Postmodern Music Breakdown: Global Pop, Heavy Sounds, and DIY Attitudes

Question 1

What are some of Led Zeppelin’s musical influences?

Answer 1

Folk, The Beatles, blues, Rock n’ Roll, bluegrass, hillbilly/country.

Question 2

What was the Led Zeppelin song that we listened to in class?

Answer 2

“When the Levee Breaks.”

Question 3

Who was known as the first “heavy metal” band?

Answer 3

The Black Sabbath developed what we now consider heavy metal sound. Led Zeppelin also had elements of heavy metal, but only incorporated parts of it.

Question 4

Contrary to popular belief, heavy metal is musically ___.

Answer 4

Complex.

Question 5

Heavy metal often incorporates…

Answer 5

Religious/anti-religious imagery.

Question 6

Who was Alice Cooper?

Answer 6

A glam-rock singer who emphasized on the theatrical, and had an androgenous costume.

Question 7

What was David Bowie also known as?

Answer 7

Ziggy Stardust.

Question 8

What was David Bowie known for?

Answer 8

Played role of an actor (adopted persona), artistic plagiarism.

Question 9

David Bowie’s detachment set him apart from the…

Answer 9

Authenticity of the work of singer-songwriters.

Question 10

How did Bowie plagiarise, and what was his attitude towards it?

Answer 10

Bowie “borrowed” openly, both musically and artistically. He considered his plagiarism to be a compliment to those whom he bothered to plagiarise, and he says that he is flattered when others “borrow” from him.

Question 11

From the mid 1960’s to the 1970’s, rock began to become the music of ___.

Answer 11

Yesteryear.

Question 12

What is nihilism?

Answer 12

Philosophical doctrine that suggests the negation of one or more repeatedly meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism, which means that life is without meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value.

Question 13

What are the musical features of punk in relation to rock?

Answer 13

Lighter, faster paced, with different lyrical content.

Question 14

What is New Wave?

Answer 14

New Wave was originally a complimentary term for punk, or an alternate term. However, they were put in opposition, each reflecting a range of characteristic associated with the genre. Arty, avant-gardish, studied, and ironic dimension that accompanied the streetwise, working-class and raucously ‘vulgar’ dimension.

Question 15

Give descriptor words for punk.

Answer 15

Loud, fast, crude, angry or pseudo-angry.

Question 16

Give descriptor words for New World.

Answer 16

Ironic, cool, distant.

Question 17

Give an example of a punk band and a New World band.

Answer 17

Punk- Ramones.

New World- Talking Heads.

Question 18

Who is primarily known to be a reggae singer?

Answer 18

Bob Marley.

Question 19

What is reggae composed of?

Answer 19

Ska + slower tempi + socially conscious lyrics = reggae.

Question 20

What are some additional musical characteristics of reggae?

Answer 20

Active baselines, neo-African inspired drumming, and lyrical content associated with the Rastafarian religion.

Question 21

Bob Marley began known as the first…

Answer 21

“Third World Superstar”.

Question 22

Bob Marley always maintained a strict ___ dedication.

Answer 22

Political.

Question 23

Bob Marley was covered by artists such as…

Answer 23

Eric Clapton and Johnny Nash.

Question 24

Bob Marley first gained recognition in America when he released his album titled…

Answer 24

Catch A Fire.

Question 25

Disco was considered to be an antithesis to…

Answer 25

The rock of the 60’s.

Question 26

What are the differences in keywords between 60’s music and 70’s music?

Answer 26

60’s music is described as natural, serious, sincere, painful, braless, lumpy, heavy, rough, romantic, and cheap. 70’s music is described as unreal, fun, artificial, frivolous, stylish, sleek, smooth, contrived, controlled, and expensive.

Question 27

Which kind of music was a mind trap, and which kind was a body trap?

Answer 27

60’s music (rock) was a mind trap, and 70’s music (disco) was a body trap.

Question 28

One author stated that the difference between disco and rock is the ___.

Answer 28

Gayness.

Question 29

What are the three types of disco?

Answer 29

1. R&B Disco.
2. Eurodisco.
3. Pop Disco.

Question 30

What is R&B Disco?

Answer 30

Derived from soul and funk, often retained gospel-inspired vocals, employed syncopated guitar and bass parts, recorded by self-contained bands.

Question 31

What is eurodisco?

Answer 31

Featured simple, chanted vocals, less frequent use of syncopation, thick arrangements, use of orchestral instruments, and heavy reliance on studio producers who recorded anonymous musicians.

Question 32

What is pop disco?

Answer 32

A combination of R&B disco and eurodisco elements represented by mainstream pop artists such as the Bee Gees. Typically dependent on studio producing, however, recording artists recieved credit for the music.

Question 33

In disco, the DJ’s were basically compilers, and got famous for their taste- they were not ___.

Answer 33

Musicians.