlist with some of my favorite songs for you, some that are classics, and some just personal favorites. However, the more I learn about the history of music, I am constantly introduced to new genres of music that I never knew about. It is truly fascinating all of the incredible music out in our world, new and old, that does not get due credit.

This blog is intended to do exactly what the title of it says....I will be taking a journey through the history of music, covering many famous genres that were crucial to the music industry, and to the world, and present some new, or uncommon, ones as well. In today's society, people turn on the radio and listen to whatever is on "American Top 40" or "Top 20 Country Countdown," and that is all they ever listen to. The musical classics are being lost throughout the generations- honestly, does any current high school kid listen regularly to Bach, Duke Ellington, or even The Beatles? I want to reintroduce the grand musicians, and recapture the true essence of music. I will also be adding to my playlist with each blog entry, including songs from that entry's "feature genre," so you can not only learn about different types of music, but listen to it as well. The current songs on the playlist are just some of my personal favorites. My goal in this blog is to expand my own appreciation for all types of music, from all different time periods, and I hope you'll join me in this journey through time and music....

Playlist: Songs 161-165