Category: Listening Log

Song used: “Rock Bottom”-Eminem

Lyrics that strike me

“Money will brainwash you and your ass mindless”

“And yesterday went by so quick it seems like it was just today”

“Live half a life and throw the rest away”

The lyrics in this song strike me because you feel his pain and anger towards society, which is a contrast to most songs you usually hear, which is often about how they waste money like toilet paper.

Repetition

“When you want something bad enough to steal”

“‘Cause your mad enough to scream but you’re sad enough to tear”

“That’s Rock Bottom”

Structure

The song retains the same tone and there are no changes over the course of it.

Song:  Juicy – The Notorious B.I.G (Biggie Smalls) 

Repetitions:

“Don’t let’em hold you down”

“Reach for the stars”

“I’ll give you good and plenty”

Noticeable Changes:

-The artist transitions from the boastful tone of a glamorous rich life, to back to talking about his struggles growing up in brooklyn..

-The base cuts off as the last part of the chorus is being played after the last verse.

-In the very beginning and the very end, only the instruments can be heard.

Striking Phrases:

“Stereotypes of a black male misunderstood”

“Considered a fool, ’cause I dropped outta high school ”

“No heat, wonder why Christmas missed us”

This song embodies the life of a black male in America, growing up in the ghetto , and making a better life for his family through his talent. As a black male myself, I’ve witnessed those same struggles Biggie speaks about in this song, which makes this song nostalgic and relatable.

LL5

Crazy Brazy – A$AP MOB FT. KEY!

1. 3 Repetitions

“Gucci rag tied on my head.”

“Put a red dot on yo head.”

“I put that guap on yo head.”

Emphasis on street banter with the intent of flexing cash, high end garment accessories and lethal weapons.

2. “Shoot, no hesitatin.”

“We do it for our reputation.”

“They don’t play me on the station, press em like detonation.”

Applying pressure for a lucrative outcome.

3. Nothing really pops out in this song as it stays pretty consistent with the “blood” theme.

LL4

Growing Pains – Pierre Bourne

1. 3 Repetition

“I’m manning up, manning up, manning up.”

“Lost my mind but I got it back.”

There are no other repetitions in the song really.

2. 3 Phrases

“Lost my mind but i got it back, Loose track of time but I got a bag.”

“Everybody broke just stay 10 toes, had none to eat man we was po.”

“Yeah my heart on punishment, I can’t fall in love with her.”

These 3 phrases outline the intention of this song which is to show the distress in his heart and mind.

3. The beat transition to the next song towards the end would bridge to another song further developing this melancholy.

LL1:

https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/english1121summer2020/2020/06/01/listening-log-assignment-1/

LL2:

https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/english1121summer2020/2020/06/22/listening-log-assignment-2/ ‎

LL3:

https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/english1121summer2020/2020/06/22/listening-log-assignment-3-2/ ‎

LL4:

https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/english1121summer2020/2020/06/22/listening-log-assignment-3/

LL5:

https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/english1121summer2020/2020/06/22/listening-log-assignment-4/

Listening Log Assignment #3: song used – Falling by Harry Styles (cover by: Jose Audisio)

1) Three phrases in the song that striked me were:

“I’m in my bed, and you are not here”

“Forget what I said, it’s not what I meant”

“And I can’t take it back, I can’t unpack the baggage you left”

They striked me because these lyrics represent a broken relationship where he or she regrets what they said to their partner and it hurt them, to the point where the relationship had to end, and he or she is distraught. 

2) Three repetitions I noticed in the song were:

“What am I now? What am I now?”

“What if I’m someone you don’t want around”

“I’m falling again, I’m falling again, I’m falling”

It seems that the chorus in the song always repeats these three same phrases, to show how he or she is deeply affected by the breakup.

3) In the song, I have not noticed any changes except the voice of the man who sang the cover.

Listening Log Assignment #5: song used – When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars

1) Three phrases in the song that striked me were:

He emphasizes a lot on what he missed out on, and even recognized his mistake in a failed relationship with a woman he once loved.

Listening Log Assignment #4: song used – Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley

1) Three phrases in the song that striked me were:

These repetitions show how deeply in love he is.

