commit to user
Because socio-cultural emphasizes the relation between social and individual, thus this approach will be used to give explanation of the society and social condition
where the singer has an interaction with. By knowing the society or the social condition, it can be known as well the reason that makes the singer writes the
song.
H. Thesis Organization
1. Chapter I: Introduction, which consists of Background of the Study,
Problem Statement, Scope of the Study, Objective of the Study, Significance of the Study, Research Methodology, Theoretical Approach,
and Thesis Organizations. 2.
Chapter II: Literature Review, which consists of Biography of Conor Oberts, George W. Bush’s War Policies, American Socio Cultural
Background, Folk Music as Protest Music, Music Basic Theory, Semiotic 3.
Chapter III: Analysis, which consists of A. Let’s Not Shit to Ourselves To Love Or To Be Loved: The Expression
of Protest and Disappointment: B. No One Would Riot for Less: Protest toward Middle East War
C. When the President Talks to God: Protest toward George W. Bush Policies
4. Chapter IV: Conclusion and Recommendation.
commit to user
12
CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter will discuss the information and theories that will be applied on the thesis analysis. The discussion will cover the information about Conor
Oberst and the theory which is applied on this research.
A. Biography of Conor Oberst
Bright Eyes is an indie folk rock band coming from Omaha, Nebraska. When talking about Bright Eyes, it cannot be separated from the initiator and the
man behind the band; Conor Oberst. Bright Eyes was initiated by a young Nebraskan named Conor Oberst. It is fronted by Conor Oberst himself as a front
man, guitarist, singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist and producer Mike Mogis, trumpeter and piano player Nate Walcott, and a rotating lineup of collaborators
drawn primarily from Omahas indie music scene. Oberst, 2005 The band was formed in 1997, right after Oberst’s previous band Commander Venus disbanded.
The name of Bright Eyes comes from 1934 Shirley Temple film that Oberst watched on Turner Classic Movies. In that film, the protagonist calls his love
“Bright Eyes” as a term of endearment. Conor Mullen Oberst, the man behind Bright Eyes, was born in 1980 to
Matthew, a mutual of Omaha information manager, and Nancy Oberst, an inner- city elementary school principal. He grew up with two older brothers, Justin
commit to user
Oberst, a lawyer, and Matthew Oberst, Jr., a musician best known for his band Sorry About Dresden
Conor Oberst musical influence was coming from his father and brother’s record. He listened to his father’s record collection, such as Neil Young, Bob
Dylan, and Joni Mitchell, and also his older brother Matt’s collection, like Sonic Youth, Replacements, The Smiths, R.E.M., Fugazi, and The Cure. He has cited
The Cure’s first singles collection, Staring at the Sea, as the first record he ever bought, as well as being one of his favorites. It must have been third grade...I
bought the cassette at a local record store chain called Homers in Omaha. I just loved the sound of Robert Smiths voice. It just sounded good.
RollingStone.com Later on, The Cure fashionable style will influence the style of Conor Oberst vocal and musical lyric.
Furthermore, he was also greatly influenced by the work of Elliot Smith. Elliot Smith August 6, 1969 – October 21, 2003 is an American singer-
songwriter from Omaha, Nebraska. He is notably known for his sad, satirical, depression theme, and acoustic music work. “Sometimes when you’re not feeling
good, you have to listen to really sad music like Elliot Smith’s and Smith wrote the sweetest, saddest, most gentle songs”. Oberst also said that he like to listen Elliot
Smith’s songs when he could not find anyone to talk on the phone and thought that it was sad that, “through his music, Smith had the ability to answer feelings in
others that he was unable to answer in himself”. Later on, Elliot Smith’s works greatly influence the works of Conor Oberst in his writing and musical works.
commit to user
When Conor Oberst was thirteen years old, he started recording his self album entitled Water in 1993 on Lumberjack Record, the very indie label that
would soon become Saddle Creek. This album comprises 9 tracks talking about life and angst of Conor Oberst life as teenager. Following year later, Conor Oberst
released his second solo album entitled Here’s to Special Treatment 1994, Sing Eunuchs Not so quite different with his previous album, this album comprises 11
tracks which are merely talking about teenage self-conflict, problems, and anger. The album was followed by 1996’s The Soundtrack to My Life 1996, Sing
Eunuchs, a cassette only released in Omaha, Nebraska, and a split 7’ vinyl with Bill Hover, Kill the Monster Before It Eats Baby 1996, Sing Eunuchs.
At the age of fourteen, Oberst and his friends, Tim Kasher later on in Cursive and The Good Life, Rob Nansel, and Tod Baechle Later on in The
Faint, formed Commander Venus and recorded several albums, including 2 LPs. After Commander Venus broke up in 1998, Oberst began turning his focus to his
new project; Bright Eyes, band that later on becomes Conor Oberst main band. Under the name Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst released his first debut; Letting
off the Happiness Saddle Creek, 1998. Comprising 10 tracks, this album reflects more about the angst and emotion of Conor Oberst. Some songs like If Winter
Ends and The City Has Sex compose emotional lyric, screaming voice, and rough guitar distortion. These songs have common with hardcore genre rather than the
folk one. However the simple acoustic guitar and simple spoken-like voice of June in the West Coast gives ‘folksy’ touch the album.
commit to user
The second album, Fevers and Mirrors Sadlle Creek, 2000, sounds maturer than the debut. This album is musically more successful than their
previous, at least in its range of melodies, moods, and sounds. The album reveals more about the darkest side of Conor Oberst and the way he sees the world as a
whole. Some songs entitled A Spindle a Darkness a Fever and a Necklace, A Scale A Mirrors and Those Indifferent Clocks, The Calendar hung Itself, and also
Arienette reflects the world of Conor Oberst that is seen in the darker way; rather than in the brighter way. Later on, Conor Oberst released an EP Extended Play
entitled Every Day and Every Night 2000, Saddle Creek, before starting a new side project a year later.
