Emotion and Meaning in Music

Joy

"Floats My Boat" - Aer

The moment this song comes on I get a good vibe.  It's hard to explain the actual cause of the joyous feeling the song provides.  After the first few seconds I always find myself participating in a seemingly reflexive head bob.  This track by Aer has a very "summer-y" vibe, and who doesn't like summer?  Not everyone chooses to spend their down time the same was as Aer, nonetheless people enjoy relaxing all the same.  How one spends their down time truly is whatever floats their boat.  I could easily imagine kicking back on a nice comfortable beach chair while I listen to this song.

Sadness/Mourning

"Yesterday" - Atmosphere

It's difficult to listen to this song all the way through without getting goosebumps.  Atmosphere lays out this track beautifully, catching listeners off guard and delivering a powerful message.  The beat isn't slow and dark as one might expect from a sad song about mourning the loss of a loved one.  The fact is, everyone expresses themselves differently, and for Atmosphere, expression comes in the form of masterfully constructing lyrics from memories and thoughts he has in regards to his father.  Atmosphere pays his respect to his father in "Yesterday"in a reflective manner.  Various visual occurrences Atmosphere encounters act as indices, based on past experiences, that may inspire his train of thought.  I really like this song because it expresses sadness and mourning in a style unique to the artist.

Family 

"Soundtrack 2 My Life" - Kid Cudi

In Kid Cudi's, "Soundtrack 2 My Life," he reflects on growing up, and pays homage to his siblings and mother who helped him through some difficult years.  He especially thanks his mother for the childhood that she gave him.  He explains how he doesn't even know how she did it, which indicates just how hard she must have worked to provide for her family.  In his final verse, Cudi emphasizes the importance of love in ones life.  Love is what keeps families together, and I am lucky to have had an extremely loving family growing up.  This is something that I feel I have taken for granted when I was growing up, but now am incredibly grateful for.

Anger

"Guilty Conscience" - Eminem feat. Dr. Dre 

When asked to find anger in music, I immediately searched the name Eminem in my iTunes.  Eminem has a very distinct way of expressing himself through music.  He does not hold back in the least, and says exactly how he feels about a certain person or situation.  In a way, I admire him for that.  Eminem definitely gets his point across with every track he makes.  In "Guilty Conscience" Eminem acts as the demon on someones shoulder who opposes the angel on the opposite shoulder.  In my opinion the demon is a sort of icon for anger or rage.  Eminem angrily and violently advises some negative options to three different subjects.  Even by just listening to the beat and the flow of the two rappers, I equate the general emotional vibe of the song to anger.

Sexuality (What it means to be a man)

"Wings" - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

On the surface, "Wings" by Macklemore seems like a song about shoes.  The reality is that the meaning is much deeper than that.  It is a song about growing up a boy.  Macklemore talks about how as a kid, he was just trying to fit in and be cool by purchasing and wearing the newest pair of "Jordans" on the market.  But Macklemore quickly evolves from boy to man when he is hit with some rough experiences, like his friend's brother being murdered.  This is when he realizes one does not need to conform to be cool; a common misconception among males in the modern generation.  Males tend to think life is a battle for dominance; who can be the coolest or the most admired.  Some realize that it is not important as they mature, but not all do.  Everyone is different, and I love that "Wings" tells the story of Macklemore learning that the stereotypes of the common male are not necessarily fact.

Songprint

My name is Eric Goldstein.  I am a freshman here at Indiana University from the suburbs of Philadelphia.  The cultural scene of a big city like Philly is amazing, and can be seen through the various musical performers found within the heart of the urban community.  Many times I have boarded a train to check out some of my local favorites performing at notable venues in the city.  I enjoy listening to the Philly based hip-hop groups like The Roots, and lesser known artists like Asher Roth, Chiddy Bang and Ground Up.  However, my musical interests are not limited to rap.  I enjoy finding songs I like in every genre, and often do.

