Spectrum

It's not the words that create a song, but the lyricist thoughts. It's not the lyrics that hold emotion, but the performance.  It's not the song itself that tops the charts, but the musicians behind it. A perfect example, "Radioactive".  

 

With the original artist bring Imagine Dragons, lead singer Dan Reynolds said, "Radioactive is a powerful-sounding song. There's a personal story behind it, but generally speaking, it's a song about an awakening; kind of waking up one day to do something new, and see life in a fresh way."

 

 

 

However, even with Reynold's goal in mind, doesn't mean the message cannot be conveyed by others.  

 

After reaching a top ranking among the Billboard charts, and being the top 3rd single sold in 2013, "Radioactive" has been covered by numerous other artist. Although, the personality changes from performer to performer, the message is broad enough to reach an abundance of people.  

 

The original version balances elements of dubstep, electronic rock and alternative rock. But the covers hit much more than just a few genres. Variety from a piano set to a gutteral scream, I'm sure whatever music that you listen to, you will be able to find a descent cover to fit your taste.  

 

Violins create the texture with Lindsey Stirling & the accapella of Pentatonix:      

 

 

Daughtry takes a step down from his rock and roll to show vulnerability with the backing of the ivory keys:
      

 

Screams evade the melody with post-hardcore Our Last Night:
  

This comes to show music breaks boundaries within itself. The spectrum is as vast, as wide, as deep as the ocean.  

Who knows what will happen when I eventually cover the song. Maybe I'll add my own spin, change the melody a bit. It's at the hands of the performer to embed their creativity and lend their personality to stand out among the rest.  

That is exactly what Imagine Dragons did. That's what Lindsey Stirling did. That's what Daughtry did. That's what Our Last Night did. That's what I plan on doing.  

It's mine to claim a place in the spectrum that is limitless.

The Influence

I honestly don’t have time to pleasure read. Or let me rephrase that. I don’t make time to pleasure read. Many other activities consume my free time. But I couldn’t resist Divergent when it was placed on the dinner table.

Now, truth be told, I’ve owned the book quite a while, actually. But it hasn’t been in my room. My sister had it on her bookshelf. How it got downstairs, I will never know. I can say though, it was much appreciated.

I zoomed through the book, in three days total. Well it helped that one was a snow day. I could never just read one chapter. It was always one more. One more before I begin my homework again. One more before I eat dinner. One more before I go to bed.

Veronica Roth’s writing style is simplistic but engaging. Toss in emotional characters and events that hit you in the heart. The utopian or dystopian society, whatever you want to call the setting—it has characteristics of both cultures (as well as Roth explaining her views between utopia and dystopia but she never comes to a conclusion of what society she has created)—forms itself in your head. I’m not sure how this couldn’t be realistic in your head. Maybe, though, my imagination is vivid enough to establish a convincing character. I don’t know.

But what I am positive of; Roth is influenced by her music choices. Roth has an exclusive edition in the back of Divergent, one portion being on the “Divergent Playlist”.

After listening through her song list, it is evident that Flyleaf had the biggest impact not only on Beatrice, rather known as Tris, but imprinted on the book as a whole.

Each small synopsis shines light on a unique aspect either of Tris or a significant occurring event.

The playlist is as follows:

"Starts with One” by Shiny Toy Guns

“Chasm” by Flyleaf

“Come Alive” by Foo Fighters

“Again” by Flyleaf

“Help I’m Alive” by Metric

“We Die Young” by The Showdown

“Canvas” by Imogen Heap

“Running up that Hill” by Placebo

“Sweet Sacrifice” by Evanescence

“Arise” by Flyleaf

 

As a fan of Flyleaf, it is noticeable that more than just these songs influenced Roth’s writing. There are so many others I could name, but for now, listen to those she has acknowledged. It will give insight and characterization either if you’ve read, or are planning to read Divergent.

Tribute

Mix classical string instruments with the metal genre of music. That’s Apocalyptica.

Composed of four classically trained musicians, the cello quartet borrows elements from a variety of genres. With their roots grounded in Finland, the band find inspiration in Middle Eastern, world, and folk music.

It was the sound that hooked and sunk in me. Unlike anything else I’ve stumbled crossed, literally. Hard driving tempos intensify the sound of strings and the percussive beat of the drums. The contrast is immense. One second you see hardcore rockers in “Bring them to Light”, the next is a stripped piece with the minimum of three cellos and a bass for “Beautiful.” And it is mesmerizing to sit and listen to the transformations of the symphonies. Vocals or not, the aggressive tone is evident as is the passion.

The four pieces do not work alone though. On their current album 7th Symphony, Apocalyptica collaborated with an abundance of other artist for vocals including Brent Smith from Shinedown, Johnny Andrews and Bush’s frontman Gavin Rossdale, Lacey Strum from Flyleaf, and Joe Duplantier of Gojira to name a few.

Ideas of artist who come together are the astounding proof of what collective minds can do, and I love that. It gives a new dynamic to the lyrics and sound. As someone who is open minded, I’m ok with change. Embrace it. Love it. If there’s something new and different, I’m bound to try it.

