AP US History Soundtrack

Songs 1 - 3: Virgen Madre de Dios, Apache Indian Drums, Shaman's Call (from Earth Spirit)
Given the spiritual and/or tribal nature of these pieces of music, I imagine that they were recorded in order to preserve such cultural aspects from hundreds of years ago. These parts of history are very nearly lost now, as it is common to assume that American History begins with the Pilgrims and the American Revolution, which is not truly the case. Song 1 may not specifically be from tribal ages, as it is sung in Spanish, a european language. It may have come from a time almost immediately after the arrival of the Spanish, though. With Songs 2 and 3, however, the origin is more defined. These songs very likely have their origin in the hundreds of years before North America was settled, being created by natives themselves. The drums of Song 2 may indicate a sort of dance or march for celebrations. Track 3 comes from a sort of reed instrument and the beautiful, peaceful tune suggests harmony with nature and one's surroundings, just the sort of concept the natives would have advocated.

Song 4: Brave Wolfe
This instrumental piece by Mark O'Connor (from 1997) "tells" of a battle in the French and Indian War, concerning General James Wolfe of the British, who led an attempt to capture Quebec and was killed in the process, while the attempt succeeded.
From this perspective, I find the song to be both impressive and depressing. It has a certain inexplciable quality about it that can make one imagine a battle happening in the background. It is depressing, of course, in that it tells of Wolfe, who died in his bravery. While recorded modernly, this song has a sort of feel to it that just sounds like it came straight out of the French and Indian War.

Song 5: Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
This song, also by Mark O'Connor, tells of a nearby time in history. While the instrumental music seems Irish in origin (particularly near the beginning), the song tells from the perpective of a man (presumably Johnny), who is leaving to be a soldier in the American Revolution, the emotional pain that this time of war brought upon families that were broken apart.
I enjoy this piece of music, becuase it is a sort of thing that people today can still relate to, with men still being part of the war in the Middle East. It teaches us that no matter what war it was, no matter what era of American History, war broke up families without much promise of reuniting them, a sort of suffering that must be remembered.

Song 6: Hard Times Come Again No More
This piece, orginally written by Stephen C. Foster in 1854, tells rather simply the pains of the weary as they recover from hard times and wish them to not repeat themselves. It is applicable in all ages, reportedly being popular on both sides of the U.S. Civil War.
Again, I enjoy the song, because (in a way very much like "Johnny"), it relates a very understandable lament: that suffering should not come again. I think it teaches us that, although we can often forget it by seeing historical peole just as pictures in textbooks, pain was very real to those historical figures, just as it is to us today. The people who engoyed the song nearly 150 years ago, during the Civil War, and ourselves share something: a dislike of pain and (as the song portrays) hope for the future.

Song 7: Paddy's Lament
This song, written by Sinead O'Connor in 2002, is told as a story from the perspective of Paddy, who left Ireland during the Potato Famine, to come over to America. It tells the pain of leaving behind a home in Dublin, coupled with the strife of getting caught up in war in America, which seems to be compised only of fighting and struggle. The song then finishes with the lament that Paddy wishes to be back home in Dublin.
This song is rather depressing, but understandable from the perspective of anyone who's ever left their home to venture somewhere new, yet also to miss the life they left behind. It also presents a different (and somewhat shocking) view of America than is typical in American History, as Paddy hates living in America and wants above all else to get back to Ireland. This is in sharp contrast with the typical view that immigrants come to America for feeedom and see it as a sort of promised land... such was not the case with poor Paddy...

Song 8: Jesus Christ
This curious song by Woody Guthrie (in about 1930) takes the Bible and puts it in (relaviely) modern times. It takes the story of how Jesus tells the rich to give what they have to the poor. Naturally, they had no such intentions and so had Jesus crucified. Guthrie takes the story and places it in America around the 1930s and so makes it such that the rich people today would have nothing of Jesus' teaching and "lay him in his grave" if he was to preach. Perhaps he sis uggestign that this is the case: that people don't really repsond to or comply with Jesus' teachings, and the coutnry is becoming less religious...
I like this song a lot. The message stated above is very powerful, because there's a certain ammount of truth to it. What if jesus really did come down and walk among the U.S. today? Would we as Americans openly be disciples? Or would we do as Guthrie thinks and lay Jesus in his gave???
If anyone's interested, I know a song that tells a rather similar story: "The Twenty-first Time" by Monk and Neagle.

