Diction Dictates - Contrasting

The start of the 1990's, the last decade of the 20th century, was capitalized by two very different types of music. Techno was just starting to filter over from Europe, this was also intertwining with other various styles of music creating a new Alternative category. The garage and grunge bands were also starting to spring up all over the country as well. These two very distinct, very different styles of music were able to coincide in one generation. One very evident difference is their diction. Diction, the dialect and word choice by the writer, can totally change the sound of a song depending on the style. Deee-Lite's techno groove it "Groove is in the Heart" and Crash Test Dummies grunge ballad "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" have two very distinct and different dictions.

Deee-Lite is a modern psychedelic band playing crazy music at the end of the era that brought us into the techno realm. Through out the song, they use very hip lingo, such as "Dig" and "Funky". They also make allusions to the great psychedelic musician himself, Jimmy Hendrix.
This diction is fun and free flowing, very loose and relaxed. There are many ways you can interpret the lines making it almost like it can be your own song at times.

A few years later, a grunge garage band by the name of Crash Test Dummies emerged from the new phenomenon forming in the 90s. They cut the ballad "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" which is mostly about sticking out in society for doing things that you believe in or were against your power to change. The diction is very straight forward, saying exactly what happens to each of the people mentioned in the song. The feeling of the song is also alot dimmer and sadder than the previous song.

The early ninety's were a very important time in the music industry. Going from the very techno synth style to a more grunge rock style was a big change. However, both genres were still able to coexist, but with very different styles of writing. The more sorrowful mood of the CTD compared with the happy-go-lucky feel of Deee-Lite speaks for itself. With both these artists only being able to obtain one hit, they were able to leave a lasting impression on the minds of their listeners, and over all striking a strong chord in the song writing world. The straight forwardness of the CTD and the lax of Deee-lite shows perfectly how two styles of music can be appreciated at one time.



"Groove is in the Heart" Deee-Lite (1990)

and

"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" Crash Test Dummies (1993)



Groove Is In The Heart
You’re going to dance
You’re going to dance
You’re going to danceAnd have some fun
Dig
The chills that you spill
Up my back keep me filled
With satisfaction when we’re done
Satisfaction of what’s come
I couldn’t ask for another (I-I-I-I)
No, I couldn’t ask for another (that’s right)
Your groove I do deeply dig
No walls only the bridge
My supper dish
My succotash wish (sing it baby)
I couldn’t ask for another (uh-huh, uh-huh)
(I-I-I-I) No, I couldn’t ask for another
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (astronomical)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (hit me!)
Watch out!
The depth of hula groove
Moves us to the nth hoop
We’re going through too
Horten hears a who-o-o
I couldn’t ask for another (I-I-I-I)
No, I couldn’t ask for another
DJ Soul (Soul!) was on a roll
I’ve been told he can’t be sold
He’s not vicious or malicious
Just dee-lovely and delicious
I couldn’t ask for another
Someone’s in this torso (yeah)
Hot! Gotta deal you wanna know (wanna know)
Dee-Liteful truly Dee-Liteful (liteful)
Makin’ it doin’ it 'specially at show (show)
Feeling kinda high like a Hendrix haze (haze)
Music makes motion moves like a maze (maze)
All inside of me (side)
Heart especially (yeah)
Help of the rhythm where I wanna be (c’mon)
Flowin’ glowin’ with electric eyes (ha)
You dip to the dive baby you’ll realize (yeah)
Baby you’ll see the funky side of me
Baby you’ll see that rhythm is the key (hmm!)
Get get ready with it (with it)
Can’t can’t quit it (quit it)
Stomp on the stoop when I hear a funk loop (loop)
Playing Pied Piper
Follow what’s true
Baby just sing about the groove (sing it)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (na-na-na-na)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (na-na-na-na)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (na-na-na-na)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art1-2-3 brrrrr
Blow them horns, oh lord
Groove is in the heart
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (yeah)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art(laughs)
C’mon, ya’ll are…(laughs) ya’ll are crazy, man




Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm
Once there was this kid who
Got into an accident and couldn't come to school
But when he finally came back
His hair had turned from black into bright white
He said that it was from when
The cars had smashed so hard

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Once there was this girl who
Wouldn't go and change with the girls in the change room
But when they finally made her
They saw birthmarks all over her body
She couldn't quite explain it
They'd always just been there

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

But both girl and boy were glad
'Cause one kid had it worse than that
'Cause then there was this boy whose
Parents made him come directly home right after school
And when they went to their church
They shook and lurched all over the church floor
He couldn't quite explain it
They'd always just gone there

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Work for the Weekend or Work for your Boss..

