Music as Social Commentary
How Does Music Comment on Society?
Music makes commentary on society by shining light on the emotional impact of unrealistic standards that are placed on people. Embracing your true and most healthy self is the path to an authentic life.
Work 1 : 21st Century Machine
Artist : Catie Turner
Date : 2018
Country : United States
Context
Catie Turner caught the public's eye when she performed her song "21st Century Machine" on American Idol. This song stood out because it directly addressed a lot of modern societal pressures that are placed specifically on women. It points out the expectations that are placed on women in a raw and authentic way, which is why it resonated and touched so many people.
Musical Analysis
The timbre of Catie's voice often switches from a very soft and conversational tone to then a powerful belt, especially in the chorus of her song. It really shifts her tone from feeling quiet and almost insecure to then a sense of realization and boldness. The light accompaniment of the guitar helps her vocals be the central point for the song as she is telling a story through the song. The switches in her voice help to convey the emotions in her music.
The melody of the song is very catchy and talkative. This is perfect because it places the focus on the lyrics, which is where it belongs for a song like this. Th melody of the verse has a very fast paced start, and its conversational as it is listing all the different modern norms of society. The chorus has a shift where its still very catchy but more of a statement for the song title. Overall, the melody is catchy and makes the listener intrigued while the lyrics make them stay and listen.
The rhythm is quick and fast which adds to that feeling of anxiousness in the song. It doesn't necessarily have its own set beat, which makes the song feel more authentic and plays into the theme of uncertainty and insecurity.
Social Commentary
The lyrics really tell a story here, and Catie's choice of words make a big impact. She uses a lot of metaphors. For example, the song title "21st century machine," her use of the word machine refers to people feeling like their built for something. The lyrics suggest that all they are is a small part of a machine, part of a bigger societal problem. Pushing the idea that you have to act and behave a certain way in modern times. The lyrics "How to talk, how to dress, baby how to breathe" proves this. It shows how deep rooted expectations are. The outro of the song ends with "If you saw me right now, would you remember me." This line signifies how much a person has changed, that they aren't themselves anymore. That even people in their life wouldn't be able to recognize who they are. This solidifies the idea that being who you truly are is best for society.
Aesthetic Reaction
I remember first watching Catie's American Idol audition for this song and I became a frequent listener of her music afterwards, especially this song. Her voice and overall style feels so authentic and genuine. The lyrics are extremely relatable yet creative. The way she gave this message was perfect because the lyrics tell a story of what she wants her listeners to know, and its catchy so it brings people to her music in the first place.
Work 2 : Clay
Artist : Grace Vanderwaal
Date : 2016
Country : United States
Context
Grace Vanderwaal gained fame after winning America's Got Talent at a young age. She became known for her songwriting and her unique voice and ukulele style. A lot of her music at the time resonated with young teen girls, as she sang about real experiences that they face. The song "Clay" reflects the experience of criticism and being judged by others.
Musical Analysis
The lyrics tell a story, but they are also made to add "punchiness" with strong consonant words like "names," "jokes," and "games." Grace also really elongates her vowels on certain words like "clay" which adds emphasis to the main message of the song. She sings some of her lyrics off tempo to add a conversational feel to her music. For example "trying to tear her down was your first mistake" is delivered in a very different way compared to the first verse. Some have described her music to have a "jazzy influence" because of this.
The timbre of Grace's voice is the most unique part of her music, and it is what makes people gravitate towards her. She has a very raspy and textured voice that adds soul and passion, and it's very apparent here. This song was released when Grace was younger, and her voice was still beginning to mature and you can really hear that in this song.
The texture of Grace's song is very limited at the start, and its basically just Grace and her voice. This is until you enter into the chorus where the texture thickens. Percussion and strings begin to play and the song begins to feel more powerful, strengthening the message.
Social Commentary
The title of the song and lyric "Clay" is a metaphor to show how others try to shape you and control your identity. The lyrics begin "you see a girl in the hallway, and you whisper to your friend, "who is she anyway?"" The songs starts with a point of view from the supposed "school bully" who is trying to use words to hurt another. The story continues into the chorus with the main point being "your words mean nothing to me." This reflects the idea of not shaping to what others want you to be, and to be who you are.
Aesthetic Reaction
I was one of the many young girls listening to Grace Vanderwaal's music when she was just becoming popular from America's Got Talent. This was on of my favorite songs by her, and one of the first I learned on the ukulele. This song was very empowering for me being young and going to a new school, feeling different from others. It is a great song, and very relatable.
Personal Journey
Through this class, I've developed a more nuanced perspective on music. I understand the music that I enjoy and listen to all the time, and I had the chance to learn new music that I probably would not have listened to otherwise. Taking this class has made me consider minoring in music to make it a bigger part of my educational journey, and I'm very grateful I had the chance to take this class.
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