It's All About the Music

The next four blog entries are all about music. The two genres of music I have focused on are soft rock and folk music. I chose these two because of my love and passion for music. I cannot go a day without hearing it because it brings my soul and spirit to a calmer place. These four posts contain everything from artist profiles to the way technology influences music creation. I hope you enjoy reading about these types of music and the influences music has within our world!

Back to the Future

"I believe musicians have a duty, a responsibility to reach out, to share your love or pain with others. "- James Taylor

Soft rock and folk music have had major influences on songwriters and artists within the 21st century. Some of the most popular and well known artists within the soft rock and folk genres include Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Peter Gabriel and the list continues for hundreds more. Soft rock, the unaggressive style of rock-n-roll focusing on lyrics not the beat, might have been a genre created after folk music, but it still took in that strong lyrical presence and tied it in with clever musical notes and chords to get the message across to the audience.

There may be thousands of genres now ranging from country, to rap, to rock, and etc., but it still doesn’t change the fact that music has been around for centuries. Most of the music genres such as rock, rap, pop, punk, etc. were not brought about until the 1980s and 1990s. Even though those genres were not around until that era, musical artists of today still give credit to the older artists they received a majority of their influence from when folk and soft rock were created.

"Nothing separates the generations more than music. By the time a child is eight or nine, he has developed a passion for his own music that is even stronger than his passions for procrastination and weird clothes," quoted Bill Cosby.

James Taylor is one of those artists that ties in folk and soft rock genres. He released an album entitled Sweet Baby James, which is considered to be a "folk-rock masterpiece." In his song "Fire and Rain," his folk background of music can be identified because of how much more the lyrics are heard than his guitar playing.

These two similar styles of music still hold a great influence in what we hear on the radio today and will continue to hold that calm and peaceful sound that we know coming back from time into the new world of technology and music.

Technology Changing Music

“Music can change the world because it can change people.”- Bono

Music is a big part of our society during this present time. Everyone has their own taste of what they like and dislike. Many people now have the power to convert the old music they once adored to a little handheld music player. Because of the influence of folk artists, as well as soft rock artists, on the performers of today, music will continue to be made and played through these little contraptions.

Since the creation of computers, iPods, mp3 players, cell phones and so on, we, as a society, are constantly connected to music and the outside world. Today, music can be heard blaring through the headphones of a kid walking by on the street, someone’s car speakers driving by or a random person sitting at a table with their laptop open and speakers playing one of their favorite songs. No matter where you may be, or how bad it may sound, music is still heard.

Used to, back before all these crazy inventions, the only place to buy records, not even CDs, was record stores, not an iTunes music store or Limewire. The 20th century started out music technology with record players, 8 tracks, then tapes, CDs, which has now developed into mp3 players and touch screen iPods. All occurred over a time span of a few decades.

Since these changes in technology occurred, we can connect to the roots of music easier by sifting through lists of songs off of a screen instead of those old records most deny having out of embarassment. Soft rock and folk artist's music are hard to find within stores nowadays because most people are looking for the new popular music of today. Because of technology, these oldies can be found simply by typing in the artist and buying a song for around 99 cents.

Continuing to change, technology, as well as music itself, will constantly be setting new standards for upcoming products and each new technology will be just a little bit better than the last.

Whether it’s the latest touch screen with built in speakers or that old junky CD player tucked away in a drawer, the way people listen to music will always be changing and conforming to the next generation of technology.

Artist Profile: Cat Stevens

“Music is part of God's universe.”- Cat Stevens

Cat Stevens started out in the music business in the mid 1960s continuing into the 1970s. He began releasing hit after hit on his two most popular albums, "Tea for the Tillerman" and "Teaser and the Firecat." These albums brought about his most popular and well known songs such as “Wild World” and “Peace Train.”

Stevens' gentleness and softness in "The First Cut is the Deepest" continues to take over the minds of listeners where he appears to sing beyond the page, but still captures the voice of a true soft rock artist within an intimate setting.

After the overwhelming fame he received from his fans, he slowly began fading away from the limelight. Stevens began to study the Koran and converted to the Muslim religion in 1978. He once stated "I'm no longer seeking applause and fame," and from that point auctioned all his personal possessions and belongings.

After accepting the Muslim religion into his mind, body, and soul, he changed his name to Yusef Islam. He stopped creating music throughout the 1980s and 1990s, but around 2000, he founded his own music label called Mountain of Light.

Since leaving the world known as Cat Stevens, he entered back onto Atlantic Records, the label he left back in the 1970s, and released new albums still using his folk background, but incorporated his religious beliefs within the music and lyrics.

Soft Rock & Folk Influences

"This land is your land and this land is my land, sure, but the world is run by those that never listen to music anyway." - Bob Dylan

Having influenced much music of today, the soft rock and folk genres of music created an opening for other artists to fill with their musical talents and songwriting capabilities. Many folk/soft rock artists of the present time admit to being influenced either by the powerful lyrics of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” or the softness and tone of Cat Steven’s voice within “Wild World.”

