Dear Mr. President by Pink

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Throughout the 2000s most mainstream music that was heard on the radio was pop, rap, and/or R&B with the subject of the songs being of common thoughts nothing to make a stir about. One artist that developed during this time was Pink counteracting some notions about war, gay rights, and the general state of America with her song “Dear Mr. President”. I believe that “Dear Mr. President” should be included in MUSC2019 because this song brings together pop and folk influences while using different techniques such as repetition, metaphors and dynamics to enhance the effect of the song has on the audience.
The verse starts with an acoustic guitar using a walking tempo and melancholy tone. “Dear Mr. President, Come take a walk with me.” The guitar stops as “Come take a walk with me” is repeated. For the rest of the verse the guitar wavers in and out emphasizing key vocals such as “you’re not better than me”. The acoustic guitar creates a reflective atmosphere and does not distract from the lyrics highlighting those lyrics portraying the significance of them. Increasing the impact they have on the audience.
In the second verse Pink’s voice gets slightly higher and stronger. The chords that the guitar is playing have changed to go along with the change in lyrics, from statements to questions, these lines of questions continue throughout the remainder of the song. At the end of the verse pairing the accusatory tone of “Are you proud?” with the strumming of the guitar contrast each other in way that works with the tone.
As the chorus comes in the tempo picks up with this the guitar gets louder as does Pink’s voice. The depressing tone that was there to begin way has now turned to anger but not as passionate as you would expect for the cli...

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...erything together. Another influence to this song is from Billy Mann. After graduating from college Mann became a street musician honing his skills as a self-taught multi-instrumentalist. Signing with A&M Records there after creating country rock and pop albums although not prevalent in “Dear Mr. President” I feel his influence shows through Pink’s other songs that have rock and pop tones to them. The song also features the Indigo Girls coming “into prominence as part of the late-‘80s folky singer/songwriter revival” (reference) actively supporting women’s rights, LGBT rights (being lesbians themselves), and many other causes. I feel the Indigo Girls lend their experience producing folk music to create the feel of a modern folk to this song with its simplistic nature and guitar playing although it lacks the raw and untouched sound that early folk incorporated.

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