WP3:Soundtrack to my Life

The Little Mermaid Original Broadway Cast-Part of Your World


My love for music began at a very young age. Not long after I began talking, was I singing. This interest in music sprouted from numerous viewings of The Little Mermaid. My mom to loved to sing and together we we would belt this song all around the house. From my childhood to now I have related myself to Ariel and what she expresses in this song. Through this song Ariel expresses her all of her hopes and dreams. She is ready to be independent, and will do what ever she has to in order to live her dream. I am driven and inspired by this character. I too have dreams. I want to perform in New York, and while there have been times when I have thought seriously about abandoning this dream, I will not let logic defeat me. I know that I don't exactly have the ideal body type for most roles, nor do I have a lot of acting experience outside of high school, but as proven by Ariel, anything is possible if you want it bad enough.

Green Day-Good Riddance


Good Riddance by Green Day is about making the most of your life and the memories that live on. The song specifically states, "It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life." This song has been used many times throughout my life to signify the ends of things, sports seasons, high school and other things of that nature. The first time I ever heard this song was at the end of my eighth grade basketball season. Throughout middle school and the beginning of high school I loved basketball. The basketball court was where I felt most comfortable. The freshly waxed wooden floors squeaked when you stopped suddenly. The rush you felt running up and down the court hoping to score. Standing at the three point line waiting for the pass, and feeling your body jolt as you catch the ball. Grounding your body and then shooting. The swish of the net as the ball goes through it. The crowd cheers for you and many hands pat you on the back as you hurry to the defense. You feel overwhelming satisfaction. In a way it makes me sad that I didn't continue playing basketball, but those were some great times and I did have "the time of my life".



Dreamgirls-We Are a Family


We Are a Family from the motion picture Dreamgirls describes how the closeness of their group has become much like a family and that they all have to work together to achieve their dreams. The same was true for many of the music and theatre ensembles I was involved in throughout high school. We spent so much time working together towards a common goal, that we became a family. The stage was our commonplace, our home, if you will. The paint on the floor of the scene shop outlined sets of show done in the past. Props cabinets line the walls backstage filled with objects that were familiar to most of us. A neon "Footloose" sign hung above the paint cupboards. Though they could not be seen by the naked eye the stage was covered with footprints of those who walked the stage before us, those families that shared a passion for theatre and passed there passion on to many generations. Near the entrance to the stage hung an illuminated sign that read, "Act Well Your Part. For There All Honor Lies." This reminded why we were there, not to be in the spotlight, but rather to do the best we could for the sake of the ensemble. We learned very quickly that you cannot let theatre be all about you. It takes many people to make a show run smoothly. When we were successful it was because we did so as a family.

Wicked-For Good


Ok, so this is a really crappy, illegally recorded (not by me) version of the cast of Wicked performing For Good, but it was all I could find. This was originally sung by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth on Broadway. The lyrics perfectly describe the friendships I have had throughout my life. Good friends are there for you always, no matter the circumstances. They listen intently to your venting and offer advice. They always offer a shoulder to cry on. They truly care about you. You know in your heart that without these people you would not be the same. I have been very blessed throughout my life to meet the kinds of people that meet these criteria. I honestly don't know what I would do without them. It scares me to even think about it. My friends are my rock. They are my support system and I would not be the person that I am today if I had never met them. As the lyrics say, "Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."


I'll Fly Away-Jars of Clay


I'll Fly Away by Jars of Clay is about going to heaven when you die. It is a beautiful song and the video shows many different images of angels. This was one of my great grandparents favorite songs. It was even sung by my aunt and cousin at my grandfather's funeral. My grandparents both used to sing it to all the grandchildren in the living room at their house. Their living room was the site for many family gatherings. The smell of freshly baked goodies filled the air as grandma would pass them out to all the grandchildren. We would all gather around grandpa's old torn recliner while he told us stories and sang with us. A few feet away sat grandma's recliner. It was in better shape than his and covered in crocheted blankets. The table next to it held baskets full of yarn and crocheting needles. Crocheting was one of grandma's favorite pastimes. She often attempted to teach me and we would sit there for hours, me asking for help quite often. She was very patient with me. The walls were covered with family pictures, golden butterflies and framed bible verses. Whenever we were over the floor was covered with toys, dolls, barbies, blocks and wooden ducks that my grandpa would make in his workshop. The living room now sits empty, but I can still picture everything the way it used to be. And I know that they are as happy as ever being with god in heaven.


Spice Girls-Wannabe


This video of Wannabe was taken from one of the Spice Girls concerts. My sister and went through the Spice Girls phase when I was in middle school. We loved them and watched the Spice Girls Movie at least twice a week. This movie had a very odd plot. It included a lot of singing and dancing, which my sister and I loved to impersonate. We each picked one of the Spice Girls and acted out the movie. Of course my sister got to be Baby Spice and I was Sporty Spice. Through our dancing, singing and acting, we transformed ourselves into the Spice Girls. We even attempted to speak in a British accent. This movie and our love for the Spice Girls brought my sister and I closer together. My sister and I are inseparable. We do everything together and tell each other everything. She is the only one in the world that I am this close to. I love her to death. She is my sister. And to think that I relationship like this stemmed from impersonating the Spice Girls.


