Songs That Caught the Attention of the Listening Public - Essay Example

Proving that pop music can be defined by a broad spectrum of sounds and experiences, this piece of music has the sound of a Scottish drinking song, the lyrics of a sentimental ballad, and a hard-driving beat that pushes the listener to embrace the hook in such a way that it will either pleasantly or irritatingly hang on long after the song has ended. Finding fame in the film Benny & Joon starring Johnny Depp, the song picked up fame in the United States, even while experiencing continuing fame in its originating country, Scotland, as it is often heard and sung during football games. 

Comparison

The two pieces are similar, first, in that they both have an unusual sound that was picked up due to a specific hook that caught the attention of the listening public. These songs represent the kind of music that, once heard, does not easily leave the mind of the listener. The construction of the music in both works is simple, the music developed through limited instrumentation and a heavy emphasis on the beat of the drum. Both pieces are representative of a historic tradition and period of music that is displaced, although The Stray Cats is more specific to the 1950s when the Proclaimers has the feeling of an anthem, despite the lack of national identity within the work other than it is a representation of the feeling of Scottish music.