Sam Cooke

Paper Summary:

In this article the writer describes Sam Cooke's "Only Sixteen" as a timeless song with a strong message for both the youth who listen to it as well as an older audience. The writer claims that though this song only reached #28 on the US pop singles charts, it still deserves to be listed among the great songs like Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes", Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame", Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" and the others in the list of hits. The writer notes that one thing that this song has in common with the other songs on this list is that it sings of the trouble that can happen in love. The writer concludes that this wide appeal as well as the strength and value of the message this song delivers is what makes this song great, and is one more piece of evidence to prove the greatness of Sam Cooke himself.

From the Paper:

"Another thing that these songs have in common is the fact that the majority of them are lyrically driven with deceptively simple arrangements. The time period of many of these pieces, however, serves as a background to understand that much of the music in these pieces are extremely innovative even if they aren't necessary meant to be the focal point of the piece. In "Only Sixteen" it seems only logical to have Cooke's bright, flawless voice as the focal point of the song. This isn't to say that the arrangements are not noteworthy. Clearly the music is quite innovative for its time."
"Of course it isn't simply the subject matter and lyrical drive that places these songs together. The crossover appeal of most of these songs cannot be denied."

More papers on Sam Cooke:

• Business Plan # 88484 : "Sam's Club Warehouse Outlets"
• Analytical Essay # 2810 : "Sam Gamgee, the Hero?"
• Film Review # 144277 : "Social Role Valorization of "I Am Sam"

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