jennalee ralph

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@abbey_hutchings While I disagree with your opinion, I do see your point. It can be very intimidating and difficult for any new artist to "get their foot in the door" in an already well-established industry. However, all artists go through this hardship, not just new Canadian singers.
#POPMUSW22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@OliviaR34156685 I agree with you entirely. While I agree with supporting local first, I think Canadians are talented enough to make their mark on the musical stage without being forced there by quotas and laws. We don't need to "bend the rules" for our own benefit; we are good enough.
#POPMUSW22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

I don't think this quota should ever have been a necessity, especially now. "Forcing" the content somebody is exposed to on the radio or TV only prolongs their inevitable engagement with the genre they are truly drawn to. We should promote all music equally, always.
#popmusw22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@caitmarieb That's an interesting take. Adding to the accessibility argument it is undoubtedly easier for any person of any capability to access music online. There is no fear of crowds, flashing lights, or loud music getting in our way. The experience is entirely in our control.
#POPMUSW22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@dchicasduena While I disagree with Wald, I do agree that if there is any reason to enjoy live music, it is for the performers themselves. Anyone can access a song in seconds today, but we cannot access an experience like a concert and this draws in an audience for shows worldwide.
#POPMUSW22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

I agree with Wald's statement. At no fault of our own, todays generation was raised on autotune and synthesized sounds using technology at our fingertips. Unlike our grandparents day, live artists do not sound like the altered studio sound & fail to meet expectations.
#popmusw22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@OliviaR34156685 Great point Olivia! Although we know terms like "white-appropriate" are diminishing to artists of all races, it is important we recognize this did happen. We need to acknowledge the hardships coloured artists went through, so we do not repeat these mistakes, today.
#popmusicw22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@Zoeycross1 I agree completely, Zoey! We should not sit back and allow artists to essentially "steal" from another, simply because they are physically more appealing. Give credit where credit is due, and use music as a way to bond across cultural lines, not to divide us further!
#popmusicw22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

Throughout this course we have spent a large amount of time discussing what makes an artist "skilled", or what makes a song " good" from a technical standpoint. Schlock music contains none of these traits. If we're talking about the music, there is no quality here.
#popmusw22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@OliviaR34156685 This is an awesome point! From a sound point of view, the breaking in the voice does accentuate the importance and passion of the lines of which Charles is singing. It is also super interesting to observe this technique amongst many popular blues singers of the era.
#popmusw22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@PardyAbigail I agree completely. As an avid music listener, being able to hear an artists passion in their own art definitely makes me appreciate the music more. When I listen to Charles' music, I hear that he means the words he sings, allowing them to resonate further with me.
#popmusw22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

I would think Ray Charles uses a breaking voice as a way to show his passion for the words he is signing. This illustration of emotion creates depth in his music, and seemed to be the first of its kind at the time. It likely made him stand out for the better, too.
#popmusw22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@joseph_mus11 This is true! Nobody buys CDs anymore, despite their popularity a decade ago. Really, the majority of new cars or laptops on the market aren't even equipped for this relatively modern technology. It's interesting to see the speed at which the music industry has evolved #popmusw22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@bmrowe17 This is a great point! So much of today's world is obsessed with owning the newest "fad" product, no matter how expensive or ridiculous it may be. Everyone is more or less trying to "keep up with the Jones's", and the music listening industry is no exception!
#popmusw22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

Streaming services, namely Spotify, impact the way we treat the act of listening to music. With things like Spotify Wrapped, or being able to monitor what your friends are listening to, it is much more of a "trying to fit in" environment than has been seen in the past
#popmusw22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@Laurraamurray Great point, Laura! In today's age, it seems everyone is an "influencer" of some sort, and live their days in search of the path that will lead to the most likes and shares possible. It is sad, and the popular music industry has most definitely added fuel to the fire. #POPMUSW22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

@EmilyTucker110 This is an awesome point Emily and one I came here to make! Music is so diverse that, while it can be "dumbed down", it can, and is also used (especially in recent years) to make thought-provoking political statements, such as in the example you've given. Great catch! #POPMUSW22

[jennalee ralph @JennaleeRalph]

False needs have been created in the music industry for a long time. Many country songs envision an ideal world where, essentially, man finds wife, buys farm, builds white picket fence, lives happily ever after. This would never really happen, and is a false narrative. #popmusw22