Nobody would have suspected that abandoning Destiny’s Child, one of the most successful pop groups of the 1990’s, would be one of the best moves that Beyonce made. Since then, she expanded on the Destiny’s Child message of empowerment for women and made it all her own. She’s become a household name and helped young ladies hold their heads high in the pop music world. Her marriage to Jay-Z seems almost inevitable, since both are business savvy pop powerhouses, and it only bolstered her career.
What’s important to note here is that we set the standard for contrast within our songs. We set this standard in the first section of our song. In “Over the Rainbow,” the first section is a verse that has a lot of half and whole notes. By contrast, the eighth notes of the bridge feel very quick, BECAUSE of the standard previously set in the verse. Had the first verse been all super fast sixteenth notes, then the eighth notes of the bridge would be a slowed down comparison. It’s important to realize that YOU set the standard to be contrasted against when you sit down to write a song.
Instead of despairing their lack of musical culture, take a look at some of the latest music from the pop charts. Those trashy popular songs 2021 aimed at pre-teen kids that many musicians find of little worth are actually adored by children.
At that time I had already done hit records with The Jordanaires, and of course I knew of Chet’s relationship with them. They worked on my songs “Crying”, “Since I Don’t Have You”, and the re-release of “Castles in the Air” – all of which were chart records.
“Subterranean Homesick Blues,” (1965). Bob Dylan. As a singer of protest songs, Bob Dylan had been one of the leading performers of the early 1960s folk movement. His move to “folk rock” in 1965 was shocking to his fan base, and when he appeared on stage at the Newport Folk Festival with an electric guitar, he was vigorously booed, in one of the most famous incidents of the period. This song was revolutionary not only for its innovative blend of musical styles, but also for its new popular songs use of language. The intensity of imagery was something that had never been heard before in pop music and would not be equaled again until Grand Master Flash and “The Message” of 1982. (See below).
Probably not an easy song for beginners to learn but Guns N Roses November Rain was and still is a huge hit for the band and main piano player Axl Rose. It’s a beautiful piano part during the verses and it continues through out the song. You can find versions of this song to play it in a stripped down piano only version online.
“And I Love You So” had been kicking around since it broke into the charts off my first album “Tapestry” in 1970, and of course, it was a big surprise to me to be on the charts right from the start. I never dreamed I’d be on the charts.
“Crossroads” by Cream: The driving beat and brilliant musicianship of Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton, collectively known as Cream, really vault this four minute classic into overdrive. Clapton’s guitar solos at the 1:30 and 2:35 minute marks make ideal “push aheads”. “Crossroads” is a perfect choice for the middle section of class when effort level is nearing its peak.
