Selina+M+popular+music

__**John Lennon- Imagine**__
__**Bibliography:**__ John Winston Ono Lennon, was born on October 9, 1940 and died on the 8th of December 1980. Brought up in Liverpool, becoming interested in the skiffle craze as a teenager. Later becoming a part of the 'Beatles', which is still till this day popular band. Leaving the band in 1969, and ending his life on December 8, 1980, killed by a crazed fan named Mark David Chapman. Lennon's parents separated when he was 4, then living with his Aunt. John's dad wasn't even present at his birth. Julia, Lennon's mother, remarried and visited him regularly, teaching him how to play the banjo, piano and guitar. Julia was later struck by a car, which was driven by an off-duty police officer dying in 1958. Lennon was traumatised by this. On February 9, 1964, the Beatles became the first British band to be big in the United States, being shown on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'. Nine years later, a Beatle member, Epstein, did of an accidental overdoes of sleeping pills. This truly effected Lennon. 'Help!', was the Beatles' second film being released in 1965. That June, Queen Elizabeth II of England, made a public statement that the Beatles would be named a Member of the Order of the British Empire. In August 1965, the Beatles set a new record for the largest concert audience in music history. A little while later, Lennon and his band separated in 1969, this being a secret until McCartney declared his departure in April 1970.

__**Analysis: Imagine**__ This song is widely regarded as John Lennon's signature song. Imagine was the title track of his second album, and perhaps his best-known solo work. "Imagine is anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anit-conventional, anti-capitalistic... but because it is sugar-coated, it is accepted", Lennon quotes. This song conveyed Lennon's wish for world peace and harmony in simple terms, both musically and lyrically.

structure: instrumental, verse 1, chorus, verse 2, bridge, verse 3, chorus, bridge, instruments: piano, violin, male vocalist, drums tempo: same throughout the song tempo change?: there is no tempo change dynamics: the dynamics change in the chorus but very slightly. instruments playing at the same time?: singer distinct sound?: his voice sounds like it echos back up vocals?: there are no backup vocals beats per bar: 4/4 major/minor: major texture: texture is increased at the chorus

media type="youtube" key="DVg2EJvvlF8" width="560" height="315" __**Analysis: Blackbird (Beatles)**__ structure: intro, verse 1, bridge, verse 2, chorus, instrumental, bridge instruments: guitar, male voice tempo change?: yes the chorus is sung in a different tempo instruments playing at the same time?: Instrumental solo?: yes there is an instrumental solo just before the end beats per bar: 3/4 and also 4/4 major/minor: it's a bit of both repeated patterns: there is repeated patterns and that's basically the whole song high point in the song: found in the bridge, "into the light of the dark black night" media type="youtube" key="BrxZhWCAuQw" width="560" height="315"

__**Style- 250 words approximately**__ The styles of music that Lennon predominately played was rock and pop. The band that Lennon associated with was known as the 'Beatles'. The Beatles were essentially a joint venture between practical pop adept Paul McCartney and alienated rock-and-roll rebel Lennon, but, as a disrupting cultural force, they always bore Lennon's stamp. Some of the characteristics of rock include distorted guitars, loud drums, catchy bass lines, powerful vocal hooks and usually in 4/4 time signature making the 'on' beats accentuated. The first and most pioneering rock band were, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Kinks.Rock music shares multiple of the same characteristics as pop, but with more musicianship, live performances, serious lyrical themes and authenticity. 'Livin' On A Prayer' by Bon Jovi is an example of a rock song. Pop music is a shorten term for the word popular. Pop music may include elements of rock, hip hop, reggae, dance, R&B, jazz and electronic. Some traits include a danceable often has syncopation, a riff, rhythm or beat, simple melodies and a repeating structure. The Beatles in the 1960's, made it common for pop music performers to write their own songs. But the singer doesn't usually write the songs they have a song writer that does. An example of a pop song is 'Shake It Off' by Taylor Swift. This song has a riff, a catchy bass line and a repeated structure.

__**Lyrics to Imagine**__ Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one

Lennon's contemporaries include the 'Beach Boys' and the 'Rolling Stones' as they are all boy bands and rivals at the time. They all play similar styles of music and all renown to this day. The Beatles have gone down in history for being so great.