Music and the Fictive Dream 

            Mary Poppins and "A Spoonful of Sugar"

I believe almost everyone has heard of the delightful musical Mary Poppins. A family favorite since its production by Walt Disney in 1964, Mary Poppins is based on the book series by P.L. Travers, directed by Robert Stevenson and won 13 Academy Awards. It was Walt Disney's first live-action film, and something I found so interesting, is despite the setting of the fantasy-comedy musical being London in 1910, the entire production was filmed at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California using painted London background scenes.

The musical is a story of and Depression-Era family in London who is in search of a nanny for their two children, Jane and Michael Banks. After many interviews, Mary Poppins, played by Julie Andrews, magically appears from the sky and tells their stern father, Mr. Banks, she will accept the job. This was to his surprise because he never offered her the job! Mary Poppins is strict, but kind, and the children come to love her. She takes them on some enjoyable outings, which entail an abundance of fun fantasy scenes- from meeting Mary's friend, Bert (Dick Van Dyke), and jumping into his sidewalk chalk painting for a magical carnival horse race adventure to tea parties on the ceiling with an uncontrollably laughing uncle of Mary Poppins, Uncle Albert.

Throughout the musical, the children learn to love and respect Mary Poppins. She also has an influence on Mr. Banks, who at first is very angry at all the nonsense outings the children have had with Mary, but then softens and realizes that his answer to the problem of having happy, healthy children is spending  more time with them like laughing and taking them to the park. It concludes with Mary feeling her job is done (the wind changes) because Mr. and Mrs. Banks are out with their children flying kites and enjoying each other as a family should.

Mary Poppins is the perfect example of a musical in that it tells a story using songs and exhibits the talent of the writers and performers. From the very first song, "The Perfect Nanny", sung by Jane and Michael, which gives an example of the type of care-giver they really need as opposed to their parents' caregiving, to Mrs. Banks' pro-suffrage song "Sister Suffragette", to "I Love To Laugh" demonstrating that there can be too much nonsense to be had, they all  carry a  prominent moral or value.

One of the most well known songs from Mary Poppins is "A Spoonful of Sugar" performed by Julie Andrews. In this upbeat song, Mary shows the children how to tidy the nursery with a magical snap of the fingers showing the children that when you add an element of fun to a daunting task it is made more pleasant. It is delightful to watch the nursery get tidied up when the children learn to snap and the audience sees the tasks completed quickly without any real work from Jane and Michael. The message in the song is of having a good attitude while completing your work. 

Robert B. and Richard M. Sherman composed all of the songs in the musical and "A Spoonful of Sugar" was written after Julie Andrews was offered the role as Mary Poppins but didn't really want to accept it because she was not happy with the original song that was composed for her. She wanted something more catchy, so Walt Disney asked the Sherman Brothers to write another song that might better appeal to Andrews. Robert Sherman got the idea from his son who had just taken his polio vaccine and had told his dad that it wasn't a shot but medicine placed on a sugar cube that he then swallowed. The next day he gave the lyric "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" to his brother Richard who came up with a melody and eventually they had a song that Andrews though was acceptable.

The song is in the F# Major key with three major chords,  and resembles the one-step, a ballroom dance popular in the beginning of the 20th century. There are two instrumental bridges with Andrews whistling as if it were the animatronic bird in the film singing.  

Julie Andrews performs the song perfectly in my opinion and it really helps the musical take a fun turn from its anxious beginning. It has become so popular that that many musicians have used it as a cover song, such as Burl Ives in 1964, Harry Connick, Jr. on his album Songs I Heard in 2001 and Kacey Musgraves on We Love Disney in 2013. I love the part in the movie, Shrek The Third,  when Queen Lillian, who is played by Andrews, hums the melody after breaking out of prison. What a throwback!

 

So how about you? Do you have a favorite Mary Poppins song? Maybe it's time to have a musical movie night and enjoy this old favorite. It's sure to be 

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious !

