23 October 2012 (Tuesday)

Last week I was working at a conference so I couldn't do the Language Of Music class. Mike from FIUTS led the class in my place.

So far this quarter the number of students coming each week has been relatively small (~5) compared to previous quarters.  But today 13 students showed up, 7 of whom were there for for the first time. We had a good conversation!

I began by introducing myself and the class for the new students.  

I then gave a very brief overview of the history of Halloween. But you can get a full explanation on Wikipedia.

Next, to show how the class works and to get the conversation around music to start, I asked one of the regular students to choose a song. She chose "Fine, Thank You, and You?" (video with lyrics) by 10cm (info).  When I asked why she chose this song she said the song is inspired by The Beatles and it is easy to follow the guitar parts.  But she doesn't sing at the same time she is playing the song on guitar. I also asked why they sing the words "Fine, thank you, and you?" in English and she said that phrase is the first English phrase people learn in Korea, so everyone understands that line.

The next song chosen was "Yellow" (video, lyrics, song info) by Coldplay (info).  The student chose this song because it is a love song and she likes the images of light and sun.  

She said she first heard "Yellow" on a Taiwanese TV talent show sung by a group called Soler.  I asked her which version of the song she prefers and she said he likes the Soler version better! So we had to watch it: "Yellow" by Soler. 

The student said she likes how the two singers in Soler harmonize on the song, as opposed to the single voice on the Coldplay version. This made me think of one of best harmonizing singing duos ever: Simon & Garfunkel (info). To show how good they sound together I played the song "The Sound Of Silence" (video, lyrics, song info).

Next I asked one of the new students to chose a song. The choice was completely different from the Beatles-like and harmonizing vocals we had heard so far: "Evil Walks" (video, lyrics, song info) by AC/DC (info). This song gives him energy and makes him happy. Interestingly to my ears, he said this is the only AC/DC song he likes. That is strange to me because *all* AC/DC songs sound the same! If you like one, you probably like them all! ;-) Personally I like the songs/albums AC/DC did with their first singer (he died in 1980) but a lot of people like the "new" singer (well, he's been in the band for 30 years now!) just as much.

The next song chosen was "Butterfly" (video with lyrics) by (?? I'm not sure which band sings this song!). The student who chose it says he likes to sing it in karaoke.  He said it cheers him up.

Speaking of butterfly's, I saw a review in the Seattle times of a new 3D movie about butterflys. The review said is it "A must-see 3D movie".  The film is showing at the Pacific Science Center (where the Space Needle is). Here's more information about the movie.

As we listened to the song "Butterfly" one of the other students said she plays keyboards in a band in Japan and they play that song. I asked her for another example of a song her band plays. She said they also play "Layla" by Eric Clapton (info). So we listened to "Layla (Unplugged)" (video, lyrics, song info). 

But the original version of "Layla" is very famous for having a great guitar solo at the end (original version of Layla). I also told the class about the story behind the lyrics of the song, how Eric Clapton fell in love with George Harrison's wife (Pattie Boyd), then when George and Pattie split Eric married her, then eventually Eric and she split, too... Love is a messy thing, but it makes great rock songs!

A side note: before the video for Layla started, as usual there was an advertisement on YouTube. It was a really dumb advertisement about "pumping gas confidently"; I'm sure it is meant to be funny, a sexual double-entendre, but I think it's just dumb. It inspired me to go around the class to ask everyone if they like American TV commercials. Most of the class finds American commercials to be creative and good. But they say there are too many of them interrupting the TV shows! I agree!

I can't remember exactly how I came to the subject (maybe I was talking about Halloween? Or were we talking about anime? I don't remember...) but I played a little bit of Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street. Here he teaches Grover how to sing. He also plays one of his songs ("Superstition" video, lyrics, song info) live with the young kids all around. I love this song, so funky!

I asked another new student to chose a song. He likes The Eagles (info) and his favorite song by them is "Hotel California" (video with lyrics in the description, song info).  He especially likes the singer's voice on "Hotel California".

I mentioned that the singer of that song is actually the *drummer* in the group, Don Henley (info).  Henley has had a successful solo career outside of The Eagles. One of his songs, "The Boys Of Summer" (video, lyrics, song info) is one of my favorite songs, partly because I like the melancholic feel of the song, but mostly because of the lyric "A little voice inside my head said don't look back, you can never look back" -- I often think about that line when I am trying to figure out where to go next in my life.

By the way, "The Boys Of Summer" was recently covered by an indie-rock band, The Ataris (info). If you want to see a hard-rock version of the song, here it is (video).
  

Speaking of Halloween, for those of you in Seattle this Saturday (10/27), I highly recommend going to the JUICE 5th Annual FIUTS Halloween Bash dance party. The Facebook page for the event.

The music is modern dance music from around the world; it's one of the best dance parties in Seattle! There will be lots of people from FIUTS and the UW there. You must be 21+ and bring your passport or Washington ID to prove your age. The doors open at 9pm but the atmosphere really gets good around 11pm. I recommend getting there around 10pm or 10:30pm.

It is at the Lo-Fi club (429 Eastlake Ave, Seattle 98109). Most of the 70 busses from the U-District go there. Or get a cab with your friends!

I am not sure if I will go to the party, but if I do, I hope to see some of you there!

For next week's class -- the day before Halloween -- think of your favorite scary songs or movies to share with the class.