But the reason for starting Apocalyptica didn’t come from the want to sell four million plus records, the real reason was to pay tribute. Pay tribute to Metallica. In all honesty, that was the main reason for establishment in 1993. Three years later the first album, Plays Metallica by Four Cellos, was released.

From there it evolved. They didn’t care how many sold but with the increased praised and attention from their first album the second came out within the following year. And, too there were Metallica covers.

Its motivation, you see. Motivation can carry you, even if it’s a small interest at first. It grows. It evolves. It becomes what you want it to be.

The small seed holds the hope. But it needs to find set roots, needs to find water, needs to seek the sun’s warmth. From inspiration you will sprout the greenery. You’ve broken through the surface and by blooming you’re paying tribute to the necessities that provide the nurture for growth.

Freedom at its Finest

Yes, obviously there is censorship in music. When is there not? Well, I guess that depends on what music you listen to. But how is “Explicit” defined? Who is to say that a word or phrase is offensive? It’s up to the perception of the audience.

Green Day can attest to that. With their releases of American Idiot in 2004 and 21^st Century Breakdown in 2009, lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong  (pictured left) refused to edit their music to reach Wal-Mart’s policy. Therefore, in those years one wouldn’t find any Green Day record on the shelves of any Wal-Mart stores.

“There’s nothing dirty about our record,” Armstrong said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Personally, I don’t think they are being insensitive.  For Armstrong, as I see it, music is a way to publicize his views; especially in American Idiot hitting on the government and the near future of war. He wanted to be vocal. So he was.  Its Armstrong’s way to call the problems of our society to mind.  Its inevitable, no matter how you approach a subject, someone will take offence to another’s opinions. Who is to say we can’t voice personal perspectives on a problem at hand?

According to Armstrong, if you want to censor someone, what does that say about speaking his mind?

I believe it’s a limitation of creativity. If an artist decides upon language and context, that according to society should be censored, it’s their personal choice. No one is forced to listen to the music.

Even with Green Day’s decision of non-censoring to the biggest music retailor, 21^st Century Breakdown reached the top of Billboard 200 in the short span of 3 days.

But in an opposite viewpoint, to relate to a current event, recently an article was written about Philadelphia’s Neshaminy High School's paper, the Playwickian. The students were sent to the principal for being too sensitive . Too sensitive! How? Because their mascot, the Redskins, was seen as offensive by the students. They in turn removed the word “Redskins” from any piece of publication.

This is unfair to the students—being in trouble for the belief of censoring themselves. It was their decision to eliminate the word. And in the recent staff editorial, it states, “Detractors will argue that the word is used with all due respect. But the offensiveness of a word cannot be judged by its intended meaning, but by how it is received.”

By taking into account the audience, rhetoric is in mind. The stance is taken in position to account the perception of the reader. I see no reason why the school is taking offence to the matter.

According to editor-and-chief of the Playwickian Gillian McGoldrick, they are not giving into the pressure of using the word. No one should be forced into saying something they don’t want to.

It’s called freedom of speech. Sometimes the absence is stronger than saying the word. So, is the school breaking the first amendment?

 

I’d say yes. This is not in any way affecting the government negatively, which is the only reason why the first amendment would be suppressed. It is a decision. One made justly. One made thoughtfully.

Constantly we are told to use our voices for positive impact in our social world. But we are hindered by those educators, as shown above, who deemed it wrong to remove a simple word that could obviously be taken as an insult.

 

Home

According to dictionary.com, there are eleven definitions for the noun home. So how do you describe a home?

Is it the place you lived for the majority of your life? Where you have the most memories? Is it the place where your heart is? Somewhere that you feel safe? Where you have friends? Where you are accepted?

I’ve contemplated these questions for the past three years because I don’t know where I stand. Even before I packed my belongings and left the life I knew in St. Louis, I questioned where I would call home. Could I transition? Would I make friends? Would I keep in touch? How many times could I visit "home"? Would I move back?

It was and still is a thread of unending questions.

I hadn’t heard Bon Jovi’s song “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” in ages, but on the final drive to Ohio, the radio blasted (which rarely happenes). The old, familiar beat played. Perusal, I sang. But At that time, the lyrics hit home the hardest.

"It doesn't matter where you are, it doesn't matter where you go

If it's a million miles away or just a mile up the road

Take it in. Take it with you when you go,

Who says you can't go home?"

In all honesty, compared to most people who have moved away from their hometown, I visit mine quite often. As each Thanksgiving and Christmas come around, there are always family gathering. Weddings are more frequent (as I am one of the younger kids in my family). It seems as if I go home every few months.

Everything seems normal, as it should. I have to be a bit more social with my family than I used to be, but nothing I can’t handle. I just don’t bring a book anymore, or well most times. I still find myself reading a book during the trips, but I have to engage in conversation more often than not. The chatter is about everything. Normal.

My friends and I will meet up to have a sleepover staying up into the night watching movies, eating popcorn and talking about anything that comes to mind. Sometimes I think I haven’t left. But the time always comes when suitcases have to be packed and the drive has to be made back to Ohio.

In the song “That Home” by the group Newsboys, a different aspect of a home is encountered. The chorus describes a safe haven with a platform of love.

