Lecture 8 - Punk, Reggae, and Rap (more 1970s) Flashcards
What year did Punk start in the US and through what bands?
In 1965 through Velvet Underground, Iggy Pop, New York Dolls, and the Ramones.
What band made punk more popular across the US in the 1970s?
The Sex Pistols
What were these early punk bands pushing back against?
pushing against corporate-led pop and rock (where artists were the ones being told what to do).
They wanted to implement their own creative visions instead of being told what to do.
What kinds of songs were punk bands writing? Directed towards who?
They were writing simple songs for nonconformist youth.
These groups were drawn to artists who were approaching things differently and pursuing music in a different way that was off the tried and tested trail
How was the punk band called ‘The Ramones’ reception like in the States?
It was not particularly warm and welcoming in the States
Where were the Ramones from?
Where did they find a better reception? Why did they receive a better reception here?
They were from America
The found an audience in the UK much easier because the UK already had a punk following with those Sex Pistols and other bands as well
What kind of rock did the Ramones produce?
produced a stripped-down, high-energy style of rock
What did the Ramones focus on ?
Short, fast, simple songs
What label were the Ramones signed with?
Sire Records (New York Label)
What song is a representation of what kind of songs the Ramones were popular for
Blitzkrieg Bop
What kind of sound can be found in the Ramones “I Wanna Be Sedated” at the beginning of the song?
There’s a wall of sound in this song which attacks us from the beginning, short chunks of music that get repeated, catchy, short, sweet
“I Want to be Sedated” by the Ramones- What form?
Simple Verse form with each verse consisting of two short, related musical motives with lots of repeated notes
What can be said about each section in “I Want to be Sedated”?
each section being very short and the verse can subdivide into 2 sections but they are so closely related.
What can be said about the chords and the rhythm of “I want to be Sedated”?
Simple, repetitive chords and simple, repetitive rhythms
What can be said about the beat of “I want to be Sedated”
Lively, relentless, and catchy. Relentless meaning that that beat keeps charging forward.
How is the level of performance for the Ramones?
- Amateur level of performance
-not providing opportunities for virtuosic display
-giving the singers a break and changing the texture for a small moment
What can be said about “I want to be sedated”?
there is modulation
the song is short in length overall
repetitive
vague lyrics
What does note repetition allow for in “I want to be sedated”?
-get words out faster; appealing element for composers and performers
What is the vocal embellishment ‘loco’ for in the song “I want to be sedated”?
Meant to appeal to the nonconformist youth who wanted something different and thought ‘to hell with musical sophistication’
How can punk lyrics be?
Punk lyrics are very simple, vague, evasive or really in your face
What can punk in the UK be linked to?
can be linked to specific socioeconomic circumstances (in the mid-1970s, the UK was suffering an economic recession).
British youth were struggling because of things like recession, lack of job opportunities so young people were not left with much to do with their time so the music became an outlet to voice their frustration and anger
“The Sex Pistols” signed with …
EMI in 1976
What was ‘The Sex Pistols’ first single?
“Anarchy in the UK”
Why did EMI end up dropping ‘The Sex Pistols’?
-caused a scandal on British TV
-showed up high
-swore a lot, showed a swastika
Which label picked up ‘The Sex Pistols’ and then dropped them?
A&M picked them up and then dropped them
Which label signed “The Sex Pistols” after the second drop?
Virgin Records
What first album did “The Sex Pistols” release with Virgin Records?
‘Never Mind the Bollocks’
What form is “Anarchy in the UK” by the Sex Pistols?
Modified verse-chorus form with instrumental bridges featuring simple guitar solos
What instruments are used in “Anarchy in the UK”
-electric guitars
-bass
-drums
-lead and backup vocals
What was the timbre of “Anarchy in the UK” and what was the studio effect?
Raw, urgent, unpolished vocal timbre.
Studio effect is like a DIY aesthetic rather than going for lush instrumentals and a really polished studio sound
What was the return to simplicity aesthetic?
eliminated the complexity and expansiveness that psychedelic rock and urban folk had honed.
