History of Rock Final Exam Review and Essay Notes PDF

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Comprehensive review for the essay questions (same every year) that includes both notes as well as quotes and important points to use for the essays. Also included are lecture notes and key terms from throughout the semester....

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H of Rock Final Test Review Glam- unprecedented amounts of money being spent, extravagant touring, technology, merchandising, marketing, visual spectacle, theatrical aspects, sexual freedom, stage personage, costumes, lacked interest in social/political issues Groupies- Girls Talk Outrageously GTO’s, Pamela de Barres, David Bowie- Fame, first hit in the US- Ziggy Stardust (alter-ego/stage persona androgynous alien rock star), Japanese kabuki and avant-garde theatre, song co-written by John Lennon Alice Cooper- School’s Out – deliberately set out to shock people, guillotines & blood, signed by Frank Zappa Kiss- Rock and Roll all Night- influenced by New York Dolls, over-the-top shows, pyro explosions, Bass player Gene Simmons was a marketing and merchandising genius Southern Rock- rock with blues and soul, outlaw style southern pride, resonated in post-civil rights era Allman Brothers- Statesboro Blues- Duane Allman (slide guitar) died in a motorcycle accident 1971, Oakley died the same way a year later, 12 bar blues form, improvisation a central part of their sound, Live at the Fillmore East Lynyrd Skynyrd- Sweet Home Alabama- 3 Guitar Sound, instrumental solos, no improvisation, Van Zandt and Gaines died in a 1977 plane crash, Rossington and Powell are only original members still left Music in the 1970s- rock became a big business, arena tours, multiplatinum sales, non-music oriented corporations began buying record companies, Fleetwood Mac- Go Your Own Way- album Rumors, started out as blues band, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham (guitarist), Christie Mcvee plays keyboards, commercial success Peter Frampton- Do You Feel Like We Do- album Frampton comes Alive, Humble Pie (British Band he was on early in his career)- Talk Box (special effect on the song)

Elton John- Tiny Dancer (early in career)- this song is from Madman across the Water album, Goodbye Yellowbrick Road is greatest album, collaborates with Bernie Taupin, lyric writer, had drug and alcohol problems later in life Pink Floyd- Another Brick in the Wall Part II- name taken from two bluesmen, electronic sounds, The Wall was #1 in 1979 and 1980, creative leader syd Barret left, replaced by David Gilmour Marvin Gaye- What’s Going On (concept album)- started at Motown, took on serious subjects like war and poverty, Berry Gordy didn’t want to release it initially Superstition- Stevie Wonder- plays the Clavinet – big success as a teen at Motown, he renegotiated his contract with Motown records in 1971 when he was 21 years old, talking book album, after this negotiation, he was able to have more creative freedom and was allowed to produce his own music, he abandoned the MoTown mold and made his most influential music in the years following and critically successful Sly and the Family Stone- Everyday People- Sly Stone was leader, racially integrated and gender-wise Larry Graham was the innovative bassist, from album stand, Stone’s sister Rosie, combined funk and psychedelic rock Jackson Five- ABC- Michael became lead singer at age 6, first group to have their first 4 singles became # 1 hits Disco- underground scene in NYC clubs, Studio 54 disco club in 70’s, no bands on-stage (DJ) Donna Summer- Last Dance- Queen of Disco, Four on the Floor pattern (kick drum pattern all 4 beats), string and horn arrangements Bee Gees – Stayin Alive- comeback marked second phase after they were a soul group, Robin and Maurice are twins, brother Andy (Gibbs), 1977 album Saturday Night Fever, biggest selling album until Thriller Reggae- Black Power Movement, Jamaican music, ska, Rastafarian religion, dub mixes inspired hip-hop Bob Marley and the Wailers- I shot the sherif- Island records, first reggae band to have intl. success, playing on off-beats