EVERYBODY'S WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND
By Loverboy
Everyone's watching, to see what you will do
Everyone's looking at you, oh
Everyone's wondering, will you come out tonight
Everyone's trying to get it right, get it right

Everybody's working for the weekend
Everybody wants a little romance
Everybody's goin' off the deep end
Everybody needs a second chance, oh

You want a piece of my heart
You better start from start
You wanna be in the show
Come on baby lets go

Everyone's looking to see if it was you
Everyone wants you to come through
Everyone's hoping it'll all work out
Everyone's waiting they're holding out

Everybody's working for the weekend
Everybody wants a little romance
Everybody's goin' off the deep end
Everybody needs a second chance, oh

You want a piece of my heart
You better start from start
You wanna be in the show
Come on baby lets go

(quick break)

You want a piece of my hear
tYou better start from start
You wanna be in the show
Come on baby lets go

You want a piece of my heart
You better start from start
You wanna be in the show
Come on baby lets go

Everyone knows that classic feeling of counting the seconds til it is the weekend. In Loverboy's working man anthem, "Every body's Working for the Weekend", they capture the essence of what it is like to try and balance work and a love life and the anticipations of waiting for the weekend to come.

In the first few stanzas, literary devices can be seen. For example, in the line "every body's going off the deep end" doesn't literally mean that people are jumping over the side of a cliff or into the deep end of the pool, which is what a crazy person would do. It just simply means that when the people are waiting for the weekend they are starting to go crazy.

Another line that causes one to be in a state of confusion is "you want a piece of my heart". You can cut some one open and slice off a small sliver of heart, but that would cause immense pain. This is just a cliche meaning "Do you want me to love you?"

Even at the height of their career, Loverboy didn't do so well on the Billboard charts. This was there only song to hit number one, hence being in the category of "One Hit Wonder". This song's simplicity captured America's heart and was able to give them something to look forward to on the much anticipated Friday afternoon.

Billy Joel (Not Theme-Genre)

