Instructions: • On the internet or your phone, listen to TWO of the following R&B Songs from the list below: o Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five, “Choo Choo Boogie” o Muddy Waters, “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man” o Dion and the Belmonts, “I Wonder Why” o The Ravens, “Write Me a Letter” o The Orioles, “It’s Too Soon to Know” o Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats, “Rocket 88” o The Chords, “Sh-Boom” • After listening to your TWO selections, answer the following questions in a word document: o Define the musical term: Rhythm and Blues. o Share a brief biography of each of the two bands/artists you chose. o Name the members of each of these bands. o Do each of these songs exemplify the Rhythm and Blues style, or are they a bit of an “off-shoot” of the style, like electrified blues, or doo-wop, for example? Explain your response. o Examine the lyrics and share the lines of each song which are your favorite and/or made an impression on you. What are the ideas being addressed in each of these songs? o What is the date that the original music was written? What is the date that this original recording was made/released? o Has anyone else recorded the two songs you have chosen? If so, find one YouTube recording of “covers” of each the two songs you have chosen if they are available. If nothing is available, please indicate that as well. o List the instruments you hear in these recordings. Are each of these songs the same or different instrumentation? o What was your favorite thing about the performances/recordings? o What emotions did the performances/recordings make you feel when you heard it? Requirements: • Three to four pages in length, excluding the Reference page. • APA format, including an in-text citation for referenced works. • At least four resources.
Resources that might help you:
• Rhythm and Blues. (n.d.) Library of Congress.
Campbell, M. (2019). Popular music in America. 5th ed. Cengage Learning.This reading will discuss the emergence of rhythm and blues and the commercial growth of R&B in the 1950s.
- Chapter 10: Rhythm and Blues 1946-1954 (pgs. 159-170)
- The library of congress celebrates the songs of america: rhythm and blues. (n.d.). Library of Congress.
CULTURAL ARTIFACT Music as a Cultural Artifact: Rhythm and Blues Write your introduction here. Your introduction should define the term Rhythm and Blues. When you do this, be sure to write the definition in your own words. The sources you cite should be from our class. Avoid sources like Wikipedia or “CourseHero.” Song 1: Name the Singer and the Song In this section, name the singer and the song for the first song. Write a brief biography in your own words about the artist. Use sources from our course to support your biographical information. Name the members of the band. Songwriters and Lyrics In this section describe who the songwriters were of the song that you chose. Discuss any controversy surrounding the song if the performing artist was not the original song writer. Then, examine the lyrics and share the lines of each song which are your favorite and/or made an impression on you. Be sure to tell me: • What are the ideas being addressed in the song? • What is the date that the original music was written? What is the date the original song was made or released. • Does this song exemplify the Rhythm and Blues style, or are they a bit of an “offshoot” of the style, like electrified blues, or doo-wop, for example? Explain your response. Remember, these are PAPERS, and not a list of bullets. The bullets are here to help you organize your ideas. make sure you are writing using a narrative format! Covers of {name the song}
CULTURAL ARTIFACT In this section tell me about covers of this song. Who else has recorded this song. Include a link to a YouTube video of the cover. If nothing is available, please indicate that as well (hint: this is unlikely, so be sure to look carefully!) Then, list the instruments you hear in your original recording and list the instruments you hear in the “cover” of the song’s recording. Are each of these songs the same or different instrumentation? Summary: My Preferences It’s OK to use first person in this section. Describe your favorite thing about the performance/recordings. Describe the emotions that the performance/recordings made you feel. Song 2: Name the Singer and the Song In this section, name the singer and the song for the first song. Write a brief biography in your own words about the song. Use sources from our course to support your biographical information. Songwriters and Lyrics In this section describe who the songwriters were of the song that you chose. Discuss any controversy surrounding the song if the performing artist was not the original song writer. Then, examine the lyrics and share the lines of each song which are your favorite and/or made an impression on you. Be sure to tell me: • What are the ideas being addressed in the song? • What is the date that the original music was written? What is the date the original song was made or released. • Does this song exemplify the Rhythm and Blues style, or are they a bit of an “offshoot” of the style, like electrified blues, or doo-wop, for example? Explain your response.
CULTURAL ARTIFACT Remember, these are PAPERS, and not a list of bullets. The bullets are here to help you organize your ideas. make sure you are writing using a narrative format! Covers of {name the song} In this section tell me about covers of this song. Who else has recorded this song. Include a link to a YouTube video of the cover. If nothing is available, please indicate that as well (hint: this is unlikely, so be sure to look carefully!) Then, list the instruments you hear in your original recording and list the instruments you hear in the “cover” of the song’s recording. Are each of these songs the same or different instrumentation? Summary: My Preferences It’s OK to use first person in this section. Describe your favorite thing about the performance/recordings. Describe the emotions that the performance/recordings made you feel