Lou Reed- take a walk on the wild side- velvet underground, part of andy warhol’s factory store, produced by David Bowie Punk Rock- Patti Smith and Richard Hell played at CBGB’s, NYC’s Bowery District, CBGB’s club at the center of the scene, rebellion against virtually all previous styles of rock music, rebellion against society, do it yourself attitude, aggressive angry music style, not the best musical talents, anyone can play, minimal, aggressive and angry The Ramones- I wanna be Sedated- first punk band, greaser look like Gene Vincent, less interested in art and politics, all took last name Ramone, fast short and energetic songs The Sex Pistols- God Save the Queen- Johnny Rotten (vocals) and Sid Vicious (bass player), released during the Queen’s silver jubilee celebration, put together by clothing store owner Malcolm Mclaren, violent shows self-mutilation, first major British punk band, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols-one album The Clash- Train in Vain (Stand By Me)- more musical sophistication, rock against racism, from album London Calling, rockabilly and reggae influence Elvis Costello- Allison- backup band the Attractions, helped usher in New Wave (punk music with more sophistication, cleaner image) Talking Heads- Burning Down the House- Speaking in Tongues CBGB’s scene, early New Wave Band, experimentation with technology, David Byrne (lead singer), Chris Frantz (drummer), Tina Weymouth(bassist) albums produced by Brian Eno The Cars- Just What I needed- most commercially successful of the late 70s and early 80s new wave bands, videos were MTV staple Music Technology in the 1980s- VCR’s and video games, synthesizer drum-loop technology, cd’s, television became the main avenue of popular music MTV- August 1 1981, Video killed the radio star by the Buggles, initially played few black artists, replaced radio as most important trend setter Michael Jackson- Billie Jean, from Thriller, produced by Quincy Jones, one of first black artists played on MTV, synthesizers, bass-driven beats, good hooks, dance album

Madonna- Like a Virgin- her first #1 song and album, exploited new video medium, brilliant control of her image PMRC Hearings- Parental Music Resource Center, led by Senator’s wives including Tipper Gore, rating system should be implemented for content of recordings, 1985, musicians like Zappa, Denver, Snider protested against it as violation of 1st amendment rights Prince- Darling Nikki- Purple Rain album, overtly sexual lyrics and videos, subject of much criticism Bruce Springsteen- Born to Run, from Born in the USA album, initially wasn’t a huge success, gradually built up his fan base, talked about working class struggles, hopes, frustrations, signed by John Hammond, E-Street Band with a horn section sound, stardom arrivevd in 1984 80s benefits- We are the World, Band Aid, Live Aid, Bob Geldof, Paul Simon’s graceland album, Artists united against Apartheid The Go-GO’s We Got the Beat- first female group to have producing and instrumental freedom from male managers, played their own instruments, Berlinda Carlisle Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine - Rhythm is Gonna Get Youoriginally was a wedding band, fused Latin and Pop, Emilio Estefan was husband and creative leader Milli Vanilli- Girl You Know Its True - Rob and Fab first artists ever stripped of a grammy, models who lip synched to tracks recorded by studio, became scapegoats for a fairly common practice Ozzy Osbourne- Crazy Train- fired from Black Sabbath, Blizzard of Ozz, suicide solution, MTV reality show and Ozzfest AC/DC- Back in Black, Macolm(rhythm guitar) and Angus Young (lead guitar), school uniform, Bon Scott was lead singer, replaced by Brian Johnson Cheap Trick- I Want You to want Me- power pop band, melodic, live album at Budokan LA- center of 80s rock scene, hairbands, around sunset strip, multi platinum bands, spurred by MTV airplay, influenced by 70s glam, non-politically motivated

Van Halen- Jump- David Lee Roth frontman, classically trained, Eddie Van Halen was virtuosic guitar playing, pioneered tapping (both hands on neck of guitar), this song 1984 marked a change used a synthesizer Guns N Roses- Axl Rose- Sweet Child O mine, album appetite for destruction, raw sleazy and gritty image, blues-influenced, less polished, rise of grunge bands in early 90s speeded the end of this type of music NWBHM- New Wave of British Heavy metal, inspired by Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, but harder faster and louder Judas Priest- You’ve Got Another Thing Coming- Screaming for Vengeance album, leather and chains image, heavy metal band Def Leppard – Photograph- one of first metal videos played on MTV, produced by Robert Lange, album pyromania, rick allen is the one-armed drummer Journey Don’t Stop Believing, AOR band, San Francisco, unusual structure of song has chorus at the end, Steve Perry singer and Neil Schon guitarist

