What Does Billy Joel, The Eagles and Styx Have In Common? (Lesson 1 of Music Appreciation Lite!)
62
Beyond the Obvious.....
Most people over the age of twenty-five know at least one of these musical artists. Some might be familiar with all three. But one might say, what DO they all have in common?
Well, the obvious is they are all considered artists of the rock genre. They were also very popular in the 70's and 80's and even a little beyond. But what isn't so obvious is why were they so successful. How does their music still sound great today and why? That's what I am hoping to explore and with a little luck I hope to open some ears and minds of people so they can enjoy and appreciate music on a much higher level.
|
Billy Joel Greatest Hits: Vol. 1-2 (2CD)
Price: $14.47
List Price: $31.98 |
![The Stranger: 30th Anniversary [Limited Edition] (Deluxe Boxed Set - 2 CDs + 1 DVD)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41q7leKkzbL._SL75_.jpg){kind=small}
|
The Stranger: 30th Anniversary [Limited Edition] (Deluxe Boxed Set - 2 CDs + 1 DVD)
Price: $27.56
List Price: $49.98 |
|
The Essential Billy Joel (2CD)
Price: $10.45
List Price: $24.98 |
|
The Stranger
Price: $5.50
List Price: $11.98 |
How to listen: The Prerequisites
This is NOT your average music appreciation "lecture" or course. I promise I will not go into the advantages of Mixolydian versus Dorian mode scales and major 7th and augmented chords. I just want to help people understand music without having to have a degree in Music Theory.
So the first and most important step to appreciate music and discover the beauty and joy of music is to have an open mind. You must be willing to listen to new styles, new genres, new artists. You have to broaden your horizons. You can't just keep listening to the music you already like, that will just stunt your growth. That's not to say you can't listen to what you like, but exploring and the discovery of new and different genres, artists and styles will help you grow.
The next most important step is to listen. I know that sounds obvious, but sometimes the blind can see more than the sighted and the deaf can hear more than the hearing. What I mean is that people listen but they don't REALLY listen to everything going on. Much of the listening today is passive listening. That's fine and dandy when you are working at something or having dinner conversation, but studies upon studies have conclusively determined that what you listen to, even passively, can have both positive and negative effects on your state of mind, mood,and even your health. (More about the importance of music coming in a future Hub-page so stay tuned). So wouldn't it be better for you to know what you listen to, why you listen to it and how it affects you?
When you really listen you have to use your heart. Like it was once said in the art world "I don't know 'art' but I know what I like". You have to know what you like and why. How does the music you listen to make you feel? Does it make you happy....I mean really happy? Or are you just listening to a piece of music and learning to tolerate it because your group of friends like it? And lets face it....most people in this world are influenced by their peers, one way or the other, good or bad.
And now to answer the title question....
So in this first lesson, what does Billy Joel, The Eagles and Styx have in common? Well they are all examples of quality music. They all have melodies, harmonies and rhythms. A tremendous amount of contemporary music is lacking one and/or two of these elements. These artists also have meaningful lyrics that explore and delve into the human existence. Again, a lot of contemporary music is lacking this feature. They have REAL instruments and REAL musicians playing them as opposed to a pre-programmed drum machines,mindless electronic loops or digital samplings of someone else's music. And most importantly, they have heart! If you listen actively for all of these elements you will find the heart, you will feel the heart and you will have a greater understanding and appreciation for what it takes to create quality music.
Now I just chose these three artists as examples that might attract some attention, but please know there are many more examples of quality songwriters, vocalists and musicians who CARE about the listener and try to live up to the expectations of music's most important job.....Communication. Communication of thoughts, ideas, emotions and feelings.
I will be furthering our lessons on music appreciation in future hubs to explore great music but in the meantime....what do you think? Can I have some comments, (constructive, intelligent ones please) and maybe even a few new artists that I have never heard of so I can explore. What do you listen to? Do you REALLY listen and feel the music, or do you just let music (and subsequently the joy of life) pass you by?
Share it! — Rate it: up down [flag this hub]
Comments
Thanks for the comments DJ Funktual. I really appreciate it.
I just want to mention that although I put the Eagles and Styx in this along with Billy Joel, I agree neither of them rank with Billy on songwriting. I put them in there for just the fact that I was hoping I would spark some sort of response from people. I think Styx wasn't super great or anything but you have to admit, even the "cry-baby" Dennis DeYoung is still better than 99% of the garbage that poses itself as music today. Besides, I wasn't trying to get into the depth of rock purists motives. I happen to like the Eagles and Styx just for the fact that they made me sing and tap my foot while I was growing up. And even their music still survives today (I.e. Hotel California, Renegade), that must be for some reason. Alot of my students still listen to them. And that's what my music hubs are about. To get people to think and find music they ENJOY! But not just music they think they enjoy because their friends do like some mindless peer brainwashing. But music that at least has ALL the elements found in the definition of MUSIC. People need to start to think how music affects them and what they listen to and today's "music" isn't really music...but that's for future hubs.
Thanks again and take care!
RE: even the "cry-baby" Dennis DeYoung is still better than 99% of the garbage that poses itself as music today.
I hope I don't offend you but I find this comment a bit disturbing. If you are a teacher and you do LISTEN than you shouldn't have such a negative attitude toward the music of the generation you teach.
Have you a true sense of adventure toward finding good new music? I admit the KIDS have it the worst because they have been raised on crap.