“Musical Theater in America.” The Kennedy Center, www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/theater/musical-theater-in-america/. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Atkins, Jamie. “Disney’s Heroes and Their Defining Songs.” uDiscover Music, 9 Mar. 2023, www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/disney-hero-songs-feature/.

A Spoonful of Sugar by Julie Andrews - Songfacts, www.songfacts.com/facts/julie-andrews/a-spoonful-of-sugar. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

TodayShow. “The Story behind ‘a Spoonful of Sugar’ from ‘Mary Poppins’ Still Resonates Today.” TODAY.Com, TODAY, 5 Dec. 2020, www.today.com/popculture/story-behind-spoonful-sugar-mary-poppins-more-meaningful-you-think-t202844.

“A Spoonful of Sugar.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 May 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Spoonful_of_Sugar.

“Mary Poppins (Film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Nov. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Poppins_(film).

 Role of the Performer - Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire has been one of my favorite performers for a very long time. She has such a spunky, witty personality and her performances are so lively. It's easy to see how Reba rose to the top of Country Music charts and has has sustained success once you listen to a few of her songs. Although she does not write most of her songs, Reba is a magnificent singer and performer and has a gift at choosing songs that become hits.

As a child Reba learned to sing from her mother, who had wanted to be a country music singer, but instead taught her four children to sing and harmonize on long road trips of the rodeo circuits that her husband competed in as a steer roper. After high school, Reba attended and graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Music. Soon after college, Reba was singing the National Anthem at the National Rodeo Finals in Oklahoma City in 1974, and she was noticed by Red Steagall, who invited her record demos for his music publishing company in Nashville. This eventually led to her signing with Polygram Mercury Records which was really the start of her career.

It took awhile before Reba was successful. Early on, she wrote some of her songs, but as her career progressed she performed songs written by others and one of her first Top 20 songs was her cover of Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams". Her first Top 10 hit was "(You Lift Me) Up To Heaven" in 1980 written by Johnny MAcRae, Bob Morrison, Bill Zerface, and Jim Zerface. "Can't Even Get the Blues" by Rick Carnes and Tom Damphier and "You're The First Time I've Thought About Leaving" by Kerry Chater and Dickey Lee were her first two No. 1 hits. 

Reba's cover song of Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams"

This success prompted her to sign with MCA Records and she was able to have more say in her song selections. Her success continued and grew steadily with hits such as "How Blue" from her album My Kind of Country which also featured cover songs originally by Ray Price, Carl Smith, and Faron Young. From here, she became a household name in Country Music and Country Music Association's Vocalist of the year for four consecutive years and in 1986 was named CMA Entertainer of the Year "that recognized her remarkable showmanship in concert".

In 2005, in an interview on CNN's Larry King Live, she shared that she is very active in the selection of her songs she records. She listens to the demos, and likes to listen to the process of completing the finished product. She shared that she looks for songs that have great melodies, are emotionally packed, and that speak to her heart. She acknowledges that it is a difficult process, but that she still loves the search for a really good song. 

Reba nailed her ability to choose country hits and today is considered one of the most successful female recording artists in history. Hits like, "The Last One to Know", "Little Rock", "Whoever's in New England", remake- "Fancy", and "Turn on the Radio" are just a few of many popular Reba songs.

"Fancy" (1990) is probably my favorite Reba McEntire song. The lyrics tell a dark story with a confronting truth and a window of hope for the girl in the story of the song. It has a medium tempo of 95 BPM, and a melody and chords that are more complex than the typical song. It's a song that quickly grabs your attention. This remake was originally written and recorded by Bobbie Gentry in 1969.

And, something I love is her diversity of songs she has performed. Reba has recorded  a remake of Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy",  and in 2017, she released her first ever Gospel Album. It debuted at #1 on both Billboard Country and Christian charts and she was awarded Dove and Grammy award for this album. 

Reba McEntire is truly an amazing performer. If you don't know much about her, I encourage you to check out some of her songs. You will most definitely find yourself swaying to the rhythm of her popular songs!