Song 9: Do Re Me
This song, written and recorded around the 1930s tells of the difficult situation that many farmers in the midwest found themselves in around this time: the Dust Bowl. This horrible time sent those farmers looking for a new way of life out in California. However, the song says that they're not going to get by if they don't have the "do re me", which although not explained, most likely means something along the lines of proper spirit or a means of getting by.
This song seems a bit unpleasant to me. It just tells those poor farmers that if they don't have the "do re me" they may as well go back to where they came from (not very encouraging). Maybe it would have been better if Guthrie was singing it (after all, it was his song...).

Song 10: Strange Fruit
This song, recorded in 1939 by Billie Holiday, denounces racism against balcks in the 1930s. The title imagery, strange fruit, symbolizes two black men who were hanged in 1930. Holiday seemed to intend to increase pride among Blacks, in being a strange fruit, a special fruit, but not a bad fruit.
I agree with the message of this song entirely, it being an anti-racism song. Despite it ultimately being depressing, it is also enlightening. Of course, it provides more insight into how Black people felt about the trrible way they were treated back then, especially because it was written at that very time in history.

Song 11: A Change is Gonna Come
This song was originally wirtten by Sam Cooke in 1964, covered by Seal in 2008. It tells of the Civil Rights era from the perspective of any black person. While noting the troubles they faced at that time, he is otimistic that things are about to change in their favor. Such sentiments were likely influenced by figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr.
I enjoy this song a lot. It has good rhythym and a sort of jazzy feel to it, characteristic of music created by black people of that age. More to the point, it, like Strange Fruit, provides insight on racism from the perspective of those opressed. And rather than the somber feel of Strange fruit, this song is alive with hope and anticipation. It shows that the opressed blacks were not daunted to the point of not expressing their feelings (through music), a very admirable trait they posessed.

Song 12: Youngstown
This Bruce Springsteen song was released in 1995 and it tells of an unemployed steelworker in Youngstown, Ohio around the 1960s or 70s. the worker remebers time from previous years, sucha s his father's reurn from WWII and the troubles that bother them today, as he remembers working in the factory, and singing to a "Jenny" (which, interestingly enough, is not a person, but the furnace!).
Well, I'm not quite sure what to make of this song. It seems pretty depressing all the way through, what with the whole "I'm sinking" message... Anyway, I suppose we can realize from this song that the 60s and 70s were not just about peace, love and the age of hippies- there was much suffering yet to be had. This song also functions as a great tribute to those who lived through those times...

Song 13: The Times They Are A-Changin'
This song was released by Bob Dylan in 1964, and does just as it says in it's title: begins to take recognation of a new era in the history of the world, as globalization and modernization take effect. The song pretty much says to get ready for the new age, because it's coming and nothing's going to change that!
This song is pretty itneresting, because while it is talking about modernization, I can just see a guy playing this from a rocking chair on a dusty wooden porch, with it's sort of "old country" feel to it. We can learn from this song that while people may not have wanted to admit it, they could see chang ecoming. After all, by this time, people had Tvs, radios, any other forms of information, so they were hardly in the dark. Anyway, I think this song still ahs meaning today, because things still are a-changin' (compare 2010 to 2000 for an example!).

Song 14: The Hands that Built America
This song from the soundtrack to "Gangs of New York", released in 2002, has a very powerful message to it. In a few words, it says that the building of America did not stop once we won the American Revolution. The building up of America continues today, and includes everyone who lives in this country, from every race and age. Concluding, the final verse refrences the tagedy of September 11, 2001.
I enjoy this song a lot, perhaps most in this collection! It is a very different sort of patriotic song, because rather than just praising the coutnry, it digs deeper and shows that "America" really is- more than just a flag, an eagle, and iconic monuments, America is all the people who live within the United States of America!!! This song teaches an important lesson that can perhaps lead to more acceptance of new people, regardless of race and belief. We all make up this "sweet land of liberty" and ought to recognize that fact more often!

Song 15: We Didn't Start the Fire
Who deosn't love a CD that concludes with a great Billy Joel song? Released in 1989, this song pretty much sums up a wealth of historical events from the life of its singer, from 1949 onwards for 40 years! Not much else to say, because Joel just recites an amazingly detailed list of events. Interestingly, he has been noted to have been a bit of a history nut himself...
Well, I think this song is great! While maybe not too informative in an in-depth sort of way, it has a very catchy beat that is sort of irresistable (this song's going to be going through my head for days). From it, I think we can learn that over just 40 years, an amazingly large number of historically significant events can happen. I wonder what would get into a song detailing what happened from 1994 to 2010???


And now it's on to the classroom! I'm looking forward to an exciting year in AP US History!!!