Country music

Country music, also known as country and western music or country-western, is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States. It has roots in traditional folk music, Celtic music, blues, gospel music, and old-time music and evolved rapidly in the 1920s.

When I heard the words “country music”, I always connect it with western of America. When mention the western of America, it is naturally connect with cowboy.

A man of few words, wearing a big hat and riding a horse under the wide open skies of America’s west. He carries a gun to fight off Indians and cattle thieves. Behind him on his saddle is his guitar, which plays at night beside a lonely camp fire. He plays a music which called country music. Maybe the song tells the his story in western life, maybe the song tells the scene of western, maybe the song tells the feeling about his lover. Sometimes the song is gentle, sometimes the song is bright.

The Byrds

The Byrds were an American rock band.

The Byrds were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1964 by singers and guitarists Jim McGuinn, Gene Clark,and David Crosby,Chris Hillman (born December 4, 1944, in Los Angeles) and drummer Michael Clarke joined soon after.

The Byrds' first two albums were enhanced by the bright sounding production of Terry Melcher who was also known for his work on Paul Revere and the Raiders albums. The Byrds also performed their own compositions and, in Gene Clark, included a major songwriter; his songs with the band include The World Turns All Around Her, She Don't Care About Time, I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better and Set You Free This Time.

The Byrds' third album, Fifth Dimension (5D), released in July 1966, wasn't as overtly psychedelic as might have been expected from its name, but it provided further evidence that The Byrds weren't content to churn out endless reruns of Mr. Tambourine Man. Although slightly diminished by the inclusion of some substandard and atypical material, 5D contained innovative and memorable music thus rendering it a landmark work. Unfortunately, the US radio anti-drug movement had branded several of the tracks such as Eight Miles High and 5D as "drug songs" and this campaign undoubtedly limited the album's commercial success.

Some of their trademark songs include pop covers of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and Pete Seeger’s "Turn! Turn! Turn!," and the originals "I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better", and "Eight Miles High."

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and several band members have launched successful solo careers after leaving the

Lightnin' Hopkins

Once he was playing, he would almost slip into
a trance and a blues stream of consciousnes would
come pouring out, making him nearly oblibious
to what was going on around him.sometimes he would
stop altogether and start talkinmg the song instead
of singing it. at best the rhythms would pick up speed
or slow down;the musicians would desperately try and
readjust by which time,hopkins would have changed
it again."
-----Harry Shapire


Lightnin' Hopkins was a country blues guitar legend, from Houston, Texas.Lightnin' Hopkins was a great influence on many local musicians around Houston and Austin.

His style was born from spending many hours playing informally without a band as backup. His distinctive style often included playing, in effect, bass, rythym, lead, percussion, and vocals, all at the same time. His musical phrasing would often include a long low note at the beginning, the rythym played in the middle range, then the lead in the high range. By playing this quickly, the effect of bass, rythym, and lead would come out on the songs. Plus, he would sometimes slap his guitar in a type of percussion, then use his voice as an instrument as well.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

This movie is very special. The movie describes the story with a lot of songs and dances. That is very surprised me, I find the main character Cohan is played by James Cagney. He is played a gangster in movie “the roaring twenties”. It is my last movie. The movie describes Cohan become a Broadway’s superstar form a low-down actor.

The movie recurs the feature of the entertainment in the past. The movie uses the excellent produce, songs and dances. It reflects the social phenomena of that time. I like this movie so much, not only James Cagney but also beautiful songs an dances.

Hard times

The background of the movie happens during the great depression. During that times, life was difficult for people. Unemployment and inflation grew rapidly.
In the depression, Chaney, a strong silent street fighter, he is a stroller who joins with Speed, a promoter of illegal street boxing bouts. They go to New Orleans where Speed borrows money to set up fights for Chaney, but Speed gambles away any winnings.
This movie is a nice movie, the movie through a low class people reflect the society phenomena. This is movie, it can tell people about the society with plot, image, and technique.

Modern Times

This is my first time watch silent movie. “Modern Times" depicts the dismal situation of workers and the poor in industrial society. The Eating Machine Scene depicts the human sufferings to the industrialization. The eating machine scene is strongly impressed on my memory. The wrong machine slaps his horror-struck face. The movie reflects industrial age brings the dread and shock.

This is an excellent movie, because of the movie reflects the important problem of society. The movie describes the conflict between human and machine. The background of the movie is American industrial age. The factory worker became mad because of hypertension work.

In my opinion china’s current society is similar with the movie. In order to catch profit, the cruel society ignores the rights and interests of workers.

The Roaring Twenties

I have a great fun watching this movie. I like the humoristic dialog of the movie. Eddie Bartlett is a main character of the movie. After World War I, Times have changed. Back in America the soldiers who had returned from overseas. Begin to find out that the world has moved on during the time they spent in France. Everywhere things have changed but particularly in New York.

Eddie Bartlett life is different with before. Life becomes difficult for him. Just like the narrative of the movie “The soldiers find they’ve returned to face, on a different front, the same old struggle: the struggle to survive.”

In 1920, the manufacture, sale, import and export of alcohol was prohibited in the United States, Eddie Bartlett find that there is a great profit in this business, and he made a lot of money in alcohol. Of course, this is illegal.

I like this movie very much, because of this movie depicts very well about that roaring twenties in the United States.

A man called horse

This movie talks about an English lord is captured by an Indian tribe. He is given to the chief’s mother as a servant. Gradually. He accepts the tribe’s way of life and falls in love with the chief’s sister. But before he can be accepted with honor as an equal member of the tribe, he must endure the sun vow.

