Jarybel Correa
Engl 303W
Professor Jason Tougaw
As an Education and English major, this class was definitely one I was looking forward to. Music has always been a part of my life, especially growing up in a Hispanic household. Being able to learn how to write about music has been an overall helpful and enjoyable experience. I was able to write about music that interests me as well as get introduced to new music. What I enjoyed most about this class was the fact that I was able to choose what artists or music I would write about. This allowed me to have a personal connection with my writing, and I was able to express myself genuinely. I believe that I did a great job at understanding a variety of musical genres and with that learning the elements that make up such great music.
For the album review assignment, I knew what I wanted to write about right away. Mac Miller has been such an inspiration to my life, so I was very excited to be able to cover his last album “Circles”. Here I reflected on the meaning behind his lyrics, and the story he told. This assignment was more enjoyable to write than anything else. I felt as though I was my true genuine self and really did express my thoughts on this album. My voice was really projected through this assignment.
The Infographic assignment was a little bit of a challenge for me. I chose to write about Amy Winehouse and her amazing work. I felt as though I had a difficult time putting together the infographic itself, but I learned something new and I actually had a great time completing it. Definitely one of the many things I learned in this class this semester.
Lastly, as I look back on my radio show assignment, I am very proud of myself. This was really out of my comfort zone because I am very shy! However I think I did a great job, this was probably my most favorite assignment overall. I was able to put together a radio show special on Rihanna, one of my most favorite artists of all time. Although I had a few things that i could’ve improved on a little more, I was extremely happy with how the final product.
Album Review: Circles by Mac Miller
At the age of 15, the world came to know the memorable Malcolm James McCormick, also known as Mac Miller. He began his rap career in 2007, he was known as Easy Mac, and later on, he received much attention for his KIDS mixtape in 2010. Soon after, he signed with Rostrum Records and, in 2011, released his Blue Side Park project. In 2018, Mac Miller gave the world his album Swimming with his very accomplished producer Jon Brion. This album meant a lot to Miller, so much so that he always envisioned a second part to it. Unfortunately, on September 7th, 2018, police responded to a 911 call made by Mac Miller’s assistant, who discovered his body in a bedroom at his home. The 26-year-old independent artist was pronounced dead at the scene. After an autopsy, the reasoning for his death is pronounced. An accidental overdose, cocaine, alcohol, and fentanyl were all found in his system. He struggled with addiction for a long time, but Miller was in his best mental state when the accidental overdose occurred; millions of fans were saddened by this tragic loss. However, two years later, the world received the works of Mac Miller one last time.
“Well, this is what it looks like, right before you fall,” Mac Miller sang in his opening track on the album Circles. The world lost a phenomenal, dedicated artist who was gone too soon like many other artists. The first pieces of this album were shared with Jon Brion for the first time while Miller and Brion worked together on Swimming. Unfortunately, before he even got the chance to create this second part of Swimming that he always envisioned, he sadly passed away. However, Brion felt like he owed it to Miller to finish this breathtaking project; he knew the world needed to hear his voice one last time. So, with permission from the late artist’s family, Brion made this project come to be, all while using the inspiration Miller had left behind. On January 17th, 2020, Circles was released. Finally, Mac Miller’s dream of creating this second part became a reality.
While listening to Circles, it felt very personal. Almost as if Miller was trying to show his true raw self to the world. Using more vocals than ever compared to his other albums, which consisted of more rap than anything else. He took his mental issues and struggles and made this album into a beautiful yet saddening piece. It takes a lot of courage and confidence to open up about deep and honest thoughts and give them to the world for them to listen to, not everyone can, but that is precisely what Mac Miller did with this album. He wanted the listeners to know this emotional part of him that has always been there. This album created an understanding of these deep inner feelings that audiences had never seen in any other album. He wanted us to fully understand every bit of pain he was feeling or overcame, which makes this album so unique. With just the right amount of instruments and his soft-spoken voice, this album touched my heart and many others.
The tone of this album is calm, peaceful, and very comforting. With connections to Miller’s death, listening to this album can make you feel a heaviness of emotion. Circles feels as though Miller is speaking to us after his death. He has come to be at peace with the situation. He describes his faults, how they have contributed to everything that has happened in his life, but at the same time, it feels as though he is also saying that it is okay, and you feel a sense of comfort and peace. Circles is a very lyric-focused album that is revealing of his soul. Moving away from what he usually creates, rap albums, he stepped out of his comfort zone to create an album that was very similar to Swimming, but they are very different.
