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 that I would spend significant, if any, time in Alaska. So far, it has been very cool. It is definitely as cold as it is advertised, but it is very pretty and I have met some great people so far.
This picture right here is one that I find very appealing, it is a picture of a young Justin Bieber. Justin Bieber was the artist who is probably the person whose songs I have sent the most time listening to. Especially the songs he made when he was still a teenager and looked like he does in this photo. He was the first artist who I remember really captivated me and in a way, sparked my love for music. I remember listening to his songs and watching his performances so I could learn all the words and also his dance moves. I was a huge fan. I was even fortunate enough to go to a couple of his concerts.
More recently, my music taste has shifted slightly, I enjoy listening to genres like country music, and also some upbeat, house style music. In the last couple of years, I have gone to a couple of different country concerts for artists Morgan Wallen and Thomas Rhett, two of my favorites. I have never played many instruments besides a few lessons on the piano. I have always loved to sing. My friends often get annoyed with me because I will sing along to songs loudly and sometimes even dance around like I am performing a concert. I love listening to music anytime I am in the car, working out, and hanging out with friends.
Keeping with the theme, here is a link to one of my all time favorite songs: Somebody to Love by Justin Bieber ft. Usher.
I am from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and just moved to Alaska recently, too. I'm glad you're enjoying your move so far! I also grew up playing hockey and enjoyed Justin Bieber's music when I was young. I still remember the Summer of 2009 when "One Time" came out, changed my life.
Hi! I realize that I'm a bit late here but I had to comment when I saw the image of Justin Bieber. I knew every song in my teen! What a hearthrob he was. His posters covered my walls. From concerts to movie premiers, I was obsessed.
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...
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...
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...
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ReplyDeleteKeep singing! I sing almost every day. Nice blog presentation.
ReplyDeleteI am from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and just moved to Alaska recently, too. I'm glad you're enjoying your move so far! I also grew up playing hockey and enjoyed Justin Bieber's music when I was young. I still remember the Summer of 2009 when "One Time" came out, changed my life.
ReplyDeleteHi! I realize that I'm a bit late here but I had to comment when I saw the image of Justin Bieber. I knew every song in my teen! What a hearthrob he was. His posters covered my walls. From concerts to movie premiers, I was obsessed.
ReplyDelete-Taylor Davis