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Music and the Fictive Dream – Moana

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Music and the Fictive Dream – Moana’s "How Far I’ll Go"   Biographical Information:   Disney’s 12 th  Princess, Moana, depicts a young and courageous daughter of the Chief of Motunui. In the thriving island, rich with culture and values, Moana’s home becomes threatened by a menacing force (Disney Fandom, n.d, Official Description). The heroine princess sails out into a treacherous journey to save the village and her people.      “How Far I’ll Go,” composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Originated from America, released on November 18, 2016.    “How Far I’ll Go,”  is written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, famously known for his role in the Hamilton and an astounding composer. Once he was tasked to create the music for Disney’s Moana, it became a pivotal moment since The Little Mermaid’s  “Under the Sea,”  was his inspiration to work in musicals (Atkins, 2024, para. 4). Miranda’s role was to produce the famous, “I want” song, where the audience und...

Role of the Performer - Rihanna

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 Role of the Performer - Grammy Award Winner, Rihanna   Global sensation, Rihanna is exceptional in a plethora of ways. Coming from a harsh environment and experiencing troubling familial situations, she overcame the hardships and became known for her versatility: singing, actress, fashion designer, and makeup line.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Biography:    Robyn Rihanna Fenty originated in St. Michael, Barbados. Born on the 20 th  of February in 1988, she was the eldest amongst her siblings. In her early life, she endured numerous harsh realities as her father struggled with addiction, delt with her parent’s marital issues at the age of 14, and struggled with crippling headaches (Caruso 2025, Early Life).    When Rihanna was a teenager, she transformed her troubling obstacles into singing, as a form of escape. With her two friends, they had compo...

Take a Musical Trip - Australia's Didgeridoo and the Aboriginal People

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 Take a Musical Trip – Australia and the Aboriginal Culture   There is an instrument that is believed to be the sound of Australia. It mimics nature: the wind, flow of water, trees, and thunder. Along with animals and the footsteps of humans. In fact, if our earth possessed a voice, it’d articulate a sound that comes within the instrument. It is the Didgeridoo, a wind instrument from Australia's Aboriginal people.    Aboriginal People The Indigenous people of Australia have such a rich culture, who may be the longest in our earth. Their profound culture consists of painting, music, ceremonies, and more. Thank you to the Aboriginal people, we are able to experience their history and music by the Didgeridoo.    The Didgeridoo was created 1,500 years ago (Didge Down Under, n.d, para. 4). This instrument is specifically connected with the Aboriginal tribes of Arnhem Land; however, it’s been spread to numerous tribes and the world.    The Didgeridoo is...

Innovations and Evolutions: The Origins of Rap Music

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Innovation and Evolutions of the Origins of Rap Music: From Performing in Block Parties to Ensuing Political Voices in America   Music connects us all. It’s a form of self-expression. There aren’t rules to fabricate a melodic tune. The genre of rap is surprisingly new, dating back in the 70s. Such music was used by urban youth as a form of self-expression and recreation.  In 1979, the first rap song was released on the radio and became popularized in the media. After its sensation, rap artists articulated their lyrical music to demonstrate their struggles, where it could be described as conscious rap.    From Block Parties: Emerged in New York, 1970s New York experienced an economic collapse due to the diminishing population of the manufacturing industry and construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway (Icon Collective, n.d, Hip Hop Culture Origins). This disrupted shift compelled the white middle class to relocate to the suburbs, displacing and segregating commun...

Musical Analysis #2: Borderline

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  “Borderline,” by Tame Impala – Musical Analysis         For someone who was born in a hot, tropical country, I sure despise summer. The heat, the bright sun, the people irk my soul. Surprisingly however, I was quite excited for this past summer since I finished my associates degree. To celebrate, I wanted to take a vacation. Plans disrupted, and I was stuck in a building with piles of paperwork to go through. Some relationships even turned sour. I just needed to escape. The song, “Borderline,” by Tame Impala described what I experienced from the sunny season: mellow, sorrow, and possibly hopeful?         Listening to Borderline  helped me realize to takes things slow, and everything will partially be okay. I re-discovered the song this summer when my mental health deteriorated. I felt like I was hit with a whirlwind of responsibilities and experiences. I always felt unease, never being fully relaxed. As I have mentioned, I w...

Musical Analysis #1: Am I Wrong

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 "Am I Wrong," by BTS - Musical Analysis       I could hardly grasp the idea how music could be political. I was always more attuned with the melody, instruments, or the beat of the music. Until I analyzed “Am I Wrong,” which held several meanings.         When I listened to this song for the first time, I immediately searched if BTS created a choreography. I did dance back in high school, and in my free-time I like to watch dance tutorials on YouTube, particularly BTS. Their styles of dance and music had wrapped me into their big fanbase. BTS encompasses many genres, but I am more interested with energetic and upbeat music, as opposed to their more slow, lyrical songs.       BTS is one of the world’s biggest bands, and they are based in South Korea. "Am I Wrong," is written by Kevin Moore, and produced by several individuals: Sam Klempner, James Reynold, Josh Wilkinson, RM (leader of BTS), Supreme Boi, Gaeko, Pdogg...