My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket => The Music => Topic started by: TheKnoxvilleBear on Oct 25, 2009, 12:22 PM

Title: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: TheKnoxvilleBear on Oct 25, 2009, 12:22 PM
Hello fellow Jacketeers! Its been a while, but I trust everyone is doing fine and enjoying this great fall weather. I need some help. I am writing a brief paper on a song where I have to:
    "Give an oral presentation discussing the implications the words to music or vice versa. Basically, can the song exist as a poem? Do the musical notes, drum rhythms, chord progressions, harmonies, chosen instruments, etc. add something essential to one's connection to the song or to the song's storytelling element? What is your understanding of the song as a poem?

--I love every single MMJ song, so this is really hard for me to decide which one to pick. Please give me some suggestions on a song to choose and your interpretation of the song.
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: AlwxanderD10 on Oct 25, 2009, 01:09 PM
Dondante.
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: TheKnoxvilleBear on Oct 25, 2009, 01:31 PM
Dondante would be great. I'm supposed to play a 30 sec. clip for the class, so I don't know which part I'd play. Maybe at "You had me worried" into the awesome guitar solo? I know its about a friend's suicide, and it definitely has a haunting ghost like sound to accompany the words. Any other thoughts about Dondante?
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: AlwxanderD10 on Oct 25, 2009, 01:45 PM
Well i know it could definitely be a poem, the first two lines of each section rhyme, ummmm i know his friend was a musician so maybe some of the song could have been influenced by the way his friend played but I'm really not sure.
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: capt. scotty on Oct 25, 2009, 02:05 PM
Steam Engine, play the last verse is an obvious one.

I think Gideon, Rollin Back, Knot Comes Loose, or I Think Im Going To Hell would all be great choices too

Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: weeniebeenie on Oct 26, 2009, 07:47 AM
Gideon, At Dawn, Smokin' From Shootin'.
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: aMillionDreams on Oct 26, 2009, 08:11 AM
It's just the way that he sings, not the words that he says or the band

Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: AMightyCaporal on Oct 26, 2009, 09:36 AM
wordless chorus  :)

how that song makes me smile when I'm feeling my lowest is beyond me.

also- the way that he sings
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: DaFunkyPrecedent on Oct 27, 2009, 04:07 PM
Dondonte.  Jim makes his voice sound like a ghost, he makes his voice "wake up", the guitars and drums and sax take you into another planet...Dondonte for sure.
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: Sticky Icky Green Stuff on Oct 27, 2009, 04:42 PM
yeah Dondante would be an easy one to do for sure.  all about his friend dying and then seeing him in a dream.  cool conceptually and rocks hard.
Steam Engine was the other one that came to mind.  
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: Sticky Icky Green Stuff on Oct 27, 2009, 04:44 PM
or perhaps "the bear"
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: The DARK on Oct 27, 2009, 08:22 PM
Steam Engine and Dondante are the two obvious ones.

Also, if you're leaning more towards the stripped-down, I Needed It Most would be a solid choice.
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: tdb810 on Oct 27, 2009, 09:41 PM
I love this assignment! I did it when I was in HS English Junior Yr (way way way back). It's such a wonderfully creative way of discussing and debating meanings attributed to the lyrics and stories!

My choice:  

I Will Sing You Songs

Feels and sounds like a sweet, sweet love song, but I also sense a trace of sarcasm there....still haven't figured it out completely..

Have fun!

Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: Sticky Icky Green Stuff on Oct 27, 2009, 09:42 PM
Librarian would be an easy one.  I'm Amazed would be an easy one.  
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: Sticky Icky Green Stuff on Oct 27, 2009, 09:44 PM
QuoteI love this assignment! I did it when I was in HS English Junior Yr (way way way back). It's such a wonderfully creative way of discussing and debating meanings attributed to the lyrics and stories!

My choice:  

I Will Sing You Songs

Feels and sounds like a sweet, sweet love song, but I also sense a trace of sarcasm there....still haven't figured it out completely..

Have fun!


I will sing you songs is such a bad ass song, it really blasts you at the end with those vocals.  awesome awesome song for sure.
Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: tdb810 on Oct 27, 2009, 10:16 PM

[/quote]

I will sing you songs is such a bad ass song, it really blasts you at the end with those vocals.  awesome awesome song for sure.[/quote]


Ditto!  This will sound weird, but sometimes I can't even listen to it -- conjures up SO much emotion.  Such a powerful piece.



Title: Re: Writing a paper on a MMJ song (need help)
Post by: TheKnoxvilleBear on Oct 28, 2009, 12:30 AM
Thanks for all the great feeback. I'm going with Dondante