The music!

There are different music genres that originated in the United States:

• Blues:

Originated in African-american communities in the "Deep South" of the United States. It was born at  the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads.

Some distinguised characteristics of the blues are:

- The use of blues notes and the importance of the call and response patterns, both in music and lyrics are indicative of African-Western heritage of the genre.

- The extensive use of "expressive" guitar techniques and harmonica, which subsequently influence solos styles like rock.

The blues influenced American and Western popular music in general.

Blues music examples: Blind Willie Jonhson, B.B King, Smooky Hogg.

• Jazz

Originated in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the Southern United States, expanding globally over the twentieth century.

It’s a combination of European harmony and forms with African musical elements such as blue notes, improvisation, polyrhythms, syncopation and the swung note. Jazz has also incorporated elements of American popular music.

Louis Armstrong,  is one of the most famous musicians in jazz.

• Rap

Emerged in the mid-80s in Latino and African American communities in the United States. Characterized by sprechgesang or rhythmic recitation of rhymes and wordplay.

Some famous rappers: Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 cent, Akon.

• Country:

Genre of American popular music that originated in Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from the southeastern genre of American folk music and Western music.

It consists of ballads and dance tunes with generally simple forms and harmonies accompanied by mostly string instruments such as banjos, electric and acoustic guitars, fiddles, and harmonicas.

Examples: Johnny Cash, Brenda Lee.

• Rock:

Emerged in America in the 1950s. Its original form, known as rock and roll, arose mainly from the combination of two previous genres like the rhythm, blues and country. Rock music also drew strongly on blues and folk, and incorporated influences from jazz, classical music and other sources.

Musically, rock has centered on the electric guitar, usually as part of a rock band with singer, bass, and drums.

Lyrics often focus on romantic love but also address a wide range of other topics with a frequent focus on the social and the political. Rock puts more emphasis on composition, live performance, and authenticity.

Examples: Elvis Presley, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Metallica, Linkin Park, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers.

ACTIVITIES

1. True or false?

- In country music are typical the wordplays

- The blues were originated at 19th century

- The electric guitar is usually used in rock music.

- Snoop Dogg is an example of country music.

- Jazz spread throughout the world in the twentieth century.

2. Recognise the music genre that these songs belong to.

1. First song

“Uh, summa lumma dooma lumma you assuming I'm a human

What I gotta do to get it through to you I'm superhuman

Innovative and I'm made of rubber, so that anything you say is

Ricochet in off a me and it'll glue to you”

It’s __________________ .

2. Secong song

“But don't tell my heart my achy breaky heart

I just don't think he'd understand

And if you tell my heart my achy breaky heart

He might blow up and kill this man”

It’s __________________ .

3. Third song.

“ Welcome to the jungle

We take it day by day

If you want it you're gonna bleed

But it's the price you pay

And you're a very sexy girl

That's very hard to please

You can taste the bright lights

But you won't get them for free”

Its _____________________.

3. Make a little piece of a song of any musical genre of USA.