Bette Midler-The Wind Beneath My Wings


Bette Midler's video for The Wind Beneath My Wings illustrates two best friends that watch out for each other. I love this song so much, but rather than associating it with friends that have changed my life, I usually associate this song with my parents. After all, it is their wedding song. My parents are always there for me through thick and thin. They support me even if they don't always agree with some of my actions. The chair in our living room has become a central place for us. This beige circular chair is one of the most comfortable chairs I have ever sat in. And not only is it used to recline and watch television or sleep, but it has become a place where I can bond with my parents. The pillows are stained by the many tears I have cried there in the arms of my comforting mother. Those same pillows are squished and misshapen from cramming six people on it for a group hug. It is covered in little black and white hairs from our dog, Lucy, who also loves to cuddle with us. This chair has seen many fights, conversations, tears, but especially so much love. I know that my parents will always be there for me no matter what. I don't just consider them my parents anymore, but also my best friends, because they are "The Wind Beneath My Wings".

First Year

As my first year of college draws to a close, I have began reflecting on the happenings of the past year. It's hard to believe that it went by this fast.
It seems like just yesterday, that I was loading my dad's truck with all of my belongings, scared out of my mind because I didn't know what to expect. The trip to Lincoln was only my second time driving on the interstate. I followed behind my dad's truck, and I was extremely nervous driving at such a high speed compared to what I was used to.
When we pulled in to unload, random people started grabbing my stuff and began carrying it upstairs. I just kind of stood there, wondering what the room was going to be like. I hoped that my roommate would be nice and be someone I could develop a friendship with.
My mom and I grabbed the last of my things and headed up to the room, while my dad moved the car out of the fire lane. As we walked up the stairs, I was getting a little nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect. As we entered my room we were greeted by my roommate, Kaitlyn, and her parents. They seemed like really nice people and I was excited to get to know them. Our parents hit it off right away. Kaitlyn and I let them do all of the talking at first.
Once we had unpacked everything, gone to lunch, and done the whole matriculation thing. Our parents left, and then it was just the two of us.
We spent the entire night talking. We had so much in common. We talked about everything, theatre, boys, high school, friends and so much more. I instantly knew that this is someone that I could become really good friends with.
And it grew from there. It has been a really tough year for me and she has been there for me the entire time. When I lost my grandpa, aunt and uncle she was there to comfort me. When I just needed to vent, she listened. I feel now that I can tell her anything. We have so many inside jokes that most other people don't understand. In our meetings of the eleven thirty club, as we call them, I am usually laughing so hard that I am crying. I now consider her one of my best friends.
I have had a wonderful first year of college. I have had so many wonderful opportunities with music. I have grown as a musician and as a person. And I have made some of my very best friends that I know I will have for the rest of my life. What more can someone ask for?

Grandpa Barton

I sat in University Choir marveling at the wonderful sound we happened to be producing that day. It had been a fairly good day up to this point. I had gotten my theory test back with a nice big "A" at the top. I had made to all of my classes and had just been in a generally good mood. This was about to change.
As I sat listening to Doc babble on about how we needed to have a unified vowel, something in my pocket began buzzing. This of course was my cell phone. I ignored it the first time, knowing that I obviously couldn't answer it in the middle of class. A minute or so later it went off again. I fought the temptation to pull it out and see who was calling, mainly because Doc was staring directly at me. Again just a few minutes later, it began ringing. As the phone vibrated yet again, I started getting a really bad feeling. I discretely pulled my phone out to see who it was, and as I opened it up I began feeling nauseous. It was my mother. She knew my schedule and would never call when I was in class, especially not three times in a row, unless there was something wrong. I didn't know what could be happening, but I knew it couldn't be good.
As much as I wanted to leave, I couldn't. So I sat and waited, not so patiently, feeling more and more sick as each minute passed. The end of class could not come soon enough. As Doc said, "Nice work today folks. See you tomorrow," I jumped from my chair, put away my music, and pulled out my phone as I sprinted out of the room.
As I slid open my phone, I revealed a text message reading, "Call me asap" from mom. I closed out of it a dialed her number. My heart raced as I waited for her to pick up. Finally she picked up. Her voice sounded uneasy and sniffles were interjected after every few words.
"Your grandpa isn't doing so well," she said as she began to break down, "You need to come home now or...." she paused for a moment, "or you might not get to see him," she finished as she continued bawling.
"I'll be there in forty minutes," I told her. I went to hang up, but then put the phone back to my face, which at this point was covered in tears. "Mom, tell him I love him," I said as I slid the phone closed and put it back in my pocket. I then raced across campus to my car, jumped in, and began speeding to Omaha.
As I drove, the reality of all this set in. His wife had passed away a little over year before, so we all knew that it was coming soon, but that didn't make us anymore ready. As I thought about all of the good times we had, I began bawling uncontrollably. The tears blurred my vision and made it slightly difficult to drive, but I kept going.
I finally arrived at the hospital. I found the closest spot, parked and ran across the lot. I hopped on the elevator and as soon as I got off saw the family. The look on everyone's faces said it all. I looked over at my mom. She was standing next to my grandma. Both of their faces were beat red and tears streamed down their faces. As I looked at them, they just shook their heads. I had arrived to late. He had passed away just a few minutes before I got off the elevator. I was devastated. I jumped into my mother's arms and broke down. I river of tears began flowing down my mother's shirt.
I told myself that I should have left class to answer that call. If I had I would have gotten to see my grandfather for one last time. That is one of my biggest regrets in life.

