Narrative in the music of Jay Chou : a case study of music, globalization and semantics
Can an audience consisting of a variety of different national cultures and traditions come to a common understanding of a single pop song? Using musematic analysis, a methodology devised by Tagg (in Tagg & Clarida 2003), we cross-referenced musical structures not only with other pieces of music in varying musical styles but also with the results from simple reception tests. A piece by Taiwanese artist Jay Chou was played to respondents from various cultural backgrounds. The results were surprising, how was it that respondents from quite disparate cultural backgrounds associated in similar directions?  Does globalization play a role in prompting such similar reactions? What differences in interpretation, nevertheless exist between listeners from different cultural backgrounds? The empirical basis for my study is twofold: 1) reception data based on listening tests and online surveys; 2) detailed structural analysis, including full transcriptions. Relationships between these two information categories will be examined using Tagg’s musematic analysis techniques. It is obvious that it will be necessary to put the above-mentioned semiotic aspects in their particular socio-cultural context, specifically that relating to the Chinese diaspora; more specifically, I shall concentrate this part of the study on members of the Chinese community in Montreal.
Musemes Paradigmatic analysis Reception test Transcription Transcription Popular music Chinese Montreal Jay Chou Jay Chou