It’s been a hot minute! As much as I’ve enjoyed this vacation from weekly blog posts, I am happy to get back into the groove. Recently, as in the last 20 minutes, I’ve been shopping around for a new podcast to start listening to. Happily, I stumbled upon the podcast Switched on Pop, which basically discussing the genre of Pop music — from specific song origins to lyrics to composition and more. I’ve always been a huge fan of music and my taste varies far and wide. Music is reliable and helps me process emotions on a daily basis. I also pride myself in my Spotify playlists (@kendallshirvan if you’re interested — we’re a solid 14 followers!)
In the episode “The Deep History of ‘7 Rings’” musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding discuss Ariana Grande’s latest single and it’s imitation of the Sound of Music’s ‘My Favorite Things.’ Personally, I am a fan of Ariana Grande. I love her single ‘thank you, next’ and have incorporated that phrase into my vocabulary daily. However, I was stunned at her new single and its use of ‘My Favorite Things.’ While I, the farthest from a professional music appreciator (if that is even a thing), took this song as a rip off, Nate and Charlie appreciate the advanced composition of the song.
The two begin by assuming Grande’s inspiration for the song comes from her known love of theater. ‘My Favorite Things’ is a success because of its rare 1, 2, 3 count — the count of a waltz. Now-d-days, most songs count in fours: 1, 2, 3, 4. Grande also takes the song from a major key to a minor key: a transition from joyful to mysterious. When done correctly, Nate Sloan says “one of the most exciting things about pop music is the way it reimagines and reinterprets artifacts of the past.” Grande is able to do take this 1959 classic and spin it on its head. While the original is a humble appreciation of the little things that bring us happiness, Grande uses the song to talk about her happiness in modern indulgence.
Though Grande’s song is an incredible composition, artists have come forward claiming similarities between her single and others, such as Princess Nokia’s ‘Mine,’ Two Chainz’ ‘Spend It,’ and Soulja Boy’s ‘Pretty Boy Swag.’ Until today, it has been extremely difficult to trademark a tune and prompts many issues across the industry. After listening to the songs all together, similarities are evident. It is close to impossible to honestly say whether or not Grande stole any of these artists songs.
The other issue at hand has been Grande’s shift in her sound. With this new single as well as her upcoming album, her sound has become more and more hip hop and trap. Artists have called her out on not correctly citing her appropriation of the genre. According to author Lauren Michele Jackson, the thing about appropriation that strikes a nerve with people is whether or not something is done respectfully. It wouldn’t be had to track through her previous albums where inspiration may have been building based on producers or song writers she had worked with or artists she collaborated with.
Grande is not the only artist that took inspiration from ‘My Favorite Things’ and she is not the only artist to use a famous tune in their work. Many singers on Youtube and on TV competitions remake songs. A famous cover is Calum Scott’s ‘Dancing on my Own.’ I never knew that song wasn’t his own until recently. Though on my first listen I wasn’t a big lover of Grande’s newest single, this podcast opened my eyes to a new side of her song that demands respect. I look forward to listening to more and more episodes to learn about the music industry.
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Link to Switched on Pop Episode:
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