Rook, Katie. “Reba McEntire on What She Looks for in a Hit Song: ‘Emotionally Packed with a Great Melody.’” Showbiz Cheat Sheet, 25 Dec. 2021, www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/reba-mcentire-looks-hit-song-emotionally-packed-great-melody.html/. 

“About.” Reba McEntire, www.reba.com/about. Accessed 15 Nov. 2023. 

“You’re the First Time I’ve Thought about Leaving.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Nov. 2021, en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_the_First_Time_I%27ve_Thought_About_Leaving. 

“Can’t Even Get the Blues.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Jan. 2022, en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can’t_Even_Get_the_Blues. 

The-Boot-Staff. “Listen: Top 20 Reba Mcentire Songs.” The Boot, 21 Apr. 2022, theboot.com/top-reba-mcentire-songs/. 

A Musical Trip ~ Athabascan Fiddle Music

I very much enjoyed taking this "musical trip" and learning about Athabascan Fiddle Music!

Athabascan Fiddle Music is its own style of music even though its beginning started when European fur traders came to Alaska 150 years ago by the Hudson Bay Company. These fur traders were from Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and Metis descent and introduced the music to the Athabascans, but today's Athabascan fiddle music, with it's influence from gold miners, American southern fiddling, and traditional Athabaskan music, has developed into its own genre from solo fiddle to folk ensembles.

Although, the fiddle was introduced to the Athabascans in 1847, the music was boosted by the Great Folk Fiddle Revival of the 1970's with country music influence. Before this revival, the turn of the century brought influences of Aboriginal songs and dances, and melodies of choruses of hymns sung by the Anglican and Catholic missionaries.

The independent development of the music is evident because there are two types of traditional Athabascan Fiddle Music, each with their own style. The "high music" is from the Gwitch'in and Han Athabaskans near the Alaska-Yukon border, communities of the upper Yukon River. Traditionally this music was the fiddle and guitar, with the mandolin, mouth organ, and accordion eventually being added. There was often a "prompt caller", and as influenced by their traditional indigenous drumming songs, the fiddlers would stomp one foot and roll the other, heel to toe. 

 About fifty years later, downstream music evolved during the Klondike Gold Rush. These were the Koyukon, Lower Tanana, and Deg Hit'an Athabascans. A large country and western music influence with larger ensembles and sometimes with vocals and piano.

Since the Athabascan Fiddle Festival began in 1983, the two styles of music have come together. The festival is an annual event that brings Athabascans of all generations together and it's a way to pass down the older music to the younger generation, but also is a time where evolution takes place and learning new songs and styles are embraced. Violins, dances, music, and stories are passed down through not only the festival, but through social gatherings, fish camps, potlatches, and holiday celebrations of the Athabascan people.

Modern day Athabascan Fiddle Festivals contain high energy music with fast tempos and have more of rock-and-roll and modern country music in them. But there are still the traditional fiddle songs and sounds of earlier times. I really like the older fiddle music that the elders play because you can hear repeating rhythms.

As I watched and listened to videos, you can tell that the elders want younger generations to keep playing however the music evolves, but that they would like for some of the traditional music and songs to be remembered.  This music is their history and they would like to preserve and  share their history with the younger Athabascans.

In this video (above) at the 1 minute and 6 minute mark you can hear the more traditional sound being played. Bill Stevens is recognized as the best Athabascan fiddle player and you can hear him play here.

Here is a more modern example of the songs that are now being played at the Athabascan Fiddle Festival.

"Red River Jig" first published in 1867 by Alexander Begg is a favorite song of the Athabaskan fiddle players and above is Bill Stevens and Lisa Jaeger performing the song at University of Alaska Fairbanks. 

I now will be on the lookout for Athabascan Fiddle concerts to further my exploration of this wonderful genre of music that is native to the place where I live. I have learned so much and hope you have as well!

