#music literacy

[its-a-crazy-world-aintit]

Music Analysis Time!

Listening to music the other week and come across Gang of Youths "Achilles Come Down". It is gorgeous!!

I google the lyrics to get clarification on a few of the overlapping lyrics and a translation for the french sections and am shocked that one of the first things to pop us as a popular search is "did he come down?"

What?!? How is that in question? Did you listen to the song?

I played it for my sister and she actually asked me the same question. I stared at her dumbfounded for several moments before giving a music lecture that lasted half an hour.

Condensed Version:

YES! He did come down. The music makes this plain.

Long Version:

The song starts with our hero on the roof and the vocalist appealing to him to come down. This continues for a couple of verses, appealing to logic and resorting at one point to jump too.

Another voice cuts in, Achilles inner demon, telling him why he should just go ahead and get it over with. (While it is the same vocalist singing you can hear a distinct difference in the voices.)

The first voice comes back in warning him against listening to the demon (alcohol) and while life may be pointless you can make your own meaning.

The next verse both voices sing contrasting messages at the same time, refuting the others points. They then merge at the very end:

Be done with this now and jump off (get off) the roof Can you hear me, Achilles? I'm talking to you I'm talking to you

And the second voice fades out as it continues:

I'm talking to you I'm talking to you Achilles, come down Achilles, come down

At the end of this phrase, the music turns from somber to a more slow hopeful sound, before almost lurching back to what we have heard the rest of this song.

The second voice fading out and the more hopeful music sends a clear signal that Achilles is convinced to come down. The jarring back to what we have heard previously may be that he changed his mind but was already within reach of the first singer and prevented from jumping when the doubts creeped back in.

The final lines imply that that they won the battle today but the war will wage on but that it is always better to keep moving forward.

For many people I know (myself included), that have had a "jump" moment this is a very powerful and hopeful song BECAUSE he doesn't jump.

I think we are missing something by not emphasizing music literacy. And i don't mean heavy music theory, but how changes in music mean things. I have been lucky enough to have been immersed in music on a day to day basis since I was young but I think we do a huge disservice to many kids now by not teaching them how to analyze what they are listening to.

Anyway before I get even more on my soapbox, I think I'll stop here.

[quiltedchicken]

Just found out I've been drawing quarter rests backwards and upside down all my life

[titsthedamnseason]

we have exhausted the jack hate conversations. they are best friends and they make great music together. if you’re bored of it, there are endless other musicians you can listen to instead of taylor. you can stick to her other songs no problem. no one is holding the gun to your head. stop blaming jack when taylor is making the music she wants to make. if she didn’t want this style as her sound she wouldn’t work with him. and beyond that taylor takes an active involvement in the creative process so you’re kidding yourself if you think she doesn’t have a distinct vision for most of these songs going into a recording session and they would sound completely different and unrecognizable under a different producer

[ramen-flavored]

media literacy is dead and it’s killing me

[thecitybee]

Made this meme a while back and have found a use for it literally every day.

May it serve you, and may you stop browsing forums for your favorite shows for your health's sake.

[the-technicolor-yawn]

shoutout to the person who said the kendrick and drake feud was like enemies to lovers I hope you get pecked to death by crows

[moricodex]

Something I noticed about Poison

*These two* This is a free transactional/thankful hand shake between two lovers who are abusers; Val is Overt & Vox is Covert.

(Please read what's above if you do not know what Overt/Covert means.) Note: These terms will be brought up again.

-Vox's face is smug, a sense of accomplishment residing in said smugness. - Additionally, he is gazing away from his lover to look towards Angels Bedroom.

-The, oh shit your up & walking face. (A massive tell tale sign someone feels caught; aka the victim or a bystander has seen the abuser in/after the act.) ^^^The drop of his heads posture/Widening of his eyes, mainly his hypnosis eye/His frown.^^^ (He uses his hypnosis eye for control) -Lil side note: The demon doing repair work, looks very uncomfortable, I think it's the only expression he makes. (This does not remove the fact that he has been drawn with a face of discomfort; engaging with apathy/sloth with a hint of sadness.)

-Vox is giving Val a gaze that speaks "are you going to keep things under control?" aka, Angel, the prized porn star. OR. You got this right? (simplified take) -Vals lip expression shows lack of enthusiasm plus lack of joy.

^^^Val uses this expression to show disapproval while asserting dominance. (A common tactic with abusers; both Overt & Covert abusers do this often as a means of utilizing fear. Because the victim knows they are upset & know what can happen when said abuser is upset.) + (Lowkey difference: Covert abusers are more carful about who is around to see/read that mentally abusive power move/Overt abusers usually thrive with an audience around.)

-This is the face of an abuser who has gotten away with it, through the aid of a lover. (It is not uncommon for SA abusers to share their victims/help other abusers SA individuals.) He knows that he got away with it, of course he did, they are top dog overlords who control minds & bodies through media influence. ^^^Vox gets away with keeping Angels truth a tucked away secret- (Him being raped via means of being drugged up in his own bedroom)-through Val; whom uses overt means of control, while Vox prefers his less tasteful habits be less known. Val makes sure what happened, stays unknown by others. ^^^Something something, birds of a feather or some crap^^^ (Match made in hell dead ass.)

*Reminder that this is Angels bedroom* -He's super disorientated, & has no idea what time it is & is most likely slowly processing what the actual fuck has happened. ^^^Recovering from being high out of his mind on cocaine & Vals Saliva/or the love potion made by Val & Velvet.^^^

-Background noise such as running water can allow some people to focus/calm down from a panic attack or both.

