Tag: sk10

The rhetorical situation for my mix is “making pancakes in the Complex kitchen at 5 AM.” My roommate and I have done a lot in the kitchen of complex, from making quesadillas and pancakes to baking a whole birthday cake. I decided on a mood shift I wanted to create that follows how Carolina and my mornings go.

We usually chef it up in the morning, so I started with some light-hearted, cooking-inspired music (Le Festin from Ratatouille and Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast by Pink Floyd), followed by some silly dancing music. There is an instrumental interlude (Everything Happens To Me – Live by Joe Pass) for enjoying our food, then some more thoughtful, introspective music for when we talk about our plans for the day or what our week has been like so far. My mix conveys the feelings/moods/behavior I go through while cooking at 5 AM–still half asleep, maybe a little out-of-it, but having fun.

Me and my roommate play songs on the speaker every day, but there has been a lot of exams coming up which has caused the atmosphere in the room to be quiet and stressing. Because of this, I want to make a playlist that would create only good vibes in the room. One restriction I gave while making this playlist is to choose songs that both me and my roommate know and are able to sing along to. When creating the playlist, we tried to think of songs that gave more of a relaxing effect. As we added more songs, we realized that the songs we chose became more intense. Even though the songs became more fast-tempoed, it was still able to lighten the atmosphere of the room, in fact, it may have been even better than choosing relaxing songs. For the last song, we decided to support our fellow Emory student’s music career (and we thought it was a fun song). Overall, this playlist is made to be a refreshing playlist if anyone feels bored or stressed. In the future, I would keep adding new songs and update the playlist as it is a playlist that could be played anywhere anytime.

Citation:

lokiloki29. “Lofi Girl.” Flickr. Sept 4th, 2020. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lokiloki29/50305886276/in/photolist-2jDmPmQ-2nnKP5q-Lmk46g-2nkmxgU-2nusnh5-2oomA6C-fnADna-fnAwCt-8Hk9Qv-5iHgQq-KRyG88-5ttDgB-KNLNub-KNKL8E-fnQFKA-JVe7J4-2oqdrsj-28nosB9-2nEZc1p-Y9GJrC-cVekMC-27XLLBg-KRxczD-2nkzV2t-2iReA4P-KHtMze-2iytVXg-2nfRu8x-KMujzS-2gHLNFJ-edrnXs-d3b6W7-4asPQJ-nGunER-fQgkSQ-AwkyQn-aBTpMF-pcdSVy-2nhdjSh-2j1eQrm-fw1hs-2izaKkD-dZs9y-2o9MeX4-fNEMvK-fjaPri-J1YQBj-j343yG-YeMZ3e-2iywwxx

I wanted to make a playlist with songs that had to do with driving a car, so I searched through my music to find songs that fit this category. The only requirement I made for myself was that there had to be the word “car” at least once in the song, not including the title. When compiling the mix tape, I realized there was a wide variety of songs of all different genres. There were some country songs, some sad songs, and some upbeat songs. I decided to organize the songs from saddest to happiest. The intent behind this was to create a mix tape for people who are having a bad day and need to go on a drive to clear their head. The songs will start off slow and sad, allowing the listener to get any tears out. The tempo and beat slowly begins to build; the middle songs consist of chill and peaceful vibes. The songs at the end are primarily country and songs you can sing to. With the happy songs at the end, the listener can return home in a much happier state of mind than before.

Recently I became friends with someone from the north who is new to country music. When I saw the prompt for the sketch, I knew I wanted to make this playlist for them because of my passion for the genre. As a Nashville native, country music courses through my veins. I love the calming nature of the music and the simple lifestyle it endorses. I was able to make the mixtape cover using stock 3D models on PowerPoint. It is meant to represent the country lifestyle I hold dear and shares inspiration from album covers by Riley Green and Morgan Wallen. The most difficult part of this assignment for me was only picking one song from some of my favorite artists to add to the playlist. But, I was still able to pick some of the most iconic and classic country music songs that are a must-listen for those interested in the genre. This was one of my favorite sketches of the year because it allowed me to feel connected to my roots and share a passion of mine with others.