The album begins with the track Circles; from the moment you begin to hear his voice and the soft relaxing sounds of a guitar is when you start to realize that he is gone. Circles is a perfect first track on the album as if this is the beginning to the end of his life, and he is expressing that to the world in his first lyric, “Well, this is what it looks like, right before you fall.” He explains how he feels lost and with no direction, which has caused him to fall into a pattern or cycle with his bad habits or actions. In the track, it seems as though he is aware of the problems that he had to deal with and shows some comfort in knowing that.
This track sets the tone for the rest of the album, where he continues to describe his self-reflection journey.” Circles” is my favorite song on the album; his mellow and smooth voice to the mellow guitar playing overall creates a very emotional feeling. In this song, I felt every lyric he sang, the music behind it was a plus for me. Good News is probably one of my favorites on the album. Here Miller expresses his feelings on forced happiness and forced positive thoughts in his life. The track includes bass, electric guitar, a more soothing beat, and quiet acoustics. We begin to understand how he has had to fake a smile and lie to the world about how he truly feels. People did not want to hear or even begin to understand his negative thoughts that haunted his mind. Other tracks on the album, such as Everybody, Woods, Hand Me Downs, That’s On Me, and Surf, have similar melancholic tones using simple instruments and mainly lyric focused.
Everybody is a track that includes a more uplifting drum beat pace and a piano-playing softly and just in the background. In this track, you begin to understand what Miller is saying about life. He expresses why people wish to live their lives more positively and continuously, and that is because life is too short. Ironically, he describes that he has realized how short life is and that while we live this crazy life, it can be over at any moment. The last track on the album Once a Day seems to be the perfect ending. This track was an old piece of his that was unreleased. It almost feels like his final words or final send-off for him. The song includes soft sounds of bells and an electronic and peaceful sort of tone. He uses his voice to further talk about self-reflection, which led him to think about all his faults and things he has struggled with, such as depression, substance abuse, and not being honest with everyone and himself truly felt in life.
Circles is by far one of my top 5 favorite albums. Listening to this entire album multiple times, track by track, from beginning to end, felt like such an honor. To be able to experience the unraveling of Mac Miller’s true self and genuine emotion filled my heart with sadness but also peace. This album was the perfect ending to his life, and throughout this work of art, we can reflect on ourselves. 2020 has been the worst year for me and many others as well. Just not being able to live life to the fullest and that feeling of being locked up in your own home not being able to express yourself or express your thoughts and feelings can affect your mental health drastically. Mac Miller kept all his feelings bottled up inside and faked a smile for so long until the world finally understood his soul and mind with this album. It is important to express any feeling of sadness or frustration or maybe even guilt throughout this pandemic. It is hard with life not being so standard anymore, but life is too short to keep your emotions bottled up; life is too short to fake a smile. This final piece by Mac Miller touched my soul and many others. His soft-spoken voice, simple instruments, and peaceful tone created the perfect farewell.
Infographic: Amy Winehouse
https://create.piktochart.com/output/53615857-the-life-of-amy-winehouse
Above is the link I’ve made public for my Infographic!
On September 14th, 1983, Amy Winehouse was born in London, England, to Jewish parents Mitchell, a taxi driver, and Janis, a pharmacist. Amy had a phenomenal voice from the time she was ten years old. Years later, she was enrolled in “Sylvia Young Theater School” but got kicked out of the school due to her lack of work in her studies and nose piercing. During her time at this school, she worked on solos that required a sexy jazz-style voice. Winehouse soon after began to study at the Brit Performing Arts School in South London.
Amy was singing professionally when she was only sixteen years old; this happened because her good friend James Tyler had sent her demo to a record company scout. However, it was not until 2003 when her debut album “Frank” became noticed, as it brought a rebellious rock and roll feel to the music. Besides two songs on the album, all lyrics written by Amy and her brutal truth. The album won her two Brit Awards when released. However, Winehouse was not making headlines because of her voice; her image was unique to the public, making her that much more iconic. Her beehive hairstyle, Cleopatra-style eyeliner, and her tattoos made her stand out.