-He looks so hurt yet tired. (He's just sick of being so personally used as an object by genuine rapists.)

-It all comes back to him & hits him like a train. Edit note: I sent this post by mistake when it wasn't finished so I had to rush these last bits. (I can expand more on this in the future maybe) Last note: I wish we got a scene of Vox asking sex from Angel but that request is declined/ or invading Angels space. (Its very impactful but needs genuine breathing room outside of the music video.)

[d1sheclectic]

i’m actually fuming over this comment under a tiktok where i said “rip dallas winston you would’ve lover McCafferty” like what if i killed myself omfg

[opera-ghost]

someone: "phantom of the opera is problematic and christine has no agency in-" me trying to explode them with my mind:

[elijah-loyal]

on the kick of movies, i ALSO forgot how good Hunchback of Notre Dame is (analysis ahead btw)

yes, it's a Disney movie (that's why we pirate it lads) so it won't have the same conformation to the novel that another corporation MIGHT have done (still highly doubtful) but it's still so good and holds up so well???

I prefer the musical's nuance when it comes to Frollo, but in the Disney movie he doesn't really need a reason to be "evil" other than just power-hungriness, racism and being a predator. I find it incredibly interesting how they divided the two aspects of his character into Frollo (Judge Version) and the Archdeacon, because when you know the background of his character you understand that complexity even when it's absent from the movie. Also I'm a SLUT for "Hellfire," because not only is the animation sequence DELICIOUS ASF, and the music and lyrics ASTOUNDING, but the overlaying Latin that just contradicts his convictions is SO good, as well as the predatory ideas he's grappling with, and his justification of them through religion and how he's "purer than the common, vulgar, weak, licentious," people of Paris. Even in the cut-and-dry Disney version, he's still a fairly layered character.

I also find it refreshing that Quasimodo's jealousy of Phoebus doesn't cause him to try and tear him down or hurt him; no, he doesn't love Phoebus, especially at first when he thinks he's chasing Esmeralda to hurt or arrest her, but he holds no grudge against him because it's unnecessary. I can't tell if I just got used to other bad movie jealousy plotlines, but it's nice to see that Quasimodo isn't petty as hell just because he's jealous of Phoebus.

Speaking of Phoebus, what a chad

Of course, the score for the movie is brilliant (excluding a guy like you, I'm sorry but i fucking hate it) and the repeating themes of different characters make it feel more like a live theater musical than some of Disney's other musical works. Frollo's "Kyrie Eleison," theme (which is so fucking funny to me by the way, having the Latin/Greek phrase of "Lord have mercy," be Frollo's theme, who doesn't have mercy whatsoever and really just reflects his last moments) is SO so scrummy, I eat that shit up every damn time.

The animation sequences are fairly good throughout the movie, but I find them ESPECIALLY amazing for particular songs like "Hellfire," "Out There," "And He Shall Smite the Wicked (Score)," and "Sanctuary (Score)." The movements are VERY smooth and flow well, and the usage of color in "God Help the Outcasts," is STUNNING.

All in all, I still really enjoy this movie after a long time of not seeing it, and just really enjoy the themes and general collective story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame

[capfalcon]

btw media literacy is not the same thing as english class and i am please begging people to read more about media literacy because it is so far from english class, signed sincerly someone with a degree in media studies

[ajdrawsig]

Avantika as Karen in the new Mean Girls was the South Asian rep we didn’t know we needed.

I’m personally so sick of desi girls in media that’s based in the real world having the same personality. Always the overachiever. The genius. The stem hopeful. Never the funny one or the pretty one or the artsy one.

But modern media has begun to change that! We’re getting desi main characters like Devi and different character archetypes like Karen, and I am so, so happy about it. (Despite the fact that I personally don’t relate to them, they matter.)

[estradasphere]

i cant post the audio here because my internet is being shit, but it tickles me so much that esphere once played for a group of elementary schoolers

[sl8tersstuff]

I find pieces of you in every song I listen to.

[thekidsfromyestergay]

Just saw someone call steve albini "Frank's friend" and I'm gonna start killing you people with hammers

[nyikondlovu]

“Ricky should be single and go to therapy.” What is unloveable about people in therapy that they can’t be in a relationship at the same time? Plus, he was single for 2B and all of S3. We never saw him in a relationship with Lily so y’all can’t count that. Why do people in therapy not deserve love and happiness and relationships to you?

“Gina’s character was ruined.” and all that’s happened is she’s accepted that S1 her wasn’t a bad person and that ambition, confidence and knowing your worth isn’t a bad thing. She made a choice good for her by breaking up with Elton when he wasn’t giving her what she needed and she made the choice to kiss the boy she’s always liked A MONTH LATER.

“Ricky is so different this season.” Yeah, it’s called being happy babe, we haven’t seen true happiness from him since the show started. He’s actually fun and focussing on helping his friends and having a great time.

“Rina came out of nowhere.” And it’s the ship that’s been set up since S1 ep 5 - S3 ep 8. Like, it’s always been coming, you simply chose to ignore that your ship was a plot device☹️

“I hope Gina’s miserable next season.” Why are you wishing sadness on a black woman? Why don’t you want her happy? What do you have against black girls thriving and being loved?😕

Ain’t no assassination happen, y’all just wanted Gina to stay in an unhappy relationship because Eej was your favourite character and not for HER happiness and y’all wanted Ricky to stay miserable like in S1 and 2 so he can’t grow enough to be ready to be with the girl he likes