Familiar Music
Artist: Outkast
Song Title: Aquemini (clean)
Run Time: 4:53
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM-LsaUKXj0
This duo's Junior album shares the same name as this track. Andre 3000 and Big Boi are two entirely different characters, but they have one common goal. They seek to entertain the masses with Big Boi's smooth delivery and Andre's deep messages It's important that the listener recognizes the distinctions between the two. Andre sings at a higher pitch than Big Boi, but not so much so that I would label Andre as a tenor. The track begins with a relatively quiet intro and then the symbols begin to crash together allowing Andre to proceed and recite the chorus to the song which is repeated four times. The lyrics are crucial to this track because rappers from back in this time period actually allowed their lyrics to contain substance. Many see rap as a genre of music that exclusively degrades females, driving expensive vehicles, and acquiring large sums of cash. Many artists from this time period were less focused on those unfortunate parts of the rap scene and more in-tune with the actual "Rhythm And Poetry" part of it. An example of this substance can be found after the second verse. At about 3:15 after the chorus the track goes completely silent for multiple seconds and this initiates the transition of the track completely. The melody changes and it's basically an entirely different song once you add in the trumpets which Outkast is known to do. However, Big Boi's verse is unparalleled to what Andre would recite at the 3:40 mark. After Andre recites his lyrics and the final chorus is over the track begins to fade with the trumpets still playing but getting quieter and quieter until they are no more.
Unfamiliar Music
Artist: Carly Comando
Song Title: Everyday
Run Time: 5:45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCObXuAwCIA
This song was very overwhelming when I first heard it and took multiple listens to fully appreciate it to its full extent. I was having trouble finding an unfamiliar song so my friend that plays the piano suggested I give this a try. I wouldn't say I particularly enjoyed this song too much because I found it relatively depressing to listen to for unknown reasons, but you must appreciate the skill and dexterity it requires to become this skill full at playing a piano. I also really have to give it to Ms. Comando because this song was able to invoke feelings I had previously not felt in a song before. It's weird to actually like a song that makes you feel depressed but I did just that. Around the 2:49 mark is where the basic progression of the song takes a bit of a turn, but for all the right reasons. She begins to play higher notes, but later returns to the same melody of the beginning. I've never played an instrument like a piano or an organ nor had I had any ambitions to play one until I heard this, but it really made me realize and appreciate just what an amazing instrument a piano really is.
Total listening time: 10 minutes and 38 seconds
