GabeP

Welcome to my music page! Here on my music page, I've listed three songs and a description of each. I put each of these songs because they all show traits that can resemble African American music. For example, the song Kyrie Eleison is a Kenyan spiritual based on the Latin Mass. I also took the approach of takings songs from different type periods to see how much they've changed by over the years. The first song, "Crying Time" by Ray Charles was made around the time of 1965 during his depression and addiction to heroine. As the music continues down the time-line, we'll arrive in the 2000's to see how differently R&B has changed since the days of Ray Charles!

Rhythm and Blues from 1960's.

Ray Charles media type="file" key="Crying Time.m4a" width="300" height="50" Song: Crying Time (1966) Musician: Ray Charles Genre: R&B, "Soul Music" Description: In 1965, Ray Charles was arrested for possession of heroin, a drug to which he had been addicted for nearly 20 years. It was his third arrest for possession of illegal drugs, but he avoided jail time after stopping his addiction in a rehabilitation center in Los Angeles. He spent a year on parole in 1966, when his single "Crying Time" reached #6 on the charts. In this song I located an 8 bar structure and what I believe is to be an A - B - A - B rhythm. Strong procussion can also be noted during the 8th beat.

A - Oh, it's cryin' time again, you're gonna leave me B - I can see that far away look in your eyes A - I can tell by the way you hold me darlin' Oooh B - That it won't be long before it's cryin' time.

Rhythm and Blues from 1980's.

Bobby Brown media type="file" key="Don't Be Cruel.m4a" Song: Don't Be Cruel (1988) Musician: Bobby Brown Genre: R&B Description: The reason this song can be twined into African American history is because of the very frequent repetitive structures and bars. Like most R&B in this time period, I hear another 8 bar structure. And also what surprised me was that I heard a call and response technique being used. After each of the 8 bars were finished, there would be a "tinging" noise and the response to the previous 8 bars which was very interesting.



Rhythm and Blues from the 2000's.

Usher media type="file" key="Burn.m4a" Song: Burn (2000) Musician: Usher Genre: R&B, Hip-Hop Description: This song was very interesting to follow. First it started with an 8 bar structure then towards the end it switched to a 16 which was confusing to follow. But this also related to African American historical backgrounds because of the call and response sequence it follows. After the first 8 bars, there comes another 8 with the same repetitive sequence. Although after those two 8's, comes a 16. "Burn" follows an A - B - C - B rhythm that can be seen as followed.

A - It's gonna burn for me to say this B - But it's comin from my heart C - It's been a long time coming B - But we done been fell apart



Bibliography: "The Official 60's Site." //Pick of the Top Rhythm and Blues Hits of the 60s//. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2010. .

"In the 80's." //Top Ten R&B Songs//. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2010. .

"The Best Songs." //The Best R&B Songs of the 2000s//. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2010. .

Bogdanov, Vladimir. "Scaer Library." //All music guide to soul : the definitive guide to R&B and soul//. All Media Guide ; | Backbeat Books ; | Distributed to the book trade in the U.S. by Publishers Group West,, 2003. Web. 31 May 2010. .