Johnathon Davis

Project 1: Genre Analysis

Genre by book definition is a compositions kind, category, or sort. Genre though
cannot be defined in just six words. Genre has a wide variety of definitions; for example, it can
simply be put as a type of something. When asking for someones favorite taste in music the
most common phrase is, What is your favorite type of music? This is ultimately asking for the
genre of a musical composition, but instead involves replacing genre with a synonym. A more
academic way of stating that would be that the genre is a description of a composition. When
looking at iTunes it shows the genre besides each song because it is a description of that piece.
However, a far more unorthodox use of genre can be seen in Miley Cyruss song Hoedown
Throwdown. Though this text is not the one I will be analyzing, it features a unique use of
genre. The song utilizes musical genres as verbs by singing, Pop it . . . Country-fy then hip-hop
it . . . This unorthodox method of using a genre as a verb is rare, but it provides interesting
insight into the conventions of each genre.
Each genre has a stereotype, if you will, to it. According to NcambellBs slide show
presentation, Rap may have first originated in West Africa and around 100 years later, rap
became known as a street art and the earlier songs were primarily boastful and negative thoughts
about other rappers. Meanwhile, a genre like pop is more about the involvement of a happy
mood paired with a strong dance vibe. The stereotypes that comes with each genre are known as
genres conventions. Moving back to the example about Miley Cyruss song, it is a blend of
country and rap. The lyrics she utilizes are not just randomly placed in the song. The dance that
is paired with the lyrics reflect what you would expect to see in a hip hop, pop and country song.
One example being when she says, country-fy she tucks her thumbs in her belt and kicks up

Johnathon Davis

her foot as if she is wearing cowboy boots. These dance moves are complete western/cowboy
gestures and match perfectly to the song. Genre conventions have a tremendous effect on a
composition. They are the structure of each genre, without them a composition wouldnt have a
place to metaphorically call home. Although, it is important to mention that a composition will
not necessarily fail if it doesnt include certain genre conventions in it, but it will have a large
impact on the unexpecting audience.
One album in particular challenged that conventional ideal: The Human Condition. The
artist behind the album is Jon Bellion featuring some college friends such as Travis Mendes and
Blaque Keyz. The album is categorized as pop, as are all the songs on iTunes. However once
listening to the album, genres such as hip hop, dance, and even subtle rock. The mix of genre,
again, is not done by mistake. The album is The Human Condition and it strives to describe that
everyone is human. By claiming the album all under pop it helps to present the underlying idea
that we are all human. Additionally, it strives to show that we are also our own person, that we
are all different and come with a different condition. To display this idea that all humans are
unique, the multiple genres that can be heard on the album demonstrate the diversity of humans.
Whether the separate genres are utilized to represent race or culture, it all provides the same
effect of representing diversity.
The diversity can be seen in every song. For example, track number nine on the album,
Weight of the World starts off with a narrative of Jons struggle but that after finding God he
doesnt hold the weight of the world anymore. The song begins slow, but picks up and
becomes heavily dance oriented. This is a showcase of a typical pop song, a short introduction,
or chorus, and then the song becomes upbeat and happy. This flow is heard in the song Lean
On by Major Lazer and DJ Snake. However, unlike their song, before the ending of Weight of

