On Feb. 27, a University of Lethbridge assistant professor of musicology/ethnomusicology will examine sentimental songs and why we should take our sounded feelings seriously.
Dr. Emily Gale from the U of L’s Department of Music offers the PUBlic Professor Series talk, “Sentimental Songs for Sentimental People.”
“Feeling remains critical to how and why most listeners engage with popular song,” says Gale. “However, these same songs might be ones you are embarrassed to admit liking or connecting with, a guilty pleasure if you will. Why do we have these ideas and where do these judgments come from?”
Gale’s talk will look at the history of English language sentimental songs over the last 250 years, then focus on two examples of songs from the 1850s and 1960s and their unexpected political histories.
“What are the consequences of relegating sentimental songs to a denigrated status,” she asks. “I’ll then discuss why we should take these sounded feelings seriously.”
Gale’s book in progress, “Sentimental Songs for Sentimental People: An Unheard History of U.S. Popular Music,” analyzes the politics of affect and sentimentality within U.S. popular music from the late 18th century to the present.
This is the fifth of six talks in the annual PUBlic Professor Series lectures. Every talk is free, but registration is required. The talk will be held at The Owl Acoustic Lounge at 7 p.m.