In 2003, Bright Eyes release his third and successfully acclaimed album, entitled Lifted or the Story Is in the Soil So Put Your Ears to the Ground 2002,
Saddle Creek. Comprising 13 tracks, this third album offers the listener with variety of musical colours timbres. Conor Oberts adopted sumptuous
arrangements horns and strings and aimed for the grand pop melody. The pace is majestic, as in the old fashioned country ballads, but the soundscapes is a waterfall
of timbres. Scaruffi, 1999 Folk music elements were sounding much more rather than his previous albums. For examples are songs entitled Nothing Gets Crossed
Out, and Bowl of Oranges. His political view is not only reflected from his songs, but also from his
action. Conor Oberst joined Bruce Springsteen and REM on an arena tour of swing states during the campaign of 2004 elections. Hoping to push voters to check the
commit to user
box next to John Kerry, Oberst instead captured the attention of the indie ignorant. Autumn, 2005, para. 3 He earned a significant reputation after that.
One year afterward, Bright Eyes released two albums at the same time in
2005. First album is I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning 2005, Saddle Creek, and the second album is Digital Ash in the Digital Urns 2005, Saddle Creek. Both the
albums are completely different each other. I’m Wide Awake its Morning is an acoustic, folksy, and little bit bit country album, while Digital Ash in the Digital
Urns sounds more electronic. These albums are quite different but each complements the other.
On the same year, Conor Oberst released the live album entitled Motion Sickness: Live Recordings 2005, Team Love. This album comprises Conor
Oberst’s songs from his previous albums, and some cover songs from other folks artists such as Mushaboom by Leslie Feist and The Biggest Lie by Elliot Smith. In
this album Conor Oberst also sang his critically brilliant protest song; When the President Talks to God. Before he sang the song, he notes the song to the
incompetent president of America, George W. Bush; and it is followed by applause of audience. Besides, Bright Eyes also performs the same song, When the
President Talks to God in television show, Tonight Show with Jay Leno. This performance spotted attentions and become most viewed video on youtube for its
overtone political theme. In 2007 Bright Eyes released another studio album namely Cassadaga
2007, Saddle Creek. This album tried to capitalize all the experiments of the previous albums; from orchestral ballad like Clairaudients, Make a Plan to Love
commit to user
Me, No One Would Riot for Less, to Bob Dylan roots-rock like Four Winds, Soul Singer in a Session Band, and I Must Belong Somewhere.
By the time Oberst was 22 years old, he had been dubbed as the Bob Dylan of the Ritalin generation Leaheay, 2003. American rock music critics stated that
Conor Oberst was “the next Bob Dylan. This label suggested to the world that Conor Oberst was a notable folk singer-songwriter of today generation.
On February 16
th
, 2011, Conor Oberst released his new Bright Eyes’ album entitled The People’s Key 2011, Saddle Creek. Comprising 10 tracks this album
was much mature than all his works. The songs are not merely about self- lamentation, anger, depression, or introspection. However, the various theme of
the album is ranging from life, love, peace, hope, and scientific themes such as space and future.
Overall, Conor Oberst with his band Bright Eyes has already released 35 albums, including the singlesEP extended play, and LP length play albums;
eleven LP albums and twenty five singlesEP albums. The official LP albums are: 1.
A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997 released January, 1998
2. Letting Off the Happiness released November 2, 1998
3. Fevers and Mirrors released May 29, 2000
4. Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
released August 13, 2002 5.
A Christmas Album released 2002 6.
Im Wide Awake, Its Morning released January 25, 2005
commit to user
7. Digital Ash in a Digital Urn released January 25, 2005
8. Motion Sickness: Live Recordings LIVE released November 15,
2005 9.
Noise Floor Rarities: 1998-2005 released October 24, 2006 10.
Cassadaga released April 10, 2007 11.
The People’s Key released February 15, 2011 Every generation has its iconic folk artist, and Conor Oberst is the folk
artist for today generation. His pained adolescent poetry of his early records earned Oberst a crowd of loyal fans, and his doe-eyed, fashionably shaggy look
made him a heartthrob of the indie rock set. He does not only sing for himself, but his songs speak to the others. He can express his inner feeling toward music and he
can also protest and give social commentary through music. Gerard Way, singer from emo band My Chemical Romance, stated in buzznet interview that Conor
Oberst is important to the future of music, “His lyrics are phenomenal. I think he speaks for our generation. Conor Oberst and his band Bright Eyes has become an
important figure
in music
scene of
today generation.
http:www.monstersandcritics.com
B. George W. Bush’s War Policies
