Kekoa's Music Blog

I loved the immediate up tempo rhythm that hits as soon as you press play. This song is begging to be danced to. I think this is my favorite song so far this semester. It just feels good. This feels like a song I should have heard before, but I'm fairly certain this was at least the first time I intentionally listened to the song all the way through. I like how this song uses a rest to create a great rhythm especially for dancing. I honestly do not care about the lyrics for this song other than for its most important two words, 'The Twist." However, this is not meant to take away from how great and unique Chubby Checker’s voice is. I think the rhythm and tone of his voice plays an integral part to the song’s groove. The entire time the song played on my first few listens all I could think of was how much it reminded me of the iconic Pulp Fiction dancing scene where they quite literally twist the entire scene. Sure enough, when I looked up “The Twist Dance,” there was a com

 This song is obviously a classic. I remember going over to my Grand-Aunty and Uncle's house and they would always have Elvis playing. I remember this song used to always get stuck in my head. I was excited to listen to this song now that I have some music knowledge and can critically listen to music. Anyway, listening to it now. I have to admit it was a little lackluster for me. The song's instrumental really is what's most amazing for me. But the lyrics were just ok for me. I’m big on making sure the instrumental and the lyrics are up to par with each other. Elvis has a great voice though and I think that’s what doesn’t let the lyrics bother me as much as it normally would. I wasn’t sure what he meant by “you ain’t never caught a rabbit.” But, I still thought it was funny it sounds like he's just giving someone crap. The little drum break that hits at the end of the hook was a real nice touch. The guitar is also so important to the track. Especially the guitar solo th

Frank Sinatra is one of the greatest singers of all time. He has such a unique voice that it's hard not to zone out listening to his songs. This song "Nancy," I have actually never heard before today. I know some of his more popular songs. This song was great. The lyrics play perfectly into the mood that is set by the music behind it. It sounds like a perfect day. And it's also kind of incredible that the song is about Sinatra's daughter. My initial assumption that it was just another smooth Sinatra love song, but on the second listen it became clear he was talking about his baby girl. The song was overall so great. I haven't listened to Sinatra in a while, nor have i ever listened to his music critically. I was expecting Sinatra's singing to overpower the song. However, I feel like the production was great and really added a great amount of balance to the song. My favorite part of the music in the song was that break toward the end where he stops singing

The drums come in pretty boldly, but then the keys hit you with authority. Duke Ellington was a wizard with the piano. Then once the groove starts going, you have no choice but to get lost in it. The bass also gets played subtly, but it was making a huge impact on the rhythm of the song. For a song that came out in the 30s, this was so entertaining. From start to finish. The instruments were played so well and the song was composed and arranged so well that it painted a picture in my head. I could easily see this being played in a scene for a movie and also I can just see these guys jamming away. My only complaint, unlike last week's song I listened to, is that I felt cut off once the song finished. Not to say it wasn't a good ending, but it was more abrupt that I would have wanted it to be. The song was bumping then boom, it finished. It still was an amazing song. It's no wonder why a lot of older people complain that today's music is rubbish. I don't agree with th

  This week I decided to listen to George Gershwin’s “I’ve Got Rhythm.”  The first thing I noticed after several listens was that this song was very easy to play through. For me personally, I feel like that said a lot about his artistry because it was 3 and a half minutes of piano being played; something that my musical ear isn’t really accustomed to. It was played in major, but still it was so entertaining from the switches of the tempo to the switches in rhythm. I cannot stress how pleasantly surprised I am by my level of enjoyment. I also noticed that several sections of this piece have been sampled by other artists and I definitely have heard some of these keys in movies. It also sounds like this may be where they found inspiration for the music of Tom and Jerry (maybe that’s why I enjoyed it so much). I also wanted to note how great the beginning came in and how the song closed. There were parts in the middle of the song that were similar to the end, but he kept on playing. Yet, s

  The first thing I noticed here is the jazzy keys and how elegantly they're being played. It's really an upbeat and light spirited type of rhythm. Something that makes you want to sway. Then the horn hits and Fats begins singing immediately. The imagery drawn by the lyrics is really painted a vivid picture for me. The song made me picture a man out at a restaurant or bar all by himself sitting in a corner table. I picture him minding his own business, enjoying the moment because of how content he is with the fact that he has someone very special to him that happens not be out with him at this particular time. I get the sense he is madly in love with this woman as he states he isn't even really looking at the other women around him, he definitely is not flirting with anyone either. This all because he is "saving his love" for this person. There is a break toward the ending where drums are just being jammed out and it sorts of sets up perfectly for ending the piece