Week 3 Blog Post - Cheek to Cheek by Irving Berlin

 



    The first thing I noticed about this song was the different instruments it had! I heard some violins (or some type of string instrument), muted horns AND normal horns, and a piano. It's cool to hear the different layers of music in the one song. The more you listen, the more you start to recognize. Some songs, try this method of using a lot of layers. About half the time, it sounds like there's just too much going on. But listening to this song, it all blends together so well. To do that well, especially in this particular day and age, makes it that much more impressive because they didn't have the editing ability or the artificial instruments we have now. The ensemble really came together on this one.

    I also just recognized how happy this song makes me! It probably has to do with the fact that it's overall upbeat and cheerful. Irving Berlin compares dancing with your significant other to being "heaven". It's a very relatable feeling! We have a tradition in society that when couples get married, they have their "First Dance". It's usually accompanied by a song that has a lot of meaning to the couple and the dancing is very intimate and memorable. Berlin is a smart man for because I suspect he purposefully plays to the emotions we have when we dance with the person we love and makes a song about it. When people can relate to music, people are drawn to it. I've heard this song done a number of times by different people which goes to show how legendary it really is.

Comments

  1. HalleSeptember 27, 2021 at 3:47 PM

    I love that you noticed the different layers in this particular piece of music! I too think it is such an accomplishment that they achieved this quality of layering in their time--before all of the new editing technology and whatnot. I also agree with what you said in your second paragraph about a couple's first dance! Boy oh boy what a special moment that is, and for Irving Berlin to write a song like that is just so good!

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  2. Emily MuhlesteinSeptember 28, 2021 at 9:10 AM

    I like how you brought up the different layers. I didn't really think of it like that but it brings a new perspective! And I agree that it is really cool they were able to do that back then. I like how you mentioned the song made you happy, I think it is important to recognize what emotions and feelings different songs bring us. By doing this it makes it easier to remember each song and it helps to critically listen to it.

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  3. MegSeptember 29, 2021 at 4:14 PM

    I totally agree that songs with too many layers can be overwhelming, and that this song did it well- you have such a charming way of describing the song I just had to listen to it one more time myself! I'm glad you brought up the prospects of it being a "First Dance" song- I hadn't even thought of that! It's good to remember the business side of things when making music :) It truly is a legendary song.

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