Essay Outlines 1. -Stuessy and Lipscomb say that while rock as a general style or musical genre may be permanent, its transitory parts are very interchangeable, there are very few artists who staying power over many years for every Rolling Stones or Chicago or Michael Jackson, the characteristics of the music change as frequently as the weather does there are dozens of other artists who only had brief glimpses of popularity, there is a cycle that goes popularity to derision to nostalgia, that which was recently popular but is recently unpopular is subject to the most criticism, -

Artists who combine many different musical influences into their work often have a longer staying power, incorporating more musical styles often appeals to a broader fan base, Ray Charles (soul, blues, gospel, jazz, R&B), Elvis (Blues, western, pop), Beatles (pop, sitar, skiffle music, American R&B), stones (r&b, rockabilly, blues, jazz), Bob Dylan (folk, r&b, country), AC/DC (simplistic minimalist style, didn’t buy into the glam era, sophistication),

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Artists with staying power are those whose music appeals to a wider base of people and have a diverse fan base, Bob Marley’s reggae had international influence and related to a lot of people, artists who have been touring for several decades, AC/DC didn’t buy into the glam stuff of the 1970’s and 1980’s, rock is simplistic and minimalist in style but sophisticated, Chicago or Yes whose stylistic jazz influenced prog rock style is timeless, Stevie Wonder or Led Zeppelin or Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen

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Artists without staying power include the Sex Pistols (released only one album) because they were more concerned with being rebellious than creating good music, many of the 70’s and 80’s glam artists, Disco (Donna Summer, Bee Gees) as a genre was popular only for a brief time and has since been replaced , some of the many glam artists (David Bowie), the grunge movement made glam artists look ridiculous, pop singers in the late 1950’s like Paul Anka and Pat Boone (vanilla version of Tutti Frutti) were soon and quickly replaced by the Beatles, focused more on the visual spectacle instead of the quality of music which made their appeal shortlived

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Resurgence of 80’s music in today’s culture, folk music in the 60’s (bob Dylan), blues music with popularity of Journey, Foreigner, Michael Jackson and a revival of pop music from Michael Jackson’s type of music, MTV

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Doo-wop groups have come back in the form of boy and girl groups today, also from the Ronettes and the Shirelles

2. What were once vices are now habits -

The idea of one-upmanship, for the 99% of bands that don’t make it and the 1% that do, it often takes something remarkable or extraordinary about a particular band, must play louder have more elaborate props to achieve popularity and gain attention. Publicity is crucial, good or bad, however this game of one-upmanship ends up creating temporarily successful bands that cycle in and out quickly

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The pressure to one-up comes from the ability to gain attention, whether it be good or bad, because often times in the music

industry any attention is good attention and attention quickly leads to success -

However, musical quality still does matter, as some bands can still gain a reputation based solely off of their talent and creativity, as seen with AC/DC in the glam era who did less of the spectacles, or Pink Floyd

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Marilyn Manson and Alice cooper, pressure comes from the consumer who will they buy?

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They overemphasize a little bit, as mentioned before there are artists who have set trends that will forever influence rock (Beatles, Stones, Led Zeppelin), however even at the onset with the guitar smashing performances of the Who and Hendrix lighting his guitar on fire, there has always been an element of creating a spectacle to gain attention from the media, public or the audience. Starting with Chuck Berry’s duck walk, Elvis’ dancing going to Alice Cooper, Kiss, and Ozzy Osbourne and many of the glam artists that deliberately set out to shock and awe the audience with pyrotechnics, displays of blood and gore (biting the head off of a chicken)

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NWBHM took heavy metal bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath and made them harder, faster and more aggressive, Punk artists did a similar type of thing with rolling stones music expanding upon it and making it more aggressive and louder

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However, instead of a growing trend towards lewdness and loud, there have been resurgences and positive influences, as can be seen with the evolution of pop stars from James Brown to Michael Jackson to Prince to modern day stars such as Justin Timberlake, Gloria Estefan to Jennifer Lopez

3. Good is Bad and Bad is Good -

Starting with the Beatles Stones dichotomy, the Stones were the anti-Beatle, purposely exuding a bad-boy image both in their appearance and in their musical playing (Sympathy for The Devil, Street Fighting Man), they weren’t necessarily the best musical talent but their image appealed, often times these “bad” bands are seen as the most real groups that people could relate to, such music is usually simple and requires little effort on the part of the listener to appreciate, in many of these “bad” groups the idea that anyone

should be able to play music regardless of formal training or background, Stones had a raw, visceral and gritty sound compared to the pop-style of the Beatles -

