Wordplay is more of a literary device in which the words are arrange in a certain way to give meaning or to create a pun. Wordplay may also be a deliberate error in speech to give more meaning or to reference something.
An example would be the Beatle’s song Norwegian wood (this bird has flown). The song is about a guy who goes home with a girl he just met hoping to have sex with her only to find that she’s tired and wants to go to bed. The girl tells the guy he can sleep in the bath tub. When the guy awakens he finds her missing. He then sets fire to the place.
The lyrics
I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me
She showed me her room, isn’t it good Norwegian wood
Can also be interpreted as
I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me she showed me her room, isn’t it good knowing she would
The first interpretation tells us about the girl showing the guy her room (bedroom) and like any good host she tells him about the room and how the furniture is made of Norwegian wood. However Norwegian wood can also be pronounced as knowing she would when we lose the r in Norwegian wood. The second interpretation is that the guy entered the room knowing she would have sex with her.
Bizarre name for a girl is it possible that it might be a reference to something?
Point 2: “the day Glo’s mom threw him out was the day she found him in the bathroom”
Reaction 1: I’ve notice that the short story bears a slight resemblance to the movie thirteen. Thirteen is a movie about a troubled honour student named Tracy who befriends a girl name Evie and goes down a path of petty crimes, drug use and self harm together. This particular quote reminds me of the scene in which Tracy ask her mother if evie can live with them after being abandoned by her parents.
Point 3: “there was nothing to fight believe me. There was nothing to fight”
Reaction 2: One of the most common stereotypes that still exist in society is that the woman must be submissive towards the men, a stereotype that the writer is trying to express and reverse. However Lisa Ford doesn’t reverse the stereotype by having Sophie and Glo be dismissive of Miles and Winston, but by the girls having the option of choosing to be submissive.
Point 4: “like I said, they really let go. They really let us go”
Reaction 3: I notice that this quote from miles and Winston parallels the quote from Sophie and Glo “there was nothing to fight believe me. There was nothing to fight (6). The repetition within these quotes shows a sense of urgency between the girls and the boys telling the reader that all four are insecure of themselves and are trying to maintain control of themselves and there actions.
Point 5 “poor resolution, color bleeding, Color bars.”
Reaction 5: It seems the television metaphor describes their boredom of the whole incident. Yet at the same time tells the reader that they are not feeling well and that their vision is lost due to exhaustion.
As I was reading about Syd Barrett and is experimentation of echoes I discovered a sound concept that I never even knew about, reverse echo. Just regular as regular echo involves a sound being repeated reverse echo involves the sound being repeated backwards. Jimmy page of led zeppelin claims to have discovered this concept while working with the yard birds. According to page they were working on recording of ten little Indians and page apparently was disappointed with the result so he decided to experiment with it. He turned the tape over and recorded the echo of the brass on a spare track then spliced the spare track with original track forwards. Page has used the effect on many led zeppelin songs such as “you shook me”
Reverb:
I remember Mrs. Parrish talking about reverb being buzzing sounds that occurs when making certain sounds. At first I thought reverb was just another term for echo but apparently reverb is the persistence of sound after the original sound is removed. As the sound persists on the sound decays and then is gone. Factors such as the walls or the air in a room can affect the rate of decay.
Phaser effect:
Phasing is and audio effect in which a signal is filter by a series of peaks and troughs in the frequency. There usually used at different settings to make varied patterns of peaks and troughs, hence creating a sweep effect. The effect is created when the signal is split into two and one signal is run through an all pass filter which alters the phases of the frequencies. When the altered signal meets with the regular signal the phaser effect is created.
Brian Eno is a musician, composer, record producer, music theorist and singer and is known for his work with many famous rock musicians such as David Bowie and Coldplay. Due to his contribution to ambient music he considered the father of ambient music.
I discovered Brian Eno after finding out that he is influenced by Syd Barrett. Just as Syd Barrett explored echoes through his music Brian Eno also experimented with atmospheric sounds, and like Barrett’s music would invite the listener to sit and listen rather than dance along. Brian studied art at St. Joseph college where he developed an interest of minimalism (a from of art that involves art work that is striped down to its primitive form). After college Brian joined the glam rock band Roxy music but left after getting bored of the rock star life. Brian then went on to form his own label called obscure label which featured the work of john Adams and john cage. Eno has even collaborated with many artist such as David bowie on his album Berlin trilogy album as well as velvet undergrounds john Cale and Lou reed. It was during this period that brian developed an interest in alternative guitar tunings and altering quality of notes from musical instruments. His interest then led him to discover sonic youth a band who was doing just that.
Roger Barrett (also known as Syd Barrett) was a song writer; artist and front man to the progressive rock band pink Floyd. During his time with pink Floyd Syd experimented with many different elements in rock music such as echoes.
