Walter's MUSC-1020 Blog

      The single "Sweet Dreams" by the new wave duo Eurythmics was released in 1983. "Sweet Dreams" is a bittersweet synth-pop song which utilizes synthesizers very effectively to create a unique atmosphere and is overall very enjoyable to listen to.     The musical feature of "Sweet Dreams" that will most likely capture the listener's attention is the edgy synthesizer melody that is constantly played through the song's duration. This melody immediately establishes a sinister tone that, combined with the timbre of the lead singer's voice and periodical bass drum hits, lends the song an ethereal and otherworldly quality unlike anything I've heard before. There is a moment when the song breaks out into a happier mood reminiscent of disco, creating a nice sense of juxtaposition. This is followed up by another moment where the singer sings the harmony to the main vocal melody, creating a lot of musical tension that is resolved when the singer s...

    "Anarchy in the U.K." is the debut single by the English punk rock band the Sex Pistols, released in 1976.     As the name of the song implies, there are many references to anarchism in this song's lyrics. Anarchism is the logical conclusion of a society in which nobody has anybody to answer to, making anarchism the perfect theme for a punk rock song, as defying authority and distaste for the establishment in general is integral to the punk rock aesthetic. Anarchism is also a potential result of civil unrest -- the birth of punk rock as a genre was the result of some rock fans feeling a similar sense of unrest due to a perception of stagnation with rock as a genre, which may have also inspired the lyrics of this song.     Like most punk rock music, "Anarchy in the U.K." seems to be pretty simple in its musical construction, especially in terms of its harmony / chord progression. However, it makes up for this simplicity with its sense of energy. The drum...

     The song "Oye Como Va" was originally written by Tito Puente in 1962 and achieved global popularity in 1970 when it was covered by the band Santana.      "Oye Como Va" is a quite simple song lyrically. Its lyrics, when translated into English, read "Flavor! / Listen how it goes, my rhythm / It's good to enjoy, mulata," with 'mulata' in this context referring to a blending of ethnic styles. Like its lyrics imply, "Oye Como Va" is a rhythmically driven song. The main guitar riff of the song has a catchy and enjoyable rhythm that gets stuck in the listener's head, and the song's percussion backing is like a showcase of really interesting Latin percussion instruments, such as the guiro, which is a ridged wooden instrument played by scraping it.     I love the sound that Santana managed to pull off when they covered this song. It reminds me of partying with friends on a summer evening that's slightly too hot, but not enoug...