It struck me today how we choose our music. The popularity of "Louie, Louie" inspired the government to research the lyrics to make sure there was nothing nefarious involved. It was a wildly popular song and most people had no earthly idea what they were saying. What we listen to and why has a lot to do with what we're looking for. Songs and artists seem to latch themselves onto our consciousness when we need them. I've had bands or songs that I thought nothing of until hearing them at a certain time or in a certain way.
Most recently, I saw Ghost B.C. for the first time. Their entire schtick is predicated on this satanic angle. Songs about devil worship, their concert attire being based on the pope. Seeing them at "Rock on the Range" in Columbus, Ohio really made them stand out. For some unexplained reason I got it. The music sounded better after the live performance. Now, it really has nothing to do with their songs' contents. I don't worship satan, I just really dig the music. I sing along with the songs too. Several times at work the past week I was walking through the halls, humming "Secular Haze". I'll sing along to it in the car the way I would sing along to something like "Mysterious Ways" a very pro-Christianity song. And to be honest I had no idea what "Mysterious Ways" was about until I was about 17. And that was because I had a lackluster epiphany in my 89 Mercury Cougar (Bostonian Edition mind you), listening to "Achtung, Baby". I know the words to both songs and yet they both connect to me on a level that transcends the message. And I think I know why.
For me, I like the aesthetics of a song. As someone who reads a lot and just really likes things that sound cool, I appreciate imagery and phrases that resonate with me. And I think a lot of people would agree with that. Whether it be the sounds, be they familiar or new, the words, be they challenging or comforting or even just how the song is performed connects to something deep within our brains. I would submit that a song like Frank Turner (& The Sleeping Souls)'s "Glory Hallelujah" could be presented to a Christian of strong faith and they would be hard pressed to keep the hymnal like tune out of their heads. For the uninformed the chorus of "Glory Hallelujah" was "There never was no God". Even though someone might object to the message of the song, there has to be something that ties itself to their brain.
Maybe that's why people flipped out about 2 Live Crew's "Me So Horny". They couldn't get it out of their heads and the content bothered them to the point that they had to do something about it. Same with Judas Priest. Would anyone dare tell me that they don't know at least one line of "Me So Horny" or "You Got Another Thing Coming"? No. They're catchy as hell and they transcend genre. So songs about sex and satan really aren't about those things, but about what people connect to. In a sense, lyrics can be wholly irrelevant to music. Much like with "Louie, Louie".
"Darling Nikki" is a sex fiend, "Roxanne" is a hooker and "Delia" is murdered to death. Does that make me want to murder a woman? No. Find a hooker? No. Find a sex fiend? Kinda. But that has nothing to do with those songs. And the fact that I can sing along with Prince, Sting and Johnny doesn't mean I actually care about what the lyrics are saying. Does that render lyrics worthless? Of course not. Lyrics are what we make them. One of my favorite songs is "Love You Till The End" by the Pogues. The line "I just want to be there when the morning light explodes/on your face it radiates/I can't escape, I love you will the end" is such a charming and warm phrase that fills me with love when I feel that way about someone and hope/despair (depending what kind of day it has been) when I'm not. I get to pick and choose the meaning of lyrics to the songs I like. And that's why I love song lyrics.
Random Nonsense:
-I worked with a guy named Scottie once who told me one of the lyrics to "Louie, Louie" was "I felt my bone right in her hair" and he claimed that meant the singer rubbed his erection on his beloved's scalp.
-People who say the fact that Bon Scott sang "Highway to Hell" was why he choked to death on his vomit should be aware that Angus and Malcolm Young helped write the song and they're alive and well. Meanwhile, there's a shit ton of gospel singers who've kicked the bucket far too soon, just like Mr. Scott.
-I will listen to the "Fairytale of New York" and occasionally break into singing throughout the year, even though it is a (the best) Christmas song. Two reasons. Christmas rules and it's the best song for reminiscing about lost loves.
-My unit sang "Wake Me Up When September Ends" on the bus from the barracks the day we deployed. I'm not a Green Day fan, but that song still gives me goosebumps. And I really wish it didn't.
No comments:
Post a Comment