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My Musical Culture

Hi! I am Madeline Owens, and to say that music is a big part of my life is an understatement. From the day I was born, I was exposed to music constantly! My family is extremely musical: especially my Mother. She went to Juilliard for vocal performance and is a lyric opera singer! She taught me how to sing and appreciate opera, especially in a time when it is not as popular as it was in the past. Through singing opera, I have had many opportunities that are both enriching and inspiring! For example, I have gotten to travel around the country to compete in the "NATS" (National American Teachers of Singing) competition and sing the music I love so much.  This past year, I placed 3rd nationally! It is so exciting to be involved in music that is from many generations before myself. It gives me the chance to be a part of something bigger than myself by displaying the culture of this beautiful art to people who would normally not be exposed to it!


Throughout my life, I constantly been exposed to various types of music. From opera to rap, I listen to it all! Music has always been a source of comfort for me. It is a beautiful distraction from any stress one is going through. I love listening to it while going on long runs to make the runs go by faster! Ever since I was a child, I have always felt a strong connection to The Beatles. They have so many beautiful pieces of music that really speak to me. My spark in interest for The Beatles began when I received a "Beatles Rock Band" for Christmas. It allowed me to play along with many Beatles songs and I instantly adored it!




During this unprecedented time, music has been a source of happiness and hope for many individuals. Everyday, artists continue to write and compose music and it is so inspirational. Although new music is being inspired and created everyday, it is also very enriching to research music from the past. When listening to music from the past, I feel connected to the generations before me and to those who wrote the actual music. Music is a magical thing that allows us to feel intertwined with individuals from any place and any time. A specific song that I really learned to enjoy during my time in quarantine is "Sleep Walk" by Santo and Johnny. 



Part of what makes music so special is how there is a genre or style for absolutely everyone. With that being said, most people do not end up liking or understanding every piece of music. For me, I do not understand why pop music is so loved these days. I simply enjoy other genres of music including rock, indie, hip hop and R&B, and soul music. It is ok to have preferences! That is why there is something for everyone. For me, I actually like some of Ariana Grande's music, but one song I do not connect with is "Thank you, next". I feel as if it tries to follow an algorithm. I do not like when songs are structured by record producers just so they fit the standards of a current "popular" song. 



Location: South Carolina, USA

Comments

  1. Cultural Echoes by ChelseaJanuary 12, 2021 at 11:58 AM

    Madeline, I agree with you about popular music. Some of it is just not worth the hype to me. I think that a lot of the pop songs that have become trendy are actually shallow in nature. The closest I get to listening to pop is listening to John Mayer, one of my favorite artists. But he mixes in so much blues, soft rock, and contemplative lyrics, that it doesn't really remind me of present day pop at all. He is also an amazing lyricist, which has been a noteworthy contributor to his fame. Also, congrats on your national placement!

    -Chelsea

    ReplyDelete
  2. Julia GergleyJanuary 12, 2021 at 3:24 PM

    I absolutely love the song Sleep Walk! I didn't actually know the name of that song, I just knew it from listening to it somewhere. Glad that I finally know the name so I can listen to it as much as I want! Sleep Walk gives me a cozy and nostalgic feeling. I find it a good song to listen to when trying to sleep because it's so dreamy. I can also agree on how listening to older music can make you feel connected with past generations. History is such a fascinating thing especially when learning "new" music from the past.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kimberly LeoneJanuary 13, 2021 at 4:33 PM

    I love the song “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” by the Beatles! I’m so glad you had that listed because I hadn’t listened to that song in a while, but it brings back so many good memories. Also, I instantly recognized the song “Sleep Walk” from being on TikTok, otherwise, I had not heard that song before. I am guessing that is where you recognize the song from as well, Julia. It is interesting the impact that TikTok has had on the music industry and how older songs have become popular again.

    ReplyDelete

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