3- Song- Prune, You Talk Funny 

Three lines that strike me

“I like the way that words come out your mouth

It takes me many miles to make them out”

“I like the way you decorate your neck

It takes me just a sec to break a sweat”

“And I would tread upon flowerbeds to stare and stop”

I personally chose this song because it is about how much this guy enjoys this girl, also how it makes him feel. These lines strike me because I and everyone has had that one person in their life that makes them feel special. Who they really like and I knew someone like that before.

There changes in the song-

-In the chorus new instruments are played and louder

-Towards the end of the song music cut off and it was only a voice

-in the second part of the song that beat is different

Three things that stayed the same-

-The beat in the chorus stayed the same

-The tone of his voice was the same throughout the song

4-  Song-What You Won’t Do For Love by Boddy Caldwell

Three lines that strike me

“In my world only you

Make me do for love what I would not do”

“My friends wonder what is wrong with me

But I’m in a daze from your love, you see”

“Some people go around the world for love

But they may never find what they dream of”

These lines strike me because when I was young my mother would sing this song to only me. It was the best thing that ever happened to me so far in my life. My mom would do anything for me because of the love we have for each other. You can’t even comprehend the love she has for me!!!

Three things that stay the same in the song

• The beat especially the drums keep the same rhythm
• The music keeps the same throughout the song
• Volume of the music is the same 

Three things that change in the song

• His voice gets higher then lower at some points in the song
• At the end of the song a new instrument is played
• The beat beat gets higher in the middle

Song: The Sound of Silence

Artists: Simon & Garfunkel

3 Phrases that strike me

“Hello darkness my old friend”

“People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening”

“And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence”

The repetition is ” The Sound Of Silence” at the end of every verse. It tells how people became silent in while there are negative things that happens, and is not stepping up to do what is right.

The song strike me because of the fact that sometimes, I am silent about the things that is happening, and which I should have stepped up. But as time is going, I am learning, and stepping up for what is right.

The changes in the song is the tone. The tone of the song tells the listener that the society is not what it used to be. The society, especially the younger generation have shift their focused on drugs, money, sex, and illegal activities in which the moral values instilled since the beginning is starting to vanish.

Dear Prof. Street,

Please received the links for my LLs.

Week 1 (https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/english1121summer2020/wp-admin/post.php?post=2314&action=edit&classic-editor)

Week 2 (https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/english1121summer2020/wp-admin/post.php?post=2301&action=edit&classic-editor)

Week 3 (https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/english1121summer2020/wp-admin/post.php?post=2249&action=edit&classic-editor)

Week 4 (https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/english1121summer2020/wp-admin/post.php?post=2304&action=edit&classic-editor)

Week 5 (https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/english1121summer2020/wp-admin/post.php?post=2306&action=edit&classic-editor)

Regards,

Crispin Thys

Song: Take Care by Drake ft. Rihanna

 

Lyrics that strike me : 

 

“I’ve loved and I’ve lost”

“Ah, dealin’ with a heart that I didnt break”

“You hate bein’ alone, well, you aint the only one”

 

Repetitions I noticed:

 

“I’ll take care of you”

“If you let me, here’s what I’ll do”

 

Changes noticed:

The melody and beat changes constantly throughout the song. Everyone’s favorite part of the song is the end, when the unidentified male singer is singing. Listening to this song in the past we all thought it was a lit song. Listening to it now, thinking about the past it is now a sad song.

Song: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Artists: Green Day

3 Phrases that Strike me.

“Summer has come and passed”

“But never forget what I lost”

“Wake Me Up When September Ends”

The song strikes me because of the background of the song about a son of a US Marine Corps soldier, whose father died in a war.  The father who has to leave his family for the sake of fighting to end all kinds of terrorism activities being executed on innocent humans that are against human rights. I myself relate to this as well because I am training to become a future US Army Officer, and I hope and pray that I can still see my wife and kids in the future, and to the people serving in the military; even to the people in the law enforcement.

Repetition I noticed

“Here comes the rain again, Falling from the stars”

“Like my father come to passed”

“Wake Me Up When September Ends”

The changes I noticed is that the song started from a low tone to a grieving son. I also notice how the son misses his father who he needs to be with while growing up. In this song, it appears that the son followed the footsteps of his father to avenge his death from the hands of the terrorists.