Hughes, Art. “Tuesday, October 30, 2018 – Traditional Fiddle Music Takes an Athabascan Turn " Native America Calling.” Native America Calling, 31 Oct. 2018, www.nativeamericacalling.com/tuesday-october-30-2018-traditional-fiddle-music-takes-an-athabascan-turn/.

Fiddle: Most up-to-Date Encyclopedia, News & Reviews - Academic Accelerator, academic-accelerator.com/encyclopedia/fiddle. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023. 

Engelhard, Michael. “Athabascan Fiddle Music.” Alaska Magazine, 25 Sept. 2020, alaskamagazine.com/authentic-alaska/activities/athabascan-fiddle-music/. 

“Red River Jig.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Aug. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_Jig. 

Innovations and Evolutions - The Blues 

I'm not even much of a singer, but I would love to know how to sing The Blues... and wouldn't everybody? Especially, the basic Blues songs of the turn of the century!

The Blues genre of music has influenced many other musical styles of our modern day, such as Jazz, Country and most notably, Rock and Roll. So what were or are The Blues? 

The Blues originated from the "call and response" melancholic choruses or "hollers" of African American slaves working in the fields in Georgia, North and South Carolina, Texas, and Mississippi in the 1800's and  was continued after the Civil War with the emancipation of slavery in early minstrel shows, vaudeville shows, and early gospel music with its "spontaneous weaving of harmonies". As African American slaves were freed and started moving North to urban areas their music began evolving and the Blues ensemble developed because the bluesman was accompanied by a pianist or harmonica player and also the bass and drums made up the rhythm. This music at this time in history was considered low-class and not worthy of documenting or recording.

                                      

At the turn of the century, Ragtime, or piano music, became popular. Ragged time meant syncopated - having an "off the beat" accent- and was influenced by the folk tradition and the minstrel shows. By the 1920's, technological advances increased the intensity of the music and meant blues musicians could record their work. 

Scott Joplin- the King of Ragtime

The first recorded Blues singers were W.C. Handy with the "Memphis Blues" that introduced his style of 12-bar blues and was credited with the beginning of the Foxtrot. In the rural area of Kentucky, Sylvester Weaver was recorded with his use of the slide guitar. However, most credit went to Mamie Smith who was known as the "Queen of the Blues", and later Bessie Smith was given the title "Empress of the Blues". Other early Blues musicians were T-Bone Walker who inspired B. B. King. Chicago is credited with having a heavy influence on Blues music with early musicians like Memphis Minnie, Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy, and Sonny Boy Williamson. 

Mamie Smith known as "The Queen of the Blues"

The Blues and Jazz are very closely related. Jazz is the innovation of Blues and Ragtime. Jazz contains the complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms but adds more improvisations. The Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1912 was the first recording of Jazz but recorded in New York by white musicians, it is said not to be the same as jazz from New Orleans where it originated. Notable Jazz musicians include Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong,  King Oliver and the Creole Jazz Band and Duke Ellington, among others. Louis Armstrong invented the swing rhythm and is the most influential jazz musician of this time.  

Louis Armstrong

The biggest influence, of the Blues, was on Rock and Roll with Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and Elvis Presley, stemming from Rhythm and Blues, as well as Soul music with its similar tones and rhythms. Country music originated from folk music and Blues, paving the way for Western Swing with amplified guitars and strong dance rhythms. Hank Williams was a big influence in Country music and Honky-tonk, as well as Johnny Cash, and Patsy Cline.

Blues is both a musical form as well as a musical genre which originated with a slow tempo and strong rhythm with "bent" or "blue notes"  the sixth note on a standard pentatonic scale which gives the "tension and release" sound in the melancholic Blues music. It centers on a single vocalist over a strict chord progression known as the 12-bar blues. It uses three chords: the 1 chord, the 4 chord and the 5 chord in any given key. It's usually in 4/4 time and the twelve bars (measures) are repeated over and over. The melody and lyrics follow an AAB pattern where the first phrase is repeated  and then the third phrase is different.

