GWSS Blog Post #4

Autumn Freund

I think the chapter of American Sabor: Latinos and Latinas in Popular Music greatly explains the importance of Latin Music to Latin communities in the United States. I think the point that popular Latin artists are normally on such a large level that it somewhat leaves behind the small communities is important in our modern era. You have famous artists like Shakira with hits like “Hips Don’t Lie” and Ricky Martin with hits like “Livin’ La Vida Loca” that gain large success while being Latinx, however once they get mainstream appeal which is often required in order to be successful in our mostly capitalist world, they often leave behind the world that they came from including the people and communities that supported them. That being said music is still important in communities of minorities in the United States and Latin communities are no exception. I think this essay is a perfect place to end our class. Our class is all about how important music is to communities and its creators. It gives a space for oppressed groups like women, people of color, the LGBTQ+, etc. to create music and spread in order to fight against oppression. That being said I think because of this it is important to talk about what is going on in the world regarding police brutality and the protests against it.

There is so much hurt in the world now as people watched the police, who are supposed to be there to protect and serve people, as they took the lives of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Because of that people are taking to the streets in order to demand justice be served as well as to push solutions to existing problems in the police. I think the entire class has been leading up to this moment as we have all quarter been learning about the power music has as protest. As we watch things like Beyoncé’s lemonade we learned how music is used as a way to bring people together to fight existing injustices in our society. And just as music spawned through civil rights protest in 1960s and police brutality in the 1990s and onward, as well as many other eras in our history, music will certainly spawn from the current Black Lives Matter protests in order to help bring people together, as well as grow the community. I think this class was at the most important time it could possibly be and helped me understand how great music is.

Sources

“Commercial Stars and Artivistas” in American Sabor: Latinos and Latinas in US Popular Music.

Music Videos

“Livin’ La Vida Loca”- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p47fEXGabaY

“Hips Don’t Lie”- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUT5rEU6pqM

GWSS Post #4

Arjun Sen

6/18/20

GWSS 241 Post #4


One of the most noteworthy aspects of this week's readings was Martha Gonzalez's article, where she describes her musical transformation from imitation to original. As she discovered her own unique music style, she was able to find her voice and develop it. Though it is unfortunate that he spent so many years simply imitating others, the passion she displayed in her original music far outshines those years. Her transition from absorbing all the music and dance around her throughout her early and teenage years to the confident expression of music with Quetzal is inspiring.

Her tenet "songwriting is storytelling" is one that has been long held in cultures throughout the world for centuries, and can be used to embody traditions, life-histories, and struggles faced by an individual, a community, or a race. One of the first examples of this that comes to mind in modern music is in Detroit rapper Eminem's early work; he describes the struggles he faced growing up with an abusive, alcoholic mother and an absentee father. By relating the hardships he faced in his early years through his music, Eminem achieved widespread fame and success, and is currently one of the best-selling artists of all time.

DJ Selections:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJO5HU_7_1w
My first selection is Eminem's 'The Real Slim Shady': I feel this song combines both of my takeaways from the readings: originality and storytelling in music. The song is a classic example of Eminem's early music, incorporating his comically violent style along with his struggles of being white in a predominantly black industry and with people attempting to copy his sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pr061VLRfs
My second choice is Drake's 'Glow'. The song powerfully describes coming into your own and finding yourself, and is a strong example of finding and developing yourself from humble backgrounds. I chose this song as to me, it speaks as to how powerful you can become when you truly find and understand yourself

gwss blog 4

Mia Gasero

This week's reading reminded me a lot about how culture impacts music through storytelling. The role of an “artivista” and how these emerging Latinox artists have chosen another route to express their activism by showcasing their healing mechanisms through music. Also to keep “their ancestors strong through difficult times…”(265) as said in American Sabor by Berros-Miranda, Dudley and Habell-Pallan.These Latinx artists differ from those who have become widely known from mainstream media that has cared more about “spectacle over participation.” Artivistas are centered around the idea of giving back to their community. The idea of an “artivistas” relates back to songwriting being storytelling in Imaginaries by Gonzalez. Music is essentially history and a lot can be remembered in a song whether it is discussing the past, present or future, it still allows the listener to grasp on to what time period were in and how that reflects the current state of a community such as whether they are rising or healing. Gonzalez writes, “When we become critical of the discourses that teach an outlook of community assessment through a lens of deficit and instead look to our communities from an asset-based perspective, we stand to create something more sustainable.” (13) Essentially meaning that by using what they have already and discussing with others, they are still able to decolonize the space they are in through imagining. Their music represents the fight for social justice first and foremost while visualizing the life of Latinx. These two articles emphasize the importance of creative, cultural expression through music that is not overshadowed by mainstream media.

I choose “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday as it represents an idea highly seen today within the BLM movement and the protest song will never be forgotten.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Web007rzSOI

I choose “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cookie as it also represents cultural storytelling about the civil rights movement and represents the BLM today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEBlaMOmKV4

GWSS #4

Katherine Blakeslee

This week's readings taught me how community and art are always intertwined, and how art is such an important part of creating a culture within communities.  Artists who stay connected to their roots are especially celebrated because they use their platform and influence to keep their culture and community alive.  The Quetzal reading discusses how "songwriting is storytelling", which is the oldest human tradition.  Elders telling stories is an oral tradition that can be seen in almost every community and culture, and in our present day songwriting is one of the most popular ways to do this.  This is why people appreciate when songs relate to the artist’s background and culture, as a way to perform this tradition and reach out to a larger audience.  In addition to storytelling, songs can also be used to further activist movements that are related to certain communities.  Beyonce is one of the main examples we have explored of how such a well known and influential artist is able to use their platform to bring attention to issues that are affecting people from their community.  Throughout history there are so many instances of privileged white artists taking elements and style from Black artists, without giving them the proper credit or recognition.  Fortunately, there has been some progress with this issue as Black artists like Beyonce are recognized for how they changed the music industry and culture, while she still gives homage to her Black Southern roots, but there is of course still a lot of work to be done.

