Dancing

The type of music I would put on or find appealing in a dancing situation definitely all depends on that particular situation. For example, if I was just at a party with some friends I would usually prefer to have a more upbeat style of music like hip hop or pop playing to dance to. These genres usually have songs with fast paced beats and easy to follow rhythms so they’re usually good songs to just have a lot of fun dancing to. Also these types of songs can make you in a more cheerful mood so maybe if you were not in the mood for dancing at first, you might be a little peppier after hearing a couple of these fast paced songs. But if the occasion I was putting on music for is more of a formal get together, like a wedding, for example I would play a mix of both upbeat and slow songs from genres like R&B, soft rock, alternative, or country.  These types of songs, at least lyrically, I feel, often have a deeper meaning to them than the more upbeat songs I talked about before. Often times they’ll tell stories having to do with love so these genres are definitely appropriate to dance to at something as special as a wedding.

Dancing through the ages!

This is a super hard blog for me to write because there is so many different musical eras that I like to dance to. I first favorite era begins with the 1930’s. This music appeals to me when I am feeling very affectionate. It takes me to a speak easy where I am dressed to the nines and no matter who is in the room the only person I care about is my dancing partner and he only has eyes for me. Then I transition to the 1940’s where we get a little bit more big band swing music. I love dancing to this music because I feel lively and full. Through the fifties I pretty much just like the songs that mimic big band and smooth and deep voices of the 30’s and 40’s. The 60’s are okay the best of the 60’s was Sam Cooke and he had some of his best hits in the late 50’s. I have a separation in the 70’s. I do not so much like to dance to the classic rock songs. However I do very much enjoy dancing to disco funk hits during the 70’s. As for the 1980’s we become introduced some pretty nasty hair and clothes, but I cannot deny that I like to whip it with the Devos and turn things upside down with Diana Ross. Now the 1990’s, for all of the students in the class the era that we were born in, lets be honest who doesn’t like to get down to big butts or simply pump… pump the jam. I know there are a few photos I would like to pump with dynamite a blow up from the nineties…. Gross! Now we move on to the 00’s which features and introduces a complete shift in dance styles. Of course I love to dance and get down and dirty like we all did or watched others do in junior high. Hey it wasn’t our faults the top hits were “My Humps” and featured sexy bootied women. Wait else were we to do. Well I guess we have the slower more meaningful songs but a little harder to dance to. Then it morphs to the pop music that blows up the radio now. It can be fun to dance to because you can totally make something up and somehow make it look okay and maybe possibly cool. I listen to most of music randomly and I adapt my dance and music according to the music, it is a time when I let loose and give into the style and era, it is my escape.

Sam Dancing.

I don't really dance to music as much anymore. I used to be in show choir when I was in High school though. We would dance to all kinds of music from hip hop, jazz, 80's rock, and remixes. I didn't always enjoy the music that we danced to but I still had fun. If I could choose a particular style to dance to, it would be 80's rock. I felt like I had the most fun dancing to music that was trying to sound epic. I also feel that the beats to 80's rock were always moving and were easy to choreograph dance moves to, which made dancing to them a lot easier. I enjoyed the moves that could only be done in a show choir because I feel awkward when I dance alone. Also, I always liked slow dancing with my fiance at her proms, but we won't get to do those any more. I know I cannot dance to rap or hip hop now because my moves are probably out of date. I absolutely hate grinding now, it has just become way to ridiculous. I like crowd rave dancing but I never go to any. I guess I would enjoy dancing more if I had the time to do it.

Dance Music

If i had to choose the music I listen to the most when I am in a dancing mood, it would have to be Rap or Dub-step. I guess why I like to dance to it the most would because of the heavy beats they usually have. Most commonly with Dub-step and Rap songs, the beats they have are syncopated and make it very easy to dance to. Going along with that, these genres normally are associated with synthesizers which just gives it a more dancey feel. There are always different dance music for different dancing situations. The music used for dancing at teen dances, weddings, and hoedowns are all different. Teen dances normally use the music that is more modern with the time period. As with weddings, people use more upbeat happy dance music and even go as far as having polkas during the reception. Hoedowns are completely different. The music for hoedowns are normally country, westerns, or western movie soundtracks. There all tones of different situations where different types of music are used. Rap and Dub-step are just the easiest for me to get "jiggy with it". If you did not understand my last reference, then you should go listen to Will Smith. If you did not know Will Smith was music artist, or singer, and only thought he was a movie star, then I have lost respect for you. Sorry.

