After reading through this module what I found most interesting is the difference of what the songs "communicates" and what is communicates "rhetorically".
I immediately thought of Macklemore's "Same Love". The melody from the beginning sets up the song as hopeful song that seems to be supporting. The song talks about stereotypes and lists them and persuades the listeners to get past even if they fall into the category he is speaking about.
"A bunch of stereotypes all in my head
I remember doing the math like "Yeah, I'm good a little league"A pre-conceived idea of what it all meant
For those who like the same sex had the characteristics
The right-wing conservatives think its a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made, rewiring of a pre-disposition. Playing God
Ahh nah, here we go
America the brave
Still fears what we don't know And God loves all his children it's somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written 3, 500 hundred years ago"
Because the song starts in the melody that is nostalgic and calming it gives the listeners a reason to continue to listen even if it offends one of then. It is interesting that he shows how long ago that the religious context context was written and questions it as well as talking about political standpoints. Both are extremely touchy concepts and yet it's mixed so well into this song. Regardless of what you believe in this song is still extremely catchy and makes you want to listen to what he has to say.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0
My questions to the class are: Does melody play the biggest role in how we perceive a song? Because he said "we" does that make people feel less judged?
I think that melody plays a pretty big part in how we think of songs when we hear them. A lot of the time when we hear a new song for the first time we don't really pay full attention to the words because we are trying to take in the words, the melody, the beat, etc. and it can be hard to focus on anything but the melody the most I think the first time you hear a new song. I do suppose that it could help people feel less judged with him saying we but who is he saying we to for sure? Or is it just part of the lyrics and that's something people say even when they aren't trying to include people because that is a fairly common phrase. Something to think about as well but I suppose that it could help people feel included and less judged depending on what side you are looking at it from.
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