music and gender final Flashcards
Ma Rainey
“Mother of Blues,” represented lesbian workers and revealed cross dressing on stage because of her explicit/sexual lyrics that openly expressed her desire for women. She sung in a deep and sometimes “moaning” style of singing.
12 bar blues
Lucille Bogan
A blues singer, one of the first to be recorded (unlike Ma Rainey), also known for her sexual lyrics expressing her desire to be with the same sex.
Girl Group Music
several female singers who harmonize together. the wave of American pop female singers who flourished in the 50’6 and 60’s.
The Ronettes
a popular american R&B girl group from New York. Lead singer Veronica Bennett (Ronnie), sister Estelle Bennett, and cousin Nedra Talley. Were first known as the “Darling sister”. The only girl group to tour with the Beatles.
The Shirelles
1958, became the first Rock n Roll female supergroup and were the inspiration for a legion of female groups that followed. the originators of the Girl Group Sound.
their song “ Will you still love me tomorrow”- exemplifies the Girl Group tradition, it establishes an unambiguous female perspective.
The Supremes
Motown girl group; Diana Ross - were an American female singing group
Brill Building
building in New York. Famous for housing music industry offices and studios
Rock ‘n’ Roll
evolved in the US in the late 40s and early 50s. Primarily a combination of African American genres such as blues, jazz, gospel music and Western swing and country music. The beat is essentially blues with a snare drum in the background as well as electric guitars.
The Shirelles
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow: first rock n roll girl group that set the tone/standards for upcoming girl groups; were an inspiration for other groups
The Supremes
Motown girl group; Diana Ross - were an American female singing group
Brill Building
building in New York. Famous for housing music industry offices and studios
Rock ‘n’ Roll
evolved in the US in the late 40s and early 50s
Primarily a combination of African American genres such as blues, jazz, gospel music and Western swing and country music.
The beat is essentially blues with a snare drum in the background as well as electric guitars.
Elvis Presley
50s-70s
figure of sexuality – lyrics and dance moves (the hip thrust) – often changed lyrics to reduce sexuality
hypermasculine with the electric guitar
monodynamic and aggressive music with rigid, consistent rhythms making the music radio/pop friendly
Berry Gordy
founder of Motown, producer
African American man from Detroit
Motown
record label (founded by berry gordy) and a music genre
label: promoted african american music to all audiences
gave african americans agency performers due to white audience appeal
genre: soul music with pop influence (Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Temptations)
Phil Spector
american record producer who developed the “wall of sound”
hypermasculine and mysogynistic and controlling
married to ronnie of the ronnettes – kept her locked up and didn’t let her go to one of her performances with the beatles
signed the ronnettes under philly records but often refused to release their singles and attributed their work to others
“Wall of Sound”
developed by phil spector
Very reverbed, use of multiple instruments, studio effects etc.
Single backing track in which there is just one wall of sound
The Beatles
british pop rock of the 60s
covered girl groups and influenced by the blues
engaging/charming towards media, had a youthful innocence, physical presentation was different than traditional masculinity at the time (long hair)
Beatlemania
imported for teenage girls, gave them a way to express sexual frustrations (not allowed in the 50s but gave a space in the 60s); Breakdown of traditional values
New York Dolls
Punk rock glam group- provided a model for The Sex Pistols
Blues influence, british/american influence
Platform shoes, makeup, non-gender specific clothing
New York Underground
Provided a space for individuals to express their sexual identity beyond the rigid conventionalities placed by society in the 1970s, a gender ambiguous space
Andy Warhol influence
Performers engaged publically in non-normative performances of gender and sexual identities
Glam rock:
developed rock and roll (started in UK); Emphasis on artificiality & theatricality, rather than realism and gender presentation involved social resistance against heteronormative social mores
artist was a performance with glitter, makeup, etc
offered space for experimentation regarding gender identity which would have been otherwise impossible due to social stigma in the late 60s to 70s
David Bowie
David Jones/Ziggy Stardust
Performing with that non-conforming gender presentation: wearing dresses on album covers & live performances, heavy makeup as a part of his persona, androgynous self presentation
embracing artificial self, challenging gender norms through gender performance
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
based on british musical, sweet transvestite plays with gender stereotype – is an alien
scientist creates a perfectly masculine rocky
“experiment” as a double entendre to make fun of vanilla norms as something to be fixed
Disco
form of dance music based on funk and r&b that dominated pop in late 70s
regular bass drum accents on every beat, frequent use of orchestral instruments and synthesizers, Latin percussion, and simple lyrics, oriented around dancing, romance and a party-led life style
eventually went from underground to pop music industry
started as homosocial space for gay men
drugs
Donna Summer
“the queen of disco”
sang gospel, trained in theatre - cast of “hair”, was in a psychedelic rock band in europe, made long and sexual songs
The Village People:
american, all-male, disco group
dressed as masculine stereotypes with surface presentations glitz,glamour , and theatricality and an emphasis on pleasure
Punk
rock genre developed in mid 1970s, NYC –> London & LA
•Sonic “aggression”
•Loud distorted guitar timbres (but usually not as distorted as metal)
•Rough vocal timbres – yelling, snarling. Vocalists often sing “off-key”
•“Anti-establishment” lyrical themes
•Minimal aesthetic – against complexity and virtuosity
short, simple songs
Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
(Reading: Louder, Faster, Slow It Down! Pg. 264)
ideal that ability and agency
Sense of control over the creation, without the corporate/industry demand
Riot Grrrl
- branch of punk rock developed in early 1990’s, associated with Pacific Northwest
- third-wave feminism (musical/artistic movement)
- explicitly feminist and queer-centered subculture focused on the experiences of young women
- continuation and rejection of music and ethos in hardcore punk subculture
Black Flag
Against Virtuosity
High brow/Low brow:
high brow- “developed aesthetic which is based on education and informed culture” --- and as a result, it may be popular or patroned by upper class as well as others. low brow- believed to be “common” culture.
Harlem Renaissance:
the cultural rising of the African American population in the Northern States especially in NY
writers ( male and female) , artists , and other important people got together to define and defend the struggle of African Americans in that time.
Bessie Smith
“Empress of the Blues”
“Learned from Ma Rainey”
“Fused blues with popular songs of vaudeville and … jazz”
Career ended by Great Depression
Heavy metal
Developed in the 1970’s (Most popular in the UK)
Music: Very Loud and aggressive with extreme timbres
Vocal: Usually screams, growls, screeches (Sometimes difficult to understand). Lyrics usually connected to anger, sadness, violence, evil etc.
Instrumental: Heavily distorted guitars that have a long sustain of the guitar notes. Wide range of pitches, Low “heavy” bass sounds
Eddie Van Halen
Known for instrumental virtuosity and technical innovation
long hair and tight clothing but very hypermasculine body – showcased abs
Van Halen
Visual: Long hair, A lot of skin exposer
Music: Heavy Metal
Virtuosity
Ability to play/sing complex melodies and rhythms accurately
In metal there is a greater emphasis on musical virtuosity (e.g. Electric guitar) and the ability to play the music fast and loud while still remaining accurate
Instrumental virtuosity often in lieu of vocal virtuosity in metal
The virtuosity showcased ‘masculinity’
Rebecca Clarke
A female composer and prominent viola player
Reading: Rebecca Clarke and Sonata Form, which highlighted her experiences as a
female musician in a male dominated canon
12-bar blues
The point is that the song must ends at tonic triad
Provides plenty of room for improvisation and variation
Famous figures who adhered to this pattern:
Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, Cream