This was supposed to sound like it was recorded in someone’s basement or garage so its a real return to simplicity in the face of some of the really complex music that was going on at this time
Why did the lyrics of “Anarchy in the UK” shock some 1970s British Audiences?
things like “I’m an antichrist” were said
- the lyrics are potent but that is what punk audiences liked
Why is the form of “Anarchy in the UK” modified?
-the refrain is really embedded within the verse and isn’t long enough to be a standalone chorus
-the chorus isn’t long enough to be on its own
What can be found at the end of the “Anarchy in the UK”
Instrumental bridges
repetition of the refrain to mark things off at the end
Why is it called a refrain in “Anarchy in the UK”?
The refrain ‘cause I wanna be anarchy” is referred to as the refrain because it’s modified and how this one single section incorporates both the verse and the chorus (chorus and refrain mean the same thing) so we refer to that as the refrain, we hear it at the end of our verses every time more or less and it’s something we can sing along with
What was the picture on the vinyl on”God Save the Queen” in by the Sex Pistols
-picture of the queen with a piercing and a safety pin on her face and a child-like scroll of text around her crown
What were the lyrics of “God Save the Queen” meant to do?
Meant to shock people
AND IT DIDDDD
What can be said about the melodic lines of “God Save the Queen”?
they included a lot of repeated notes
There’s repetition in the music of ‘God Save the Queen’ but also what else? What is this a gesture of?
The melodic lines have repeated notes as well. This is a characteristic of a lot of rock music as we move forward; that melody isn’t important anymore at least with some types of music. Here, the lyrics are sometimes being shouted or screamed and not much melodic variation and when we do have call and response, there’s a bit between the lead singer and the instruments
also in the lyrics so were getting whole chunks of verses with the same lyrics repeated which is another gesture of oversimplifying things
What are 9 general characteristics of punk?
- Simple, repetitive approach to musical elements: form, melodies, rhythms, harmonies, lyrics, performance style (Were not dealing with nearly as many chords as we have in recent times with other genres and earlier types of music; we have a much smaller palette of chords and we’re not incorporating any sort of unusual, sophisticated chords but maybe just a little bit of modulation which is more of an excuse to repeat familiar material)
- Outrageous, vulgar performances
- Raw timbres that assault the senses
- Screaming vocals, sometimes laced with profanities
- Extremely loud, often distorted guitars (adds to the garage band aesthetic)
- Unpolished, sloppy singing and playing
- Heavy, relentless drumming
- Hyper, aggressive music and performance style
- Do-it-yourself aesthetic trumps professionalism
How did punks use their physical appearances to shock others?
- Clothing: Ripped jeans, leather jackets, chains, and safety pins (these were an emblem of this movement) worn fastened to clothes and as piercings
- Hairstyles: Unusual colours, ”Mohawks” and long hair to whip around
- DIY, homemade approach to recording, distribution, album art, and promotional materials:
What are the differences between Punk and Disco?
These two musical trends both emerged in the 1970s and occupy virtual opposite ends on the spectrum of popular music but they differ with timbre, use of technology, instrumentation, clothing, dance, audiences
What is the difference in general tone between punk and disco?
General tone:
Punk: Deliberately discordant and abrasive
Disco: euphonic and pleasing to the ear
What is the difference in vocals between punk and disco?
Vocals
Punk: untrained, raw timbre, sometimes screaming
Disco: professional, elegant, gentle timbre and sometimes incorporates improvisation
What is the difference in melody between punk and disco?
Melody
Punk: lots of repeated notes, narrow range
Disco: melodic variety, wider ranges
What is the difference in rhythm between punk and disco?
Rhythm
Punk: lots of repetitive rhythms that emphasize the main beats of the bar (beats 1 and 3 in a standard 4/4 time)
Disco: Emphasis on every beat for dancing with some rhythmic variety and syncopation
What is the difference in harmony between punk and disco?
Harmony
Punk: lots of repetitive chords
Disco: harmonic variety