Drumline 2011 Keynotes:Layout 1.qxd - State Theatre

Musical Highlights 4
DrumLine Live features nearly 40 songs that span more than a century of America’s musical history. Here is a sample of
some of the music you’ll hear in the show, with links to video clips that you can check out before attending the performance.
“Go Tell It on the Mountain”
This song was written by John W. Work sometime around
1865. It is an African American spiritual, a type of religious
folk song originated by African American slaves. Spirituals
could carry hidden messages of protest or express the
hope of a better life through religious faith. ”Go Tell It on
the Mountain” is a joyful Christmas song: “Go, tell it on the
mountain,/Over the hills and everywhere/Go, tell it on the
mountain,/That Jesus Christ is born.”
“It Don’t Mean a Thing”
”It Don’t Mean a Thing” was
In
composed by Duke Ellington
1977,
Stevie Wonder
in 1931 for his big band.
wrote “Sir Duke,” a tribute
The lyrics are by Irving to Duke Ellington. The song
Mills. This song became
is also featured in
Ellington’s signature tune and
DrumLine
Live.
brought the word “swing” into
everyday language. The major style of
popular music from about 1935 to 1945, swing was a type
of jazz that featured a “swinging” rhythm that was perfect
for dancing.
“Baby Love”
The Supremes, a female
singing group led by Diana
Ross, recorded ”Baby Love” in
1964 for the Motown label.
The song spent four weeks on
the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Motown was the first
record label owned by an African American and promoting
African American artists. The company developed a
distinctive sound that helped African American soul music
cross over into the wider pop music market.
“I Want You Back”
Pop music superstar
Michael Jackson first
gained fame as the 11-
year-old lead singer of
the Jackson 5, a vocal
group consisting of
Michael and brothers
Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon, and Tito. In 1969, the group
scored their first number-one single on the Motown label
with the up-tempo ”I Want You Back”.
“Shining Star”
The Chicago-based band Earth, Wind
& Fire had their first and only #1
Other
hit in 1975 with ”Shining
funk music
Star”. The song belongs
legends: George
to the funk genre—an
Clinton, Bootsy Collins, the
Commodores, Sly & the
African-inspired blend of
Family Stone,
soul, jazz, and R&B that
and War.
emerged in the mid-1960s. Along
with a funky, danceable bass groove,
the arrangement features a full horn section.
“Cold Hearted”
Best known today as a judge on television’s American Idol,
Paula Abdul began her career as a Los Angeles Lakers
cheerleader and went on to become an Emmy- and
Grammy-winning singer, dancer, and choreographer. The
pop hit, ”Cold Hearted” (sometimes known as “Cold-
Hearted Snake”), appeared on her 1989 multi-platinum
album, Forever Your Girl. The song was written by Elliot
Wolff.
Listen Up!
Listen to each of the songs by clicking the link. Do you recognize any of them Where have you heard them
before Take time to listen to the songs multiple times. Can you identify any specific instruments or rhythms
Which of these songs do you think will sound best played by the marching band in DrumLine Live How
faithful to the original versions do you think the performance will be Do you think it’s important for them to
sound like the original, or is it more important for them to put their own spin on the music