Tommy Cronin Music Blog

     When most people think about music, they usually focus on the artist who wrote the song. But honestly, performers are just as important. They’re the ones who actually bring the music to life and make it something people can connect with. A really good example of this is The Piano Guys. They take already existing songs and turn them into something completely different by mixing classical instruments with modern music.           The Piano Guys are from Utah, and they are made up of pianist Jon Schmidt, cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, producer Al van der Beek, and videographer Paul Anderson. They first started out making videos in a piano store, but once they began posting on YouTube, they blew up pretty quickly. What makes them stand out is how they mix classical music with pop songs and add really cinematic videos. Instead of just playing music, they turn it into a full experience, which is a big reason why they’ve gotten so popular. ...

     When most people think about music, genres and styles like rap, pop, and country often come to mind, especially in North America, if you travel down south, however, you will find a different style of music. A blend between African rhythms and Spanish Melodies create an incredible sound that is energetic and groovy, but also filled with rich culture and history. This music I am describing is the Music of Cuba.      The music of Cuba has its own unique sound because like I mentioned, African traditions bring the element of complex rhythms and special percussions, while the Spanish influences the guitar and also the melody. Unlike lots of music that we hear on a daily basis, the music of Cuba tells the stories of every day life, it is not as much for entertaining purposes. The music is mainly used during celebrations, storytellings, and community gatherings. This makes the music very important to the culture and shapes how it is created and performed. Cha...

    Music is always evolving, whether its the instruments, the artists, the genres, and many other things. Technology and personal taste are constantly changing and the music adapts with it. Music genres are no different. Sometimes, in genres, the most interesting sounds come from mixing completely different styles together. One genre that shows this really well is country rap, sometimes called “hick-hop.” Country rap blends the storytelling and rural themes of country music with the beats and vocal style of hip-hop. Over time the genre has changed a lot, especially in production and popularity. By comparing earlier country rap with modern country rap, we can see how the genre moved from Point A to Point B.      One of the earlier songs that helped bring attention to country rap is “Deliverance” by Bubba Sparxxx (2003, United States)( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9pX1R0nJXg ).  This song mixes hip-hop with strong Southern and country influences. On...

       Nostalgic Style Songs seem to be a theme for me in these posts. I enjoy going back and listening to a lot of the songs that brought me the most joy throughout my life. However, this time listening to them more in depth with the intent of finding the certain elements that make it so good. This song is another great classic song called Dancing Queen by ABBA.  Dancing Queen   was released in   1976   on their album   Arrival . The song was written by   Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson , and ABBA is from   Sweden . Even though it came out almost 50 years ago, it’s still one of the most recognizable pop songs ever made. It became ABBA’s only No. 1 hit in the United States and is often considered their signature song (Rolling Stone). Dancing Queen by ABBA Music Video:      There are a few reasons why this song hits my emotions. First, because it is an awesome song that is almost guaranteed to make an...

     Throughout  my childhood, I  often   traveled  in the car with my Dad and  siblings; his  vehicle,  a black Toyota Land Cruiser, was great  for our  entire  family. One  characteristic   of  this  vehicle  was a Bluetooth  connection for a  mobile  phone. My  father   chose  the music  while  we were driving in his  vehicle,  and he had a  rather   brief   selection  of songs.  During  most  car rides, you  had a  solid   sense  of the songs you  could   expect   to   hear .  A   song  that was and  remains  one of my  favorites  is  titled   Baba O'Riley . This  track  was  composed  in 1971 by Pete Townshend and performed  by the  group  "The Who." The  piece   drew   inspira...

     Hello Everyone, my name is Tommy Cronin. This is my first blog post for my Explorations in Music Class. I am from Mendota Heights, Minnesota, I am 21 years old and I am a freshman at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The reason I am a couple of years older than a traditional freshman may be is because I played two years of junior hockey after I graduated high school in the spring of 2023. Throughout those two years, I spent time in North Dakota, British Columbia, Canada, and Wisconsin. Now at UAF, I am an economics major and I am a participant on the Men's Hockey Team. Back in Minnesota, I have an older sister, a younger brother, a mom and a dad, and a family dog. My dog is a German Shepherd named Sarge. In my free time, some of my favorite things to do are golf, play pickleball, participate in water sports, and spend time with my family and friends. Coming up to Alaska in the fall has been my first time in the state. Before deciding to come here, I never thought t...