Advertising

We've all heard the jingles that are used by our favorite brands or signify our favorite companies. Whether it be the ding of the taco bell or a famous song used in a car commercial. Advertisers find many ways to become familiar and easily remembered. If you have the McDonald's "I'm lovin it"  seared in your brain as most of the world does, that simply shows the success made by McDonald's. They found a perfect sound to make even your subconscious aware enough to link a simple three word message linked to the food you enjoy from the restaurants. 

A simple tune can help portray any message they are trying to put across to make you go out and purchase whatever it is they are selling. If the sound can easily be sung back or duplicated, people will repeat it and help spread that company to have their awareness skyrocket, thus resulting in a giant increase in profits. As of today I'm sure we are all familiar with those JG Wentworth commercials. The ones where a group of actors who must also be fantastic opera singers, sing that overstocked JG Wentworth phrase "it's my money and I need it now" song. Whether we've payed attention to it or not that song has sunk into your memory. For me it was beyond annoying but I do remember it, which is their goal from the start.  Another great example is the "gummi bear" song, so simple with a bit of an annoyance. It makes it so easy for us to remember and duplicate I wouldnt be surprised if all your your friends knew of it. When a company or artist can find the right sound to put out its fairly easy for them to become recognized. Recognition is what makes the jingle worth while, it may seem like a small factor to their overall success but it's just as important as what they're selling. If you have a great product but lack the advertising techniques you won't have a very successful company. The tones that make up the McDonald's jingle make you think of more than just the song that is played. Your brain will begin to connect the dots that is the song itself. You will think of those golden arches filled with the foods inside. The smells you like and the tastes of your favorite order. Which will make you hungry and begin those actual cravings for the food. 

Music has changed our lives in so many ways not only is it something we enjoy when we are trying to relax or have a good time with friends.  It is also used as an almost manipulation technique to lure you in by many companies. Whether good or bad, music is and always will be a giant aspect of the world we live in and the things we've come to find in our daily lives.

Piracy

So looking over a recent article that had caught me attention, I decided to pass it on through this blog. We all know someone or have even fallen victim to it ourselves. Illegal downloading has finally caught up to a service provider and they are on the receiving end of a lawsuit. Out of the millions of people who do in fact pirate music and movies alike, only a certain few are ever caught and receive any legal trouble. This is a different situation however, Cox Communications is the I'm in question over their lack of control over those who do pirate and those who do uncontrollably after repeated confrontations.

This lawsuit against Cox, in my opinion is a waste of time. Yes, they are providing the means of the piracy and should be watching for an unusually high amount of downloading and should ban those repeatedly warned subscribers from their services. However, this will not stop anything, those with the means and know how will always pirate things from the internet. I believe it shouldn't be as big of a deal as it is, honestly. Yeah, some people take it too far and try to make a profit off of the downloaded material. The people trying to profit from others work should be the ones who receive a firm of punishment. The ones who download for themselves shouldn't be bothered with because it is simply sharing previously purchased material. In my eyes the idea of piracy has always been a way of people sharing data with others not for a personal gain or profit. There shouldn't be laws against sharing even though it is a reduced amount going to the rightful owners. People should have the choice to share their purchased items, regardless of a difference in virtual or in a solid for. You can borrow a CD to your friend, why should you not be able to send your friend an album online and let them download it for their personal enjoyment.

I found this to be important enough to speak on due to ITunes being one of the largest sources for purchasing music online. I question why every song must be $1? If you like more than a couple bands you must be rich to be able to afford the virtual albums you will never actually put your hands on. If you have to pay for the phone just to be able to put the music on it why must you pay a premium price per song? To me that's just as bad as those taking the music themselves and spreading it around. Either way someone loses out on money. I believe when sharing with others becomes illegal all ethical motives go out of the window.

Musical Interests

When friends come together and all enjoy the same type of music it generally makes for a decent night. As the music plays and you're having fun and laughing with your friends there's certainly an uplift in everyone's mood. Whether you're into classical or country, when you're with those who have the same interest it it, you tend to have a better time and build a bond with those among you. In my opinion there's nothing greater than a night with your friends and good music to listen too. It just gets everyone pumped up for a good time. This past weekend I was hanging out with a group of my friends and a few of us had started drinking, as it was my cousins 21st birthday. So, when I'm drinking I like to have music playing and had suggested it to them and they turned it down. This had me thinking as to why they would rather have nothing playing.

