Take a Musical Trip

 Take a Musical Trip: Enka Music

   Enka is a popular traditional music of Japan which was originated centuries ago and is still popular due to the beautiful tune and moving lyrics. Based in the early 1900 and 1890's, to the present day inspite of its incorporation from Japanese folk music, melodies from western societies, and modern elan. This blog is devoted to the analysis of Enka music discussing the nature of its multicultural influence, the importance of the song for the audience as well as the context of its creation and relevance.

Distinctive Sound: The peculiarness of Enka music consists of the melodies, vocals, and lyrics within the songs.

- Melancholic melodies: The music sounds minor, giving it a romantic appealing and therefore stimulate s the feeling of longing.

- Shamisen accompaniment: It is a lute like instrument originating from Japan which completely complements the music kind known as Enka music.

- Vibrato-rich vocals: Gestural and embellished vocal performing attitudes are interpreted as passionate affect displays.

- Poetic lyrics: Love, death, and social transformations are the topics of folklore that is based on telling metaphoric and allegoric stories. For example, Enka singers keep vibrations in order to prove how intense they are, and shamisen players use the complicated finger work in order to reconstruct the rhythm.

Cultural Context: Enka was developed in the nineteenth century, which is showed Japanese context and social criticism.

Cultural preservation: As to the aesthetics of the environment, it seem that Enka saved traditional Japanese attitudes to values and feelings.

Social commentary: Themes such as love, loss, new societal changes were in songs.

Influence of Western music: This was because Enka adopted basic Western instruments and harmonies. Apart from being entertaining, Enka is also quite informative about Japanese societal culture and respective history.

Music Selections: 1. https:youtu.be/_JPKop-dYJ8?si=8wPb1P8uXm4WEc45     Enka is one of the most traditional style of Japanese music, and Misora Hibari popularized it with such a song as Kawa no Nagare Ni Mi o Makase, which came out in 1961. Finally, Misora’s only Enka song Sawagi Umi demonstrates the doomed romance and passion that Enka vocalist are only too willing to convey. The song itself is a good source of inspiration; this song especially addresses issues of strength and acceptation contrasting the river to the current situation. Misora also read it effectively, so the song has quite a heart-warning appeal, and everyone was touched.     Altogether this track, along her varied career, has ensured Misoras place in Japan’s musical pantheon of cherished artists. To this date her presence still motivates many in the music scene and people can see how traditional causes are used in making heartfelt stories out of songs. https://youtu.be/IYqOTNL5LzI?si=DKV0gu7fSxIp8Azx     In Kiyoshi Hikawa, Enka has expressed it’s modern beingness through his song titled Sakura. Most famously an Enka singer, Hikawa remains a purveyor of the style and, via the sheer strength of his singing, its longevity. Altogether Global Atmosphere stress can be hypothesized that Sakura splendidly reflects the development of Enka, effectively combining traditional Instruments with modern Production methods. Such balance between new and old is successfully preserving traditions within the genre and getting new viewers and new interest among young people. Hikawa’s performance makes it clear how Enka is nostalgic for the ancients whilst it is progressive in handling of new input. The content of love loosing, and the power of time can bring is seen as the song’s lyrics create a mesmerizing impact. Hikawa’s high tone demonstrates him being a perfect enka singer, proving at the same time how enka can make the listeners feel certain emotions.

       The classic components of Gidayu, with the help of instruments, such as the shamisen and the shakuhachi flute are accompanied perfectly by contemporary orchestral accompaniment, thus eradicating the line between the eras. This marriage between tradition and contemporary thinking makes it possible for Enka to remain relevant in modern Japan musical scene. P

Personal Reaction: After listening to some songs in this style, I am so enthralled by Enka music mostly because of the sorrowful and powerful feelings associated with the genre. This unique genre, regularly associated with rather expressive tunes and touching sus-Jacqueline lyrics, gives understanding of an essence of life. It simply helps people hear and understand the singers’ stories: sadness, yearning, happiness, and memories.

It without any doubt is one of the most culturally valuable sources that explain present Japan through showing its reflection in the past. The themes discussed in the lyrics were love, death and time, even the notes that describe the ups and downs of life & the sentiments. Listening to these songs one can hear each chord of the story – the battles and victories of previous generations, so it awakes a sense of respect and belonging to Japanese culture.

