Week 6 listening project

I'm finding myself trying so hard to hear something new each week that I listen to the song a couple of times in a row. All that effort seems to be wasted today. I've had a rough few days this week. Just when I thought I finally had life planned, things have changed personally and professionally. I'm now feeling the words to the song again. When stuck at a crossroads, it's hard to know which way to go, especially when the original plan sounded so good.

Week 5 listening project

It seems that no matter how hard I listen to this song, I am still an emotional listener, especially today. I listen to the words and emotions she expresses and apply them to situations in my life. It works kindda like backward therapy. I get strength from her battle to make a difficult decision in her life. I can almost picture her making a pros and cons list and working through the consequences on each side.

The good news is that I still like the song! (So far)

She's worried about losing her lesbian fan base by marrying a man. I guess she thinks that her fan base buys her music for a reason other than her music. She perceives them as liking her for what she stands for, not necessarily because she makes great music. Hmm...commodification, fetishism?

Listening post week 4

I'm much more aware of the layering of voices and instruments this week. I can hear just three instruments in the beginning, slowly adding until the chorus has many instruments and added voices, then tapering back down to just the three instruments again. It kind of moves the song along a path.

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