OK, this will be another music thread. Whilst driving last weekend, I played the radio in the car - this in itself is a rarity, as I usually play CD’s. Anyway, this Alanis Morrisette song comes on (Unsent, it is - I had to check that). And although I hate Alanis, loathe the song, and all the lyrics in it are utter crap, there was this ONE line:
“Whenever I think of the early 90’s your face comes up with a vengeance like it was yesterday”
And it completely overwhelmed me. Sheer melancholy. And it’s not even all that brilliant. It’s probably because I, too, think about the early 90’s a lot - I moved out in 1991 when I started studying, and in hindsight, it was a very cool and magic time.
So that’s how I can explain this one. Do yuo guys have that too? I mean specifically like this, when an artist you hate, in a song you loathe, comes up with a brilliant line that just DOES it for some reason?
It’s a good, thought-provoking question, Coldfire. I’ve been thinking about this one since you posted. I’ve come to the conclusion that if a song I loathe by an artist I loathe comes on the radio, I turn it off instantly and never get a chance to hear the lyrics.
However, there are songs I loathe by artists I loathe that I have to admit have a terrific melody. I HATE Michael Jackson – but the guy sure knows how to pen a melody, especially “You’ve Got A Friend In Me.” I LOATHE Barry Manilow, but he’s a good melodysmith, too.
For me it’s Islands in the stream that is what we are, nothing inbetween… then it screeches to a repetative halt, just when it had me floating away in a dream.
I keep hoping to discover that the lyrics actually contain the rest of the song that never got recorded.
I have a real winner for this! I’ve always thought this particular lyric was rather profound: “When you’re born into this world, they say you’re born with sin/Well, at least they gave me something I didn’t have to steal or have to win.”
And it’s by that noted philosopher and deep thinker . . . Jon Bon Jovi. From Dead Or Alive, which isn’t even a very good Bon Jovi song, let alone a very good song. And I’ve never been able to say with a straight face “In the immortal words of Jon Bon Jovi . . .” But I still like that one lyric.
Coldfire, I’d agree. Y’know it’s really a pretty good line. Very direct. I tire of artsy lyrics (sorry annalamerino).
And with very direct, emotional lyrics, there’s the possibility of visceral connection.
I notice this can happen not only with lyrics, but just with people in general. There’s been more than one case when someone I generally can’t stand says something that deeply affects me just because it’s totally honest and I can relate.
Just goes to show that human interaction is a messy complicated thing.
