Music and Me

I was extremely excited for this specific blog because I LOVE musicals AND I'm getting married in October and our first dance is going to be to a song from High School Musical 3. I almost immediately thought of this song but ultimately decided to focus elsewhere.  The song that I decided on, I feel has a deeper meaning to it than the other and I really respect that.  The piece of work that I chose that tells a story with a beautiful soundtrack is The Greatest Showman. This movie and production tell such an amazing story that is loved by many, including my kids and the students I teach.  This Is ME History and Background " This is Me"  is a breakout song from the 2017 musical film, The Greatest Showman,  performed by Keala Settle and the ensemble cast, written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. It was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on December 8, 2017, and rapidly became a global hit. The song hit the top ten in multiple countries (1). The song also ...

  Biography Britney Spears was a huge icon in the 90’s and early 2000’s and became one of the most influential pop performers of the generation. She was born on December 2, 1981, in Mississippi, she then moved to Louisiana where she was mostly raised. She started we career trying out for The Mickey Mouse Club, but she was denied sue to her age a referred to New York City producers. In NYC, Britney studied at the Professional Performing Arts School. (1)  In 1998, she went global with her hit single, “… Baby One More Time.” Her first album was also named ‘Baby One More Time’ and then came ‘Oops! I Did it Again’ which broke sales records and solidified her place in the music industry (2). Throughout her career, she had many successful albums including another hit song, “ Toxic.”   Britney Spear is widely known not just for singing, but for her impact on pop performance, that combined singing, choreography, and visual production.  Role Of Britney Spears Building on her f...

  For this musical journey, I chose to focus on  Samoan music , which has fascinated me with the blend of storytelling, spirituality, and connection to nature. Samoan chants and contemporary songs often carry deep emotional and cultural meaning, interlacing themes of love, belonging, and heritage with the rhythms of island life. Samoan music is known for its rich  harmonies ,  steady rhythmic patterns , and the  use of natural imagery  such as the ocean, wind, and waves.  This connection between sound and place gives Samoan music a distinct identity among the broader Polynesian traditions of Oceania.  Lelava Vevesi x Lolani and Ane Pito Country of Origin-Samoa Date Unknown This song translates loosely to  “I’m swept away by these powerful feelings; my heart is restless because of you.”   It seems romantic on the surface but there are much deeper meanings in the lyrics. The references to waves, wind, and the ocean are metaphors for love a...

Dubstep is a music genre that some really enjoy and others don’t understand. Dubstep is noted with its basslines and rhythms that really allow it to stand out. Dubstep started out around the late 1990s to the early 2000s as a genre from South London. Dubstep is a mixture of UK Garage, reggae, and other elements. UK garage is a genre of music specific to the UK with deeper bass. Here is an example: undefined Flowers x Sweet Female Attitude x 03 April 2000 x Manchester, England I think this song is so fun and boppy if you will. This was just the start of dubstep though there were other elements that had to be mixed in with the vibes of the UK Garage such as the reggae roots and dub like this piece Park Lane by Augustus Pablo in 1975 with the Jamaican breeze blowing.   https://youtu.be/4-2zduEN-DQ?si=lDZ7jdHVBMUbljvf Now when we combine these two (and many other musical elements) along with the artists that first started putting their spin on the music such as Digital My...

  https://youtu.be/m4DVbm9zeR0?si=lp85DKy8nbeA-tCV Cliché – MGK, VVAVES, No Love For The Middle Child - 23 May 2025 - United States This week, I decided to choose a song that is played almost every single morning in my house. My children love it, I love it, my husband doesn’t care for it but still ends up singing it! Cliché by MGK. When people think about Machine Gun Kelly, they usually think about rap and pop and even a little bit of rock sometimes but never really show true emotion or vulnerability. With “ cliché ”, he gives us just that while also giving us 2000’s pop rock vibes and I am so here for it! Here’s a breakdown of five key elements I pick out of this piece. Melody - The melody in “ cliché” doesn’t have super drastic jumps at first. The beginning of the song starts off giving a conversational tone and then stretches with the first chorus and continues to get higher. I believe this allows a pull of interest and attention wanting to hear what he has to say. In...

Musical Analysis #1- Motherly Love String Cheese – Hannah Harper - 2026, USA. About a week ago I was watching the new season of American Idol when I heard this beautiful voice singing her original song, String Cheese . Hannah Harper didn’t just sing a song; she shared a story that so many would relate to. She used lyrics, rhythm, and melody to bring such moments to many viewers.   Melody The melody in String Cheese is simple with no big leaps or runs. Hannah doesn’t use a big, overly dramatic range that we usually hear in our mainstream music genres. This decision to keep the melody flatter helps this song be more emotional and allows listeners to really feel the lyrics. The grounded melody creates a sense of intimacy and authenticity that makes you feel like she’s telling a story rather than just performing a song.   Rhythm Similarly to the melody, the rhythm is steady and smooth in this piece. There are many different versions of this song available, and I b...