Elvis was bad because of dancing and suggestive lyrics, Little Richard suggestive lyrics, Ronettes had a tough-girl image inspired by Phil Spector, Jerry Lee Lewis talks about suggestive lyrics, Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf,

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The inversion of traditional evaluation criteria has led to a devolution of rock music’s sophistication and complexity

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From the onset, rock n’roll has always been about rebellion and going against the status quo, Little Richard, Elvis had appeal because of his dancing and his suggestive lyrics which sparked much controversy, Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols and their outrageous protesting against the British social system, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath and his theatrics, Prince with the PMRC hearings,

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The justification behind this music is that the music is more about rebelling against cultural and societal norms, almost parodying the formally trained musicians with their perfect intonation and melodies, fans see this as simple and as real and down-to-earth, starkly contrasting with the ostentatious spectacles of glam artists in the

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Punk rockers, with their do it yourself mentality that anyone could play music regardless of talent, took this idea to the next level, with overly simplistic melodies and out-of-tune singing (Ramones)

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Evolution of rock becoming more and more aggressive with the principle of one-upmanship, went from Stones to Zeppelin to Black Sabbath to Judas Priest, music has evolved to become faster, harder and more aggressive

4. My Album may be number 1, but I’m not commercial -

Striking a balance between attaining commercial success and income and maintaining a unique musical and creative style, some

artists are more oriented towards the creativity side while others focus solely on commercial success while there is a mixture of both sometimes -

Everyone strives for commercial success while loudly proclaiming the opposite, “going commercial” is never a good thing for an artist, a stigma attached to the word

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Glam, Elton John, David Bowie, Kiss artists used spectacle and imagery to attain commercial success, other artists like Bob Marley and Bob Dylan had success thrown on them and didn’t really care what happened, artists like the Michael Jackson was somewhere in the middle devoting substantial time to both developing quality music but also devoting much time to establish himself as a legitimate commercial pop star

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Acid rock artists inspired from the counterculture Beat movement such as the Grateful Dead weren’t as concerned as many artists were about commercializing or mainstreaming their music

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Today, artists strive for commercial success, making it to the charts and being on MTV, commercial should mean that a group has a wide audience and fan base

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Madonna constantly manipulated her image to remain popular in the limelight

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Ed Sullivan Show, Dick Clark American Bandstand, Top 40 pop charts, MTV

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Some groups purposely alter their musical principles to achieve commercial success, commercial often refers to artists who are talented enough to perform in a variety of musical styles, it is an economic term

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There is still a stigma attached to the word commercial, or to artists who sell-out and go away from their traditional roots, many hip-hop artists, especially underground, purposely avoid gaining a national level of success for a fear that the success would compromise the musical integrity, other artists today start their careers solely to become the quintessential pop star, being about as mainstream as possible trying to achieve large fan bases

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However, many artists also view music as a business and a way to get to the top (Kiss with Gene Simmons, Beatles, Jay-Z) and don’t care about the stigma of being called commercial if they are raking the money,

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In order to achieve a prominent level of success and acclaim, an artist has to focus on things such as publicity, image, and the media to get to the next level, all of which are important aspects, there will always be a balance between an artists want to retain their musical tradition or adapting to become more mainstream and more commercial, it is the artists prerogative to decide the weight of the balance

utline Essays 5-8

Statement 5- “Not all music is art, most of it is simply product” -

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in the earlier centuries, musicians were viewed merely as technicians instead of the 19th century romanticized view in which we tend to view musical talent with awe and invest it with an aura of mysticism only a small percentage of musical talent is mysterious, a larger percent is just hard work musicians get musical idea in the same way one gets ideas about other things, from “somewhere” o therefore, artists who “innovate” or bring something new to the rock industry that transcends time can be viewed as artists, while the artists who simply followed the successful trends of the past era’s, are simply creating product…because it already existed takes hard work, discipline, practice a work of art seems to appeal to a large number of people through many generations, transcends time a product is more mundane, more about trying to figure out what to sell and how to promote something, a product serves an immediate function and therefore soon wears out or becomes obsolete in every century and every musical style there has been very few true artists (make art), however a large number of musical manufacturers (make product) rock music is a heavily commercialized industry, so works of art can be difficult to find and 95 percen...