Song Analysis
Part 1 (1-2 pages)
Provide a historical perspective of a song of your choice from the playlist at the bottom of this assignment. Your perspective must be thoroughly researched and must cover the following points. Be sure that you are writing about the correct version of the song from the list provided. You are to answer as many of the following points as possible. Some of them may not be applicable to your song (eg. there may not be a band, no charts at the time, or this might not have been written for an album).
Who wrote this song?
Who recorded this song?
Can you name the members of the ensemble?
Who’s singing, who’s the band leader, who plays what instrument?
What record company or publishing company was this written for?
What genre of music is this song and what makes it fall into that genre?
When was this song written, published and recorded?
Why was this song written?
Was it a part of something or just a single?
What were the other songs it was released with
How popular was this song, any appearance on any charts? Sales figures?
Are there other versions of this song? Covers?
Your interpretation of what the song is about (if there are lyrics)
Any other interesting facts that you come across
This part is to be researched and must include in-text citations and a separate bibliography in an MLA format. (the bibliography does not apply towards the overall page count) This should be written in a narrative form and not as bullet points. It should also follow proper research paper formatting and writing standards. Be sure that you are using legitimate sources. You WILL loose points for using sources like Wikipedia. If your source does not have an author, it's probably not appropriate for a college level research paper.
Some suggested resources:
UIC Music Resources: https://researchguides.uic.edu/c.php?g=252303
Discogs.com (this probably wont have an author, it's just a database full of great raw data)
Allmusic.com
Part 1 should be double spaced using 1 inch margins with no headers. Your paper must be uploaded to blackboard as a .doc or .pdf format. Be sure to proof read your paper before you turn it in and ensure that you are turning in your final draft complete with all parts. You have one chance to turn in your completed, proofread paper. The version upload will be the version graded.
Part 2
Provide a timestamped analysis of the chosen song. This must include:
Song with timestamps at each formal part of the song
Must include large formal sections and small formal sections
Verse, Refrain AND AABA or ABAC
For 12 bar songs: provide chorus numbers and which phrase (first, middle, or last) of the 12 bar
A one sentence description of the song at each formal part
The lyrics to each formal part (if applicable)
This should be done, as in the example provided, in a table. Timestamps showing the events in the song must be within 1 second of when they actually happen in the song (this sounds hard, it's only this way becasue sometimes you may think it was either 20 or 21, just put either and you'll be fine) Be sure you use the exact recordings provided in the Spotify playlist below.
here is the list of spotify of the songs, you could choose one song and do the parts on it:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5w2eC8VeMGNq3WznJLU6S3?go=1&sp_cid=2bfdeb3a04ca78590d88f0b20b1b74a9&utm_source=embed_player_m&utm_medium=desktop&dl_branch=1&nd=1