Unit 7 Assignment: Black Pop and Neotraditional Trends of the 80s and 90s Music as a Cultural Artifact – Guided Listening Assignment (MUS121 Rhythm, Blues & Hip Hop)

Due Date: 11:59 pm EST Sunday of Unit 7
Points: 100

Overview:

For each week in our course, you will consider music as a cultural artifact and be
assigned either a piece of music or a specific musical artist to explore and analyze for
the week. This week, you will be listening to music by Black Pop artist, Michael
Jackson. Michael Jackson is a direct link between the Motown Music we listened to
previously, and 1980s pop music. He came from a musical background, and the vocal
group he was in, The Jackson 5, were considered Motown’s last great act.

We will also shift gears some, and listen to some of the neotraditional trends of the 80s
and 90s, such as the renewal of Rock and Roll, the Blues Revival and socially aware
female singer-songwriters.

Please be sure to read through the entire assignment, as there will be several parts to it
again.

In addition to your etextbook, you should expect to complete some research online to
respond to these questions. Be sure to use vetted resources—if you aren’t sure what a
reliable source is, remember, you can use the CRAP test to determine if your source is
reliable!

Instructions:

Part 1: Michael Jackson’s Thriller

• On the internet or your phone, look up the official music video for Michael
Jackson’s Thriller.

• After watching this music video, answer the following questions in a word

document:
o Describe this video and explain why you believe it became such a mega

hit.
o Share a brief biography of Michael Jackson.
o Thriller is considered characteristic of post-1980s pop music. Describe

what makes it characteristic. Be sure to include information about the
rhythm, use of electronic instruments and conventional instruments and
Jackson’s voice.

MUS 121 – Rhythm Blues and Hip Hop

Unit 7 – Black Pop and Neotraditional Trends of the 80s and 90s Music as a Cultural Artifact – Guided Listening Assignment

Part 2: The Renewal of Rock and the Resurgence of Blues Music
• On the internet or your phone, listen to ONE the following:

o The Traveling Wilburys, “Handle With Care”
o The Rolling Stones, “Start Me Up:
o Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “I Won’t Back Down”
o Stevie Ray Vaughn, “Voodoo Child”
o Robert Cray, “Strong Persuader”

• After listening to your selection, answer the following questions in a word
document:

o Is your choice representative of a resurgence of rock music or blues
music? Explain why you made this determination.

o Share a brief biography of each of the band/artists you chose.
o Name the members of each of these bands.
o Examine the lyrics and share the lines which are your favorite and/or

made an impression on you.
o What are the ideas being addressed in each of these songs?
o What is the date that the original music was written? What is the date that

this original recording was made/released ?
o Has anyone else recorded the song you have chosen? If so, find one

YouTube recording of a “cover” of the song you have chosen if it is
available. If nothing is available, please indicate that as well.

o List the instruments you hear in these recordings. Are each of these songs
the same or different instrumentation?

o What was your favorite thing about the performances/recordings?
o What emotions did the performances/recordings make you feel when you

heard it?

Part 3: Socially-conscious Female Singer-Songwriters

• On the internet or your phone, listen to ONE the following:
o Suzanne Vega, “The Queen and the Soldier”
o Tracy Chapman, “Fast Car”

• After listening to your selection, answer the following questions in a word
document:

o Share a brief biography of each of the artist you chose.
o Examine the lyrics and share the lines which are your favorite and/or

made an impression on you.
o What are the ideas being addressed in each of these songs? How does

the song you chose illustrate the artist’s social-consciousness?
o What is the date that the original music was written? What is the date that

this original recording was made/released ?
o Has anyone else recorded the song you have chosen? If so, find one

YouTube recording of a “cover” of the song you have chosen if it is
available. If nothing is available, please indicate that as well.

o List the instruments you hear in these recordings. Are each of these songs
the same or different instrumentation?

o What was your favorite thing about the performances/recordings?
o What emotions did the performances/recordings make you feel when you

heard it?

Requirements:

• Three to four pages in length, excluding the Reference page.
• APA format, including an in-text citation for referenced works.
• At least four resources.

Be sure to read the criteria by which your work will be evaluated before you write
and again after you write.

Evaluation Rubric for Guided Listening Assignments

CRITERIA Exemplary Proficient Needs
Improvement

Deficient

54-60 points 48-53 points 36-47 points 0-35 points

Content

Subject matter
is thoroughly
addressed.

Arguments are
well elaborated

and fully
supported by

scholarly
research and

specific
examples.

Subject matter is
fairly well

addressed.
Arguments are
supported by

scholarly
research but

could be further
elaborated with
specific details.

Subject matter
is adequately
addressed.

Arguments are
partially

supported by
scholarly
research.

Subject matter
is minimally
addressed.

Opinions are
offered, but

arguments lack
scholarly
backing

9-10 points 8 points 6-7 points 0-5 points

Musical
Selections

Incorporates all
required
musical

selections

Incorporates
some musical

selections

Incorporates
one of the
musical

selections

Missing
musical

selections
requirements

9-10 points 8 points 6-7 points 0-5 points
Scholarly
Sources

4 or more
resources 3 resources 2 resources 0-1 resource

9-10 points 8 points 6-7 points 0-5 points

Paper Length 3 pages 2 pages 1 page
0 pages or
more than

three pages
9-10 points 8 points 6-7 points 0-5 points

Clear and
Professional
Writing with
APA Format

Writing and
format are

clear,
professional,

APA compliant,
and error free.

Few errors that
do not impede
professional
presentation.

Significant
errors that do
not impede
professional
presentation.

Errors impede
professional
presentation;
guidelines not

followed.