1960’s: The American Responses, Motown Pop, and Southern Soul

1960’s: The American Responses, Motown Pop, and Southern Soul

Write your own personal reaction to each of these recordings. For these listening reaction assignments, the goal is to write what you hear and perceive; this is not a historical report so please use only your own words.

3-5 sentences per musical selection. See Rubric below.

For each selection: Primarily, we are trying to ascertain what is meaningful about the selections. You may use any of the following questions to start the process. Some of the questions are more pertinent than others depending on the song, use your best judgment as to which may apply for a particular song. If you have an alternate observation do not limit yourself to the following questions, but it must be pertinent to the general goal of analysis and reflection on the song.

What is the goal of the performer in this song? Who is the target audience? What effect on the audience is the performer trying to achieve? How do you believe the audience would have reacted? What musical elements do you detect (lyrical/literary elements, rhythm, melody, use of repetition or variation, how the instruments are used, tempo (speed), any changes that occur during the course of the song, etc.)? Is there any aspect of this performance that particularly