Also that sounds of a traditional orchestra, using instruments such as the shamisen or the shakuhachi for example, creates depth and gives the audience the feeling of going back in time. The performances are usually charged or infused with passion and…genuineness, which makes the performance eye-opening, irresistible and rousing power inculcating soul.

In a way, listening to Enka is not only a matter of hearing it but an emotional experience that allows one to leave he or she temporal existence and be submerged into another that brings the understanding of others, as well as the ability to find solace for personal trauma through a shared cultural experience. All the notes are accompanied by a sense of historical continuity and a hint at the narrative that shall continue unceasingly.

Conclusion: Therefore, Enka music has created a deep documentation of the Japanese cultural history and leave a perfect imprint where traditionalism merges with modernization. The numerous pleasant tunes and the individual narratives it conveys compel people to ponder over their feelings. The genre does not only maintain the foundation of Japanese cultural and individuality, but it also is an influential tool of social critique and a favorable way of expressing one’s feelings. All in all, as Enka is proactively changing, it will always be loved by the audiences as it connects between generations; the instrumental melodies and the narratives of the songs will always stay preserved for the future generations. Once again, Enka helps make a point that the emotions are timeless, and voices in harmony remains timeless.

References:

MasterClass. (2021, October 13). Enka music guide: A brief history of ENKA music - 2024. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/enka-music-guide 

Writers, Y. (2017, August 1). Enka: A Japanese music genre worth listening to: Yabai - the modern, vibrant face of Japan. http://yabai.com/p/2750

Innovations and Evolutions

The Evolution of Music Videos: From Silent Films to MTV (1920s-1990s)

    Music videos are now widely accepted in music industry promotion as a means to additional creative expression in a visual sense. But have you ever thought that what kind of influence music videos have into the decades? From starting their lives as short films to the birth of the music television station, music videos has come a long way. In this post, I’ll discuss the great and vast history of music videos. 

    In history, music videos as a concept were limited to short clips that acted as a film showcasing musicians singing live during the 1920s. Generally, these “soundies” or “film shorts” were introduced in cinemas and generally they moved along with musical recordings. History.com describes soundies as being, "an early form of music video which generally included a singer singing or an instrumental playing". These early videos created the foundation for further wastes. Musical films started in the 1930s and some films of this kind included Top Hat (1935) and Singin’ in the Rain(1952). These were films that laid foundation to the contemporary music video production. 

Gene Kelly Singing in the Rain

     In the 1960s and 1970s, promotional films which were basically films used in marketing singles were established. By far; Beatles are perhaps the most profound example in the early period with two of their songs; Strawberry Fields Forever released in 1967 and Penny Lane the same year. According to Britannica.com, “These films were often experimental and psychedelic reflecting the counterculture of the age.” Other artists, such as The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, also made music videos as well. These early videos became the foundation for 1980s music video revolution. 

The Beatles Penny Lane

     The advent of MTV (Music Television) in the year 1981 really set fire to the music video business. MTV’s round the clock music video programming revolutionized how people wished to engage with their music. Historytimelines.com states the first day of MTV had 116 music videos VIDEOS violated MTV’s first day with 116 music videos included Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles. Pop legends Michael Jackson himself his surge, Prince’s Bat Dance and Madonna Like a Virgin are ideal examples where video made a substantial impact. MTV’s impact really changed the evolution and strategic role of music videos. 

Madonna Like A Virgin

    Sometime during the late 80’s through early 90’s, with the aid of campaigns such as the Alternative Nation rock and grunge, emerged with bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Radiohead coming up with videos that depicted the new era. RollingStone.com says that the demographics of the 1990s, especially in term of the music videos, were different from the previous one, and they had more experimental and avant-garde vision. This period talented directors like Mark Romanek as well as Spike Jonze were on the rise, many of their work were often surreal making music videos. The 1990s allowed future music video ventures. 

Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit

From black and white movies, to pop-up videos, music videos have come a long way in about half a century. The beginnings of the substance could be seen in brief performance clips, but became rich, visually impressive creations. Music videos remain relevant in the industry promoting artists’ creativity and engaging the fans. It will be greatly interesting to observe how the aesthetics of the music videos will proceed in the future with the further technological development.