"Outside" - Asher Roth

At first glance this song seams to be another hippy jam, but I really like and relate to this song.  There is nothing worse than looking out the window while in class and seeing a beautiful, sun shining, birds chirping type day outside.  I personally hate wasting nice days, and when I can, I try to get out and enjoy them.  I like how Roth mentions playing basketball, because that's how I envision perfectly utilizing a nice day; just shooting around with some friends. I agree with Asher in that our generation has become a TV and text type of people.  Though I am guilty of conforming to the stereotypes of our generation I try to break it at times by using my time more efficiently, and getting out instead of being lazy.

"Lost in Philadelphia" - Ground Up

Lost in Philadelphia is one of my favorite songs by Philly based rap duo Ground Up.  Many assume rap  or hip hop is simply non sensible quickly spoken word.  Social stigmas seem to find that rappers are all talk, don't practice what they preach, or simply sending an ignorant message.  The reality is that there are some hip hop artists who fall into that category, but not all do.  Ground Up utilizes skilled lyricism and intricate beats to create a product that flows.  Their use of symbols and references is impressive and keeps listeners like myself intrigued.  The message of this particular song is one that i can equate to my life.  The chorus says that they feel lost in Philadelphia.  I take this to mean that the two feel like little people in a big city, much like I am simply one student at a giant University.  My favorite line comes in the second verse, "If you've got your head down then down is where your headed."  I find this line to be a creative way to express a very important life lesson.  In addition, I was accepted to Indiana as an exploratory student, and no definite direction.  In a sense, I find myself lost in the college and career process, yet I am continuing on confidently like Azar and Malakai of Ground Up.

"Talking to Myself" - Chiddy Bang

Chiddy Bang is also a Philly based duo consisting of a rapper and a producer.  They are a rapidly growing success and an inspiration to many musical hopefuls just starting out.  I particularly like their song "Talking to Myself" because I often find myself over thinking pretty much everything. Even the little things like, "was that joke stupid?" or "should I have talked to that girl back there." Minuscule aspects of life that end up being "What ifs" in my head.  I also believe it is crucial to think about what you are saying before it is said, so talking to myself in that sense is probably a good thing.  The chorus goes, "If you ever see me talking to myself, I'm just running through the words I have to say to you," which is a situation I can very well understand.  Not that I rehearse routine conversations in the mirror in my dorm, but through thoughts that run through my mind.

"Alright" - Darius Rucker

As I previously noted, my musical preferences are not limited to hip hop music.  This is in part because during high school I had a girlfriend for a year and a half who absolutely loved country music.  Instead of simply putting up with her CDs during car rides, I searched for the country music style that I liked.  Now, even after the relationship I enjoy some country songs, including "Alright" by Darius Rucker.  The central message is simple.  It's alright.  Things in life don't always go as planned or preferred even, but its always going to be alright.  Darius Rucker has a very pure belief in this, saying he does not need a ton of fancy extras in his life, the simple things are good enough.  This is a concept I'm slowly believing more and more, and I think it is a great motto to have.  "As far as I can see Ive got everything I want," sings Rucker.  I admire his satisfaction and often strive to see the so called "bright side" as he does.

"First Day of Summer" - Intuition

There are few feelings like your birthday, Christmas, Friday afternoon after the long school week, and the first day of summer.  Intuition feels the same way, but he raps about it in his song "First Day of Summer"  Its hard to explain what goes on internally when one gets that first day of summer feeling.  Personally, I feel a nice balance of relief, accomplishment, and excitement.  The feeling isn't beatable, not even through drugs or alcohol I would assume.  Intuition expresses his carefree, joyous mood by talking about his plans, and describing how none of it matters because he feels that good.  This in my opinion is the ultimate goal.  Success is objective, everyone has a different definition.  The feeling being described in my opinion is attributed to success.  When you can wake up and leave "the house with a smile on" every day, you have made it.  That is enough inspiration for me to work hard here at IU.