I like this movie very much, because the main actor represents a strong survival will. Although he suffers enough from Indian tribe, he tries his best to keep a man’s honor. When he fails to escape from the tribe again. His angry break out like volcano. He said:
“I am not a horse,
I am not an animal,
I am a man.”

Nobody care about his angry and his shout. He is still treated like a horse. He conquered all people’s hearts in this tribe with his action and will. At last, he becomes the chief of the tribe, he proven himself that he is excellent.

55 Days at Peking

A. Cecil Hill gave me this movie, because I am a Chinese. Everyone has the emotion about the history more or less. Especially, the history which about their own country. If you are a Thai who stand before the relic of AYUDHYA, you may sigh with the emotion about the brilliant past, you will feel sad, because that great epoch already gone. But if you are a foreigner, you don't have such emotion, you may just sigh with the emotion about the art of AYUDHYA CITY. This movie is aobut China, so, I am very interested to watch it.

Tell the truth, I cannot accommodate the movie's technique. In the movie, Chinese speak English, include the Chinese dominator-Tzu-His. I admired a infinite power of the director, he can let Chinese dominator speak English. I hope I can direct an American historical movie, and let American speak Chinese in the movie.

In 1900, China was invaded by Eight Nations, the United States is one of them. At that time, China was signed many unfair threaty under force of arms. Life for the Chinese people was intolerable, famine problem was very serious. then, a group of patriotic Chinese came out. They were the Boxers who fought with the Allied Forces of Eight Nations. After that the conflict between Boxers and Eight Nations became more and more serious. Therefore, the aggressors used this as an excuse invaded China. In the movie I never forget that scene what the aggressors above the big horse and walked slowly in the street of Peking.

Today, China become stronger and stronger, that humiliation's history will never happen. I proud to Chinese current situation, because we will never see that scene--the aggressors rode the big horse pass in the Peking Street.

The Outlaw Josie Wales

The story happened during the American civil war Josie Wales is a farmer in Missouri. One day a group of raiders attacks and burns his farm and murders his wife and young son while leaving Josie for dead. Josie begin seek his revenge.

After the South surrenders, a fellow southerner, Fletcher offers the remaining members of Anderson's gang amnesty if they will swear allegiance to the North. All but Wales agree. Unbeknownst to Fletcher, the men are suddenly murdered by the Union soldiers led by Terrill and in spite of Josie's efforts, only he and a young soldier names Jamie escape. Terrill and Fletcher are sent to hunt down the fugitives.

Jamie soon dies from his wounds and Josie is left alone. He makes for Mexico but is joined first by Lone Watie ,then Little Moonlight whom Josie rescues from a trading post and finally Laura and Grandma who he rescues from a gang of Commancheros.

The group makes for Texas where Grandma Sarah's son has left her a ranch. All the time Josie is being pursued by Terrill and assorted bounty hunters. Josie dispatches several of them with his brace of Colt 45 horse pistols.

Finally at the farm, the group sets up a home and Josie begins to fall for Laura Lee. Fearing an Indian attack, Josie rides to meet with Chief and makes peace with him.

Ride with the devil

I am so proud that this movie was directed by Ang Lee. As a Chinese, Ang Lee directed many movies of American style. The movie Ride with the Devil happened during civil war, in the south of America, the war is coming, so the people chosen their group one after another.Jake ’s farther is German, he want Jack join the north, but Jake join in the guerilla. In the guerilla, someone show the distrust to jiake. But Jake is clever, wit, most of the people like him in the group. They escaped and separated for chase when guerilla encountered with a regular army of the north. When the south group found that it is easy to contend with the north group. The south group launched a surprise attack. The movie shows the friendship, love, and humanity in the civil war. It is a nice movie.

Xiaoyang G.

Age:23

Country: China

Favorite things: Swimming; reading

Favorite music: Danny boy

Attitude towards life: Doubt Everything

The Alamo

The movies Alamo tell the story of the historic 1836 battle in the Texan War of Independence. Facing 4,000 Mexican troops, 186 Texan soldiers and volunteers -- including William Travis Davy Crockett, and Jim Bowie retreat within the walls of the Alamo, a Franciscan mission that was converted into a military fort. Once inside, the men prepare themselves for what will be a bloody battle to the death, as General Sam Houston leads the charge from the outside.

The New World

The background of this movie is savage and wild. Actually it is the beginning of America. Story opens at the dawn of the seventeenth century; at that time American population consisted by many native tribes. In the beginning of the movie, three people approach the unfamiliar continent, with so many sailors on board. As members of the Virginia Company, these adventurers carry a royal charter to mount a society on the edge of the new continent. John Smith sits chained below one of the decks. He is a 27 year-old, who, for his persistently rebellious acts, has been sentenced to death by hanging as soon as the ships dock. Nevertheless, Captain Newport acknowledges Smith's ability to aid with exploration and consents to pardon him as a result. Smith seeks assistance from local Native American tribes with colonization, but runs into the unexpected - he falls in love with Pocahontas the daughter of the Chief Powhatan. Moreover, the bellicose Smith enters a head to head conflict with his fellow Britons when he finds his tempestuousness calmed by the tranquility of the new landscape, as the anger and violence of his shipmates concurrently build in the face of the Native Americans. Later, Smith temporarily returns to England; believing that Smith is dead, Pocahontas accepts the hand of plantation owner John Rolfe in marriage (with her father's blessing) and follows Rolfe back to the old country.