FUSION, REGGAE, MTV, FUNK, DISCO, NEW WAVE, HIP-HOP, RAP, AND ALTERNATIVE

LESSON 7
FUSION, REGGAE, MTV, FUNK, DISCO, NEW WAVE, HIP-HOP, RAP, AND ALTERNATIVE
Reading: Rock and Roll: A Social History, Chapters 18, 19, & 20
LESSON 7 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Define and be able to recognize the genres of Jazz-Rock Fusion, Reggae, Funk, Disco, New Wave, Old School Hip-Hop/Rap
Music, and the so called “Alternative Rock” music through the chapter readings and in the songs included in the Listening
Selections for this lesson.
• To become familiar with, recognize, and apply specific music characteristic terms to describe the music of Miles Davis, Chick
Corea, Herbie Hancock, Bob Marley, Tears For Fears, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Culture Club, Talking Heads, a-ha, The
Buggles, The Sugar Hill Gang, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, REM, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, and Red Hot Chili
Peppers.
• To become familiar with, recognize, and apply specific music characteristic terms to describe the music you listen to in this
lesson.
Students are encouraged to repeat the listening examples (located in the Listening Links for Lesson 7 ) as necessary. It would be
counterproductive to listen to this great music only once.
LESSON 7 QUESTIONS
1. Jazz-Rock Fusion is a wonderful marriage of elements from both idioms. Believing that there was more to be done than just coast
on their laurels, innovative jazz musicians began to use electronic keyboards, amplify acoustic instruments-adding distortion and
echo effects as well. The pioneer in this genre is the trailblazer himself, Miles Davis. Jazz-Rock Fusion is captured in many fine
recordings by Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Weather Report, Return To Forever, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Stanley Clark.
Listen to the following examples and list the style characteristics and instruments you happen to hear:
a) Pharaoh’s Dance – Miles Davis
b) Vulcan Worlds – Return To Forever
c) Birdland – Weather Report
2. As you listen to the music of Bob Marley & the Wailers write about the following:
a) The development of Reggae music
b) Bob Marley
c) Rastafarians
d) The musical characteristics of Reggae music
Listening Selections
a) No Woman, No Cry
b) Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)
c) Rebel Music (3 o’Clock Road Block)
3. What is MTV and what was its impact on the rock/pop music industry?
4. When did CD’s first appear on the market? How did they affect profits for the recording industry?
5. According to Friedlander, what is the relationship between Punk Rock music and the advent of New Wave?
6. Components of New Wave were reggae, minimalism (the repeated use of a short melodic or rhythmic motif that becomes the
basis for an entire composition), the use of speech, use of synthesizers to create “a flat instrumental sound.”
Listen and describe the characteristics, influences, instruments, and vocal styles in each of the following songs:
a) Cold War – Devo
b) Too Much Information – The Police
c) Don’t Go – Yaz
d) I Before E Except After C – Yaz
e) Radio, Radio – Elvis Costello
7. Another band to emerge from the famous CBGB and survive beyond Punk into New Wave was originally known as the Stilettoes,
then, Angel and the Snakes, and finally, Blondie-featuring compositions by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein. Select one of the Blondie
links below to listen and list prevalent characteristics, influences, instruments, and vocal styles.