music and gender final

Question 1

Ma Rainey

Answer 1

“Mother of Blues,” represented lesbian workers and revealed cross dressing on stage because of her explicit/sexual lyrics that openly expressed her desire for women. She sung in a deep and sometimes “moaning” style of singing.
12 bar blues

Question 2

Lucille Bogan

Answer 2

A blues singer, one of the first to be recorded (unlike Ma Rainey), also known for her sexual lyrics expressing her desire to be with the same sex.

Question 3

Girl Group Music

Answer 3

several female singers who harmonize together. the wave of American pop female singers who flourished in the 50’6 and 60’s.

Question 4

The Ronettes

Answer 4

a popular american R&B girl group from New York. Lead singer Veronica Bennett (Ronnie), sister Estelle Bennett, and cousin Nedra Talley. Were first known as the “Darling sister”. The only girl group to tour with the Beatles.

Question 5

The Shirelles

Answer 5

1958, became the first Rock n Roll female supergroup and were the inspiration for a legion of female groups that followed. the originators of the Girl Group Sound.
their song “ Will you still love me tomorrow”- exemplifies the Girl Group tradition, it establishes an unambiguous female perspective.

Question 6

The Supremes

Answer 6

Motown girl group; Diana Ross - were an American female singing group

Question 7

Brill Building

Answer 7

building in New York. Famous for housing music industry offices and studios

Question 8

Rock ‘n’ Roll

Answer 8

evolved in the US in the late 40s and early 50s. Primarily a combination of African American genres such as blues, jazz, gospel music and Western swing and country music. The beat is essentially blues with a snare drum in the background as well as electric guitars.

Question 9

The Shirelles

Answer 9

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow: first rock n roll girl group that set the tone/standards for upcoming girl groups; were an inspiration for other groups

Question 10

The Supremes

Answer 10

Motown girl group; Diana Ross - were an American female singing group

Question 11

Brill Building

Answer 11

building in New York. Famous for housing music industry offices and studios

Question 12

Rock ‘n’ Roll

Answer 12

evolved in the US in the late 40s and early 50s
Primarily a combination of African American genres such as blues, jazz, gospel music and Western swing and country music.
The beat is essentially blues with a snare drum in the background as well as electric guitars.

Question 13

Elvis Presley

Answer 13

50s-70s
figure of sexuality – lyrics and dance moves (the hip thrust) – often changed lyrics to reduce sexuality
hypermasculine with the electric guitar
monodynamic and aggressive music with rigid, consistent rhythms making the music radio/pop friendly

Question 14

Berry Gordy

Answer 14

founder of Motown, producer

African American man from Detroit

Question 15

Motown

Answer 15

record label (founded by berry gordy) and a music genre
label: promoted african american music to all audiences
gave african americans agency performers due to white audience appeal
genre: soul music with pop influence (Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Temptations)

Question 16

Phil Spector

Answer 16

american record producer who developed the “wall of sound”
hypermasculine and mysogynistic and controlling
married to ronnie of the ronnettes – kept her locked up and didn’t let her go to one of her performances with the beatles
signed the ronnettes under philly records but often refused to release their singles and attributed their work to others

Question 17

“Wall of Sound”

Answer 17

developed by phil spector
Very reverbed, use of multiple instruments, studio effects etc.
Single backing track in which there is just one wall of sound

Question 18

The Beatles

Answer 18

british pop rock of the 60s
covered girl groups and influenced by the blues
engaging/charming towards media, had a youthful innocence, physical presentation was different than traditional masculinity at the time (long hair)

Question 19

Beatlemania

Answer 19

imported for teenage girls, gave them a way to express sexual frustrations (not allowed in the 50s but gave a space in the 60s); Breakdown of traditional values

Question 20

New York Dolls

Answer 20

Punk rock glam group- provided a model for The Sex Pistols
Blues influence, british/american influence
Platform shoes, makeup, non-gender specific clothing

Question 21

New York Underground

Answer 21

Provided a space for individuals to express their sexual identity beyond the rigid conventionalities placed by society in the 1970s, a gender ambiguous space
Andy Warhol influence
Performers engaged publically in non-normative performances of gender and sexual identities

Question 22

Glam rock:

