Death Post

Binit Patel

Rushik Patel

Vanassa Patthana

Syed Rizvi

The three articles Dead, Ahead by James Sullivan, The Art of Dying by Graeme Thomson and The Show Goes On by Melinda Newman explains the connection between music and death. Graeme Thomson, from The Art of Dying, describes his own music playlist that include songs about death. Thomson later on goes to explain how not all death songs are suppose to be depressing. In his explanation, Thomson states "the songs have proved capable of tackling the subject in a way that enriches and entertains rather than deflates" (1). Some songs are suppose to have a much deeper meaning than just a song about someone's death. One musician, Richard Thompson, agrees with the author and says, "The obvious thing to say is that a song about death is a song about life" (1). In other words, Thomson explains how a song about death would be an oxymoron, talking about a death when one is really describing a real-life situation.

Melinda Newman, from the article The Show Goes On, includes similar ideas relevant to that of Thomson's. Newman states how music producers decide on when and how to release an artist's music based on the situation of the artist's or artists' condition. She clarifies that some producers have to take in careful consideration when making this vital decision. Paul Orescan, MCA marketing directior, goes into detail about the production side of the argument and says, "We want the music to stand up on its own, and we want to promote the music. If we were going to exploit someone's death, we would have put it out a month and a half ago" (Newman 1). Producers do not want to send out the wrong message when dealing with troubled artists'. They want the situation to be controlled for both sides. Relating to Thomson's view of music that involves death, Newman also states that people become more interested when they find out the artist is going through hardship or has passed away.

James Sullivan, from Dead Ahead, also contributes to Newman and Thomson's thoughts. More relevant to Newman, Sullivan states how an artist gains popularity for their creation once they have passed away. One example he uses are the stories of Tupac and N.O.T.O.R.I.O.U.S B.I.G and how they and their music rose to stardom after their deaths. Sullivan says, "Tupac and B.I.G have also released considerable music since their mysterious murders in the mid-1990s" (Sullivan 1). Sullivan claims that even after the artists' deaths, their music was even being released after their deaths. This prompted a vast majority of the society to gain interest in the lives of the rappers before their deaths.

Death Music Playlist:
I'll Be Missing You - P. Diddy feat. Faith Evans

Live In The Sky - T.I. feat. Jamie Foxx

When You're Gone - Avril Lavigne

I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab for Cutie