Syd Barrett grew up in Cambridge England and study art at a young age and listened to many different forms of music. He attended art school with his friend roger waters (bass player to pink Floyd) there he studied painting.Syd formed pink Floyd with waters on bass and fellow friends nick mason (drums) and Richard Wright(keyboards). In my previous post I mention how Jimi Hendrix used colours to get his ideas across; well Syd Barrett also used unconventional ways to express his musical ideas. Barrett often used what is known as light machines, mechanisms that alter light to make specific patterns that are famously associated with the psychedelic scene. Barrett would often ask the band to play along to these light patterns and even incorporated these patterns in pink Floyd live shows. Barrett also experimented with echoes by running his guitar through and echo machine; in fact Barrett was one of the first to popularize this concept. Pink Floyd released their first album pipers at the gates of dawn in 1966. The album help define the psychedelic era and even introduced a new genre of rock known as art rock. Despite the band having successes with their singles “see Emily play” and “Arnold Layne” Syd was beginning to have nervous break downs. Syd did not enjoy the popularity of the bands success and often took large amounts of LSD to cope with it. Eventually Syd behaviour became too uncontrollable leading to him sabotaging shows, and his departure from the band. Though Barrett did attempt a solo career and released two albums he eventually gave up on music. Barrett lived in recluse until his death in July 6 2006 (age 60).
Jimi Hendrix was a guitarist, producer and songwriter. He’s noted by many to be the most influential electric guitarist of all time.
James Marshall Hendrix ( Also known as Jimi Hendrix) was born November 27 1942 as Johnny Allen Hendrix (his name was later changed by his father)to al Hendrix and Lucile Hendrix. Hendrix’s parents divorced at a young age and Hendrix’s mother died shortly after. Being born after the Second World War Hendrix lived in poverty and had to watch some of his siblings being given away for adoption. It was through these experiences that Hendrix developed a love for the blues of muddy waters B.B king, Albert king which he discovered though his fathers record collection. Hendrix’s first introduction to the guitar was when he would watch many performers on television and mimic the guitarist’s actions on a broom. After his father watched the young Hendrix try to play a one stringed ukulele he decided to buy his son a guitar. Hendrix dropped out of school and began his career as a guitarist for hire for many rhythm and blues groups such as little Richard and the Isley brothers. However Hendrix often felt suppressed by the groups he worked with who consider him too much of show-off. Around mid 1960’s Hendrix began playing by himself at clubs and cafes more specially café wha. It was here where Hendrix’s was discovered by Chas chandler. Chandler agreed to be Hendrix’s manger and persuaded Hendrix to come to the U.K. Hendrix’s agreed and went with chandler where he formed his own band the Jimi Hendrix experience with noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. Hendrix gained international fame for the release of his 1966 debut album are you experience?. The album showcased a series of experimental r’n’b sounds. Hendrix follow up album axis bold as love and electric lady land also expanded Hendrix’s experimental horizons. On September 18 1970 Hendrix unfortunately died from taking too many sleeping pills with alcohol, he was only 27.
Hendrix being unable to read or write music often used colors to describe his feelings or what sound he wanted, an example of this is the song bold as love. This often made things difficult for the rest of his band members. Hendrix also claimed that his purpose was to wake the “sleeping people” with electricity. Though Hendrix is often compared with his fellow experimental peers such as the Beatles and the Who he is often regard as the only one to make the guitar an expression of feeling.
What made Hendrix so famous was his experimental and innovative usage of the guitar. One of which is feedback. An electric guitar contains what is known as pickups which literally picks up on the vibration of the guitar strings and transfers it to amplifier. By increasing the volume knob on the guitar the pickups pick up on more than the vibration of guitar stings and begin to pick up the sounds coming from the amplifier this causes an endless circle between the two resulting in feedback. Normally feedback is frowned upon but jimi Hendrix proved that it can be used as artistic expression. The best example of this is his performance of the star spangled banner at Woodstock 1969.
source: a film about Jimi hendrix( documentary), the last 48 hours of Jimi hendrix(documentary), hendrix ( fictional movie)
Whether you like or hate or even know Paul McCartney you have to respect the dead or in this case the walking dead. After reading Christine’s post about led zeppelin’s satanic message I decide to investigate other backward messages in music. Apparently there is an urban legend that Paul McCartney of the Beatles died in a car crash in 1966 and was replace by a look alike and sound alike who still lives to this day. The urban legend is linked to backwards messages in certain Beatles songs. Though the Beatles dispute the myth the car crash is an actual event. After having a dispute with his band mates during the recording sessions for the album Sgt peppers lonely hearts club band McCartney decide to take a drive. McCartney ended up in car crash that left him with chipped tooth and bruised lip. However some believe McCartney actually died and was replaced by a look alike with a chipped tooth and bruised lip as apart of a cover up. One of the songs called a day in the life from the Sgt pepper album details a car crash that occur and death of the driver
He blew his mind out in a car
He didn’t notice that the lights had changed
A crowd of people stood and stared
They’d seen his face before
Nobody was really sure
If he was from the House of Lords.– A day in the life
The most popular song that describes the myth is revolution 9 an experimental rock song that consisted of non melodic sound effects. It is believed that when played backwards messages “such as turn me on dead man” and “Paul is dead” is heard.
