Music has always been a very expressive medium compared to other art forms. As the listener we are given an opportunity to become very intimate with the artist. Roles reversed, the artist comfortably sharing their vision, sound, and sometimes their personal experiences with us adds to the creativity and individuality of the works. As someone who is a gay cis male, I appreciate seeing artists incorporating, normalizing, and embracing identities that they can't change into their work, or just composing pieces that are open to interpretation. Beginning in the 1990s and segwaying more prominently in the mid 2000s, LGBTQ+ artists began to incorporate their experiences as people into their music. Suzanne Vega, a New Yorker who does not identify as queer has had a 40-year long career in music. Mostly comprised of folk music, however she did extensive recording in the early 80s of songs verging on poetry. DJ DNA used her song as a basis for a remix in 1990. Lady Gaga, a bisexual woman who happens to also be from New York has collected 11 grammy awards since her breakout album in 2008 "The Fame". The two pieces I chose from the respective artists illustrate the beginning and middle of a time period in which LGBTQ+ recognition made major strides in the United States.
Tom's Diner, DNA and Suzanne Vega: July 16, 1990. Calgary, Alberta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4jtIDaeaWI
This song is SO interesting to me. I first heard it as a younger kid on the way to school with my Dad. He would always make a big deal about how DNA (a traditional DJ) used Suzanne Vega’s lyrics and voice without consent, and how Vega never even wanted the song to blow up. Having never actually researched the song myself until now, I found his information to be correct. From my own deductions, her original hesitation regarding the remix could be for a few reasons. For one, Vega wrote the song in 1981 from the perspective of a “man” observing people. I think there is definitely more to this though, as she, th original writer/performer goes into specific detail about multiple women observed within a breakfast diner. I think that today, we can safely interpret this as an ode to being interested in someone of the same sex… albeit limited within the borders of an internal dialogue.
Analysis of Tom’s Diner:
Tempo: The Tempo of Tom’s Diner is 99 bpm, and the song as a whole maintains that repetitious, house music sound of 90’s electronic music. This is the perfect song to vibe to while driving, doing dishes, or play at events. It keeps forward movement, and matches the natural speed of the lyrics.
Lyrics: There are only a few songs that I can think of that have the one-sided conversation dialogue format… this being one of them. I really like how much of a picture she paints us with the lyrics. My favorite line is probably “And they are kissing their hellos and I’m pretending not to see them and instead I pour the milk”. It’s funny she sings about milk. Also the iconic “do do de do de do do” is so good.
Texture: In classic 90’s DJ style there are very prominent and progressive introductions of different sounds over the bass line. If this song were a piece of furniture it would be one of those wicker outdoor chairs. One texture made of many flat woven pieces. The different instruments I could identify include violin, electronic kick drum and snare, and some sort of horn accent instrument.
Poker Face by Lady Gaga: September 23, 2008. Los Angelos, California
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bESGLojNYSo
This song tells the story of Lady Gaga’s experiences of bisexuality. This mega hit still played today explains how while she is with a man, she’s thinking about a woman. I find this song to be expertly crafted. The name and lyrics “Poker face” makes all too much sense when you listen to the song. So many bisexual people find themselves either being secretive about their preferences, or working to manage being attracted to both men and women. I think that the more obvious incorporation of her feelings about her sexuality showcases the difference in social standards regarding the time period. Although I would say that comparing 2008 to today, we have come a long way in terms of equality.
Analysis of Poker Face:
Melody: The melody of Poker Face is dark sounding, and has a distinct pop-rock instrumental sounds that are very of this time period. The song is set by the lyrics “muh muh muh muah” and then matched by an electronic chord arrangement that follows the 120 bpm tempo. This song is definitely geared towards dancing, and was a popular platform to remix. It accomplishes the song's purpose to be a little rowdy and dark.
Lyrics: Upon the song's release, Priya Elan from The Times acclaimed the song for its expression of Gaga’s “overwhelming desire for celebrity and fortune”. The robotic way she sings throughout the song could be interpreted as some of the depersonalization she’s experiencing when having thoughts about, or altercations with her romantic partner. “Can’t read my, can’t read my, no he can’t read my, poker face (she’s got me like nobody)”. Her tone is commanding despite the robotic sound, which in my opinion right on par with her unapologetic persona.
Texture: I was planning on choosing an element that I had not written about already for this last one, but I made an interesting discovery. Basically, some of the “instruments” (this song is fully electronically produced) are played in stereo while others are played in mono. Meaning that certain noises in the song are from both the “left” and “right” sides, and others come from a single source. This is more common in music these days, but it really adds a lot of depth to the song.
“Lady Gaga.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, https://www.forbes.com/profile/lady-gaga/?sh=3582669731fe.
"Mono Vs. Stereo". Mono vs. Stereo and When to Use Them – Focusrite Audio Engineering. https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/115005059209.
“Tom's Diner.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Apr. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom%27s_Diner.
Comments
Post a Comment