Answer 22

developed rock and roll (started in UK); Emphasis on artificiality & theatricality, rather than realism and gender presentation involved social resistance against heteronormative social mores
artist was a performance with glitter, makeup, etc
offered space for experimentation regarding gender identity which would have been otherwise impossible due to social stigma in the late 60s to 70s

Question 23

David Bowie

Answer 23

David Jones/Ziggy Stardust
Performing with that non-conforming gender presentation: wearing dresses on album covers & live performances, heavy makeup as a part of his persona, androgynous self presentation
embracing artificial self, challenging gender norms through gender performance

Question 24

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Answer 24

based on british musical, sweet transvestite plays with gender stereotype – is an alien
scientist creates a perfectly masculine rocky
“experiment” as a double entendre to make fun of vanilla norms as something to be fixed

Question 25

Disco

Answer 25

form of dance music based on funk and r&b that dominated pop in late 70s regular bass drum accents on every beat, frequent use of orchestral instruments and synthesizers, Latin percussion, and simple lyrics, oriented around dancing, romance and a party-led life style eventually went from underground to pop music industry started as homosocial space for gay men drugs

Question 26

Donna Summer

Answer 26

"the queen of disco" | sang gospel, trained in theatre - cast of "hair", was in a psychedelic rock band in europe, made long and sexual songs

Question 27

The Village People:

Answer 27

american, all-male, disco group dressed as masculine stereotypes with surface presentations glitz,glamour , and theatricality and an emphasis on pleasure

Question 28

Punk

Answer 28

rock genre developed in mid 1970s, NYC --> London & LA •Sonic “aggression” •Loud distorted guitar timbres (but usually not as distorted as metal) •Rough vocal timbres – yelling, snarling. Vocalists often sing “off-key” •“Anti-establishment” lyrical themes •Minimal aesthetic – against complexity and virtuosity short, simple songs

Question 29

Do-It-Yourself (DIY)

Answer 29

(Reading: Louder, Faster, Slow It Down! Pg. 264) ideal that ability and agency Sense of control over the creation, without the corporate/industry demand

Question 30

Riot Grrrl

Answer 30

- branch of punk rock developed in early 1990’s, associated with Pacific Northwest - third-wave feminism (musical/artistic movement) - explicitly feminist and queer-centered subculture focused on the experiences of young women - continuation and rejection of music and ethos in hardcore punk subculture

Question 31

Black Flag

Answer 31

Against Virtuosity

Question 32

High brow/Low brow:

Answer 32

``` high brow- “developed aesthetic which is based on education and informed culture” --- and as a result, it may be popular or patroned by upper class as well as others. low brow- believed to be “common” culture. ```

Question 33

Harlem Renaissance:

Answer 33

the cultural rising of the African American population in the Northern States especially in NY writers ( male and female) , artists , and other important people got together to define and defend the struggle of African Americans in that time.

Question 34

Bessie Smith

Answer 34

“Empress of the Blues” “Learned from Ma Rainey” “Fused blues with popular songs of vaudeville and … jazz” Career ended by Great Depression

Question 35

Heavy metal

Answer 35

Developed in the 1970’s (Most popular in the UK) Music: Very Loud and aggressive with extreme timbres Vocal: Usually screams, growls, screeches (Sometimes difficult to understand). Lyrics usually connected to anger, sadness, violence, evil etc. Instrumental: Heavily distorted guitars that have a long sustain of the guitar notes. Wide range of pitches, Low “heavy” bass sounds

Question 36

Eddie Van Halen

Answer 36

Known for instrumental virtuosity and technical innovation | long hair and tight clothing but very hypermasculine body -- showcased abs

Question 37

Van Halen

Answer 37

Visual: Long hair, A lot of skin exposer Music: Heavy Metal

Question 38

Virtuosity

Answer 38

Ability to play/sing complex melodies and rhythms accurately In metal there is a greater emphasis on musical virtuosity (e.g. Electric guitar) and the ability to play the music fast and loud while still remaining accurate Instrumental virtuosity often in lieu of vocal virtuosity in metal The virtuosity showcased ‘masculinity’

Question 39

Rebecca Clarke

Answer 39

A female composer and prominent viola player Reading: Rebecca Clarke and Sonata Form, which highlighted her experiences as a female musician in a male dominated canon

Question 40

12-bar blues

Answer 40

The point is that the song must ends at tonic triad Provides plenty of room for improvisation and variation Famous figures who adhered to this pattern: Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, Cream