Here is an early Blues performance by Muddy Waters:

 As the sound evolved, the tempo increased and eventually this evolved into the foundation for Jazz with a more swing polyrhythm being more lively and upbeat with instruments such as the trumpet, trombone, saxophone, string bass and tuba. A soloist or an ensemble improvises the tune with usually an AABA or an ABAC 12- bar, 16-bar, 24-bar, or 32-bar form in 4/4 time. Syncopation is still usually present as in the Blues but it is all up to the player on how they perform these notes. 

I personally love the evolution of Blues to Jazz because the sadness of Blues music is too deeply emotional and Jazz makes me want to sway or dance to the rhythm.  I was not aware of the improvisation piece of Jazz compositions and I have so much respect for the talent it must take to perform great Jazz music.

Here is a lively Jazz example featuring Jelly Roll Morton's song "Black Bottom Stomp".

I'm curious to what you prefer? Jazz or Blues? I certainly learned a great deal in researching the history and components of these two great music genres. So many great artists to add to my playlist!

 

“History and Notable Musicians.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/art/blues-music/History-and-notable-musicians. Accessed 25 Oct. 2023.

Gewertz, Ken. “The Evolution of the Blues.” Harvard Gazette, Harvard Gazette, 2 Dec. 2021, news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2007/02/the-evolution-of-the-blues/.

“The Evolution of Music: Blues, Jazz and the Rise of Popular Music.” Reader’s Digest, www.readersdigest.co.uk/culture/music/the-evolution-of-music-blues-jazz-and-the-rise-of-popular-music. Accessed 25 Oct. 2023.

“Blues Music: What It Is and How It Originated: Classical Music.” Blues Music: What It Is and How It Originated | Classical Music, www.classical-music.com/features/articles/blues-music/. Accessed 25 Oct. 2023.

“W. C. Handy.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Oct. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._C._Handy.

“Mamie Smith.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamie_Smith.

Musical Analysis #2

 The Monster MAsh 

by Bobby (Boris) Pickett and the Crypt Kickers

Since it is the month so many of us indulge in fun Halloween festivities, I decided to look into one of the songs I always played for my kids while taking them trick-or-treating. Because as Fairbanks, Alaskans know, the parent usually follows their little trick-ot-treaters in the car so they can run back at any moment and warm up, as not to have to end their fun early just because of below-freezing Halloween temps. And, the "Monster Mash" is a perfect song to add to that trick-or-treating playlist, in fact it is THE song for us that makes the night feel so ghoulishly exciting!

This was a very fun deep-dive! I chose to link a live performance of Boris Pickett singing it because his facial expressions add so much to the song.

While there are many versions of The Monster Mash, the original "Monster Mash" was released in the U.S. on August of 1962 by Bobby (Boris) Pickett, an American songwriter and aspiring actor and hit #1 on Billboard Hot 100 by October of the same year. This novelty, pop song co-written by Leonard Capizzi, is what Pickett is most noted for. He recorded the song with the Crypt Kickers - producer, Gary S Paxton, pianist Leon Russell, Johnny MacRae, Rickie Page, and Terry Berg. If you have ever read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the book will immediately come to mind as the song is about a "mad scientist" who creates a monster who rises and begins to dance - doing a Frankenstein version of The Mashed Potato, a popular dance of the time. 

The Mashed Potato dance was introduced by James Brown in 1959 and then later became a big hit by the time Dee Dee Sharp's "Mashed Potato Time" and The Contours' "Do You Love Me?" came out and incorporated the dance in their performances. Want to know more about The Mashed Potato dance that influenced the "Monster Mash"? Check out these videos!

"Monster Mash" with its conjunct melody, is a very catchy song that is hard to listen to without dancing, or at least moving, to the rhythm. It has 70 beats/minute, can also be played at 140 beats/minute, and is played in 4/4 time.

