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"...We don't need to know what the words to a song mean, or out of what tradition the song is operating to adduce a spirit of devotion."

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Ben Ratliff's argument that transmission and tone make or break a songs context is something I can get behind. He does specify that music isn't absolute in its meaning, but I love that about music. You listen to a song to interpret and understand its meanings. The interpretation is half of the fun. Ratliff on page 55 talks about a singer named Frankie Beverly singing "The Morning After" which is about a married man's feelings after having sex with another woman. Ratliff goes on in page 56 to point out the thoughtful lyrics and "steady... damped guitar strings, synthesizers set to flute sounds, twinkling percussion, and slow-walking tempo." which only add to the reality, sadness, and pain of cheating. Music does more than speak a message; there are speeches for that. The tone and transmission of both the lyrics and music add so much to the emotional value of the piece that without them the piece would not be the same. Genesis's song "No Son of Mine" is one of my favorites because of the sad message and amazing instrumentals. The beginning of the song starts of quiet with a slow build of each different instrument until ending with Phil Collins coming in at 12 seconds. Collin's lyrics and strained voice set a sad story, and the constant somber sound in the background puts the weight on the listener. His voice cries out almost in pain because he realizes he really has lost his father. Continuing, the ending always rung out to me because of how it fades into the distance and Collin's is still singing "No son of mine." It is almost as if he is moving on from losing his father, but that does not change the reality of losing his family. Without the tone of Phil Collin's voice, somber music, and sad lyrics, the song would not be the same. The tone controlled this piece's message.

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"We need to attach emotional descriptions to music in order to contain it, fix it, tag it, draw its boundaries, know what use it has, and remember how to find it."

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FRANKIE BEVERLY & MAZE * After The Morning After

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THE JAZZY SOUL SINGING of Maze * featuring Frankie Beverly

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Song from the album We Can't Dance (1991)