The emotions conveyed by versed lyricist Yip Harburg in “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime” force even those who cannot begin to relate to the disheartening lines to feel a sort of emotional awakening. However, without the proper musical accompaniment, the words can become ineffective and hollow, lost within the reverberating waves of an unfitting tune. Over the years since the creation of his original song, artists of every style have performed their own interpretations, changing the score to fit their exclusive genre. Accomplished musicians, particularly Bing Crosby, Rudy Vallee, Abbey Lincoln and Tom Waits, have all approached this 1930’s song in contrasting ways. These divergent musical understandings differ by either decidedly expressing the …show more content…
desperation in the written words of Yip Harburg, or removing an essential message that is meant to stir the emotions of the listener. The haunting sounds of an orchestra steadily building ring in the ears of the attentive listener, as they anticipate the opening lyrics of what is set up to be a tale of hopelessness.
Bing Crosby’s voice resonates as he sings through the opening statement: “They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob”. Without the help of the orchestral build up, the first line of Crosby’s 1931 version of “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime” would hold little meaning. A minor key combined with the use of a constructive crescendo make the beginning lyrics impart oppressive hardships and an overbearing significance which will continue on throughout the remainder of the song. Although the use of minor chords softly laid beneath the vocals of Crosby (which is used quite often throughout this rendition) establish the sincerity of the singer’s grief, the absence of any music at all does this just …show more content…
as well. “When there was earth to plow or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job” follow the first words of this melody. While orchestral sounds are still heard during the first half of these lyrics, they seem to dissipate as the next half is sung through, emphasizing the raw emotion expressed in Bing Crosby’s voice. Here, pure nostalgia can be heard in his voice, virtually secreting from the internal wounds that his present day burdens have caused. Another area where this tactic is used is during the lyrics “Say buddy, can you spare a dime?” the first time it is sung. Without the daunting music for support, his voice becomes vulnerable in its utter isolation, developing a tone of complete desperation and hinted embarrassment. One can nearly envision this man hopelessly begging for help from people who can do nothing for him, for they must seek vital help as well. On the opposite side of the musical spectrum is Rudy Vallee’s interpretation of “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime”.
In the opening of Bing Crosby’s approach, minor chords and a great crescendo build up to the opening line of the song which forms the distinctive theme of despair throughout the rest of the score. In contrast, Vallee’s one minute and twelve second upbeat introduction contradicts the true message behind the first line of Harburg’s lyrics. Along with the jubilant beats, which is bordering on disrespectful to the meaning of the song itself, Vallee takes the time to enthusiastically introduce himself to his listening audiences. He may recognize what the song is about, as he points out in his introduction that it holds a “theme that is both poignant and different”, though he doesn’t show any attempt at proving his understanding throughout the remaining verses. Following this quick message to his fans, more instrumental fillers play including a flute performing a quick tune, eventually transferring into a major key that one would usually associate with euphoria; not anguish. Similar to Vallee’s ignorant attempt, Abbey Lincoln’s jazzy portrayal barely does justice to Harburg’s melancholy chorus. Lincoln is definitely able to render the pure emotion that Crosby was able to capture through the use of her vocals, changing her tone and volume as appropriate, but the fast-paced jazz music is no exception. This genre of music seems almost too calming to be associated with
this humbling song, and the long break in between her singing is filled with saxophone and piano solos that seem incapable in illustrating the power that she is able to emphasize through the use of her vocals. Time and time again in these renditions, as the upbeat or jazzy music rages on in the background to the gripping lyrics, the significance is lost and the song becomes another mindless tune we find ourselves humming without a second thought. Hardships and burdens are both things that build character, creating a sense of empathy to the struggles of others in the long run. For a song about an era complete with misfortunes, who better to sing it than a man with a voice so rough and gripping, that it would stand out in the sounds of one thousand voices. Tom Waits may not
The piano is what sets the mood of the whole piece, the beginning starts off slow and gloomy sounding, then the vocalist begins to sing and confirms that this song is going to be unhappy. Although the song is gloomy sounding, I still like it, the piano has a pleasant melody and it is calming. It sounds like a song that should be played in a movie when a loved one dies and everyone’s moored at a funeral.
