Music in
Context
Contrasting Versions
of Songs
Thanks to Professor CC, a
Musician
1
The Star Spangled Banner as performed by the
U.S. Marine Band

Our country’s national anthem, performed
beautifully by a military band.
Tracks 5-6
2
Questions to Guide Analysis



The anthem can be tedious. Is this version
tedious?
What happens to the music at the bridge,
corresponding to the lyrics, "and the rockets
red glare, the bombs bursting in air . . ."?
What feelings or images does this version of
the anthem evoke in you, and why?
3
Brisk and anything but tedious.
 The bridge is soft and gentle, even though it
coincides with violent lyrics: “and the rockets’
red glare, the bombs bursting in air.”


Whether played at a sports event or a military
or presidential appearance
 inspires
feelings of pride and patriotism
4
The Star Spangled Banner as performed
by Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock 1969


Notice the bridge in
Hendrix’s version
Accompanies the violent
lyrics with equally violent
sounds of bombs and
screams on his guitar
5
Questions to Guide Analysis
How would you describe the nature and
style of this version?
 What context or intention on the
musician's part helps to explain the huge
difference in style?

6
Answers
Wild and irreverent
 Performed at the Woodstock music festival in
the late 1960’s, near the height of the Vietnam
War.
 A protest of American policies and perhaps of
war in general.

7
• Now skip ahead to tune #9.
• The next set of songs feature two versions of
Don’t Let me Be Misunderstood
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8
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood by
Eric Burdon and the Animals

This English rock group was influenced by
American blues and R&B, as reflected in its
biggest hit, The House of the Rising Sun.

What musical instruments are prevalent, and
what musical style or styles are represented?
What emotions are conveyed by the voice and
lyrics?
9
Lyrics






Baby, do you understand me now,
Sometimes I feel a little mad.
But don’t you know that no one alive can
always be an angel,
When things go wrong, I seem to be bad.
I’m just a soul whose intentions are good,
Oh, Lord please don’t let me be
misunderstood.
10
Lyrics Continue…






Baby, sometimes I’m so carefree,
With a joy that’s hard to hide.
And sometimes it seems that all I have to do is
worry,
And then you’re bound to see my side.
I’m just a soul whose intentions are good,
Oh, Lord please don’t let me be misunderstood.
11





If I seem edgy, I want you to know,
That I never mean to take it out on you,
Life has its problems, and I get my share,
And that’s one thing I never mean to do.
Because I love you, Oh, baby don’t you know
I’m human, have thoughts like any other one.
Sometimes I find myself long regretting, some
foolish thing, some sinful thing I’ve done.
12

I’m just a soul whose intentions are good,
Oh, Lord please don’t let me be misunderstood.

{Repeat . . .}

13
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood by
Santa Esmeralda


What different
musical styles or
genres seem to be
represented
throughout the entire
song?
Do you recognize
this song from a
movie soundtrack,
and does that form
part of your context
for it?
14
• Fusing rock, orchestral
backgrounds, Latin horns, and
the insistent bass drum beat of
disco with flamenco clapping
and guitar.
• The multicultural fusion of
this version
• A climatic Samurai sword
battle in a snow-covered
Japanese tea garden in the
movie Kill Bill.
15
The hand clapping suggests the rhythms of
???
16
17
Proud Mary as performed by
Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Country rock tune
• Huge hit on the pop charts, reaching
#2
• The tempo was perfect for dancing,
and John Fogerty’s vocals were
compelling.
• Feeling: one of hometown familiarity,
security, and reliability.
18
Lyrics to Proud Mary
•
•
•
•
•
•
Left a good job in the City,
Workin’ for the man every night and day;
Then I never lost a minute of sleepin’
Worryin’ ‘bout how things might have been.
Big wheel keep on turnin’
Proud Mary keeps on burnin’
19
• Rollin,’ Rollin,’
• Rollin’ on the River.
• {Notice the catchy
guitar bridge that
separates the verses.}
20
• Seen a lot of places in Memphis.
Hogged a lot of playing down in New
Orleans.
But I never saw the good side of the city
'til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen.
• Big wheel keeps on turnin,’
• Proud Mary keeps on burnin’
21
• Rollin,’ Rollin,’
• Rollin’ on the River.
• {Okay, now skip to
the next version of
this song.}
22
• Version 2 of Proud Mary
• Okay, this is a later version of Proud
Mary, arranged by Ike Turner, a pioneer
of early rock ‘n roll and soul music,
whose own fame was eclipsed by his wife
and his band’s lead singer, Tina Turner.
23
Proud Mary by
The Ike and Tina Turner Revue
• The version performed by
the Ike and Tina Turner
Revue, consisting entirely of
African-American singers,
dancers, and musicians, was
an up-tempo, soulful mix of
horn licks, double-time
dancing, and Tina Turner’s
high-energy vocals.
24
The Context
• The Revue’s version was arranged and
choreographed for live performances,
particularly for the Revue’s tour as opening act
for the Rolling Stones. Excitement was the
key element.
25
The Introduction
• For drama and dynamics, Tina begins slowly,
with her famous reference to beginning “nice
and easy” . . . and progressing to “nice and
rough.”
• After the second verse, listen for the transition
to the up-tempo verses, with the transition
driven by drums and sharp horn arrangements.
26
• The lyrics are the same, but the style and energy
are different in this version. Only a version like
this could warm up the audience for the Rolling
Stones.
27