DJ Selections:
It Was A Good Day - Ice Cube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4UqMyldS7Q
I chose this song because it is done in a storytelling style, and Ice Cube is rapping about daily life in his community.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott Heron
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnJFhuOWgXg
I chose this song because it is an example of how songs are used in activism efforts, especially when mainstream media doesn't want to bring these issues to light.

GWSS #4

Name: Chenyu L.

The marketing of hip-hop as an African American genre shows how ethnic and national labels can limit our understanding of music. 

We almost always automatically connect African American groups with hip-hop genre, even though nowadays hip-hop is known and performed by artists all around the world, way beyond that oriented labeling. It is a double-blade sword. The origin of hip-hop is not-to-be-forgotten, unlike the Mexican root of Country Music: people "take for granted that country music... is white." But at the same time, it is forever a strong symbol, which can further become a limit to the understanding of the music, when music itself should be for all people to enjoy and communicate with. Sometimes, being labeled is the same as being marginalized. The opposite of mainstream comes straight as abnormal or extraordinary. In class, we have seen many artists suffering the losses by being marginalized by the society. It strikes a chord deep within me, and hopefully, it does the same to others.

Songs:
This Is Me - The Greatest Showman
It is so easy to feel small when you are part of a marginalized community. In P. T. Barnum's circuses, everything is precious and all talents are welcomed. But what if you are scared to step out of the huge tent, to confidently show the world how beautiful you are? You cannot change who you are, or what you are, but you can change how you feel about yourself and your place in the world.

Sabor A Mí - Luis Miguel
This is the very first Latin pop that I heard in my childhood. To me, this is the mark that can trigger all of my memories and emotions on Latino Music. It has the healing power in the guitar and language, that connects the audience to the singer and to each other. Music does great things to humans that worths great appreciation and care.

Work Cited:
“Commercial Stars and Artivistas” in American Sabor: Latinos and Latinas in US Popular Music.

https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/country-mexico-ice-nationalism/

GWSS Blog Post #4

Candace Chang
I felt that an important part of this week’s readings was the importance of the way styles are created. In American Sabor, the author discusses the way many genres are built through the contributions of a variety of communities and people. For instance, they note, “The marketing of hip-hop as an African American genre shows how ethnic and national labels can limit our understanding of music and it should remind us that other genres of American music - from country to jazz to rock and roll - have also been shaped through sharing between diverse communities” (231). They further talk about how such styles and scenes are created in response to... “problems of racism and prejudice facing marginalized communities” (251). I think this is significant because we often think of genre too simply. Yet the experiences and stories that go into these musical streams are so important. This could also be seen in Martha Gonzalez’s “Imaginaries.” In detailing her own musical career she emphasizes the importance of having experience in multiple styles, “I use my overall experience as a musician familiar with the genres of Africa and its diaspora to compose zapateado patterns. Intuitively, but not deliberately, I rely on my percussive training with the congas, bata, chekere (shaker), and the music and dance of Cuba and Ghana” (369). Similarly, she also emphasizes the struggles she faced as a Chicana as an important part of developing her sound. Style is complex and tied to multiple experiences, often from different communities. But the beauty comes from the similarities they find with one another.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Nd5WMWHEQ
The first song I want to recommend is chachacha by Girl Ultra. Girl Ultra sings in her native Spanish- connecting to the theme of identity shaping style. However, she also blends her music with inspiration from early 90s contemporary soul and r&b. Here we see, multiple streams influencing the style of the music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9-FPSPFuMA&list=PLErWMVNXg8qhg6ZofAuE2cK84d3SqutzT
The second song I want to recommend is Gospel For a New Century by Yves Tumor. In this song, Yves defies expressing a single genre. When I play this song for others they don't expect the singer behind it to be a black man. This relates back to the idea that genre is not always connected to one identity, and multiple experiences shape the sound of all music.

GWSS 241 Blog Post #4

Leslie Munoz Ruiz
GWSS 241 Blog Post #4

"Imaginaries" by Quetzal

"Commercial Stars and Artivistas" in American Sabor: Latinos and Latinas in US Popular Music." By Marisol Berros-Miranda, Shannon Dudley, Michelle Habell-Pallan

The connections that I made between the two readings is that community is vital to art and music." In the Commercial Stars and Artvisitas" reading, it talks about how many Latinx artists were discovered. It also discusses the importance of keeping in contact with the community and being aware of the issues. Furthermore, in the Quetzal reading, the song "Imaginaries" explains how music should reflect the rich history and culture of the Latinx community. The text describes how decolonizing music is a string method to enriching the history of Chicana/o music. 

Both of the readings critique how famous Latinx singers have furthered themselves from their culture and history. They advocate for artists to use their influence and help their community. 

DJ selections:

"Freedom is Free" by Chicano Batman

"Becky from the Block" by Becky G

The two songs that I chose were "freedom is free" by Chicano Batman and "Becky from the Block" by Becky G. I picked the first song because it explains the resistance that they feel and how they will not conform to American societal norms. The band repeats that "Freedom is Free," and no one can control their thoughts and morals. Furthermore, the song explains that we should not treat life as a game of success, but rather to manage life with kindness and respect.  

The second song that I chose was "Becky from the Block" by Becky G. It is a cover from "Jenny from the Block" by Jennifer Lopez. Becky G pays respect to her upbringing and her culture through this song. Even though she moved away from the community, she acknowledges her success was because of the help that she received.