The beat and resonance of the music is very slow and soothing. It immediately sets up a sad mood. The music also manages to create a lonely and sympathetic atmosphere, which carries on throughout the play. The music only plays at significant times in the monologue as the tone of music needs to fit the mood and subject of which Doris is talking about at that moment, i.e. when Doris reminisces on the good times the music becomes lighter; but when she talks about the death of John the pace of the music slows and becomes duller. The use of music alone can form an overwhelming sympathy if appropriately used.
Sonny’s brother has been distant towards him, but recently, he has been trying to understand him and help him. Sonny decides to take his brother to a concert to see if he will understand what he is trying to convey through music. Sonny hasn’t played the piano for “over a year” and he is a little bit rusty (147). Sonny also says he isn’t on “much better terms with life” than he was a year ago (147). In a way though, he is in a much better place, because his brother is there for him. When Sonny starts to play the piano, he is a little bit nervous, and he does not really feel the music that he is playing. After a while though, he starts to loosen up and play his heart out. The tune he is playing is no longer just a song; it is “Sonny’s Blues” (148). The music he plays “fills the air with life, his life,” and Sonny’s brother finally understands “he could help us be free if we would listen, “ and that Sonny “would never be free until we did” (148). By the end of the story, Sonny achieves his goal of communicating his problems though his
“Sonny’s Blues” is a short story in which James Baldwin, the author, presents an existential world where suffering characterizes a man’s basic state. The theme of tragedy and suffering can be transformed into a communal art form, such as blues music. Blues music serves as a catalyst for change because the narrator starts to understand not only the music but also himself and his relationship with Sonny. The narrator’s view of his brother begins to change; he understands that Sonny uses music as an outlet for his suffering and pain. This story illustrates a wide critical examination.
...he scales in this composition. As for timbre, at the lower register, the song took on a dark, rich, tone, and at the high points it had more of a tinkling melody. The “upbeat” parts made me think of a happy couple strolling through the fair on a summer afternoon.
Historically, strong family relationships have been emphasized by American society. Strong family ties have been significant to maintaining healthy lifestyles and relationships across many cultures, including African American culture. Sonny, the younger brother in James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”, has suffered from a heroin addiction which caused him to separate from both his parents and his older brother. The essay portrays two brothers who struggle with their difficult Harlem environment, cultural issues, and their emotional detachment from one another. As the brothers struggle with their inner conflicts and outward environmental struggles, they are reunited through a common theme in the essay: music. Baldwin empowers Sonny with a gift of extraordinary musicianship, and uses this gift to enlighten and empower the narrator. Baldwin’s essay narrates the trials of the narrator on his journey to self- discovery and the brothers trial of rebuilding their brotherly bond with music as their guide. The essay uses music as a form of communication between the brothers and symbolizes it as a powerful force in their relationship. In Baldwin’s essay, “Sonny’s Blues”, the narrator and Sonny are empowered through music, and through this empowerment, the music is able to rekindle and rebuild the brothers relationship.
As a soldier, he cannot provide a better shelter for his younger brother when their parents die; he cannot send his brother away from Harlem and its drug circle. The concern on financial difficulties also guides the narrator in making choices throughout his life. I believe the narrator does not have the luxury to do what he may want to do; instead, his priority in career choice will adhere to the one which guarantees an economically secured and stable life. In spite of supporting his brother’s love and determination for jazz music, the narrator applies the same logic of making a living job towards Sonny; which in turn, creates a huge disagreement.
A Rebuttal of “Brother, Don’t Spare a Dime” In “Brother, Don’t Spare a Dime,” L. Christopher Awalt says that homeless people are homeless on their own accord. He believes “many of them seem to have chosen the lifestyles they lead” (Awalt))).. This article states that most homeless people would prefer to escape responsibility rather than fix their social and economic problems. Awalt uses an example of a man who had been on the streets for about 10 years. He provided this man with resources to improve his life and within four months he was making progress.