Music of All Sorts

When I dance, I am normally an event that is playing music and dancing is a way of celebrating for that occasion. I am typically at a dance club, a wedding, or a party. I love all kinds of music. Normally at a dance club, like Afterdark in Monmouth, they play rap, pop, hip-hop, and R&B. They play the types of songs that have a fast beat. One time when I went there, they were playing songs that influenced people to grind on others. At most of the weddings I have recently went to, they played traditional songs like the Cha-Cha Slide. They also played a lot of country music such as Amazed by Lonestar. Esentially they played a lot of love songs and songs that get people involved in the celebration, like the Cha-Cha Slide. At parties I go to, we just play country music. Some people will dance like morons if they have drank a little too much "mountain dew," but that just comes to show that dancing can be something people do when they are having a good time. Dancing allows people to let loose. Personally, I love slow songs. I do not like grinding and jumping around or doing funky dance moves when I dance. I would rather be slow dancing with my boyfriend to a song like Amazed by Lonestar so that I can look into his eyes and get wrapped in the moment. Different situations definitely call for different types of music. It would not be appropriate to play My Little Girl by Tim McGraw (a song about giving away a father's daughter) at a dance club.

House Music

Back in Miami, like around the U.S., there are a lot of different ethnicities and cultures. These varieties influence the music that people like to listen and dance to. I personally don’t like or enjoy dancing a lot but usually when the moment is right, house music is the right choice for me and my friends. This is great dance music in my opinion because the beat automatically makes your feet move and it makes you feel like you are freeing your soul. It is easy to get lost in the music and have a great time. There is a huge festival called “Ultra” in Miami Beach that thousands of people around the world come down to Florida to enjoy and dance to the best “House Djs” in the planet. It is hard to believe that so many people in the world can be connected through music. Though I love house music, my older family members do not, so when it comes to family parties, “salsa”, “merengue”, and other Hispanic music are the ones preferred to dance to. 

WEEK 15. Your last one.

What kind of music do you put on when you want to dance, or what music do you find appealing when you are in a dancing situation? What makes it good dance music for you? Is there something about the melody, rhythm, beat, instrumentation or lyrics that makes it especially appealing to you? Do you use different types of music for different dancing situations?

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I wish people would post more blogs so the we can comment on them

Boondock Saints

The Boondock Saints is one of my favorite movies of all time. The music for The Boondock Saints was arranged and written by Jeff Danna who is one of my favorite composers of all time. The music is crucial and very important to the movie. In my own opinion the music makes the movie amazingly spectacular. In the opening credits, Jeff Danna uses The Blood of Cuchulainn to start out the movie. This particular song has an authentic Irish/Celtic feel. It uses traditional instruments that create a distinctive, unique, and particular Irish/Celtic sound. However, the movie is not set in Ireland. Instead it takes place in Boston, Massachusetts where there is a very large Irish population. Without the music in this movie, there would a great decline of emotion surrounding the story line. If there wasn't any music in this movie, the movie would just fall apart and be extremely uninteresting. The Boondock Saints is about two Irish lads who are "told" by god to kill the wicked. The fact that they are Irish plays a significant role in how the the music was written. In almost every single piece of music in this movie, you can find a traditional Irish/Celtic detail. During a particular scene where they kill eight men, you can really take note of the religious element to their mission. Their actions and words during this scene in combination with the extremely angelic sounding church choir singing in the background give an eerie yet somewhat peaceful feeling surrounding the multitude of deaths. Not only is the one of my favorite movies of all time, it also has one of my all time favorite scores ever written.

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship

One of my absolute favorite movies is “Lord of the Rings.” The movie took years to make and as in most cases the more time spent the better the outcome. The story seems to move along so smoothly and when the end is near nothing is left to question, only the feeling of waiting for the story to continue with the next movie. The movie is extremely long so that could be why we as the audience do not leave feeling like we do not know everything. One key element that takes the movie to the next level is the music within the film. It is nearly constant and keeps the audience engaged. Just like Siegfried the composer Howard Shore implements the use of leitmotifs in the move “Lord of the Rings.” For example, the Hobbit society has a very pastoral feel to them. The Celtic flute plays and we get the sense that they are simple people. It also makes the Shire, where the Hobbits live, a place of peace like a sanctuary. Then we are introduced to the sound of Modor, the place of evil where the all powerful ring was forged, it is pure evil. Howard conveys pure evil as with dark music that makes us anxious. To give us the feeling that Modor is evil Howard uses a lot of brass instruments. As the plot is revealed and we learn that Isengard is the in alliance Modor to get back the power of the ring. Thus, the music accompanied for Modor also becomes the music for Isengard. For the Elfin society, who is an immortal group of wise healers, the music for them is none other than the perfection and extraordinary influence of the human voice. It gives the Elves a sense of evangelic presents and another worldly aura of wisdom. As for the dwarf society, they are portrayed with cellos which can be bright and cheerful at times, but also can be very intensive and brutal characters. The amount of music within the movie is extensive and absolutely necessary to the plot. The trilogy would not have the success it claimed without the music. Next time you watch the movie please listen to the sound accompaniment and try and connect musical styles between different characters and societies. This is what a true soundtrack should be.