For this blog, I decided to take a look at three songs from three completely different genres. In order to do so, I began to play my Pandora and chose to use the first three songs of differing genres that came on. They ended up being “Take A Little Ride” by Jason Aldean (country), “Live While We’re Young” by One Direction, and “Birthday Song” by 2 Chainz (rap/hip hop). Different people like different types of music; some like an assortment, as seen here, while others tend to stick to musical choices of similar genres. I for one am a fan of a variety of different styles of music, including the songs stated above. These three songs have their similarities, as they are all examples of popular music, but they are also rather different in their lyrics and composition.
Each song is a fairly good example of their corresponding genre. “Take A Little Ride” makes references to southern elements and uses terms and phrases that are related to country music such as with the lines “Drop the tailgate down on a turn row/Watch the corn grow, baby, that’s a good night”. The music is also heavily guitar-driven with some percussion added in. “Live While We’re Young” just oozes with teenage bubble gum poppy goodness. The lyrics are geared toward a younger audience—with lines like “Let’s go crazy, crazy, crazy till we see the sun/I know we only met but let’s pretend it’s love”; the beat is up-tempo, with the momentum hitting full force each time it reaches the chorus. “Birthday Song” on the other hand is completely different from either of these genres, with its explicit lyrics and more synthetically-based instrumentation.
In this situation, a habitus is basically the knowledge you have in regards to something. The experiences you have throughout your lifetime can alter your habitus. The habitus required to “appreciate” each of these musical styles for the most part is very different. In order to “appreciate” Jason Aldean’s “Take A Little Ride”, you would most likely have to be from the south, or at least grow up around people with knowledge and love for different aspects of the south. The habitus you would presumably be part of to “appreciate” One Direction’s “Live While We’re Young” is that of a youth in today’s society, more specifically one who was raised in the suburbs or more positive areas of cities. The song is upbeat, and therefore would more likely than not reflect the personalities and attitudes of its fans. If you were an admirer of “Birthday Song” by 2 Chainz, the habitus you would be from in order to “appreciate” the song would perhaps be one that involved a more urban lifestyle. The lyrics are a bit darker and grittier due to the explicit content, despite the dance-able beat. There are, however, some instances, such as with me, where people who enjoy any of these genres aren't necessarily part of the habitus in which they are most often found.
There are circumstances in which people’s musical tastes are altered due to a change in residency or meeting someone who is from a different neighborhood or even a different region (of the country) than you are. The experiences people have and the people you encounter can modify your habitus in small or significant ways, depending on at what point in your life you are in.
For example, I’m a fan of all three of these songs, but I grew up in a neighborhood that would qualify as being part of the “Live While We’re Young” habitus. Growing up, I lived in the suburbs and listened to pop music for the majority of my childhood. But as I got older and I expanded my social circle, I was introduced to different genres of music because I was influenced by different friends. I began listening to rap music because I had friends whose main musical style of choice was rap/hip hop and their taste rubbed off on me. I started to delve into the world of country when some of my friends introduced me to Taylor Swift’s music; my interest in the genre grew as I became more acquainted with different artists and songs. Now living in the city and going to UIC, my habitus and musical tastes have widened even more. Your habitus is ever changing because you’re constantly being introduced to new people, places and things.
Each song is a fairly good example of their corresponding genre. “Take A Little Ride” makes references to southern elements and uses terms and phrases that are related to country music such as with the lines “Drop the tailgate down on a turn row/Watch the corn grow, baby, that’s a good night”. The music is also heavily guitar-driven with some percussion added in. “Live While We’re Young” just oozes with teenage bubble gum poppy goodness. The lyrics are geared toward a younger audience—with lines like “Let’s go crazy, crazy, crazy till we see the sun/I know we only met but let’s pretend it’s love”; the beat is up-tempo, with the momentum hitting full force each time it reaches the chorus. “Birthday Song” on the other hand is completely different from either of these genres, with its explicit lyrics and more synthetically-based instrumentation.
In this situation, a habitus is basically the knowledge you have in regards to something. The experiences you have throughout your lifetime can alter your habitus. The habitus required to “appreciate” each of these musical styles for the most part is very different. In order to “appreciate” Jason Aldean’s “Take A Little Ride”, you would most likely have to be from the south, or at least grow up around people with knowledge and love for different aspects of the south. The habitus you would presumably be part of to “appreciate” One Direction’s “Live While We’re Young” is that of a youth in today’s society, more specifically one who was raised in the suburbs or more positive areas of cities. The song is upbeat, and therefore would more likely than not reflect the personalities and attitudes of its fans. If you were an admirer of “Birthday Song” by 2 Chainz, the habitus you would be from in order to “appreciate” the song would perhaps be one that involved a more urban lifestyle. The lyrics are a bit darker and grittier due to the explicit content, despite the dance-able beat. There are, however, some instances, such as with me, where people who enjoy any of these genres aren't necessarily part of the habitus in which they are most often found.
There are circumstances in which people’s musical tastes are altered due to a change in residency or meeting someone who is from a different neighborhood or even a different region (of the country) than you are. The experiences people have and the people you encounter can modify your habitus in small or significant ways, depending on at what point in your life you are in.
For example, I’m a fan of all three of these songs, but I grew up in a neighborhood that would qualify as being part of the “Live While We’re Young” habitus. Growing up, I lived in the suburbs and listened to pop music for the majority of my childhood. But as I got older and I expanded my social circle, I was introduced to different genres of music because I was influenced by different friends. I began listening to rap music because I had friends whose main musical style of choice was rap/hip hop and their taste rubbed off on me. I started to delve into the world of country when some of my friends introduced me to Taylor Swift’s music; my interest in the genre grew as I became more acquainted with different artists and songs. Now living in the city and going to UIC, my habitus and musical tastes have widened even more. Your habitus is ever changing because you’re constantly being introduced to new people, places and things.