Sources

Carson, Tom. “Music Video.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, inc., 14 Sept. 2023, www.britannica.com/art/music-video.

Donchano. “Rolling Stone (US): The 100 Greatest Music Videos of All Time.” Acclaimed Music Forums, 31 July 2021, www.acclaimedmusic.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10328.

“MTV: History Timeline.” History Timelines, historytimelines.co/timeline/mtv. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.

Shukla, Neel. “History of Music Videos: Evolution from TV Screens to Digital Streams.” Broadcast2World: Best Animated Explainer Video Production Company, Broadcastworld, 12 June 2024, www.b2w.tv/blog/history-of-music-videos. 

Music Analysis #2

 Symptom of Being Human

Symptom of Being Human was written by Brent Smith and Eric Bass. It was sung by the band, Shinedown. The members of Shinedown are Barry Kerch, Brad Stewart (2001–2007), Brent Smith (2001–present), Eric Bass (2008–present), Jasin Todd (2001–2008), and Zach Myers (2005–present). They originated in Jacksonville, Florida, although the song, Symptom of Being Human was recorded in Charleston, South Carolina. Shinedown released the song on July 1, 2022. 

Symptom of Being Human by Shinedown is such an emotionally intensive song. It hits me on a very personal level and evokes a lot more than I would normally expect from a song. The songwriting is poetic and its meaningful lyrics make the song very introspective, combined with the tune, provoking and ethereal, a great call for self-reflection, compassion, and hope. The song amplifies the vulnerabilities of human experience therefore it allows me to foster those emotions, while at the same time promoting the spirit of power. In total, while listening to Symptom of Being Human, I perceive some marvelous capacity to elicit deep emotional responses or build very pertinent and requisite relationships with the human condition. For some time I had often listened to this song during some tough moments and still, it makes one appreciate how much more complex human beings are. 

Harmony, melody, rhythm, dynamics, and timbre greatly influence my personal response. The words of the song are engrossing and full of meaningful thoughts make me feel emotional and let me explore the core point of the song. The enchanting and enchanting melody stimulates and makes me seriously listen with feelings of admiration, and even physically, lingering after the song. Yelling also doesn't fit as a vocal approach and this is why the usage of emphatic and deep vocals is so effective: the singer is very open and fragile at the same time; people can easily feel what she is singing about. Moreover, the listeners are absorbed in their own emotions and philosophic introspection. The addition of dynamics throughout a piece, starting with a clear whisper and reaching a strong forte allows for the game to again become an emotional tool - one that can be used to better understand the experiences of oneself and others. These elements, together with the artistical message, form a strong and touching actual as well as spiritual, musical experience that reflects the multifaceted characteristics of the human being. 

"The message is quite simple: we’re only human. Every single one of us. We all have difficulties we have to battle through, and we’re all a work in progress. Some of you may be going through the worst of it at the moment, and we’re sorry that you are. That’s rough. We’ve been there, too, and we hope the message in this song uplifts and provides you strength. On the other hand, some of you may be going through the best moments of your life, and that’s fantastic."  Alycia Pritchard stated that on an article that she posted on The Honey Pop website.

Someone on Music City Music Magazine stated that “A Symptom Of Being Human resonates with listeners due to its uplifting message about human imperfection. The track has garnered tens of millions of streams across various versions, including live, pop remix, acoustic, and piano." on a article that they posted. 

Pritchard, Alycia, et al. “The Important Message in Shinedown’s ‘A Symptom of Being Human.’” The Honey POP, 3 July 2023, thehoneypop.com/2023/07/03/the-important-message-in-shinedowns-a-symptom-of-being-human/#google_vignette.

Staff, Mcmm. “Shinedown’s ‘A Symptom of Being Human’ Breaks into Top 20 at Top 40 Radio - Music City Music Magazine.” Music City Music Magazine - Nashville Live Music Blog & Photography, 25 May 2024, musiccitymusicmag.com/shinedowns-a-symptom-of-being-human-breaks-into-top-20-at-top-40-radio/.