Originating in the 70’s, the soft rock genre is defined as an unaggressive, melodic style of rock-n-roll in which the focus is the arrangement and lyrics instead of the beat as defined by Dictionary.com. Folk music is often defined as music with simple character and is handed down through oral tradition by common people within a region or country. These genres might be categorized in two different types, but in reality they tie in with one another. Some artists use their folk background and present the mellow, sultriness that soft rock contains.

In an interview in the Huffington Post with Bill Flanagan from Music Television (MTV), Bob Dylan discusses the way he creates songs, all while trying to stick to rules of his folk background. “I might shift paradigms within the same song, but then that structure also has its own rules. And I combine them both; see what works and what doesn't. My range is limited. Some formulas are too complex and I don't want anything to do with them,” Dylan said.

Even though these genres of music are different, they both hold simple beats and clever lyrics, all with symbolic words and meanings that define each artist and music as a whole.

Cumberland Ready to Take on Big Rival Game

On Oct. 10, 2009, University of the Cumberlands football team will be hoping to hoist the Brass Lantern in the homecoming rivalry against Union College at 1:30 p.m.

This year the rival game has a more significant value because the Patriots are undefeated in their season so far.

“We work our hardest every single day to go out on that field and pursue the other team’s weaknesses. We will be prepared for the Union game just like we prepared for the others,” said Marc Boyd, a right tackle for the team.

This special weekend’s football game is not just limited to the sport. Halftime will feature the presentation of nominees for homecoming king and queen, as well as the band performance. One king and one queen will be chosen from 10 males and 10 females.

The Patriots are currently ranked 6th on the NAIA top 25. After finishing last season with a 10-2 record, the team is ready to repeat and exceed last year’s performance. Already with a record of 4-0, the team will be challenged to live up to and succeed beyond their achievements.

The Brass Lantern was introduced as a traveling trophy for this rivalry in 1995 with the winner of the contest keeping the trophy until the following game. The lantern represents the coal mining industry, paying respect to the industry in Southeastern Kentucky as stated by WYMT sports.

“This is one of the biggest games of the year. We’re taking it a week at a time. This is one of the senior’s last home games, so everyone should play their best and nothing will stand in our way of a holding up that Brass Lantern, as well as a national championship,” quoted Jordan Allen, a UC outside linebacker.

Coach John Bland knows it’s still early in the season and works to keep the team focused by not looking too far ahead.

“Last year our theme was ‘The Next Level.’ That stood for growth in three areas. Those were mental growth, physical growth, and spiritual growth. This year our goal is to ‘3-Peat’. 3-Peat as champions, grow as individuals in the classroom and build individual relationships with Jesus. Our team has the opportunity to be as good or better as the 2008 team,” said Bland.

Even though students and teachers get into the game for free, visitors from around the area are welcome to join and support their Patriots by paying a small admission of $5. The James H. Taylor II Stadium will be hosting this rival game.

Campus Television Starting New Shows

Starting this semester, the campus television station (UCTV-19) will be presenting three different shows involving sports, entertainment, and news. The shows will be played every day at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on channel 19.

Senior Grant Doepel, along with 20 other students, has created productions to make channel 19 more student based.

“On the Red Carpet” is based on entertainment such as celebrities and upcoming movies; “Patriot Talk” involves news taking place here on campus, as well as around the globe, and the sports show has yet to be named, which will display sports highlights from both campus and the nation. All shows will start airing around the beginning of October.

“I have taken on a big challenge this year by doing three shows, however, I feel we assembled a really strong team, each utilizing their strengths,” stated Doepel.

Some of the students involved are participating in multiple shows to get the experience and skills they might need for the future.

Hoping to have more students interested and involved in these productions, Mr. Tanna Orgeron, Assistant Professor of Communication Arts and general manager of UCTV-19, is planning more movie reviews and more guests on the shows to talk about pop culture.

“What we’re really trying to do with the new programs at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., is really involve the student body in the television station and hopefully get them included in upcoming shows,” Orgeron said.

Each show runs usually 10 to 15 minutes long highlighting events not only in Williamsburg, but also on state and national levels.

Both Orgeron and Doepel started “Cumberland Idol,” which turned out to be a huge success and is going on the third year this spring. Since the success of that production was so widely accepted, they are both hoping that these shows will appeal to the students just as much and get them to be a part of Channel 19.

Everyone involved in these upcoming productions, takes time out of their busy schedules to work three to four days out of the week to film the scenes, capture footage, and edit all of the footage.

If interested in being on one of these shows, please contact Orgeron via phone: (606) 539-4528 or email: tanna.orgeron@ucumberlands.edu.