Lincoln DeBerry's Blog

Reflection  is a song written and produced by  Matthew Wilder  and  David Zippel  for Disney's  Mulan,  1998 .  The singer, Lea Salonga, is not only the voice actor for Mulan but also voiced Jasmine's songs in Disney's Aladdin, 1992. Mulan is one of Disney's Most successful animated movies grossing over 304 million dollars. The story of Mulan comes from an ancient Chinese poem called the  Ballad of Mulan , which is set in the Northern Wei Dynasty, between 386 to 534 AD.  As for the song itself, Reflection follows Mulan's struggle about how she cannot seem to fit into a mold her parents have already set out for her. Its lyricism is one of the highlights of the song for example: " Why is my Reflection someone I don't know ?" and " When will my reflection show, who I am inside ." really paints a picture of Mulan's struggle with accepting herself as who she is. Reflections  outstanding social commentary shows the "reflection" ...

  A Brief Musical History Frank Sinatra's musical career started in 1946 with his debut album: "The Voice of Frank Sinatra." Then, in 1953,  Sinatra's Career flew to the moon with the signing of Capital Records. With 50 Years of service, and well over 1200 songs performed, Frank Sinatra with stand the test of time as one of the greatest performers ever. The First Song we will be looking at is: Fly me to the Moon 1954 By Bart Howard , performed in 1964 by Frank Sinatra . As a drummer I can say this song is pure joy to play, the rhythm is just cathartic, along with the melody it makes for a blast to play. My personal favorite part of this song is the crescendos throughout  the song. Also, a big reason this song was so popular, is its association with Nasa's Apollo Space Program. The Second song we will be looking at is: My way , 1968, by Claude Francois , performed 1968. by Frank Sinatra.  The song starts off slow with a classic swing beat and changes tempo throug...

A Musical Trip Through Traditional Japan With its layered culture and unique sound, traditional Japanese music is a timeless tapestry that weaves together centuries of tradition and innovation, creating a captivating auditory experience that transcends boundaries and resonates with listeners around the globe. The first piece of music I will be showcasing is Sakura , by Yokoyama, Shin-Itchiro, written between 1600 and 1800 A.D. The song itself is a depiction of spring and is often played at international conferences as a representation of Japan. The lyricism is quite astounding, with "Cherry Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms, Flowers in Full Bloom" representing the changing seasons and being one of my personal favorite lyrics in the song. I also really enjoyed the melody of the song; it has a slow, waving sound. This is because of the "Koto," an instrument responsible for the main melody, along with the sway of the melody to and fro throughout the song. The second piece ...

Introduction From pop to punk, from hip-hop phonk, the drum kit makes the best clonk. The drum is one of the most important instruments in any song. It provides a steady and consistent tempo for the rest of the band, and, in a way, is the conductor of the entire song. In this presentation you will learn the basic history of the drums, why they are so important to music, and the innovations they have received over the years.   A Brief History of the Drum The first drum that we know of dates back to around 5500 BC.  It was found in China, and was made out of alligator skin and wood. They are used for religious ceremonies and cultural events. The first "Drum Kit" ever built was made in 1918, Chicago, I.L, by William F. Ludwig and his brother, Theobald Ludwig. The Innovation of the Drum's from the 1920's to the 2020's Here is one of the first drum kits ever made. Now here is a modern kit. The difference is undoubtedly substantial.  The first kit was made with wood, me...

   10/19/23 The Grouch By Green Day: Musical Analysis If you cant tell by now I love the punk-rock genre, and in my opinion The Grouch, by Green Day might be the second best punk song by them. Written by Billie Joe Armstrong, in there album labeled "Nimrod-1997" its rhythm combined with the melody makes a great setting for the lyrics. (Setting, as in its a great set up for the lyrics and blends really well.) Although not everyone thought this way; when the Album was released it wasn't very popular with critics, and fans. Nevertheless, The Grouch continues, still to this day as a bright spot in Green Days line up.  The Grouch, By Green Day -1997 Rhythm and Dynamics: The rhythm Starts with a bang and doesn't really stop until the song ends, It slows down along with the dynamics, at the chorus, and then goes back to normal. I especially like the crash symbols on the 2 and 4 beat through out the song. it goes along with the lyrics really well. The dynamics change fairly ...

Few songs truly depict the undiplomatic state of the American government like this. Its lyrics still apply  even now. California Uber Alles, by Dead Kennedys, written by  Jello Biafra and John Greenway is a staple in the punk-rock genre. its unique sound and overall feel makes it one of the greatest songs made by Dead Kennedys, (and one of my personal favorites.) California Uber Alles, 1987 U.S.A Full Song Lyrics: The lyrics Point out the neo facism of former governor, Jerry Brown from 1975 to 1983. The Lyrics are sung from his perceptive as an imaginary version of brown, outlines a hippie facist vision of America. The Lyrics include: The hippie's wont come back you say, mellow out or you will pay. Along with: Your kids will meditate in school, The choice of these Lyrics are very precise and well done. Rhythm The Rhythm Starts off  semi slow then speeds up till you get to the chorus which just goes wild. towards the end of the song the drummer uses what's called a m...