CREATING A

CONVERSATION WITH
HEY J U DE IN
WABA NA K I BLUES
BY S H A I N A A L C H E C K

AUDIO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_MjCqQoLLA
Opening chords, take a sad song and make it better, remember to let her
into your heart, and any time you feel the pain

SOURCES
"Notes on "Hey Jude"" Alan W. Pollack's. 2000. Web. 31 Mar. 2016.
<http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/hj.shtml>.
Alexie, Sherman. "Grief." Emory University, Atlanta. 4 Apr. 2016. Lecture.
Philip Heldrich Survival=Anger x Imagination

HEY JUDE IN WABANAKI BLUES

Thesis (tentative) - This scene in Wabanaki Blues enhances Monas
relationship to every (living) member of her family and by using music to
create a dialogue with them,
To mom- closer together through song, healing, words they never said, improved
relationship after this scene, Maybe mom will overcome her depression (225)
To Grumps- Grumps comes in at the end, feel his presence- gets closure that
she was unable to get in person
To Bilki- the in-betweens space (?)
With herself -her spiritual connection, leaves feeling hopeful

HELDRICH AND ALEXIE- TALK ABOUT

IT
What do you do in response to all this? Well number one you talk
(Sherman Alexie)
One of Heldrichs main points is that Alexie is able to create a dialogue
outside the dominant discourse about complicated issues
Therefore
In Wabanaki Blues, Mona uses the song Hey Jude on page 224-225 to
talk with her mom, grandfather, (and grandmother?)
Continuation of the theme throughout the book that music speaks louder
than words
Needs more development

WHY HEY JUDE? ALAN POLLACK

MEANING
The jam section taken alone would seem to point in the thematic direction
of "spiritual enlightenment", obviously something of a preoccupation of
some of the Beatles during the era in which this song was composed.
I do believe that once you internalize that much, the transcendent, blissful
joy of the second half falls right into place.
Spiritual transcendence in the book, specifically in this scene (225)

ALAN W. POLLACK CONT.

On the melody and harmonies The verse tune has nice multiple arches, and very
casually-yet-artfully includes both unique high and low points. The bridge tune is
more simply downward in gesture. The jam session tune is a nicely lopsided arch,
skewed toward its upper end.
In this scene, Grumps comes in at the end, making it skewed towards the end of the
song

Differing lyrics in all of the verses

Indicates that the verses chosen by Zobel have special significance

Long Form
Different methods than usual long-form songs (ex. In Light my Fire there is an
extended musical break in the middle)
Continuation at the end of Hey Jude (na-na-nas) could relate to the endless toe-heel
in Wabanaki Blues(?)
Ending with na-na-nas leaves the listener feeling happier
To Mona feeling hopeful at the end of the scene (225)

QUESTIONS
Is the thesis okay?
Is the order coherent?
Should I have done Healing the Soul Wound? i.e. is the dialogue part
strong enough?
Should I include Bilki?

THANKS!