Lisa Stulberg started off Culture Of Learning class this morning with some Hamilton. She wants us to learn how to write, and Lin-Manuel Miranda is her current source of writerly inspiration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nr2SQwAklE
Author Archives: Ethan
Between The World And Me
I’m taking a sociology class called Learning Of Culture with Lisa Stulberg. It could just as easily be called Culture Of Learning, since it views school as just one cultural setting among many. Our first assignment was to read Between The World And Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I agree with Toni Morrison’s cover blurb. After …
An open letter to GQ about “We Built This City”
Dear Gentleman’s Quarterly, You recently published a story, An Oral History of “We Built This City,” the Worst Song of All Time.
Musical simple: Groove Is In The Heart
In college, I played in a cover band called Harsh Mouse (because the band members all lived in Marsh House.) One of the high points of our repertoire was this song.
Musical simples: This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
The song’s subtitle refers in part to its childlike simplicity. Still, there’s more going on here than immediately meets the ear.
Musical simples: With Or Without You
I’m not a particular fan of U2, but I’ll make an exception for “With Or Without You,” their lushly beautiful ambient rock masterpiece.
Musical simples: Hey Jude
The end section of “Hey Jude” is longer than most entire pop songs, a long gradual build on a single simple loop.
Musical simples: Day Tripper
Many of the Beatles’ most memorable ideas are variations on boilerplate riffs from rock, country, blues or R&B. The riff from “Day Tripper” derives from boogie-woogie. John Lennon cited Bobby Parker’s 1961 song “Watch Your Step” as the inspiration for both “Day Tripper” and “I Feel Fine.”
Musical simples: Come Together
Presumably you’re familiar with this song? If not, run out and get Abbey Road and don’t deprive yourself for another minute. As far as I’m concerned, you can have Revolver and Sergeant Pepper and whatever else; Abbey Road is the best Beatles album. It opens with the funkiest, baddest bass and drum riff in their …
Musical simples: Smells Like Teen Spirit
The opening riff to this Nirvana classic is a concise explanation of the concept of relative major and minor, and an object lesson in musical parallelism.