Tag Archives: black panther

Archive 🗃 – #MUSICREVIEW: Music (Old vs. New) 🎶🎵

2017👇🏾

Over this past year, I’ve been examining the music that we consumed on a regular basis. I’ve realised there are a couple of similarities and differences between them and I’d like to discuss them in this post. After listening to a couple of older tracks on YouTube. I came to a conclusion the reason why old songs are still popular is that they were sacred before the age of technology came in. It is easily accessible to find songs, with the help of the internet. We have the opportunity of App stores which allow us to download and stream music, as well specific websites that provide the visual content for our entertainment.

Let’s backtrack to the 80s or a brief period before that.. I was watching a video of Dead or Alive’s well-known single You Spin Me Right Round. I could hear the rawness of the materials, it’s like all the little parts of the instruments come together to produce one cohesive sound. It reminded me of jingle bells and you can imagine people in 80s roller-skate disco moving to it as they go around the rink in a circular motion. Anyways on topic, it came to me the success of hits back then was the fact songs were original.

2018👇🏾

The two paragraphs above were written sometime last year. I never got to post it, because it was incomplete so I’m releasing it today for you guys to read.

Fast forward to modern day music👇🏾⏩

It came to my attention yesterday that there seems to be an issue with Drill Music and how it encourages violent. I can understand why people would support this case because the frequency of the music can affect the brain. Also, the language and words rapped over the beats can pressure people to act out in inappropriate ways. However, to view it in another way, it can be argued the listeners who consume the music have a mind of their own, so therefore they are in charge of their own actions, so the genre can’t be blamed for deviant behaviour.

In this current day, most beats are made on a laptop using computer programmes such as Fruity Loop or the more advanced Logic Pro editions. One advantage is making music is more accessible and can be done from any location. You can produce more with less and still create a variety. It’s reduced certain aspects of the process, such as instrument hire costs, studio time and excess musicians. However, a con could be many producers can end up producing similar beats unless they have their own distinctive style and touch in their sound.

Music is a great way of experimentation and expression because it allows you to have sounds to cater to every and any occasion or mood. It is also quite fluid to, most genres can be integrated together. So, therefore some overlap in terms of sounds and how they are received by its listeners. We will have to see how music continues to progress in the upcoming future because it is consistently developing and changing.

I’m just going to finish this post with a food for thought, ponder on the question below.

How do you think music has changed over the years?

Thank you for taking time to read this review☺️

Check out the other music-related and review posts as you’re here:

Chanda D

#FilmReview: Black Panther🐅

Date entry: Monday the 26th of March 2018

Edited: Thursday the 29th of March 2018

black-panther-quad-poster
The Black Panther Squad

(I finally got round to watching the film, after feeling I was missing out. I decided to go watch it. Prior to the screening, I had seen reference to the word ‘Wakanda’. I did not know what people were on about, but obviously, now I do. All the pieces fit together now, so there’s a better image.)

The film is an action movie, with the duration lasting 2 hours and 13 minutes long and is available at most cinemas to watch. I’d recommend going during the day, where not many people are there. It frees your surrounding environment for you to relax and view it calmly. At certain points of the film, I heard a drill type beat. It got me bopping my head when it came on. It didn’t fully go into it, but it was enough to energise you during its segments.

It was a female-dominated movie, which I liked because it showed women to be strong characters. Usually, you would see girls in a role, where they are a damsel in distress or in a weak position. However it was different, they were able to defend themselves and others. It produced an instilling belief they are just as capable as men.

I’m going to go slightly of topic here because this will apply to the paragraph above.

Gender roles in society are segregated in terms of what males and females are supposed to do. Traditionally, for example, women are expected to fulfil housework duties. Whilst men are out being breadwinners. In today’s society, the roles have slightly, if not, fully merged. Women are now being pro-active about being able to provide for themselves, as well being able to still complete household duties. Men are not as heavily depended on as they once were in the past.

Back on the topic of Black Panther

Similarly, the women were strongly defending their rights and what they thought was right for their Kingdom – Wakanda. This was portrayed through their battle scenes and dealing with the problematic situation between the rivalling kings.

I don’t know if anyone of you is familiar with the TV series Top Boy, but one of the characters Letitia Wright (Shuri) featured in this film. It was nice to see her transition from British film to bigger productions. I remember her character well on Top Boy, but her acting was really pleasing to watch.

She had a few one-liners, which makes me laugh. It was cheeky, but humorous to watch. It helps lighten up the film, despite its darker context. Also, it starred four other well-known actors/actresses – Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Michael B Jordan (Erik), Angela Bassett (Ramonda) and Forest Whittaker. They all played their roles equally well, with the strong intention to bring their own influence into their characters. It was a blend of American and East African accent that showed diversity.

Overall, I enjoyed the film because it kept me engaged. It was hard to take your eyes away from the screen. Just in case you missed out on something. You couldn’t even excuse yourself to go to the bathroom because it all needed to make sense in one go. I guess that’s why action movies are so popular, as it provides high-level entertainment and requires brain stimulation to keep its viewers seated. It was similar to Lord of Rings, as it had that same tribal fighting appeal.

Thank you for reading this review & I hope you take time out to watch the film (if you haven’t already)

Chanda D

Image source: New Statesman Website