These friends can be very alike, but when it comes to music they all vary from each other. Which made no music the easier choice. We were all having a good night as it was and if we had played something it could have made our night deviate from the initial plan. As I drove them home the day after, we also ran into the same problem. My play listen work for me but they don't have the same musical interests as I do. I just find it strange as to how people act differently when there is a different style of music being played. Our friends try to get us interested in what they like but many times it doesn't work. I question how someone can have a party when the musical interests are so wide spread. I feel if we all had the same interests last night, those of us who were drinking could have brought the room to life. We all did have fun with lots of jokes and laughter. Although the few of us that did drink didn't really liven up the night. It was more of a few beers each and a held a steady buzz while watching a couple shows and movies. I didn't mind the relaxation of it, but I wanted something to do. I had gotten relatively bored and wanted to listen to music and play some beer pong. I just had the urge to get involved in something. I feel like the interest in music drives nights to go certain ways and if none is played, the night won't get very hype. I would have liked to have seen last night be more fun with the whole group being interested in a more group involved time, but I'm overall satisfied with the time I did get with my close friends and also hope my cousin enjoyed his 21st.

Spotify

So, a few weeks ago I had  noticed Spotify introduced a new promotion which cut the premium price in half for all students. I've used Spotify in the past and figured why not take advantage of this promotion. So I went ahead and got the subscription and started filling some playlists with all my favorite bands and artists. As a couple of weeks have gone by I'm still happy with my membership even though there are a certain few songs that aren't on there, I'm overall content.

What I have noticed is I basically have my music broken up into 3 playlists. One for all of my favorite metal-core like bands; Bring Me The Horizon, Of Mice & Men, A Day to Remember, Crown the Empire, Ice Nine Kills, Issues, BlessTheFall, SECRETS, etc. I also have a playlists for the rap music I listen too, which I haven't yet blogged about. This playlist has many artists such as; Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J, K Camp, Lil Wayne, Childish Gambino, Kat Dahlia, Drake, Eminem, etc. Thus leaving the last playlist which has new popular songs ranging from different artists including; Jason Derulo, Ariana Grande, Macklemore, Sia, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Woe is Me, SECRETS, and others.

So from these 3 different playlists I've began noticing myself choosing based on the current mood I was in. When I am calm and doing homework or relaxing after work I would play my "Let Them Sing" playlist which has the obvious metal-core bands. When I'm hyped up or in a partying mood I'll play my "dopee" playlist, which contains the rap music. When I'm basically not in the mood for either of those and just want something else to listen too I'll play songs from my "general" playlist. I categorized them by mood just as a coincidence. I mean most of the time people don't through two completely different types of music together and hope they flow at least half way decent, but with my separation it really captured all I am in the mood for. Not saying I don't listen to each type in other situations or moods but they generally fit each mood pretty well.

I wrote this blog on Spotify to highlight on how great this deal is and how happy I am to have it. The student discount is half of the normal membership fee of $10 a month, which I thought was all too much. So $5 a month for at least a year is something I have no problem paying. That's only $60 for an entire year of all your favorite music on your computer or mobile devices. I plug my phone into my car stereo and listen to anything I want on my way to and from school, work, friends houses and any other trips I need to make. As a music lover I find $60 cheap to have almost any song, album, or playlist available all at the push of a button. I highly suggest any student interested to take advantage of the half off student discount.

A Day To Remember

A Day To Remember is an American rock band that was formed in Florida in 2003. They produce metalcore music with almost angelic chorus'. I've enjoyed listening to this band for years now and have never gotten sick of their classic songs. The sound they put out and the lyrics they play have actual meaning. One of my favorite songs by them is called "Here's to the Past". The song speaks on how you alone have made it through the hard times you've encountered and that you can in fact make it through anything if you stand up for yourself. I find this song to be relate-able because we've all gone through hard times and even though it seemed impossible, we all made it. Some people may bully or belittle you but all you need to make it through is yourself. You alone can make it through the impossible.

Another song I really like I'd called "Out of Time", it speaks on how we all are looking for someone who knows how to solve every problem we are faced with and that we all envision how things will go for us in our lives. We all look for what we've had and basically are open books to someone who would put you first in their lives. I really think this song stands out and speaks a truth we can all admit to searching for. We all seek for that person who would do anything for us exactly when we need them and in this search we are truly running out of time. The hardest part about it is when you think you've found that and everything soon falls apart. That person leaves, loses feelings, or even cheats. You feel as if you've given everything and exactly what they wanted. When in reality you simply haven't, which leaves you crushed, confused, and out of time.

