The song American Soldier was done by an American Country Music artist by the name Toby Keith, who was born in the year 1961. This song was his second single in an album that went by the title “Shock’n y’all”. At one point, this song was became a number one hit in the United States. The song talks about a soldier who is all set for war. This soldier is willing to take the duty and the responsibility that his job comes with. This therefore means that the soldier is not only willing to go for wear but he is as well ready to die.
American soldier by Toby Keith was composed and written by Chuck Cannon in the year 2003 after which the song was released, with Tobin Cannon doing the music.
The lyrics of the song according to the writer (Chuck Cannon) can be retrieved from the link: http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/keith-toby/american-soldier-10316.html
Rock and Roll
This is an indigenous form of art in America. Rock did not just emerge in a technologically advancement world. It was previously done in very native and old-method based ways, and has consequently over time been undergoing evolution (Therese, 2010). The most important feature of rock and roll is that the concept of it is made of does not change over time. The artists, their songs and the style used to do this type of music are characteristic of a history upheld to date.
The artists: The history of rock and roll can trace its roots from the great artists that became great icons in the industry. All the songs that constitute Rock and Roll right from the time this kind of music started, airs concerns that touch on the lives of people, social setting of the concerns and the generational consciousness being addressed. Each generation was significant to the history of Rock and Roll. Subsequent generations contributed musicians and artists into the industry, who consequently acted as agents of transition and transformation. It is this of process of such unfolding events that links Toby Keith to the Rock and Roll history. He is a contributing factor as an artist, and his stature in the rock and roll history is worth noting (Therese, 2010).
The style: traditional ways of doing music has been in modern times been replaced by contemporary ways that have resulted from advancement in technology. Mixing styles have been evident all over the world, where different genres of music are combined into one song. For example, classics have been combined with contemporary music genres to produce a hybrid kind of music. This has been more so due to the availability of modern electronics and appropriate technology that allows for that. Musical instruments occur in broad and dynamic alternatives to choose from.
Songs and Classics: Songs are expressions of diverse situations, conditions and experiences. Songs that invoke memories and/or therefore set an atmosphere or mood are said to be great songs. In Rock and Roll, such songs are referred to as the classics (Therese, 2010). These types of songs capture generation aspect from time to time, thereby describing the style and sound of the artist(s).
Analysis of American Soldier by Toby Keith
Social: This song is set in the social context of war period, addressing the participants and stakeholders in the war ground. It outlines the will of duty and commitment of a soldier who is engaged in war and chances of survival are not certain. The songs can generate feelings, consciousness and responsibility to the society in analyzing the context within which the song is set.
Musical influences: American soldier is well linked to the evolutionary rock and roll. Series of change that the artists in that industry went through is characteristic of what Toby Keith is, and what this song is made of. The context under which the song is set and done and the way it fits into contemporary music represents musical impacts of time and generation transitions.
Style: The song is done in Country music genre and fitted into the modern times. Guitar is the basic musical instruments used in doing country music, but the present has as well included other instruments that spice up the song constituting the classic style into the contemporary American soldier song by Toby Keith (Therese, 2010).
My President is black by Young Jeezy
This song was produced in the year 2008 following President Obama’s historical win of the United States elections. It followed varied, diverse and dynamic reactions that were evident in the entire country after the elections were announced, with Obama being announced as the President of the United States. In the U.S history, no African American individual had been so lucky if not successful to emerge winner of such a crucial seat. For the blacks in the U.S, this was a fundamental moment for them. In this regard, this song was dedicated to Obama and as well addresses the feelings and emotions of the artist behind the song as well as his views and opinion on the general concerns that would arise from the election of Obama into Presidency (Laura, 2010).
Social context
This song is done under by an African American artist by the name Young Jeezy. In the analysis of this song on the basis of the social context under which it takes place, there is a comparison of the newly elected President and the outgoing President on their impact on the social welfare of the blacks. The artist has the urge to trust the newly elected President Obama on looking out at the needs of the black Americans (Laura, 2010). However, the artist also considers that many have come and gone, leaving them in the same stature just like before. Concerns of whether the new President is going to be different from the previous ones are evident, which are basically social concerns.
The black community has had to be self sufficient because not many of the United States Presidents have looked into their needs. This song raises this concern in the hope that President Obama will act, rule and govern to their benefits in line with the rest of the community (Laura, 2010). Assassination attempts in the United States are also characteristic of the society in this country. Young Jeezy is as well aware of this fact, and he hopes that such challenges will not kill the morale of his black President.
Political context
Aspects of politics are part and parcel of this song. The previous President of the United States, George W. Bush is regarded as one whose leadership was in question. His leadership was characterized by wars in Iraq, the baseline being oil in the Middle East country. In this song, this matter is addressed by the fact that the artist passes a message through the song that no one deserves to die over crude oil. The artist portrays just how much it is not right to die over crude oil (Laura, 2010).
The artist and the song’s general feeling of political aspect in the United States is that of winning. The concept of winning outlined in the song could imply two things: It could represent Obama’s win of the Presidency or on the other hand showcase Young Jeezy’s opinion as the majority in the entire country. In this regard, this song is tailored to praise the direction that the political arena is taking. The artist is expressing his satisfaction of the turn of the events and the new history set in America.
Musical influences
The song My President is black is well linked to the evolution of history in America, and so is the music industry. This song is contemporary and it therefore represents the change of things in the modern world. History has changed in America with the election of the new President. Consequently, music has changed over time, showing that music and turn of events in the country are moving in the same direction. This affects music in the sense that it provides wide and dynamic basis upon which music can be done. It has added a component of observation of events into the music arena by considering what has been the result of elections, turning this into an interesting composition and music (Laura, 2010).
Musical styles
This song is a contemporary song, meaning that it is done in recent times. It employs modern ways of doing music by making use of modern instruments and styles that make the entire work match to the tastes and preferences of the current generation. Influences of this song on the styles of music can be identified from the needs that generations want met from such music as well as from the artist himself. The Obama and younger generations are drivers of contemporary music.
Reference
Therese, S. (2010). Toby Keith: Country Music Stars. Oklahoma: Gareth Stevens.
Laura, I. (2010). The Obama Diaries. Chicago: Simon and Schuster.
