The New Old Song

For most of my life, I have lived under the assumption that I understood what songs meant. I have been very wrong. I understand the words, literally. I know how keys work to play on our moods, and how song structure can impact the effect of a song. But I have not understood much of the music I listen to. The actual underlying emotion that the songwriter captured and the layers of feeling a song can evoke are something I now know I will never completely understand.

The reason for this is very simple. The vast majority of songs you or I will ever hear were written to address a particular emotion that most listeners have never actually experienced. Therefore we have no real way to understand, and also do not realize we do not understand the song. We don’t know what we don’t know. As a counterpoint, movies and television can sidestep this issue by showing us what is going on, and by nature of the medium, there is much more exposition and narrative to fill in the context of a particular scene. Music does the opposite.

Songs are the scene with no intro or epilogue. A good songwriter can bring up excruciating pain with a few syllables, or use a phrase to evoke tremendous joy. But the listener needs a reference point. And as the listener grows in experience, familiar songs suddenly take on new meaning. If the listener does not have that shared experience, the song will sound completely different.

Go listen to “Somebody to Love” by Queen. On the surface it is a song about finding love. It is a short song lyrically, having only 20 or so individual lines. But the beauty of the song is only truly apparent if you have listened to it during at least two very distinct emotional points in your life. First, listen to it when you are happy, or in a relationship. Then listen to the song after you have been dumped. You have had your heart broken, you want that person back, and hate yourself for wanting that, and now you want to get over it. Suddenly it is a much better song, and Freddie’s croon will hammer you heart in a way it never could if you have not experienced that.

“I Will Survive” is a thematic sibling with a slightly more militant take on the same idea. Almost every song by Death Cab For Cutie has to be listened to before the crucial I-need-to-get-over-this stage, or it loses a lot of vicarious heart-tugging power.

The interesting upshot of this is that many songs I have long thought are horrible sound fantastic once I have met the emotional criteria. For some reason country gets better as I age and lose some of my younger self’s swollen ego. I can listen to country songs now and find it very rewarding, whereas I used to think country was the epitome of formulaic songwriting – I identify with the “mundane” topics found in those songs more. This sympathy through shared emotion is a great tool. If you have an open ear, so to speak, you can go back and hear completely different meanings on the radio, in your CD case, or on your computer.

So onward! I know I don't understand most of the songs I listen to, and that makes listening evenm ore exciting!

NMW Review: "Grand" by Matt & Kim

A-

"Grand" is an album by Brooklyn Duo Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino.  Creative naming, huh?  You can find them here.  This record is a fun little shot of joy to the ears.  Matt provides vocalss in a sort of awkward, faux british accent and plays the keyboard.  Kim smile, bounces a lot, and plays the drums.  If the White Stripes are the epitome of grungy minimalist blues-rock, Matt & Kim are the polar opposite: happy, fun and just looking to have a good time.

The album is short, about 30 minutes for 11 songs.  You'll recognize the first track "Daylight" from the Bacardi commercial with a guy walking through eras of bars to finally get his drink.  The song and the ad match up almost perfectly.  This random guy just wants a drink, and the song just wants to make some fun noise.  The rest of the songs are all short little bursts that will get your foot tapping and head bobbing.  There is nothing groundbreaking to be found, but the earworm quotient is very high, and the record makes a for a great pick me up when you want to have some bubbly pop.

The best way to review this album comes from my friends.  Over the last week 3 different people have either heard this in my car or on my computer, and they all had the same response.  First the head quirks a little as the beat sinks in, then a smile cracks the lips.  After the song ends, you are left thinking "I don't know why, but that is really growing on me."

"Daylight" Video:

New Music Weekends!

In an effort to not become that guy who only listens to the same 20 records he got in high school, I am starting New Music Weekends! (how original is that!).  The format is simple:  At least one new album each weekend that I have never bought before, and have not had a chance to really sit down and give a good listen to.  Sometime during the following week I'll put up my review and give the next album.

If you have suggestions, please let me know.  iTunes will be my method of choice, but sorting through the chaff can be tiring...

First up wil  be "Grand" by Matt & Kim.