Robert Johnson (blue)

First of all, I want to tell you i'm not an expert with blue music but i'm quite sure this song is real blue music. the tempo and sound of the music make me imagine when this music was first release, or when people have to wear an formal dress to listen to it. the singer, Robert Johnson, he is a great man which play quite import role in blue music era.

I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees
I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees
Asked the lord above "Have mercy, save poor Bob, if you please"
Mmmmm, standin' at the crossroad, i tried to flag a ride
Standin' at the crossroad, i tried to flag a ride
Didn't nobody semm to know me, everybody pass me by
Mmmm, the sun goin' down, boy, dark gon' catch me here
Oooo, eeee, boy, dark gon' catch me here
I haven't got no lovin' sweet woman that love and feel my care
You can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy Willie Brown
You can run, tell my friend-boy Willie Brown
Lord i'm standin' at the crossroad, babe, i believe i'm sinkin' down

Mississippi John Hurt (Blue)

I think this song very popular becuse I have heard it since i was young and many singer sing this song over again and again.
When I listen to it, I feel relax and warm, I think it because the song's tempo and lyric make me feel this way. So I Love this music and feel like I grow up with it.

You Are My Sunshine
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away

The other nite, dear,
As I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
When I awoke, dear,
I was mistaken
And I hung my head and cried.

You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

I'll always love you
And make you happy
If you will only say the same
But if you leave me
To love another
You'll regret it all some day;

You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

You told me once, dear
You really loved me
And no one else could come between
But now you've left me
And love another
You have shattered all my dreams;

You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

Louisiana my Louisiana
the place where I was borne.
White fields of cotton
-- green fields clover,
the best fishing
and long tall corn;

You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.
Crawfish gumbo and jambalaya
the biggest shrimp and sugar cane,
the finest oysters
and sweet strawberries
from Toledo Bend to New Orleans;

You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

Chicago (Roaring Twenties)

Roxie Hart, an enthusiastic girl, spent most of her time hanging out in jazz clubs and wanted desperately to have an act of her own. She even slept with a man who insisted that he could make her famous. But she learnt later that the man lied, so she shot him. As a result, she was sent to prison where she met Velma Kelly, a legendary night club singer who was behind bars for killing her husband and sister. Roxie wanted nothing more than to be exactly like Velma, and began following her desire. She became ‘an idol’ from the thirst of the public who wanted only the scandalous headlines.
The story took place during the roaring twenties where jazz was a huge part of contemporary society. I can see the atmosphere of the jazz clubs at that time; the smoky ambiance, the place covered with darkness and a smell of jazz music all over. With a closer observation, I can see their elegant spectacular dresses, and especially their attitudes towards fame; that it was something to desire. I think this is because around the year of 20’s, it was an era of great economic prosperity and the new idea of modern womanhood, and they were all portrayed in the movie. Though it was seen as a surreal musical comedy play, but actually I can see the serious message behind the film, that American people began to give importance to the money and fame above the morality. However, I have to say that what is very prominent and fantastic in this movie is the characters; Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere who could perform their roles excellently.

After seeing this movie, I have to say that the movie was too long and the atmosphere was quite unpleasant to see, but it has to be admitted in their excellences of music and performance on stage. Moreover, as mentioned before, the characters and their performances are outstanding. Another good choice.

To kill a mocking bird (Civil rights)

The story is based on Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning book of 1960. It is about Atticus Finch who is a Gentleman Lawyer whose wife has passed away. He has a son and a daughter, Scout and Jem. A Black man Tom Robinson is wrongly accused of raping a poor white woman. But actually, he was a victim of that white woman who tried to hide her guilt by targeting his innocence and takes advantage from racial attitude towards Negros. Finch decides to defend him though he knows that the narrow minded society will turn against him and so it happened and townspeople started putting his life in pain. But he insisted on his decision till the final moment.

The whole story was told through children’s perspectives, Scout and Jem’s. I have to say that this drama movie did a very great job on dealing with the social problem at that time. Throughout the movie, I can see how black people were discriminated and being judged as inferior to the white. The black people were insulted only because of their “differences” to the white people. I think this brought a very big problem to the society, especially when children absorbed all the wrong attitudes which are going to continue extending social discrimination problem in future. I really like the way the director chose to show his message through the movie; when it came to the final moment of the movie, when the trial was almost forgotten, it wasn’t neglected the center theme of the movie; the certain social discrimination. He continued portray the social problem through many scenes. And I think he successfully did this movie became an important tool to display the civil right movement in America at that time.

