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I decided to listen to "I Got Rhythm" by George Gershwin, performed by Ethel Merman. Immediately I thought about how it sounded like something I'd hear at Olive Garden or Buca di Beppo. Then I remembered that she is one of the first examples of the "belting" style of singing, and I realized that I've heard a lot more of that type of music than I thought (but yes, mainly at places like Olive Garden). I thought that the musicality of the song was cool too, with the blaring brass section and fast rhythm section. I can see how music like this influenced the next phase of social dancing, with fast paced jazz gaining popularity among the youth of the time. Lyrically, the song is very traditional in terms of women being sort of second-class to men ("I got my man, who could ask for anything more" 1:22). The lyrics were also very simple; nothing deep or authentic was sung. Despite that stuff, I think the song was fun to listen to; I liked the various change...

I decided to listen to "Soldier's Joy" by Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers. I decided to listen to it because I got a good laugh at the name of the group. When the song first started, I immediately thought of a movie I've watched since I was a little kid, called O Brother Where Art Thou. It takes place in the south during the Great Depression; the song just brought up feelings of being in a southern setting during the times of cowboys and the Civil War (especially because the song was played in 1864). The lyrics were very simple, but they brought up visions of Civil War veterans without an education living in poverty. There were also country dance influences in the lyrics, as if the song were made to play in country dance halls. Musically, I did enjoy the long breaks between verses to have instrumentals on the guitar and fiddle. It showcased the talent of the musicians. I don't normally listen to instruments played that way, especially the fiddle, but it was coo...

Hi, my name is Joseph Ducote, but I go by my middle name, Sage. My favorite artist (it's hard to say because they're always changing) is currently Modest Mouse. My favorite genre (which is also always changing) would probably have to currently be 90s alternative rock. But I like everything!

Test post!