Module 6

This week we covered many different styles of music.  The first six examples were all hits from the 1970’s, including: It’s Too Late performed by Carole King in 1971, Superstition performed by Stevie Wonder in 1972, Crocodile Rock performed by Elton John in 1972, Love’s Theme performed by the Love Unlimited Orchestra in 1973, Thank God I’m a Country Boy performed by John Denver in 1975, and Hotel California performed by the Eagles in 1976.  Though these six recordings are all very different, they were all number one hits in the 70’s and represent the wide variety of styles and musicians that took over popular music.  Of these, my personal favorite is the John Denver song Thank God I’m a Country Boy.  John Denver is a personal favorite because you cannot get your undergraduate degree from West Virginia University without loving John Denver and singing Country Roads after every sporting event.  When looking through recordings of Thank God I’m a Country Boy I found a live recording that I particularly enjoyed.

Our next two examples were polar opposites, the first being Stairway to Heaven performed by Led Zeppelin in1971, and Oye Como Va performed by Santana, also performed in 1971.  Stairway to Heaven was Led Zeppelin’s most famous recording, eventually selling 14 million copies.  This was not my favorite listening of the week, as I have never been a huge Led Zeppelin fan, but I can appreciate everything their music did for heavy metal today.  On the other end of the spectrum is Oye Como Va, which was rock with a Latin influence thrown in.  Essentially and electrified version of an Afro-Cuban Dance, Oye Como Va brought in Santana’s signature sound throughout.

We also listened to some popular disco songs, mostly performed by Donna Summer.  These examples were Love to Love You Baby performed by Donna Summer in 1975, Bad Girls performed by Donna Summer in 1979, and Good Times performed by Chic in 1979.  The pounding beat of these three songs, the steady medium-fast tempo, the straightforward forms, straightforward subject matter, and the limited harmonic vocabulary are what clearly make them disco.

We also listened to Poncho and Lefty performed by James Van Zandt in 1972.  James Van Zandt was considered to be a hero in the genre of progressive country, and many popular artists such as Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard covered his songs.  Psycho Killer performed by Talking Heads in 1977, was inspired by the psycho murdered Norman Bates from the Alfred Hitchcock movie Psycho.  This was the only Talking Heads single to appear on the singles charts, and it is recognized almost instantly by David Byrne’s high-pitched voice.