The song is 4 chords - G, Em, C, D with a consonance harmony, but the use of a variety of timbre in making the sounds of coffin opening (a rusty nail pulled from a board), a bubbling caldron (blowing bubbles through a straw), chains rattling (chains dropped on a tile floor) and the pronounced sound of the drums.

Pickett uses more of a narration of spoken lyrics against his backup vocalists. If you are like me, you know the chorus pretty well because it is very repetitive and there are five verses with the chorus coming after each verse. Before verse three there is a bridge:

The zombies were having fun
The party had just begun
The guests included Wolf Man
Dracula and his son

The storytelling verses bring different ghoulish characters into the song like Frankenstein, Igor and Count Dracula, and Pickett gives the line "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?" a special imitation of horror film actor, Bela Lugosi, as Count Dracula referring to The Mashed Potato dance in contrast to The Twist, another popular dance craze (in the Contours video).

The song has a soft spoken outro that leaves you with the creepy feeling that is the undertone of the entire song:

Igor: Mash good!
Mad Scientist: Easy, Igor, you impetuous young boy
Igor: Mash good! Grrr!

I never quite realized how popular the "Monster Mash" has been through the years and even this year, Good Housekeeping magazine listed it in their article of best Halloween songs. In 2021, it re-entered the Billboard at #37 giving it confirmation that this uniquely, spooky song is still a favorite, especially around the end of October. So, I'm in good company when I play it on Halloween night! I will enjoy it even more this year after learning all the words and the story behind the song.

The Lyrics:

Have a Happy Halloween!!

Sources:

“Monster Mash.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Mash.

Nissim, Mayer. “‘monster Mash’ by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett: The Making of the Spooky Halloween Classic.” Gold, Gold, 31 Oct. 2022, www.goldradiouk.com/news/music/monster-mash-bobby-pickett-halloween-song-facts/.

“BPM and Key for Monster Mash by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett: Tempo for Monster Mash: Songbpm.” SongBPM, songbpm.com/@bobby-boris-pickett-the-crypt-kickers/monster-mash. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023.

53 Best Halloween Songs for Your Spooky Playlist 2023 - Good Housekeeping, www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/a33593/halloween-songs/. Accessed 16 Oct. 2023.

MUSICAL ANALYSIS # 1 - Lavender Days - "The Otter" by CAAMP

One song that I like that was introduced to me by my daughter (who also attends UAF!) is "The Otter" from Caamp. Caamp is a band from Athens, Ohio that was started by two friends, Evan Westfall and Taylor Meier, in 2012 that had known each other while growing up and eventually added two other musicians Matt Vinson and Joseph Kavalec to join them. They sing Folk music- a mix of West Coast folk, Midwestern Americana, and cathartic indie rock-  and have rapidly grown in popularity first through the Midwest U. S. and now all over the world. I just couldn't help but jump on the Caamp bandwagon after hearing their latest album Lavender Days!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx8p5ju351Q&list=TLPQMDUxMDIwMjO_VD2MfB2TWg&index=1

"The Otter" was released in June 2022 and it has a sweet summer vibe with kind of a melancholic undertone. Its catchy, rapid melody of the banjo, played by Evan, brings the folksy feel. I am just learning to recognize different musical elements in songs so when I read about the components of this song, it was quite fun to listen for the different patterns and form. 

The song is played with 4 chords - D, G, A and Em at 103 beats/minute with "mild rhythmic syncopation and subtle vocal harmony". Here is what the Caamp says about the song:

Now the arrangement is so fun, and it compliments the quirkiness of the lyrics themselves and name of the song.  After the first two verses, there is a pre-chorus:

Hope you don't mind, love

But I wrote you a song

Standin' in time, love

I hope you'll sing along

I really love the end of the chorus when it says "How will it end? Will it end?" Isn't that just what we all wonder about everything, especially relationships? These are those feelings that are expressed so well in a song.

And I don't understand

How it all began

And I don't understand

How it'll end

How will it end?

Will it end?

