Music Blog (Martha-Bryan's Version)

When discussing the topic of gender discrimination and where we see it, the music industry, even music as a whole, certainly cannot be excluded. While there have been some important steps towards gender equality in music within the last few years (whether it be simply allowing Native American girls to play the drums, or Taylor Swift being the second most streamed artist on Spotify), it cannot  be denied that there are still major  problems involving gender inequality in both the music industry and in the way society views female artists, as well as the music they make and the people who consume it.  The facts are facts, and the facts in this case are that, on average, women make up around 12.7% of songwriters, 28.1% of artists, and only 2.8%  of producers (with not one woman being nominated for producer of the year in 2021 or the 8 years before it.) This is already an insane gap between the amount of women and men in the industry, but it's even crazier when you ...

Throughout my life, my all-time favorite musical tradition to take part in has always been the singing of the "Happy Birthday" song to whoever was being celebrated. While, like just about everyone else, I've never liked being on the receiving end of this, there is something so joyous about gathering together with family and friends to sing in celebration of someone you love! So, when I read the prompt for this assignment, I knew this was the ritual I wanted to focus on. I think we can all agree that each family or group's rendition of this song is quite unique, some sung perfectly in tune with four-part harmonies, and other that sound just about like a catfight with a dash of the pre-concert tuning of an orchestra. But even with these differences - the addition or lack of "cha-cha-cha's", mentions of zoos and smelling like monkeys, or "hip-hip hooray's" - the "Happy Birthday" song, as known in English-speaking countries has remain...