After the release of “Frank,” Winehouse did not produce or write anything for eighteen months. However, this changed after she met music producer Mark Ronson. She began to write “Back to Black,” which was the best-selling album of 2007. Released in 2006, “Back to Black” was her breakout album. It struck the world to see that every track on the album is unique in its way. The influence of jazz is evident in the songs throughout her album. The opening song “Rehab” is very up-tempo and filled with sass and flair. She expresses her rebellious characteristics in this track, especially when she says, “They tried to make me go to rehab. I said no, no, no.” Despite the alcohol and drug abuse, Amy believed she was fine and refused to admit herself into rehab on her record company’s behalf. The use of horns is significant in her music, especially in the song “You Know I’m No Good,” which helps carry the rhythm. In this song, she tells the story of cheating on her boyfriend with her ex. However, the music is not about forgiveness; in fact, she implies that he should have known how she is, and it is his fault for sticking around.
The album titled song “Back to Black” is one of her most recognizable and popular songs. This track featured the use of violins and piano, creating a very Ballad style. However, she still kept her true style; this made the song so famous and pleasing. There is a balance between the piano riff and instrumentals, emphasizing only the right moments and creating a beautiful piece. “We only said goodbye with words / I died a hundred times / You go back to her /, And I go back to black” is the chorus line that seems to stand out to every listener. Her voice’s emotions behind every lyric and the relativeness make the listener feel more connected with this track. Every single song on this album is worthy of being released as a single. We often notice that there are not as outstanding as the others in other albums. However, this is not the case with Amy’s album. “Back to Black” is a unique piece where every track is worth mentioning. The album debut as No. 7 on the US Billboard 200 and sold 51,000 copies within the first week of its release. “Back to Black” was nominated as the Best Pop/Vocal album, Song of the year, and record of the year in the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. She also won Best New Artist and Best Female Pop/Vocal Artist of the year in 2008.
Amy Winehouse’s music is not defined by one specific genre. Some people would say that her music is Rythym, Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop, or Soul. She was well known for her deep contralto vocals and her mix of musical genres. When listening to any Amy Winehouse song, you notice how effortlessly her unique voice wraps around the jazz-like sound of the instruments. However, in some of her work, the genres mix; there are songs where you hear jazzy tones and get that Soul or R&B aspect. I have noticed how her voice works perfectly with any genre or style of music. She stays true to her unique whiney tone of voice in all of her albums; the music accommodates that and creates beautiful and smooth tracks. This is what I often admire about her music, the way her voice flows with the rhythm.
Along with success, Amy faced a public battle with her demons. From 2006 to 2007, Amy struggled with alcohol and drug abuse. She realized she was on the path to self-destruction and finally admitted herself into rehab. Winehouse had dreams of becoming a wife, mother, and have a family. However, her dream of normalcy and family never came to be; Amy was found dead in her home on July 23rd, 2011. Several things should be memorable about Amy Winehouse, such as her unique style, powerful voice, and lyrical poetry. Amy brought a retro kind of pop back to life. Even though her musical career was short, she did leave an impact on the world. This impact is still shown today with other female artists. She used the truth of her life to creating excellent work. Amy Winehouse had many tragedies throughout her life, but the biggest tragedy of all is that it took her death for everyone to realize how iconic she is.
LADY J RADIO- Rihanna special
Artist Profile : Music inspiration & interest
As a child born into a Hispanic and catholic household, my music interest varied throughout my entire life. I was born in Manhattan, New York, on December 20th, 2000. Being the middle child of four, music was put into my perspective from my older sisters. They introduced me at a young age to different genres of music. Our parents were very religious, and growing up in a catholic household, it was difficult for us to listen to music that was not related to the church. My family and I would go to church every Sunday; in addition to that, I attended catholic school every week and also participated in a youth group at our church. I learned many gospel songs in English and Spanish because my godmother was part of the chorus/band at the church. In 2007, my parents split, and so did my family. Eventually, this affected the religious aspect of my life; soon enough, religion seemed to slip away from my daily life. However, only a few years ago, this part of my life was reintroduced to me. I would have to say that this part of my life, is one that I look back at and appreciate the most; it has made me the person I am today and heavily embeds in my persona. However, I do not really listen to gospel music anymore, even though it is still a part of my life.
