See Dee

I'd have to say that this was yet another project on which I spent a lot more time on than I originally thought I would. It's pretty amazing that this "more creative" approach (as opposed to writing a paper) actually makes a student learn and spend more time with the content while incorporating things that most people like, such as music.

That said, the general theme for my CD was "remembrance", as in a CD dedicated to a friend/relative/someone who has passed away or dedicated to help you remember that person. I think Jena and maybe a few others did one with the same theme. Why do this? I originally got the idea after reading of the passing of Kanye West's mom and hearing the song "Hey Momma". Although I didn't use this song, it did get me thinking about my own friends and family. The songs were ordered beginning with a couple songs I thought represented the bleakness and hopelessness one feels when going through a loss. Then came the "climax": one song I thought was among the most emotional I've ever heard, relating to death. Afterwards, the songs gradually became lighter and more hopeful, thus completing the figurative "circle".

I also noticed that the songs which started with a single guitar and/or vocalist all had different tones, and arranged them such-also choosing certain songs because of the way they started.

1 Mad World-Gary Jules
2 Seasons in the Sun- Terry Jacks
3 I See A Darkness -Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4 Hurt-Johnny Cash (cover of NIN song)
5 Time of Your Life-Green Day
6 Light Up-Snow Patrol
7 Dance With My Father-Luther Vandross
8 Where'd You Go-Fort Minor
9 Wild Horses-Natasha Bedingfield
10 A Little Pain-Olivia
11 Thank You-Dido
12 Pacific Wind-Ryan Farish
13 Now We Are Free-Lisa Gerrard

All in all, I think this project did teach me that making a successful Mix tape/cd required the same elements of composition, notation, selection, etc. as writing and organizing a paper or even drawing a work of art would. Choosing songs in of itself is a window into the author's own mind/body/soul.

I was going to try to remember and post my liner notes and reasons for selecting each song, but instead I'm going to ask anyone who reads this to figure out which song was the "climax", as well as any comments about the selections (as I'm sure there will be).






P.S. If any of you get the time, I urge you to try and youtube some of the songs up there. The videos really add to the feel.
I'm watching the basketball game right now, and Jimmy V was mentioned. This was his speech.