"What Hurts the Most" Cover song

Cascada is a eurodance German group. They consist of two band members; Natalie Horler and Yanou. Natalir Horler has worked for various DJs since she was 16 and has provided vocals for dance act 2 Vibez. Yann Peifer also known as Yanou is a German producer who produces music for Cascada along side DJ Manian.

Rascal Flatts is an American country band that came from Colombus,Ohio. Rascal Flatts is made up of three band members; Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney. Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus are second cousins who come from a musical family. DeMarcus moved to Nashville in '92 where he became part of his first band, East to West. In '97 DeMarcus convinced LeVox to leave is job and persue a career in music. DeMarcus joined Chely Wright's band, where he met Joe Don Rooney. The family band was playing at a night club one night when their guitarist couldn't make it. They invited Rooney to fill in and they Eventually took the name Rascal Flatts after a famous landmark in Oklahoma.

"What Hurts the Most" was written by Jeffrey Steele and Steve Robson. This song is a ballad which the narrator explains what causes them emotional pain in their broken relationship. Steele's original idea was to write about the loss of his father, but decided to go with a more universal theme of loss in love. In 2006, Rascal Flatts released the song as a single and it became their fifth number one single on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. In 2007, German group, Cascada covered it. This song was their first single released of their second album. The single was first released in Sweden and then released in the United States in December.

Reflection of Popular Culture in Music

Songs like Bad Romance By Lady Gaga and other music that is about sexuality and relationships is what are culture mainly listens to these days. Young girls and boys are learning everyday about sex and relationships due to the music played on the radio. This music is a bad influence and is showing what the world has come down to these days. Also, songs about drugs, drinking and partying are played numerous times throughout the day on the radio. Songs like Tik Tok By Kesha and Telephone By Lady Gaga and Beyonce talk about how partying is fun and the cool thing to do. This shows kids and our culture that, that is life to have. That life is fun and if you want to be like the rockstars, moviestars, and popstars that is what you should do.

Plagarism

"Viva La Vida" By Cold Play is an example of plagarism in music because the chorus of both sounds is very similar. Although it is an example of instrumental plagarism by the way that Coldplay's song has just added lyrics to their song.

"Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne and "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" by Rubinoos are coincidental songs. Avril Lavigne's song "Girlfriend" has alot of instrumental similarities. The words of the song are different, but the music is similar. I believe that they are quite similar, but not an example of plagarism.

Pictures relating to song

This picture of Saturn’s limb and upper atmosphere reminds me of the song “Eclipse” by Pink Floyd because the last words of the song are “There is no dark side of the moon really. Matter of fact it’s all dark.” Although this is picture of Saturn it looks like it has a dark side and when I saw this picture “Eclipse” popped into my head.

The lyrics to the song “Mailbox Arson” by Alexisonfire comes into mind every time I view this picture of the city hall burning in Bangkok. The lyrics “I watch the smoke start to rise/ One hundred homes, one hundred fires/ Now everything you own now burns away.” These lyrics remind me of this picture because it shows a city in Bangkok burning and the song is about a city burning and how everything is no longer theirs. Also, Bangkok looks like it is being invaded in this picture which is what this song is also about and how nothing is private anymore.

This picture of an infantry soldier from the Vietnam war reminds me of the song “Unknown Soldier” by Breaking Benjamin because the lyrics “Full of fear/ Ever clear/ I’ll be here/ Fighting forever.” Is describing a soldier and how he is going to fight forever.

Poem 2

Blank stares keep looking at me
The constant insanity is all I see
Chaotic corruptions I cannot escape
It’s blanketing and covering my mind like a giant cape
Why this is happening I do not know
Most of these people don’t shine nor glow
This lifestyle seems so typical and plain
It’s like a chain and a lock without the chain
There is always going to be that one thing missing
Where everyone’s dreaming a dream and they just keep on wishing
Maybe someday this world will change
Away from all the craziness and the people that seem so strange
By: Ariel Monat

Poem 1

Sometimes I think of leaving
I always go back for more
Sitting here wondering
What this life is for
Waking up, eating, sleeping has become so mundane
I’m sitting here wondering why you cause me pain
Alive and lovely you were at first
Being better than a bestfriend
My heart is left broken
Hoping it will mend
That fact that you have changed on me
Makes me so upset
The fact that you’re changing at all
Is the part that I don’t get
I’m wondering why this feeling is the worst I’ve ever had
Wondering if this change wasa good thing or bad
My thoughts are boggled, turned, twist, and bent
I’m laying here wondering when this all will end
By: Ariel Monat

Tone

The song “Rock n’ Roll” By Boston sounds happier and more enjoying. This song has a positive tone and is looking on the upside of being rich and famous. Also, it’s looking on the good side of living the good life where everything is nice and people want to be like you. “We barely made enough to survive/ But when we got up on stage and got ready to play/ People come alive”. These lyrics show how everyone loves their music and it makes them come alive. “Dancin’ in the streets of Hyannis”. These lyrics show how their music makes everyone want to dance and that the rock n’ roll life is all about the partying life. “Livin’ on rock-n-roll music/ Never worry ‘bout the things we were missing/ When we got up on the stage and got ready to play/ Everybody’d listen”. These lyrics show that rock-n-roll and music makes them seem like nothing is wrong and that they aren’t missing anything because they have nothing to worry or miss out on. All of these lyrics show a positive outlook and a positive tone of rock-n-roll and being famous.
The song “Have A Cigar” By Pink Floyd has a depressed and darker feeling to it. It also has a mocking tone. This song is skeptical and cynical which shows how the life of fame isn’t bad but it isn’t all that great either. “Oh by the way, which one’s Pink?” . These lyrics show that because they are famous, people are always trying to get to know them and pry into their personal life. “We heard about the sell-out/You gotta get an album out/ You owe it to the people”. These lyrics show that people are trying to get them to do what they want and that fame isn’t all that great. The line “Everybody else is just green” show that everyone is filled with envy because of the band. This song shows the tone of mocking the rich and famous life because it shows that the rock-n-roll life, although seems great, can be a bit of a hassle.
The shared tone qualities that these two songs have are that they are both about the rich, famous, rock-n-roll life. Also, they are both about being in a band getting a contract and becoming rich. The cigar in both songs is a motif and represents victory and celebrating. The cigar also represents age and people usually have cigars as a celebratory thing.