Breakaway (A continuation of “AmericanIdle”)

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4 word format

document in english

arts and art history

school essay

published 13/09/2007

review : not yet assessed

level : Expert

requested 1 times

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Summary

To the surprise of fans and American Idol producers alike (in varying degrees of delightful glee and ghastly shock), Clarkson’s second album conveyed an entirely different message than the first. Entitled Breakaway, the music simply delves deeper than the playful bubbles at the surface of all pop music. But what constitutes a fan insisting that Clarkson’s music has improved? What appropriate standards exist to make such a quick judgment? According to Simon Frith, the ability to implement real meaning in a song rests in the facets of the voice. Through meaningful lyrics, a song can succeed in exceeding expectations set by the pop genre. Miranda Fricker takes this notion further, attesting that different kinds of emotion as reflected in the voice affect the resonance of a song. A minor shift in voice through deepening emotion will change the expectations of the listeners altogether. Therefore, a sufficient standard in judging Clarkson’s work exists in examining Frith’s idea of the lyrical content balanced by Fricker’s idea of sound and emotion.

The song required of Kelly Clarkson to sing on the finale episode of the first season, reflected the notoriously man-made empire of American Idol
In his book, Performing Rites, Simon Frith defines these standards of pop music.
After establishing the central meaning of genre through the eyes of production, it is time to explore the internal components of the songs
The shift indicates a movement back to singularity'an intimate note for Kelly Clarkson herself
Unlike its passive predecessor, the lyrics of 'Since You've Been Gone' demonstrate the benefits of action.
Listeners can identify with this meaning, as everyone has been seriously disappointed by a loved one
Through a shift in sound and emotion, however, Clarkson tests the limits of the pop genre in which she is hopelessly trapped
However, this does not mean that emotion automatically causes a song to depreciate in meaning
Clarkson speaks candidly, the beat in the background a repetitious thumping of drums, conjuring the image of a beating heart to convey a sense of authentic emotion
Thus, the major problem stands: how do young people, without access to academic theories from writers like Frith and Fricker, discover and apply such standards to judge the quality of popular music?