Hi DJ,
No you didn't offend me. As a matter of fact you've helped me to sit back, take stock and try to clarify my position. First of all, I do listen. I listen to music, teach music, write music, promote music and write about music every day for about 80 percent of my life. The other 20 percent is spent on eating, sleeping and family. (and By the way, I've been a DJ also for over 10 years). I don't feel I have a NEGATIVE attitude. I do like some new stuff out there (Gerina Di Marco for one. Check her out in my first hubpage, I am also helping her to make it big....she's been compared to Shakira, but I think there's a lot more to her.)
I feel the negativity that you read in my hubs is actually me mis-communicating my ideas. It's okay to like some stuff out there, but be aware of what you like. When I say a lot of today's music is "garbage" I mean that from an industry standard definition of what constitutes music. (Again, please refer to my first hub). I've taken songwriting analysis at Berklee and because of your comments I have analyzed the Billboard's top 20 for this week and again, I hold true that a lot of music out there is garbage. That's not negative, that's just a fact. And the problem is, people buy into it everyday and accept it. There are a few exceptions on the charts, music that has HEART like Trace Adkins' "You're Gonna Miss This" or Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love". I also like Jordan Spark's voice but I believe she is singing BELOW her talent.
There are songs there that are obviously there for "shock" value to make as much money for the artists as possible like Lil' Wayne's "Lollipop", Usher's "Love in this Club", Ray J's "Sexy Can I", Flo Rida's "Low", and Webbie's "Indpendent". ALL of these songs have lyrics that are a sad reflection of what society is today. These thoughts and feelings (if they are REAL feelings) are being communicated in such a dumbed down way that the kids of today are being desensitized and mindlessly spending money and wasting their brains listening to, yes, garbage! I unfortunately cannot site specific lyrical examples because I don't want to offend anyone out there the way I am offended by these artists calling there creations MUSIC. (Oh here's another example that I'm sure as a DJ you would be familiar with...Khia's "My Neck, My Back, My ***** and My Crack)
I realize I am over-gerneralizing but I am doing it to make my point. Mozart's music, Beethoven's music is considered GREAT music and will last forever. Billy Joel's music, The Beatles and Elton John's music all made music history and will last for a long time....why? Because they cared!!! They cared about the listener, they cared about the music, and they had the honor and dignity to practice their craft with passion and commitment to produce quality music.
All that being said, yes I do have a true sense of adventure toward finding good new music. Please pass some along. And for those of you looking to explore new and quality music, take a look at all the Indie's out there on Myspace.....a great place to discover new stuff.
First of all, I'm sorry it took three weeks to get back to you. I kinda thought I'd find you on one of my hubs so we could talk some more. I've enjoyed this hub more than any other because you really care about the subject and don't respond with glib answers. I'd very much like to take your course Professor.
Re: your comment. We are in agreement. I kinda figured you were generalizing there but I had to taste your mettle some b/c a lot of teachers I find, don't really like their students as much as they let on.
You are a class act and THIS HUB inspired http://hubpages.com/hub/Jefferson-Airplane-vs-Jeff and you can see from a mile away where I'm going with this.
NEW MUSIC: like you implied, "whole nother animal"
I do have a few suggestions for you.
GO TO Forums > Entertainment > Pick a Group, Any Group and I'll tell you a story... > inside you'll find my many bio as requested by other hubbers and I think your detailed insights would add dramatically to the thread as well as to your profile here at hubpages (if you care)
so...as requested.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Hub-Central-Station---The- is a series I did so you can take in whatever you want, 5 at a time!
Regarding new music though.. http://hubpages.com/hub/Paul-Simons-Incredible-New is a great hub if I do say so myself. You may want to use the song in class too!
BUT THE HUB I want to hear your opinion on is http://hubpages.com/hub/TOP-5-Pretty-Ballads-of-To for obvious reasons.
Last but not least...THE REASON I RETURNED here was to tell you I am featuring you in a hub I'll publish later today called Hub Central Station: The Best Music Hubs!
For more information on these artists please check these links out!
- Billy Joel
Official site for Billy Joel on Columbia Records - Eagles | eaglesband.com
Official website for The Eagles - STYXworld.com - The Official Online Home of Styx
STYXworld.com - Official online home of Styx
working
DJ Funktual says:
6 months ago
Fantastic HUB right here. I do a video countdown every day at 8pm for the sole purpose of getting people to really listen to things.
Excellent Excellent hub.
Constructive Criticism: Billy Joel is an amazing songwriter. The suburban conversational style he used was a pure product of growing up on Long Island.
Lyrically speaking he was one of the best and you need look no farther than his Broadway Show "Movin Out" for proof of this. brenda & eddie have their own musical.
The Eagles are a different story. You have dropped down a peg here. The Eagles were a very good harmonic group and lyrical group as you mentioned. However, they were also a very intentionally designed crossover band. they had a formulaic attitude towards success. "Hey if we do half country, half rock then we'll get twice the exposure!" was probably what Glenn Frey thought.
They never overcame their own opus "Hotel California". The far reaches of that song made their other work pale by comparison. Besides, Don Henley, the solo hits of the members of the band should prove my point. "The Heat is On", "Sexy Girl", "Smuggler's Blues" are all horribly commercial and bad. Joe Walsh was way too cool for this band and that's why he left.
With STYX you sunk to a knew low.
Dennis DeYoung is such a crybaby wanna-be member of Air Supply. Babe, Come Sail Away, Mr. Roboto & the like are total garbage! There's a reason why the first two are in the Rock-n-Roll hall of fame and STYX is not. Rock is supposed to be a rebellious thing. Styx, like Journey will always be pop music to rock purists.
Today people like Billy Joel are writing things like "Christmas in Fallujah" while the rest are irrelevant.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INSPIRING ME TO WRITE!