MUSIC HELPS CULTURAL IDENTITY

JANINE ARMIE F. PALOMO

SOC 001
POPULAR MUSIC

• “SAME LOVE”
 The track talks about the issue of gay and lesbian rights and
was recorded during the campaign for Washington Referendum 74,
which, upon approval in November 2012, legalized same-sex marriage
in Washington State.
Macklemore explained that the song also came out of his own
frustration with hiphop's positions on homosexuality.
SAME LOVE This song is intrinsically linked to our cultural identity by
Controversy and Progressive Positivity Factor.
Music has done so much for expression and sex positivity, and
music often gives people an outlet to express feelings that they
wouldn’t feel comfortable expressing otherwise. And whether we are
twerking secretly in our bedrooms or finding comfort in LGBT
anthems, music will forever continue to speak for the silenced.
CLASSIC AL MUSIC

• “LA VIE EN ROSE”

 The song's title can be translated as "Life in happy hues," "Life
seen through happy lenses," "Life in rosy hues"; its literal meaning is
"Life in Pink." "La Vie en rose" was the song that made Piaf
internationally famous, with its lyrics expressing the joy of finding true
love and appealing to those who had survived the difficult period of

LA VIE EN World War II.

This song is intrinsically linked to our cultural identity by how
ROSE we Celebrate.
Every moment we celebrate in our lives is tied to music. The
first dance at our wedding, blowing out our birthday candles, scoring a
goal. This song is a celebration of finding true love and happiness. After
difficulty.
 JAZZ MUSIC

• “MOON RIVER”
 The song is about Mercer's youth in the Southern United
States and his longing to expand his horizon.
This song is intrinsically linked to our cultural identity because
it serves as a Time Capsule.

MOON
Moon River is about looking to the future and the past
simultaneously. The river represents time and the journey from start to
finish. It’s about the journey of life.
RIVER The lyrics composer, Johnny Mercer, wanted to write about his
home in the south of the USA where he lived by the water. It’s a
nostalgic view of a childhood vision of the future. Two drifters hoping
to journey across the world they can’t see. The river is flowing round
the bend - into the unseen future - and the singer and his friend are
excited to be going on the journey of life together.
 COUNTRY MUSIC

• “IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE”

 In "It's a Great Day to Be Alive," Travis Tritt sings about a great
day in his life, and all the things he has, and appreciates. He wishes every
day could be just like that one.

IT’S A This song is intrinsically linked to our cultural identity by how

we Celebrate.
GREAT DAY This song is a celebration of life and appreciating it.

TO BE
ALIVE
 REGGAE MUSIC

• “GET UP, STAND UP”

 Get Up, Stand Up is a famous song by Bob Marley and the
Wailers. Lyrically Get Up, Stand Up inspires listeners to stand up and
fight for their rights. According to filmmaker and actress Esther
Anderson, who was a former girlfriend of Marley, Marley wrote this
song while in Haiti. According to Anderson, Marley was so touched by

GET UP the severe poverty the average Haitian was going through on a daily
basis, and that inspired him to write the song.

STAND UP Its impact has endured long past its origins to the point that it
was adopted by the human-rights nonprofit Amnesty International as
its official anthem.
This song is intrinsically linked to our cultural identity by these
factors: Controversy and Progressive Positivity Factor and Anthems for
All.
 HEAVY METAL
MUSIC

• “THE UNFORGIVEN”
 The song deals with the theme of the struggle of the individual
against the efforts of those who would subjugate him.
"The Unforgiven" is James Hetfield's most personal track of all
Metallica songs.The song explores James' tumultuous childhood.
For "The Unforgiven" James Hetfield put his personal feelings
stemmed from his childhood turmoil into lyrics. As he said in an
interview, "personal wounds are a great thing to write about.“
THE
UNFORGIVEN This song is intrinsically linked to our cultural identity by this
factor: Connecting to Others.
 DANCE MUSIC

• “DANCING ON MY OWN”
 "Dancing on My Own" was inspired by Robyn's "love of
inherently sad, gay disco anthems", such as Ultravox's "Dancing with
Tears in My Eyes" and songs by Sylvester and Donna Summer.
"Dancing on My Own" has been described as a heartbreak
anthem. Speaks of a woman who is dancing alone in a club, while
watching her ex-lover with another woman.
This song is intrinsically linked to our cultural identity by these
DANCING ON factors: Connecting to others and Controversy and Progressive
MY OWN Positivity Factor.
Music has done so much for expression and sex positivity, and
music often gives people an outlet to express feelings that they
wouldn’t feel comfortable expressing otherwise.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

JANINE ARMIE F. PALOMO

SOC 001