The story “Sonny’s Blues” By James Baldwin is about a jazz musician and his brother in 1950’s Harlem. The story centers on Sonny who uses jazz music as an escape from his depression. James Baldwin captures the art of jazz during this time period. The themes in this short story are perhaps varied, but all of them revolve around some form of suffering. One theme shows how music can promote change and understanding within relationships. A second theme reveals suffering caused by guilt. Yet another theme references the results of suffering brought about by searching for ones’ identity and how that leads to misunderstanding. There are also subthemes concerning racism and poverty.
A document from the Ransom Center minstrel collection “The Programme” (Wood’s Minstrel Hall) features many short minstrel plays created for entertainment purposes, among which are “Happy Uncle Tom” and “Dixie’s Land”. It is not hard to see that both of these two plays contains symbols that are associated with African Americans by the whites. Evidently, the creators of these performances incorporated their ideas of racial identities into these shows, which then passed on the messages to the audiences. There are also many sheet music and scores in the Ransom Center minstrel collection, including “Git along home my yaler gall” by the Boston Minstrel. The composer wrote this piece in a light-mooded major key, with a faster 6/8 tempo, intending to portray the image of a happy African American. In the text portion of this piece, many words were intentionally misspelled to exaggerate the presumed accents and lack of education of African Americans. These are all evidence of how the white composers at the time tend to incorporate the common perceptions of the African American from the standpoint of a white person into their compositions. Music is essentially a representation of the
The song “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South”, may possibly portray Holiday’s sadness and experience during the Great Depression. The line “Homesick, tired, all alone in a big city” can be ...
The song begins in a slow and introspective making use of a minor tonality. The original piece starts in the key of D Minor and follows an AABA form. The piece uses unlikely and unexpected chord changes, as well as a false key change from D Minor to D♭ Major in the first “A” section, even though this section ultimately ends in F Major. (In a Sentimental Mood) The first seven notes used in the song, although in a different key, identical to the first seven notes in Gershwin’s Someone To Watch Over Me. The piece makes use of the “Circle of Fifths”. The following is a quote from Source 1: (In
Family structure is often built on foundations consisting of, trust, principal, and unconditional love. Relatives are often a reflection of the morals, and dignity our guardians instilled in us. The struggle in families arises when an individual does not live up to the standards set for them, by family, and sometimes results in incarceration, or use of narcotics. In “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, readers encounter two brothers who are brought up in the rough neighborhood of Harlem, New York. Although Sonny, the younger brother, chooses a different life path in heroin usage, and in being a musician, his older brother, the narrator, becomes an algebra teacher. Despite not being in each other’s lives for a period of time, the knitted fraternal relationship that they share proves to be eternal regardless of their loss of contact. Ultimately, this story is an amazing illustration of how two people are from the same blood and home, are never quite the same, yet the love of a family will always be kindled. In the following articles "Sonny's Blues": A Message in Music, by Suzy Bernstein Goldman, explains how people often explain their emotions through music. In another article titled, -“ Black Literature Revisited: "’Sonny's Blues’" by Elaine R. Ognibene, she elaborates on the effects music has to bring two people together. Finally, in “The Jazz-Blues Motif in James Baldwin's "’Sonny's Blues’" by Richard N Albert discusses, the bound in families and enlightens on the cliché saying that blood is thicker than water. Ultimately, Albert provides the best interpretation of the short story “Sonny Blues,” because it’s more realistic and relatable from my own personal experience.
From the first stanza of this song, you get put into a scene. You know almost immediately that it is about someone, and it is the middle of December, but without stating the obvious, it paints a more illustrated picture for you. The first line states, “A winters day, in a deep and dark December” and I could almost immediately feel a cool breeze around me. When I normally think of a winter’s day, I think of people playing in the snow, and having a good time. This may be because I grew up in Southern California where there has been a lack of snow, but in my head, that is what I imagine. Having them state, in a deep and dark December, turns my attitudes to the more pessimistic way of looking at things. The image of children playing in the snow in my head has now turned to cold and dark emptiness. Reinstating my idea of emptiness, the next line follows with the simply statement, “I am alone”. Personally, I hate being alone. So to have the opening words place us in a deep and dark setting, and then state that you are alone, automatically puts me in a negative mindset.