Week 3 Listening Project

Another new observation about my song this week. I think she uses instrumentation well. The verses the when she is explaining her love. They are minimally accompanied, almost like a private conversation. The chorus is when she is talking about the possible consequences of announcing her love publicly. It uses lots of instruments as if many voices are talking from all angles, giving advice, causing tension.

This week the accompaniment spoke to me. Interesting because last week was more about the words.

Listening Project Week 2

Took notice of a phrase I never understood until today. When she’s describing her lover she talks about “cradling the softest, warmest part of you in my hands.” Later the phrase changes to “cradling the hardest, heaviest part of me in my hands.” I never got that she is holding her head in her hands. I can picture her really weighing this decision vividly.

The rhythm she plays with her guitar is pretty consistent throughout the piece. When she is talking about her lover, she and her guitar soften. When she is singing about making the decision to announce their marriage, she and her guitar become louder and more abrupt. I think she sings and plays louder to try to convince herself that she has made the right decision. As she softens again, I hear some static like sounds showing her fuzziness about her position.

Week 1 listening project

The "stuff" that makes a great song for me include; unique perspective of the singer, interesting rhythm or melody, a song I can sing along to, and a good story or meaning. Swandive is written and sung by Ani Difranco. Ani built her career being an outspoken proponent of lesbian rights from the prospective of a lesbian traveling the country performing. She typically has a non-traditional style in appearence exlemplified by alternating between shaving her head and growing dreadlocks. Many of her songs tackle social issues and attack social norms.

This song was on the last album before she announced she was going to marry a man. She was worried that her singing career would be over for falling in love with a guy after building her career with the help of so many millitant lesbians. This song tells us that she has made up her mind to follow her heart no matter what the consequences are.

This song, Swandive, speaks to me because the sentiment is so universal. Everyone has come to crossroads at some point. When you finally make a decision which direction is best, it feels like a leap of faith.

My song choice

Swandive by Ani Difranco
from the album Little Plastic Castles