Week 3 Song

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 changes of tempo and belting style of singing. It's always cool to listen to something that was the first of its' kind, and influenced more music to come.

Comments

  1. Logan SmithJanuary 27, 2020 at 9:36 PM

    I picked this song for my blog post as well. We have a lot of the same views on this song too. I love the brass and the speed that was chosen for this piece of music. I love the way this music influenced the way that the people of this time danced and felt about them selves. The music from this time period is mean a lot to me because it was right as the great depression was happening and it shows that even in the worst of times people can be happy and have all that they could ask for.

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  2. Taylor TolbertJanuary 27, 2020 at 10:13 PM

    I was deciding between this song and Rhapsody in Blue , and It was interesting to hear the similarities and differences between these two songs both by George Gershwin. I got rhythm has more of a consistent beat and is quite enjoyable. in both of these songs George Gershwin really has a talent on the piano and you can tell that he really puts feelings into the songs he plays.

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