There is a bridge right before the outro:

Will it end?

Will it end?

and then the outro: 

I am floating in deep water

Like the unfamiliar otter

In love with someone's daughter

I'm going to lose float

Caamp and Lavender Days has had much success with even former President Barack Obama adding one of the album's songs to his 2022 Summer Playlist . What an honor for Caamp! 

And, "The Otter" was added to Apple Music's Indie Folk playlist just days after its release.

Caamp also performed at the  Alaska State Fair in Palmer this year!

Hope you enjoyed learning a little more about this great song as I did! 

Sources:

“CAAMP – the Otter.” Genius, genius.com/Caamp-the-otter-lyrics. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

“The Otter.” Pandora, www.pandora.com/artist/caamp/lavender-days-explicit/the-otter/TRfXhgPZVvrvtwZ. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

“CAAMP - the Otter (Official Lyric Video) Chords.” Chordify, 2 Oct. 2023, chordify.net/chords/caamp-songs/the-otter-chords.

“A Few Thoughts on Our New Song ‘the Otter’ Https://Youtu.Be/6lcdvpukpqa: By CAAMP.” Facebook, www.facebook.com/watch/?v=563477742067602. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

“Thank You Apple Music for Adding ‘The Otter’ to the ‘Indie Folk’ Playlist! Https://Caamp.Lnk.to/Appleindiefolk: By CAAMP.” Facebook, www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=search&v=346572527554084&external_log_id=952b2b40-1b04-4f56-91d8-777c84f8017f&q=the+otter+caamp. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

“CAAMP - Otter (behind the Song).” YouTube, YouTube, 8 July 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LcdvpuKPqA.

New Music Student

 Hello! I'm Lisa and I live in Alaska! I am a student at University Alaska Fairbanks and have created this blog for my Explorations in Music class. I will be sharing what I am learning in the class and maybe some personal things as well. 

A little about me- 

                I'm a returning college student after an absence of about 20 years. During those years, I mostly was a stay-at-home mother and homeschooling teacher to my 4 children, who are pretty much all grown now. I still homeschool the youngest, who is starting his junior year of high school. Our family has a sled-dog kennel and enjoys the sport of dog mushing. This takes up a considerable part of our time, but it's just become a way of life now. While we all enjoy recreational mushing, some of us have raced our team in big competitive races here in Alaska, like the Iditarod, the Junior Iditarod and the Yukon Quest. My other hobbies include yoga, reading, gardening and spending time with family.

              

This is a photo of my daughter finishing the Junior Iditarod sled-dog race. This photo was printed in the New York Times print edition and posted on New York Times Kids on Instagram.

My relationship with music is rather lacking I would have to say, especially compared to many people I know. My town is NOT lacking in fantastic music opportunities, concerts, and an overall appreciation of the fine arts. As a child, I was not exposed to different genres of music and mostly listened to country music on the radio or to hymns sung at the church we attended. I did learn to read music while in piano lessons for a few years, but my playing ability is very limited, as it was long ago.

 I have loved listening to my kids play their instruments over my adult years and have attended many grade school and high school performances. My son played the cello through high school and my daughter plays the piano and dabbles in learning the ukulele. So at least maybe I've done a little better with my kids. One thing that probably affected my thoughts on singing and music, is when I was a young child, I was told by my elementary music teacher, that I was not a good singer. I will never forget that, and to this day, I never feel comfortable singing.  

Right now in my life, I mostly listen to my kids' contemporary playlists and occasionally selective religious music, if anything at all. (I tend to choose audiobooks or podcasts over music and this does concern me a little.) My 10-year-old granddaughter is a huge fan of Taylor Swift, as most kids are these days, and I have come to enjoy singing along with her almost daily when I pick her up from school. I am very much looking forward to enhancing my education in music through this class and hopefully finding some new musicians and songs to enjoy. One song I really love is "Be Kind to Yourself" by Andrew Peterson. I hope you enjoy it too!