Crispin Thys

Week 3 listening log

Twenty One Pilots – Stressed Out (Tomsize Remix)

Phrases that Strike me:    

1) Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days

When our momma sang us to sleep but now we’re stressed out

2) Used to dream of outer space but now they’re laughing at our face

Saying, “Wake up, you need to make money”

These phrases strike me because they both talk about how the past was simpler than the present, and how childhood was great, but now the demands of adulthood are stressful and often focused on making money

Repetitions:

1) Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days

When our momma sang us to sleep but now we’re stressed out

2) Repetitive clap in the background throughout the entire remix

3) wake up, you need the money

Changes:

1) The remixed version of this song is much slower overall than the original

2) The remixed version has a lot more upbeat intercession music between different stanzas

Indeevari Kumarasing- Listening Log- Assignment #1

Listening Log Assignment:  song used – “The Greatest” by Sia

(1) 3 phrases/lyrics that strike me

“Uh oh, running out of breath, but I oh, I got stamina.”

“Don’t give up I won’t give up Don’t give up No No No”

“I am free to be the greatest I’m alive”

This song fills me up with positive energy and motivation to move forward whenever I encounter an obstacle in my life. This song also keeps reminding me as long I have stamina in me, I can still stand up and fight. I can relate this song to what is going on in this world these days, so many people have lost their lives due to the virus. We should be happy to be alive and we must be persistent and keep going on. So many people did not get a chance to see the next day,but we are free to be the greatest. Never give up or never take away someone else’s life. As long as we have stamina, we can fight and be the greatest.

(2) 3 repetitions you notice

“Uh-oh, running out of breath, but I oh, I got stamina”

“Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes Well, oh, I got stamina”

“Uh-oh, I see another mountain to climb but I, I got stamina”

(3) 2-3 changes that you notice

The rhythm is very upbeat, and the song is very hyper. I notice the tone changes throughout the song, but the song carries the same massage until the end.

“Change your life” – Kehlani ft Jhené Aiko
Lyrics that strike me:
“Used-to-be models, IG honeys all shaped like bottles
But now you seein’ that it’s more than body, face, and smile
You see me, and you look beyond it, you feel inspired”
The sentence “you see me, and you look beyond it, feel inspired” striked me because this significant other doesn’t just focus on physical perspectives but has taken the time get to know this person.

Repetition:
“Baby, let me change your life
You wanna see (everything )
That you can be anything you want”
Changes:
At the start of the song it is smooth and calming as the song goes on there is a smooth change in the beat as the artists switch between eachother. Also when they sing the repetition line there is a bass.

Song: Real Bad Lookin’ by Alex Cameron

Phrases:

• “The little dream sits there, she’s like a fly in a jar”
• “I made a deal over lunch baby, yeah it was worth 15k, I show my teeth when I smile in a real matter-of-fact way”

The first phrase strikes me because calling her baby a little dream while also describing her as a fly in the jar both shows how treasured a baby is while also denoting how defenseless they are at the same time. The other phrase is also good because it really hits on the nose how highly the “dumbest, richest guy at the bar” thinks of himself.

Repetitions:

• The same synth line repeats nonstop throughout the whole song.
• “Yeah who the hell are you to tell me that I can’t leave my kid in the car” repeats three times with the latter two being in succession.

Changes:

• During the first verse, Alex Cameron calls himself “drunkest, ugliest girl at the bar” while in the second verse he reuses this kind of phrasing to describe himself as a different character which is the “dumbest, richest guy at the bar.”
• In between the two verses, a fuzz guitar is introduced to the song to provide a solo that also bridges the two verses while that same synth line still continually plays.

The song makes it clear how miserable the two characters are and how their misplaced pride is used as a crutch to protect them from their realities while also making them intolerable to anyone else.

Song : FACE by BROCKHAMPTON

Lyrics that strike me :

“It feels like I can see the past in your eyes”

“But I got the dream and if you believe, then I can take you somewhere that is pristine”

“But I got a plan for ya, I’m taking a stand for ya, I care for ya”

Based on these three lyrics, you can tell that the song is about making someone happier or taking them to a better place in their life. The past in their eyes can be pain that they show and easily shown in their eyes.

Repetitions Noticed:

“ I just wanna love ya”

“I just wanna hold ya”

“Tell me what you’re waiting for”

Changes Noticed:

The lyrics go from making it seem like the intention is to get the other person to open up and let them change their life for the better, but once the chorus ends and BROCKHAMPTON starts the verse in a different tone and the lyrics also change to him being scared to trust and wanting nothing to do with the person he’s trying to make happier sometimes.