Johnathon Davis

the World there is a short rap. This smashes the genre barrier as rap and pop typically do not
intertwine. But the rap completes the song. Without it the song wouldve sounded unfinished
because it didnt capture the album's main idea. The rap wasnt a typical modern day rap such as
Panda by Desiigner. Thats because the rap was centered around its meaningful, poetic lyrics
more so than the beat. It did have a fast spew of words and it did have an inspirational beat, but it
wasnt bashing any other rappers. Additionally, the fact that it didnt have these typical rap
conventions illustrates the difference among humans and their races or cultures. Not only does it
reflect that ideal but the fact that the song is loved by so many shows that if rap and pop can
work seamlessly together, as they did also in Baby by Justin Bieber and Ludacris, then so can
different people.
Even though Weight of the World showed that people of all kinds can work efficiently
together. Another song on the album had a different purpose that goes further than diversity
among humans. Instead it used a difference in genre to show that over time people do change. To
some it may be seen as a positive change, but to others its seen as negative. This idea is
represented by track number four on the album, New York Soul Pt. 2. In a previous album the
song New York Soul was a slow somber song about how Jon may travel all over the world and
embrace the different cultures, he will forever see New York as his home. When the second part
of the song was released it shocked many listeners immediately by the first verse, a rap. The
paradox between the first and second part displays that over time people change. In 2013, part
one of the duo was released. At the time, to be white and rap was uncanny. With the only notable
exception being Eminem. However, times have drastically changed since then. The genre has
become much more diverse. Thus the reason Jon decided to use rap as the genre to illustrate
change in humans. Another artist who used rap to engage a change in humans is Hopsin in his

Johnathon Davis

song No Words. As time goes on people do change in all sorts of ways. Sometimes the change
is a result of what is acceptable at the time. For example, meeting complete strangers on the
internet and meeting them has become exceptionally more acceptable. This example parallels the
growth of diversity in rap. The use of rap in the second part is more valuable than just illustrating
the change in rap. It displays the change of humans. The first New York Soul, a pop song,
represents the past of a human while the rap in the second song represents the evolution of the
humans from their past.
As people evolve. So do their thoughts and beliefs. This idea is also showcased in The
Human Condition. One of the main attributes that changes as humans grow older is their faith in
a religion. The song Maybe IDK reflects Jons religious battles throughout his life. For
example, the line is it by design or random fate showcases the battle of faith versus fate. This
religious pop song embraces many genre conventions. As stated earlier, pop songs, such as
Closer by the Chainsmokers, tend to be slow in the beginning but become upbeat as the
message of the song is revealed. In addition, with the That is exactly the case in this song. In the
introduction and verses, many ambiguous sounds can be heard illustrating the battle. However, to
display that in the end most people do lean towards faith, Jons chorus says Maybe I dont
know, but maybe thats okay. Basically saying that in the end, God will ultimately control what
happens. During the chorus the song is very upbeat and has a rhythm to it. That rhythm element
isnt seen anywhere else in the song. Based off the genre conventions mentioned earlier, since
believing in faith occurs during the rhythmic part of the song it houses the true meaning: to
believe in God or faith in general. Although the song does leave an essence of ambiguity towards
the strength of faith. It can definitively be labeled as the turning point for the album. This is
because the very last song, Hand of God destroys any possible fog about the albums take on

Johnathon Davis

religion. The song features a slow introduction, leading its upbeat chorus. Again, a typical pop
song. Although the song is pop, it is very Christian oriented as the chorus states, your whole
lifes in the hand of God. The song takes a very different approach from any of the other songs
on the album and it is all manifested through a change in genre. The song is split into two halves.
The first half consists of the pop genre and Jons singing. However, in the second half, Jon does
no singing as a choir takes over; thus, introducing a new genre, gospel. The usage of this genre
displays the takeover of life by God. In addition, by utilizing the group oriented genre, and
stepping back from the spotlight, and allowing an entire choir to finish the album, the most pure
meaning of The Human Condition is revealed: unification. This meaning is portrayed through the
choir, without them the song wouldnt function to its fullest potential. Thus without unification,
humans are stuck in an endless battle with themselves of not reaching full potential.
This full potential is used to overcome the human condition that we all face. Some of
these conflicts discussed were struggling with faith and not growing in diversity. Additional
conflicts were recognized in other songs. Each conflict is tackled with a specific genre. This
shows that genre is far more than six words, far more than just a description, far more than a
verb. In the song Screw You Blaque Keyz states, Music is an expression of yourself, so who
are you? That being said, if music is utilized to express yourself, then genre is the driving force
defining that expression.