1920's Comparison Piece

As a 17 year old, I recognize my age holds a certain notoriety, my gender lending itself to an even less desirable stereotype; promiscuity gets the euphemism  "boy crazed",  internet obsessed, and otherwise hormonal. As unflattering as these characteristics are, they have been, in some part, earned. Most everyone our age has a "smart phone", with monthly plans that provide unlimited texting and internet access, leading to some 100 texts a day and infinities of intellectual property streamed moments after our many whims. The hottest fashions are skin tight jeans, exposed shoulders, crop-tops, low rise shorts, and "smokey eyes". Each of this things are, needless to say, unappreciated by our parents. The bright side is we are no rarity to history. In alot of ways we are just like our great grandmother's of the 1920's. Our skinny jeans, when compared to the women of the 20's, are no more extreme then corset-less women in dresses  just below the knee. What is our boy craziness when compared to rouged lips, and cigarettes, and other mechanism to attract the male eye? Or internet pitted against the Charleston? Sure, the ladies of the 1920's offenses seem minute now, all thanks to progress, but they used to be a menace to society. Scary as it may be, progress will bring about more shocking things then 2012's favorite crop tops. In fact, it already has. The 80's, gone but never forgotten.

Lonely Boy by the Black Keys

Well I'm so above youand it's plain to seebut I came to love you any way...So you pulled my heart out and I don't mind bleedin'any old time you keep me waiting, waiting, waiting
oh oh oh oh, I got a love that keeps me waitingoh oh oh oh, I got a love that keeps me waitingIm a lonely boy, I'm a lonely boyoh oh oh oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
well your mama kept youbut your daddy left youand I shoulda' done you just the samebut I came to love you am I going to bleed?any old time you keep me waiting, waiting, waiting
oh oh oh oh, I got a love that keeps me waitingoh oh oh oh, I got a love that keeps me waitingIm a lonely boy, I'm a lonely boyoh oh oh oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
oh oh oh oh, I got a love that keeps me waitingoh oh oh oh, I got a love that keeps me waitingIm a lonely boy, I'm a lonely boyoh oh oh oh, I got a love that keeps me waiting
a) This song, at its heart is about unrequited love. "Lonely Boy" is a literal title depicting love of a woman with no recompense to speak of. Despite knowing that she is a wasted effort, "she has a love that keeps him waiting".b) I enjoy this song because I appreciate the Black Keys at a fundamental level. They have a very high energy. The repetition all throughout the song lends itself to getting stuck in ones head. The content of the song is particularly relatable to, really, humanity at large. And who can't dig some soulful electric guitar? I know I can.c) This song's biggest commonality with legendary blues is its topic; heartbreak. Though the song has a certain pep in its sound, its a rather forlorn song at it's heart. As far as sound goes, it is an updated version of the steely Eric Clapton blues. It uses slide guitar, and the vintage organ sound is reminiscent of The Animals, Morrison and their contemporaries. The Black Keys use some modern elements, predominantly in the throaty male lead, synthesized builds, etc. The largest difference between modern "blues" and blues ultimately becomes that this day and age has no patience for a song that isn't absolutely packed with sound; there is no part of the song left bare.  

Post 1

First blog post; check. American History Through Music homework... accomplished.