1. Tone changes

2. Meaning behind lyrics shifts

Listening Log assignment #1
Song used- ‘Dream on’- Aerosmith

1. Lyrics that strike me

“You gotta lose to know how to win”
“Everybody’s got the dues in life to pay”
“Live and learn from fools and from sages”

The lyrics in this song have good messages for this temporary life and very relatable as you get older.

2. Repitition
“Dream on”
“Dream until your dreams come true”
“Sing with me, just for today, Maybe tomorrow the good lord will take you away”

3. The changes over the course of the song
The song starts off calm, with the with the lyrics being sung softly. When the song reaches the bridge, the music has intensified and the singer’s voice has gotten louder. By the time it’s progressed to the hook everything is very loud. As the song ends, the guitar slows down

Song – “All I ask” by Adele

• “No one knows me like you do.

And since you’re the only one that matters

Tell me who do I run to?”

These lyrics strikes me because when she sings this part I can feel the pain in her voice when she asks who do I run to. Her tone stood out to me mostly.

• “Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do

It matters how this ends

Cause what if I never love again?”

In the song Adele repeats these lyrics 3 times throughout the entire song.

• “ I don’t wanna be cruel or vicious

And I aint asking for forgiveness”

This part of the song the song completely slows down almost to a stop then
“All I ask is

If this is my last night with you

Hold me like I’m more than just a friend

Give me a memory I can use

Take my by the hand while we do what lovers do

It matters how this ends

Cause what if I never love again?”

When this last part of the song comes on after the stop to the music the song picks up and Adele picks the beat up as well as her tone and volume. She becomes louder and more powerful as she closes the song.

Song : Polo G – Wishing For A Hero (FT. BJ The Chicago Kid)

3 Repetitions I notice

• I notice the same beat playing played throughout the whole song. ( Piano is being used consistently )
• The way Polo G raps throughout the whole song, he doesn’t slow down and is always on beat.
• Towards the end of the song the choir repeat the lyrics ” that’s just the way it is “

3 Changes I notice

• Throughout the song some changes I notice is the different type of social issues he discuss. He goes from police brutality to being raised in the hood.
• I also notice how it changes from him rapping and then the choir comes in at the end.
• The beat of the music changes when the choir joins in at the end.

3 Phrases that strike me

• ” You ain’t my color, then you don’t know the struggle of livin black “
• ” Cops Kill us and we protest, what type of sh*t is that? “
• ” I’m from where we’re unheard and we can’t speak, We go to school, they try to tell us what we can’t be “

Due to the recent events with rioting and protesting, this song came to mind as soon as I read the what we had to do in this assignment. The 3 phrases Polo G says, strikes me because of the current situation the world is witnessing right now. The death of George Floyd caused an outrage in many states throughout America and parts of the song describe what’s happening in the world. Especially when He says ” Cops kill us and we protest, what type of shit is that “, really made me think why is this even a problem. We shouldn’t be going through this regardless of what skin color you are, you shouldn’t be mishandled by cops. This song just speaks a lot on current social issues and Its phrases are what some people can relate to.

Song: Sky walker

Artist: Miguel featuring Travis Scott

1. 3 phrases that strike me were:

“I’m Luke skywalkin’ on these haters”

“Good thing come up those that wait up but don’t wait too long to jump in”

“Celebrate everyday like its your birthday”

The song strike me in those 3 phrase because I see it as you have to be above  from your haters since it’s your life and your choices people shouldn’t be making opinions on what you do and don’t do, also I also believe that when thing are for you its meant to be no matter how long it takes to happen but when it comes your way don’t hesitate to make it happen. lastly you should live up your life with no worries and give time to have fun like it says in the song “celebrate everyday like its your birthday”.

2). Repetition I noticed:

” Don’t sleep you gotta stay up

Don’t sleep you gotta stay up”

3. 3 changes I noticed in the song were:

The sound, message, and relating other types of media. The sound of the song it stay in a one background sound through the beginning and the end of the song but as the song ends the sound shifts into a slow calm background sound but then comes back to the beginning sound for few seconds before ending, the message basically went from having to stay up above these haters because if you don’t it seems to them like you being bother by it that’s why you have to stay above or like in the song “skywalkin’ on these haters”, and lastly the relating other types of media it mentions Top gun and Tom cruise which to me its a good way to mention the actor but also one his number 1 movies he has ever made.