As I got older, I listened to various artists such as The Notorious B.I.G, Eminem, Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson, T.L.C., etc. The only way I was introduced to these artists was because of my older sisters; I always wanted to be around them and listen to the same things they listened to. If it weren’t for them, I would have never been introduced to this type of music. However, my Father also brought a significant influence on music. He grew up in Queens, New York, during the ’80s, and this was such an influential time in history when it comes to music. He introduced me to old school music, as he likes to call it. As I reached my teen years, music became a massive part of my everyday life. Music gave me the motivation to get out of bed and start my day.
My music taste varies; I enjoy listening to all genres of music. Mostly, Bachata, Merengue tipico, Hip Hop, Rap, Pop, and salsa. Music has always been a massive part of my life; to me, it is a form of expression; on days when I want to feel happy, I listen to more uplifting music such as Merengue Tipico, which is a genre of music that originated in the Dominican Republic. It is very similar to merengue; however it has a faster pace when dancing, I usually listen to Tipico whenever I want to feel uplifted and happy. On days when I want to feel relaxed and chill ill listen to rap or hip hop. Some of my favorite artists include The Notorious B.I.G. and Post Malone. As you can already probably tell, my music taste is very diverse; I enjoy all types of music and enjoy being introduced to new genres and artists. I will introduce you to my top 3 favorite artists and why they have impacted my life.
The Notorious B.I.G
Christopher Wallace, also known as The Notorious B.I.G., was one of the most influential rappers. Born on May 21st, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrant parents, his father left him and his mother Voletta when he was just two years old. Growing up in Bedford Stuyvesant, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, Smalls was exposed to many street life at such a young age during the crack-cocaine epidemic in the ’80s and ’90s. He was lyrically gifted from such a young age. Smalls music spoke about the qualities of a life of crime and spoke about the downside of it all in his songs “Suicidal Thoughts” and “Everyday Struggle.” His music was also very influential; the lyrics in one of his most famous songs, “Juicy,” gave hope to struggling people. It helped people to have a positive outlook, and even people who do not come from money can make it in life. Immediately at the beginning of the song, he calls out everyone who doubted him. He continues to express his story of coming from nothing and dreaming big to his success. Biggie Smalls is one of my favorite artists because of his smooth lyrical flow. When he raps, he tells a story, one that is very pleasing to hear. I would say that his music motivates me to be productive and continue dreaming big. Unfortunately, he was another artist that was taken way too soon, but his impact on the music world is forever imprinted.
Selena
Selena Quintanilla is one of the most influential Latin artists ever. Before her tragic death at the age of 23, she released very well-known hits and set fashion and makeup trends. Everything about Selena and her music was revolutionary. Selena took apart barriers of language, genre, and identity throughout her entire career. She overcame male-dominated musical genres. Selena was a Mexican American singer who came from a very conservative family and had difficulty being accepted by audiences both in the U.S. and Mexico. However, her unique style of music took contemporary sounds of the 90’s and Mexican genres and combined them to create award-winning albums. Selena was an inspiration to many new Latina artists such as Karol G and Selena Gomez. Selena was the first female artist who was proud of her heritage and being Latina for many people. Her music celebrated life, love, and family. I first learned Selena’s famous song “Como la Flor” when I was just five years old. This track included a dynamic and vocal performance over a cumbia beat. “Como la flor” is one of my favorite songs, which talks about heartbreak and romance. Selenas music is very influential because it describes me as a person and the different parts of my life. She was not afraid to be proud of her heritage and created a path for future Latina female artists.
Post Malone
Post Malone is one of my favorite artists of all time. Although I was introduced to him not too long ago, his music has impacted me in the short time that I have gotten to know his music. His music caught my attention because of his unique vocal style and pop, hip hop, rock, and folk combination. I remember first listening to Post Malone on a long drive back from Montauk with my boyfriend. We drove on the road listening to his single “Stay” with the windows rolled down. This was a moment that I will never forget, a time where I was fully content in life. His music has ever since had this effect on me, and I am sure it did too for many other people. I will be seeing him live this year, and I am so very excited.
Conclusion
These are only a few of my favorite artists who each bring different genres to the table. Each of these artists has been influential to my life when I feel like I cannot achieve my goals; their music is my escape from reality. My taste in music varies; I have so many other genres that I listen to almost every day, such as meringue tipico, as I mentioned before, country, and rock. The music itself is a universal language that has brought me to connect with others on a different level. My appreciation for these artists and all types of music is indescribable.
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