I’m not sure if this has ever happened to other people (although, it probably has), but there have been times when I was dancing to a great beat and yelled out, “I love this song!” and my friends looked at me like I was crazy.
“Lauren , this song is about how he is proud of his talent in keeping two girls from knowing each other exist.”
My response?
“Oh…um…Is that what they said? OH! Who pays any attention to the words? I just love the beat!” and I would keep on dancing.
That was the past! Granted, there are still plenty of songs that I enjoy dancing to while being completely ignorant of their lyrics or purpose, but it is rare.
Perfect example: “Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem, featuring Rihanna. I realize not everyone is familiar with this song, but feel free to YouTube it to gain a better understanding of where I am coming from. There are plenty of people who claim, “Oh, I love this song!” and they will belt out the chorus:
“Just gonna stand there and watch me burn,
But that’s alright because I like the way it hurts.
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry,
But that’s alright because I love the way you lie.
I love the way you lie.”
However, when the verses arrive, everyone gets quiet or just mumbles something…
“I can’t tell you what it really is; I can only tell you what it feels like…
Something something something Where you goin’? I’m leaving you!
No you ain’t! something something something something
Something about Superman and Lois Lane..."
If you asked half of these people what this song was about, they may not really have a clue. I am definitely not saying that there is anything wrong with just enjoying music for the way it sounds and nothing else. If that is an individual’s escape and his refuge, then by all means, enjoy! However, I, myself, find a song a bit more intriguing if I break it down and really listen to the words. “Love the Way You Lie” is more than just the sarcasm in loving lies or the fact that Megan Fox
Analyzing a song does not necessarily mean one interpretation for all. Everyone will have different opinions based on how the song moved them. Dissecting a song can be very “healthy” for a good listener. Understanding the purpose behind the notes and lyrics can provide the listener with a deeper and richer experience. It gives on the chance to possibly connect with the artist/author on an emotional level. If done with enthusiasm, it could never detract from the experience. If you enjoy something so much, how can absorbing all information possible about it be a bad thing?
Yap who cares about the mess-up in that music, so long I love the beat, the tone even the lyrics it has a place in me. This really is my belief; I like the way you presented it, “if that music is if that is an individual’s escape and his refuge, then by all means, enjoy! The lyrics that so bad to others may have big place in me. It depends the way I interpreted it or have meaning to me. I love how Sherry said one time about her music” those songs are mystical to me”. I do agree, for anyone that doesn’t seem meaningful or worthless, a single music can have meaning for someone. However, attending to each and every lyric will enhance the understanding and magnifies its worth. I agree with you, sometimes when you are overwhelmed with the tone/the beat you may not realize the meaning of each verse. But when you tried to listen to it, it might be meaningless or in which you can’t agree with it. That is the beauty of music. It doesn’t have universal formula to guide it to the way everybody accepts; it doesn’t need everyone’s approval. When we hear Mozart, Beethoven, Andrea Bocelli’s music, we may not understand each verse but we indulge in it, it transcends boundaries. As you said analyzing music be done by the individual for his/her music world.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your blog! You got me so intrigued with the way you started that even though I already did a response about the same topic I had to keep reading. I am the same way, I don’t really listen to the lyrics of the song at first I just hear the beat and decide if I am going to like it or not, or if I can dance to it. I know this probably isn’t the best way to decided if I’m going to like a song, or even artist for that matter, but I’m just being honest. Then I actually listen to the lyrics and if they’re bad I kind of get mad because I feel like it kind of ruined the song for me, which is why before I started reading this week blogs I was dead set on thinking that music should not be analyzed, just enjoyed. I still think this to a certain extent. If you analyze anything too much it will take away the true meaning and experience of things, but I realize understanding the purpose of the lyrics and how the artist feels about what they are trying to say will help someone become a better listener.
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