POETRY OF SONG - Info on the Go BILLY JOEL!
1. Top Ten Most Interesting Facts
-Greatest Hits Volume I and Volume II went 20x Platinum and is tied with the Beatles for the most Multi Platiunum Albums
- I, Myslef, can do less than six degrees of seperation with Billy Joel (Myself to my aunt, My aunt to Gretchen Monahan [freinds], Monahan to Joel [stylist to Joel])
- Before he decided to pursue music as a career, Joel boxed as a welterweight on the amateur circuit in the New York area.
- His daughter's middle name is a tribute to the late Ray Charles (Alexa Ray Joel)- Billy Joel was the voice of Dodger in Disney's "Oliver and Company"
- Billy Joel layed down every singing track to the hit single "For the Longest Time"
- Billy's song, "We Didn't Start The Fire" discusses notable events from the first forty years of his life, 1949-1989.
- Billy Joel tried to commit suicide when he was 21 by drinking furniture polish.- Billy is licensed to teach high school history.
- He has been a musical guest on SNL 4 times and his music has been used in dozens of TV shows and movies (see IMDB)
-Billy Joel got his High school diploma in 1992, he could not obtain it in 1967 due to excessive absence
2. Links
Official Billy Joel Website
Billy Joel on IMDB Database
Billy Joel Tracks on Last.fm
Billy Joel on Facebook
Billy Joel on Rhapsody
3. Photos
Joel and Ex Wife Brinkley
Joel on Rolling Stone
Joel and Daughter
Joel's House
Joel's Daughter Today
4. Song Analysis
Billy Joel was dubbed “The Piano Man” and is regarded as one of the greatest recording artists of all time. However, in 1984, Joel released a doo-wop song titled “The Longest Time”. Joel recorded every track individually and he is the only one featured singing in this song. The song is about a classic tale of a boy meeting the girl of his dreams, and getting a feeling inside him that he hasn’t felt before. The boy doesn’t know if it will work or not, until he decides to take the chance and ask her out, even if it may be the wrong choice.The chorus states on how he hasn’t felt the feeling “for the longest time”. This could mean that he had a relationship before that he had to get over. The reference to a previous relationship could be why he later thinks the decision could have a “consequence”.The first stanza starts at the end of the boy and girl’s date. He talks about if she left him now there would still be more that not everything had been done (music left to write). He talks about how he is inspired by her to write all his music. Since this is a classic doo-wop from the 60’s, it is likely that a boy would write a song for a girl like this, for example the song “My Girl”, by The Temptations.The narrator then talks about his innocence being gone. This probably is a reference to losing his virginity in the previous relationship. Once meeting this new love, he talks about his happiness starting up again when she hugs him. He continually talks about not being “there” for longest time. This could be a reference to cloud 9 (a cliché used when being in love), or it could just be him being in love.Joel then continues saying he is the voice she is hearing in the halls. This almost gives the allusion that he is stalking her. Then he talks about how he “needs her” and how she “needs him”. This could be a simple love story or, The reader could interpret it as something a bit more dark.The bridge adds to the dark allusions in the song, referring to the previous relations and the stalker-like attitude. The narrator talks about how he relationship may not last long. Which raises the question: If he wants the girl so bad, why wouldn’t the relationship go on for a long time? He starts to doubt the relationship at this point in the song saying how all his thoughts could be wrong.He continues to doubt himself in the next stanza. He doesn’t know if he will be sorry that he let her get away if he lets her go. Finally he decides to go for it and ask her out because it has been so long since he has felt love.The 2nd bridge he talks about the doubts that he had had before. He tells the girl, through song, that he decided to follow his heart and ask her out. He knows now from being with her that he made the right decision and he says it‘s, “more than I’d hoped for”. He also says the phrase “hold on to your heart”. He can’t literally hold on to his heart, showing the ________.Joel then goes back to the previous relationship and stalker attitude talking about the consequences. This may just be consequences of love, or they could hold a deeper meaning. He goes on to tell her how bad he wants her, which adds fuel to the fire.The music itself has the feeling of being in love. It has the feel of a 1950’s doo-wop such sung by an a capella group. You can tell that the boy/man has a lot of feeling for the girl and he decides to sing her this song telling her his feelings. As the listener, the mood is easily distinguishable. The man is in love and you know it from the minute he starts to sing.

5.Timeline
>Born in the Bronx - 1949>He began studying piano - 1953>Joined the band "The Echoes" - 1963>Joined the band "The Hassles" - 1967>Forms a heavy metal duo "Attila" - 1970>Goes Solo - 1970>'Captain Jack' gets radio time on WMMR-FM - 1971(Before Pirates of the Car.)>Preforms in piano bars under name Bill Martin - 1971>Signs to Columbia Records, records 'Piano Man' - 1973>'Piano Man' becomes first Top 20 single and his first gold album - 1974>Plays to sell-out crowd in Carnegie Hall - 1975>'Just the Way You Are' Wins 2 Grammys: Record and Song of the year - 1977>'52nd St.' becomes Joel's first #1 album - 1978>Wins American Music Award Album of the Year - 1980>First live album - 1981>Injured in motorcycle accident - 1982>Marries Brinkley, Alexa Ray is born - 1985>Brings full rock production to the Soviet Union - 1987>Wins Grammy Legend Award - 1989>Preforms at Yankee Stadium - 1990>4 Grammy Nods - 1993>Tours with Elton John - 1993>Divorce Brinkley - 1994>Presented Billboard Century Award - 1994>Ties Beatles for most multiplatinum albums - 1994>Presented with American Music Award of Merit - 1998>Worldwide sales top 100 million units - 1998>Ray Charles inducts Joel into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - 1999>Preforms 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' with Elton John at Madison Square Garden - 2000>Preforms National Anthem at Super Bowl XLI - 2002>The Broadway Musical 'Movin Out' opens - 2002
6.Video
Billy Joel Live