Personally, I really like this film. Though some people might think it is boring and too serious. But I love its realistic elements combined with thriller and comedy in the same time. Above all, I can learn some facts about racism and social discrimination of America which were fully portrayed in the movie.

Record industry (great depression)

Around 1929, the world had to face the crisis of The Great Depression which was a worldwide economic collaspe. It was actually centered in North America and Europe, but had devastating effects around the world, particularly in industrialized countries and producers of raw materials. So did the music business, American record companies, which had sold more than 100 million copies a year in the mid-20s, were soon selling just six million. Most of them went out of business. However, in the mid-30s, as the Great Depression stubbornly continued, jazz became America's popular music at that time. It had a new name as ‘swing’ and its impact was very strong and revolutionary. ‘Swing’ or ‘jazz’ had saved the recording industry. In 1932, just 10 million records had been sold in the United States. But by 1939, that number grew to 50 million. Swing which had grown up in the dancehalls of Harlem became the new definition of music for an entire generation of Americans.

Pearl Harbor

The story followed the lives of three characters in the weeks before and after the well-known bombing incident at Pearl Harbor. Since they were young, Rafe and his best friend Danny shared the same dream to fly and it came true when they became fighter pilots in the United States air force. Rafe met Evelyn, a military nurse and they fell in love. However, Rafe had to leave Evelyn behind and went to England to fly with the Royal Air Force which was shot down over London and was thought that he was dead. Evelyn and Danny took the news mournfully, and stood side by side to get through it. However, Rafe unexpectedly came back, and the unavoidable love triangle came. But Rafe and Danny were called in to serve the army again, and in an incident, Danny sacrificed his life to safe Rafe’s. Though he was the only one who came back, their love could not pursue on.

Basically, this is another love story which has a focus on two men and a woman but it is actually also dealing with a historical incident. The film does not only tell a story about fictional characters but also concerns about the political and military events; the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. At the very first time, America seemed to ignore Japan’s angriness when America refused to give them oil and fuel during the war, but it was too late to found out that they were underestimated Japan. The U.S. government thought that Pearl Harbor was too shallow for the aerial torpedo attack, but with the new invented of technique use, Japan could bomb Pearl Harbor thoroughlyIn conclusion, this movie had portrayed the destructive images of the World War 2, though consisted of some inaccurate historical contexts.

Honestly, this is not my favorite movie at all. With a predictable love triangle of the three main characters and a boring narration of the bombing at Pearl Harbor, I could not help myself fall asleep twice during watching it. However, I’m not saying that there’s nothing good in this film, I found many witty lines and excellent camera views in many battle scenes. I suggest you to watch this film if you are looking for pleasure on another love story, but not a good source to learn about the infamous bombing incident of the Pearl Harbor attack accurately.

The Last Samurai

The story took place during the early modernization of Japan, when the young Emperor power’s was weakened by influence of American power. The country was pushed to be modernized and westernized which included training the new modern army in Japan to replace the old way of Samurai. An American War Captain named Nathan Algren, an alcoholic soul-lost veteran, was hired to do the duty. However, on the first attack on the Samurai, Algren was captured as a hostage. Living as a part of the Samurai, Algren eventually found his lost soul through learning the great Samurai’s ways of life.

The first and obvious thing I can see from this movie is how the American has an influence over Japan. It was the big time of change in Japan when American had tried so hard to crack Japan’s isolation policy at that time. Moreover, the differences between the two cultures, American and Japan, were emphasized clearly in the movie which I can learn many interesting facts from it. The second thing I got from this movie is the American’s image from the Japanese natives’ point of view. While American thought that they were ‘civilized’ and Japan was ‘barbarian’, their coward methods in using guns and rifles in the battles, or their impure way in judging value of things make them actually a brutal and immoral themselves.

For me, it might not be the very most impressive film I’ve ever watched, but it surely is one of the best films in many aspects. I’m kind of impressed many things in this movie, including scenes, narration, techniques and especially the casts. I think the film reflects the message of the director clearly. I would recommend you to watch the movie because entertainment is not the only thing you will gain from this movie, The Last Samurai.

P.S. In fact, there are not American involved in Japanese military.