in order from left to right: George Harrison dressed in denim is the grave digger, Paul is bare foot like a dead body at the moor, Ringo starr is dressed in black symbolising the undertaker and john Lennon is dressed in white like clergyman. Another clue is that Paul is holding a cigarette in his right hand when in fact he is left handed.
I can’t imagine what Paul McCartney feels when people ask him if he is alive.
As I was reading Simmin post about Holden Morrissey Caulfield I have to disagree with her with Holden being Emo. I mean the whole emo culture doesn’t make sense I mean you have these mainstream bands such as fall out boy, my chemical romance, panic at the disco and many others making millions of dollars off of album and concert sales yet when ever I see them they seem to try hard to sell this image that there sad and depressed like there fans. If anyone had the fame and wealth they have they wouldn’t be sad. Depression and angst is a common thing that teenagers grow out of, it’s a part of maturity. However most these “artist” still sing about how miserable they were in high school, I mean grow up for god sake. Personally I don’t mind lyrics that are depressing as long it’s justified or back up by amazing instrumentals, but for me emo is just diluted corporate rock (I don’t mean to offend anyone).
What really inspired David mike Chapman to kill john Winston Lennon, was the fact that Holden Caulfield often spoke of killing the phoney people in the novel. Chapman connected with this because he felt John Lennon was a phoney, for being this rich pop star who sang about atheism and communism. In my perspective the emo culture is the same it’s just a bunch of phoneys making money off teen depression.
I remember When I was ten I always felt that Holden was not a regular teenager and always had sense of admiration especially during the scene in which Holden chooses to talk to the prostitute he paid for instead of using her for sex. He doesn’t party or complain about his parents nor is he trying to lose his virginity. Even something as common as swearing upsets Holden (though he does it himself) which is why when Holden sees the swear word written in the bathroom of his sister’s school he erases it.
Though now I feel as if Holden is a bit immature not willing to grow up and take responsibility for his life. I mean he had to have realised that he’s not a child anymore and he can’t be the catcher in the rye, protecting children from the world. If he was still the catcher in the rye for a long period of time then he would be no better then an overprotecting parent. However there is the possibility that Holden does realise he can’t be the catcher in the rye in the final scene when he stands aside watching phoebe ride the carousel without him.
Well I chose to investigate the pile that was found in the second department of the art gallery. The pile consisted of blank records, a record player and a sign that reads “screamers crash and burn demo”. My first thought was the screamers were an underground cult band from the 70’s, and the blank records represented how they were overshadowed by more mainstream band such as led zeppelin, queen and Aerosmith. However after doing more research I have discovered more about the pile.
Apparently the screamers were an L.A punk rock band that began incorporating electrical pianos and synthesisers rather than the popular usages of guitar and bass guitar. They are considered to be the first “technopunk” band and are consider as one of the greatest non-recording bands around in the underground world. I used the term non-recording because they have never actually released an album or a single, however there is a rare demo tape called crash and burn.
With the help of Craig Leonard and his blog I have discovered that the centre for experimental arts and communication hosted an event called “crash and burned” in 1977 an event that featured the screamers. Apparently there are demo tapes and picture that detailed the event, but are incredible rare to find. I have also discovered that has a thank you to the band Craig Leonard had made a dub plate out of there demo recordings and then into a vinyl record, which was given to them as a gift. I think craig leonard did this because he wanted the band to have their first record
The following picture is of the dub record found in the gallery
and this picture is the dub record craig leonard made
I went to youtube to see if I could find the demos, and found out that even though they did not make any albums or singles, they do have music videos. According to the comments on the video the screamers were more of video art project which explains the existences of the music videos but not recorded material. When reading the description of the video it turns out that the studio in which they recorded the video is unknown. That is until I noticed it looked a lot like the art gallery.
Though people don’t know much of the screamers they do know that they have been inactive since 1981. So is it possible that the pile is more of a tomb or tribute to the screamers who once played in the gallery.
Interest fact: she has numerous certificates such as honours bachelors of English, a certificate of publishing from Ryerson University in 2007, and graduated from university of Toronto with a masters of arts in English.
and this picture is the dub record craig leonard made