Lastly, if you've ever listened to ADTR you've inevitably heard the song "All I Want". The music video itself is amazing, it features many singers and musicians alike singing along to the song as if they all strongly relate to the songs message. "All I want is a place to call my own, to mend the hearts of everyone who feels alone.. Woahh.. You know to keep your hopes up high and your head down low". This song speaks on all of the struggles where you've felt entirely lost and alone and that you do have the strength to take yourself as far as you want to go in life. Don't live in the past and where you come from, but focus on where you want to go and the ropes that will help you get there.

I find these songs to be important for the messages they pass on and the positive feelings they leave you with. No matter what you've been through there will always be someone who can relate to you. We've all endured some challenging things in our lives and you must know that you're not alone. Which nowadays is one of the most significant things needed. There will always be someone who would gladly give their time to listen, you simply need to let them in.

Hollywood Undead & Gone

Classified as rap rock and rap metal, Hollywood Undead came out of Los Angeles, California in 2005. I had first listened to them with their first album release Swan Songs. This had been my favorite album released by any band. It featured many graphic songs with little emotion held back. At the time, it was all I wanted to listen too. 14-15 years old having a rough go at life, while most of which was out of my control. I would put my headphones in and wander the streets at two in the morning. It really didn't matter if it was raining or snowing, I honestly didn’t care. What I find hard to understand is how that music I listened to back then and occasionally over the years has now hit the ears of a few of my friends’ mothers. I know the bands tone has changed since then but, like really? Mom's are now listening to these songs. . .

I'm sure they heard it from their children, but in my opinion it’s just a kind of “no” reaction. Many of these songs are upbeat depressing or sing of drugs, alcohol, and suicide. How can someone’s mother listen to it with their children? After the release of Swan Songs, I started losing interest due to many bad songs following it. With the lack of interest building up and the front man Deuce leaving the band I basically gave up on them. Ill admit I have liked some of the newer songs but nothing they could come out with now will even come close to being comparable to that first album. The first track I heard was “My Black Dahlia” from that point I was hooked and immediately listened to the rest of the album and had known I found my new favorite band. They had the sound that I just connected with. I can still find certain songs that are similar such as off their most recent album Notes from the Underground, “From the Ground” and “I Don’t Wanna Die”, but even these songs cant bring my faith back to them. Im unsure if they will ever be able to meet the interest I had in them nearly seven years ago, especially without Deuce.

Deuce released an album himself a year or so after leaving and in my opinion it blew Hollywood Undead’s American Tragedy album away. They released it with the addition of the singer who replaced Deuce and he didn't match him in any way whatsoever. Even with that being noticeable from the first song I listened too, I still gave their newer albums a chance. I am however, way more eager for the release of another album by Deuce. With the newly added fanbase of friends’ mothers, im not even sure I want to attempt to listen to any new songs Hollywood Undead puts out, honestly. I simply find it odd that they are now fans. More the merrier I suppose, but I have lost interest.

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Bring Me The Horizon "Drown"

When you love a particular band you become anxious for the release of a new album. You may end up waiting years for it and it may not live up to your expectations. However, it may just exceed all you thought it to be. While hanging out with a similar music lover they told me about a new Bring Me The Horizon single that had come out a few days ago. She had said it was a decent song but had none of the bands well known screaming. I became sceptical and hoped they were not changing their tone. So we then listened to the song. It was called "Drown" from their album being released in December. The music video has gotten 2 million views in 4 days, which isn't bad at all. The song has an upbeat tone with a soft display of Oli Sykes vocals. It is a more melodic song with a catch chorus. I personally love the song already and I'm listening the first time for the second time as I'm writing this. 

I get the feeling that the song doesn't show the tone of how this album will be but does make for a great accompanying track to its list. I am still a bit nervous as to how this album will be and I'm hoping it will be great. BMTH has been my favourite band for awhile now and I would really like that to stay the same with this new release. My cousin lost interest in the band after the previous album as they became more harmonic and included more soft chorus', which I personally enjoy. 

I feel like BMTH has plenty to still offer and will continue to produce songs I enjoy even if they cause others to lose interest. I felt like this was a good topic choice because it really does have an impact on what you will listen too until a next release. If a band produces a bad album, you're basically stuck with it and have to have faith the next one will be better and have to find someone else to listen too in the mean time. The songs that make it onto and album have to be the correctly chosen one or else the album can severely suffer. That's goes along with releasing all of the best singles before the album drop leaving nothing of equal value when it is actually released. The biggest change I've seen is a band or artist actually switching their style up entirely. Which is gutsy and may or may not even work out. I feel that band should stick to their roots and expand upon them not change who they are and what they even sing for. Music is an ultimate form of expression and if you make it big in a genre, you should know your fans love you for that reason not for how many genres you can form together. Fans will remain loyal as long as you remain loyal to them, they are your reason for all your success in the music industry.

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