Project #2 Rhetorical Strategies Used in Informercials

You are channel surfing and you come across an infomercial. You glance around the
room to make sure no one is there, and when the coast is clear, you watch it. When it's over and the number is flashing on the screen, you fight the temptation to pick up the phone and dial. Although many of us don't like to admit it, we are enticed by infomercials on a daily basis. The claims they make draw you in, making it very difficult not to call and order the product. This is because they use many different rhetorical appeals and strategies to make you think that you simply can't go without their product. The above video is an infomercial advertising "The Firm" workout equipment. This video appeals mainly to women through all three appeals of pathos, logos and ethos. This video utilizes almost all of the rhetorical strategies we have learned in class, and at times overlaps strategies. I feel the most predominant strategies used are example and description, through the voice of the narrator, and compare-contrast and cause and effect through the personal success stories.

It is very easy to see that the target audience of this infomercial is young to middle aged women. Out of all of the people seen in this video, there are maybe three men. The entire cast of the actual work out video is comprised of women. All of the success stories are given by women. It is always fairly younger women too. Not once do they show an older woman.

From the beginning, this video relies heavily on narrator to appeal both to logos and ethos by using the strategies of description and example. The voice of the narrator serves to describe how the firm works, provide statistics, and establish credibility by guaranteeing results. He describes how the firm works by using scientific principles of metabolism. This statement appeals highly to logos. A persons logic would say that anything that is developed by using scientific principles must work. He also describes how the firm combines aerobics and weight training. He claims that this reduces fat at a higher rate and builds muscle. He provides many statistics such as, the number of "firm believers" and the rate a which it burns fat. He also establishes credibility by guaranteeing the product. He claims that, "You will see visible results guaranteed in ten workouts or less". This statement appeals greatly to ethos and makes the audience believe that this product truly does work.

They use the testimonies of individual "firm believers" to appeal to ethos and pathos by overlapping the strategies of cause and effect and compare-contrast. Throughout the entirety of the video they interject personal success stories, which I believe to be the greatest strategy used in infomercials. We live in a time when body image is a big deal in people's lives, especially with obesity on the rise. So these success stories really appeal to pathos and "hit home" so to speak. People watch these success stories and relate themselves very easily to these people. The video makes very clear that these are ordinary women that have real lives. It shows these women in there careers as lawyers, teachers and mothers. This shows its audience that the firm is not something that is going to take up a lot of time in your day. It proves that you can lead your everyday life and still stay healthy and fit through the use if their product.

The women are also used to prove how easy the product is to use and how fast results are seen, thus appealing to ethos. The audio and visual components use two different rhetorical strategies at the same time. The visual component uses the rhetorical strategy of compare-contrast, while the audio uses the strategy of cause and effect. The combination of the two components make for a very convincing argument. The visual element consists of two pictures flashing on the screen, one before the use of the firm and the other after the use of the firm. Before and after photos create a great credibility with the audience. While these photographs are on the screen, the women in these photos proceed to describe what their life was like before and after using the firm. This implements the strategy of cause and effect. The women take many different angles when describing how the firm has affected their life. "Before the firm I was a size sixteen with elastic, but now I am a size six wearing a size four," says one woman. As another woman holds up a pair of very large shorts with elastic she says, "I used to stretch these out, but now I fit in one leg." All of these stories illustrate very clearly the results of using the firm. The combination of the visual and audio using two strategies at once form the strongest argument in the entirety of the infomercial.

This infomercial does a wonderful job of enticing its audience by intertwining many rhetorical strategies at once and touching on all three appeals of pathos, ethos and logos. It is now clear why it is so difficult to keep yourself from ordering products presented in these videos. They are carefully crafted and well thought out in order to have this kind of overwhelming appeal. So next time you reach for the phone, don't feel so guilty. You could always just blame it on the rhetoric.