Inspiring from the example “a mix for a good friend who had just went through a bad breakup”, my mix tape centers around the universal theme of love and romantic relationships, a subject that resonates deeply with most people. “Love Tale” was envisioned as a narrative arc, taking listeners through the euphoria of new love, the complexities of deepening intimacy, the turbulence of relationship challenges, and the introspective aftermath of a breakup. The intent was to create not just a playlist but a story that resonates on an emotional level, reflecting the highs and lows of romantic endeavors.

The mix tape has a chronological narrative: the songs were carefully sequenced to mirror the timeline of a relationship. For example, “Call Me Maybe” initiates the mix with its portrayal of initial attraction, while “Can’t Help Falling in Love” signifies the deepening of feelings. Each track was selected for its ability to evoke the emotions characteristic of each relationship stage. “Love Story” by Taylor Swift, for instance, captures the idealistic and dreamy nature of budding love, whereas “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran represents the maturity and depth of a more established bond. In order to ensure the genre diversity: I included a range of genres. From the pop sensations of Carly Rae Jepsen to the classic allure of Elvis Presley, the mixtape traverses various musical styles to ensure wide appeal. To maintain a rich tapestry of voices and styles, I deliberately chose not to repeat artists. This rule was crucial in ensuring a varied and dynamic listening experience, showcasing different perspectives on love and relationships.

In aligning with the chronological narrative, the mixtape starts with the bright and hopeful beginnings of love, gradually transitions into more profound and complex emotions, navigates through the struggles and misunderstandings, and culminates in the reflective phase of breakup and moving on. Each song was a piece of the puzzle, chosen for its thematic and emotional relevance to the stage it represented. The song choices were deliberate and purposeful. “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri, for instance, was selected for its portrayal of enduring love, symbolizing the commitment phase. In contrast, “Gone” by Rosé and “Love Me No More” by LinG articulate the pains and trials of a relationship under strain. The final songs, particularly “Someone Like You” by Adele, offer a powerful closure, encompassing acceptance and hope for future life.

Though not an explicit argument, “Love Tale” posits that the experience of love, in all its stages, is an integral and enriching part of the human experience. It subtly argues that each phase of a relationship, joyful or painful, contributes to our personal narrative and growth. The mix tape, in its compilation and progression, suggests embracing the full spectrum of love’s experiences.

I love going to the gym., but due to college stresses my motivation and energy levels decreased, resulting in slower progress. Thus, I chose to make a playlist that helps me work out optimally through spiking my happiness and energy levels. The playlist begins with a slow and peaceful instrumental to represent when I am walking to the gym fresh out of bed, warming up through stretches. After the warmup song, I decided to stick with R&B and rap songs because of the upbeat tempo. To make it challenging I did not allow myself to have more than one song by each artist, diversifying the styles of Rap/RNB within the playlist. As the playlist continues the type of R&B and Rap songs chosen become faster tempoed to help me push through the entire workout. Overall, I enjoyed this project and will use this playlist outside of a project setting, updating the playlist with new substitute songs every few months to keep the playlist fresh. 

For my mix tape, I wanted to create a playlist that I can listen to whenever I need more positive vibes/energy in my life. I tried to find songs that are uplifting and have messages of self-empowerment. This message can be seen through many elements of each song, including but not limited to the tempo/rhythm and lyrics/title.

I tried to put some of the slower songs near the beginning before building up to more upbeat and energetic songs.

I also would like to note the inclusion of both pop songs and musical theatre songs. Both genres have had a profound impact on me, showing that music is a means of communication unlike any other. Music, specifically singing, has become one of my biggest passions, allowing me to take my mind off the stressors that come with being a college student. I feel that putting both genres in the mix tape reflect my musical interests and hobbies. I also think it is notable that the playlist can be shuffled so it switches between the two genres instead of listening to five straight songs of the same genre. The switch in genre between songs keeps my mind alert, allowing me to feel energized and ready to sing along with the next song!

In terms of the playlist cover, I decided to use a picture of a rainbow I took during a flight on my way to Hawaii. Looking at that picture reminds me to relax and think of the positive things in life that I would not experience if I didn’t take breaks or stop working even for five minutes. This image of a rainbow is a reminder that positivity is important in every aspect of life, allowing one to find happiness and contentedness.