For this assignment I chose to order from McDonalds in different accents or languages. I’d like to start by explaining the resources that I used to complete my audio recordings. The main hardware was my Macbook containing Garage Band. I then made three recordings, one in English, one in French, and one in Spanish. Thankfully, I had the accessibility of knowing someone that is trilingual. She speaks English, Spanish, and French.
English Recording
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/68366000″ iframe=”true” /]
Spanish Recording
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/68366084″ iframe=”true” /]
French Recording
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/68365648″ iframe=”true” /]
It is obvious to tell what I ordred in the English recording, but for the French and Spanish I ordered things that McDonalds would sell in Spanish and French speaking countries For example, in the Spanish recording the customer orders an arepa, a typical south american food, and a frescolita, a typical south american soda. In the French recording, the customer does order a big mac which is seen in the United States, but the point is to show how Global McDonalds is. This leads to the historical argument I created from doing this assignment, which is despite McDonalds being an American company, there are one of the more international company worldwide.
I chose not to do any type of accent for the English recording, because I figured if I am comparing different countries I wouldn’t to put on a southern or “New York” accent on to prove the point. It is obvious why I chose not to do the Spanish and French recording because, I simply doing speak those languages or good enough where I can record myself clearly and articulate myself correctly.
After my initial assessment of the project and testing different songs in my own mind, and through the sampler, I realized the true purpose of combining two very seemingly different musical styles. Even when just examining the final product on the surface, I found that beyond the style produced there was a real historical statement being made. Music, while defined mainly by geographical and ethnic boundaries, is universally a collective human enterprise. While the songs I chose were only produced a few years apart from each other, the same project could be executed with Johnny Cash and Bach, Tom Jones and Wu-Tang, or even Bruce Springsteen and Philip Glass. Again, on the surface a musical and stylistic statement is being made, but when examined under a microscope a true human argument is posed to challenge how geographical and ethnic boundaries separate how we classify human expression.
This same process could be applied to any number of comparative analyses. The surest method of learning about two perceived ideological opponents is to first combine them and catalog their similarities. For instance, when the process is applied to political competitors, such as in the recent Presidential Race, you could compare the rhetoric of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in speeches and analyze just how similar on paper they may appear. While many will surely object to and immediately refute any minute possibility of their political enemy sharing ideals, you must first observe the situation from a birds-eye view, operate beyond your own bias. That is what this process truly achieves in teaching the observer, to drop your guard and construct an honest argument around the truth.
Although in the past I have often used this style and process to achieve what I wanted musically, I have found a deeper meaning in applying the method to all aspects of my life. Similarities lie in the most unexpected places, and the differences that once set people and ideas apart will ultimately bring them together.
After going through everyone’s assingments in class, I decided to change my assignment from the “Make weather” audio to the “Create a Voicemail Recording,” which is an assignment to a record voice mail message for use samples, impressions, and/or music.
Instead of trying to (poorly) impersonate Barack Obama, I decided to instead create an automatic voice messaging system for his answering machine. This allowed me to think about what issues the president is facing that people would want to ask him about like the economy, the job numbers, and the ongoing wars and conflicts overseas. I also added the “swipe” at the G.O.P and Fox News, as they have been a notorious thorn in the president’s side during his terms.
The reason I switched my assignments is because I think the voicemail assignment offered more space for a historical argument. Mine being – what questions has Obama left unanswered?
The voicemail format of the audio really helps so that – what about the economy, job growth, immigration and the Gaza conflict? I only added 5 for time purposes, but I could’ve added at least five more, and had interviewees record their questions under each number, like a recording.
Next, I could go back into Obama’s speeches, and see if he can answer these questions in another recording. His view on job growth, how he’s going to handle Afghanistan, new policies he’ll announce on immigration. It could also be a means to listen to the silences as the numbers keep adding up “Press 12…Press 13…” with the more conflicts Obama faces in his term.
The thing about a voicemail is that it’s a message you leave because you want to be answered. Called back. Responded to.
What if Obama can’t respond back because he doesn’t have an answer? The silence of an ignored voicemail can say a lot.
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