In which I honor a jazz classic To remember the illustrious musical pioneer Dave Brubeck on what would have been his 99th birthday, I present five thoughts on his quirky hit, both my favorite piece of his and my favorite piece across all schools and eras of jazz: It makes an unconventional time signature soundContinue reading “Five Observations on “Take Five””
Author Archives: Cecilia Gigliotti
The Best Song Choruses
In which I test the ideological power of a pop chorus A song is, ultimately, a machine, a collection of cogs with their own functions. Possibly the most conspicuous cog is the chorus, which, by its nature, is an aural focal point where the artist communes with the listener. People who do not know theContinue reading “The Best Song Choruses”
Lit Review: DAISY JONES & THE SIX
In which I assess one of the most fascinating reads of 2019 *WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS* Over the summer, a grad school friend and longtime fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid suggested I read the author’s newest novel. Reid, she waxed, had made a name for herself evoking specific time periods and environments and creating dynamic charactersContinue reading “Lit Review: DAISY JONES & THE SIX”
Mauerfall 30
In which I get a little philosophical about my new home and its un-division Last Saturday marked the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The day was cold, rainy, and miserable—not a day I’d have chosen to cross a newly-opened wall unless I really had to—but the week has featured commemorations andContinue reading “Mauerfall 30”
Write Your Own Eagles Song
In which I record a recipe of sorts You will need: A healthy dose of ennui A thorough knowledge of California Access to incomprehensible amounts of cocaine (think enough to have to scrape out of a mixing board post-session) Instructions: Begin on the topic of a female—specifically a “woman,” never a “girl.” Create as manyContinue reading “Write Your Own Eagles Song”
My Favorite Musical Theatre Opening Numbers
In which I lay out some cherished expository songs and scene-setters The opening number of a musical carries by far the most responsibility. It is the means by which the audience is familiarized with the world onstage (and arguably vice versa, as the performers have to judge the sort of crowd they’ve got). It isContinue reading “My Favorite Musical Theatre Opening Numbers”
A Few Choice Italian Words
In which I reflect on a recent viaggio with my parole preferite I spent last weekend in Florence with my sister, who is studying there, and my dad, who took a transatlantic getaway. A smaller city than I remembered, but hey, I’ve done some growing and traveling since my last visit. Over those 8½ yearsContinue reading “A Few Choice Italian Words”
An Ode to Shostakovich
In which I ignore the current political climate and argue how great Russians are Today marks the 92nd anniversary of Symphony No. 2, a.k.a. “To October,” by Dmitri Dmitrievich Shostakovich. If that name alone isn’t sufficient to convince you of the inherent nobility of the Russian people, I don’t know what I can do forContinue reading “An Ode to Shostakovich”
What is a Culture Slut?
In which I define the descriptor of the blog persona n. A member of a very particular subspecies of Homo sapiens wh develops a regular, periodic, and intense fascination with different cultural works (e.g., specific songs, books, plays, films, television shows) and their creators, thereby amassing a collection of heroes and pop “things” over theirContinue reading “What is a Culture Slut?”
#ThrowbackThursday: A Tribute to International Pepper Day
In which I reflect on a gathering in Central Park to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper With the “Beatles 50” decade (that is, a series of Beatles-related 50th anniversaries) fast coming to a close, I sit listening to the special remaster of Abbey Road, which is everything I could wantContinue reading “#ThrowbackThursday: A Tribute to International Pepper Day”