 “In that home

We knew we were safe

To be young enough to dream

Find the faith to believe

And in that home

Love, it had no end

It's where we learned to forgive

In that home”

 In essence, this could be anywhere then. This home could be a special sanctuary; a place where you feel most as yourself or somewhere you can be open, honest, truthful. This acceptance is not only with yourself but with others.

It doesn’t have to be a place you live, or even some place you visit daily. This home is personal to you.

Yet another characteristic of what a home is can be found in Carrie Underwood’s song “Temporary Home.” With the slow ballad, the lyrics flow with the meaning that your home is not on this planet. It is the afterlife.

“This is my temporary home, it's not where I belong

 Windows and rooms that I'm passing through

 This was just a stop on the way to where I'm going

 I'm not afraid because I know

 This was my temporary home”

We are all on this planet to live and to leave a legacy behind. But in truth, our destination for life is not here on Earth. We are divine creatures that at some point return to a spiritual world.

♫♫♫♫♫

There is no definitive answer to what is a home. It depends on how you approach the question.

After mulling over countless songs and numerous questions, I still don’t think I’ve settled on an answer, even three years after moving. I think it combines all the messages, really.

For me, narrowing it down, I’d say a home is built off of love, comfort and familiarity. But there is more than just this life. Hereafter holds a new adventure. Yet, we can’t find out that journey, well, until our time comes to pass. It’s waiting. But for now, life is here on earth with people we love. Make the most of it because even if you are uprooted and thrown into a whirlwind of change, you can still return to the place that built you <3

Averting Gaze

Two topics are avoided, touched but rarely spoken about. The room is silent without knowing how to respond to the darker, realistic, and true shades of life. But they need to be addressed. No matter how traumatizing the event, society sweeps rape and suicide under the carpet. It’s not a subject anyone wants to approach. It takes caution and sensitivity to broach such heavy issues.

But in music, topics of such are relevant. Music as we know is it, is a coping method. For some it is writing, others composing, as for the listener it gives insight and comfort knowing they are not the only one reliving with the relentless, horrid memories.

Music has an effect that touches people, moves people and creates awareness.

The Fray does just that in their song “How to Save a Life”. I realize this is a mainstream song, but it feels necessary to bring into light. The song was inspired by an experience of the lead singer, Isaac Slade, when he went as a mentor to a camp to help troubled teens.

He didn’t know how to help. The lyrics bluntly state that:

And I would have stayed up with you all night

Had I known how to save a life

I know you want to say that was just one person. But one person lost their life. To be honest, not knowing how to help occurs more than we’d like to believe. Like the rest of society, we don’t want to deal with confrontation of someone dying or their thought of killing themselves. It’s just normal. We say it’ll pass, but for those with suicidal thoughts, does it?

With no one helping them, it looks as if no one cares. If someone says they’re your friend, they need to help you through everything even if that means staying up ‘til 2am.

The chorus relays that because you didn’t help your friend, guilt is place upon yourself. Just as with the main character, Clay, in Jay Asher’s work of TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY.

Abbey Marshall, a fellow classmate of mine, wrote her own review of the book through her own blog:http://abbeymarshall.wordpress.com/2013/10/13/th1rteen-r3asons-why-you-should-read-this-book/. This is phenomenally written and is strait to the point. It highlights upon teen suicide and realistic motive behind it.

However, this song does not alone bring awareness to suicide of any age, but also focuses on the contributing factors.
 

Lay down a list of what is wrong

The things you've told him all along

With this particular line, its saying that you are repeating the information someone has already given you. It’s not, in anyway, helping them solve their problems or lifting the weight off your shoulders.

Factors of suicide could be anything including, stress, drug addiction, rape, social issues, or relationships. The list could go on and on. Unless you ask, you never know how someone is being affected by your words, how you act, or what you write.

In Sonia Rayka’s blog, One in Three, she depicts the seriousness of rape. Women are taught to avoid a situation and think about how they dress, walk in groups of two or more. But then why are men not taught and enforced that rape should not be encouraged. To read more:http://soniarayka.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/one-in-three/

Anything could be a factor, but frankly, do any of us truly know how to handle a situation, if it were to arise? Is the blame on us, or is it on society because they do not want to truly admit to what hides in the shadows and cobwebbed corners of reality?

My Views

Our world is jaded by the eyes which overlook values morals interest

we implant ideas into younger heads corrupting society           

and we ask: why is it that no one has individuality?

For the sake that we want to fit in

we want to be accepted into a group

not out casted

we are alienated by the characteristics that are against society’s ways

but reality we are humanoid

influenced by music books movies television, mainstream or alternative,

anything that occurs daily

no matter how much we say we break away

it’s bound to influence us

that’s how culture is shaped

we are shaped by our actions words thoughts

we are not ourselves

if we decide that this world is not right

that’s when change can occur

but until we admit the fact that along the lines something took a wrong turn

we cannot pave our own path

but it’s by unconformity that we become a destined person

together we stand strong

but apart we create an interesting world

conflicting ideas challenging one another is what spreads new ideas

no one said we have to be a like

don’t be

what’s your worth if we are all one in the same?