It Sounds So Soothing December 12
I think that it was when I started listening to more classical music, and opera, that I decided that I wanted more of a link between the words and the music in my (our) songs. One might think, “of course there should be a link between the music and lyrics. What kind of idiot are you?” Well, it is not something that Aaron and I have ever really done, so leave us alone.
An obvious example of what I mean is “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights” by Meatloaf. The first part is loose and fun. It gives an air of innocence, recalling scenes in movies of teenagers by lakes in the 50s. I personally picture the lake in the movie Pleasantville during the opening. In the second part, the band goes into 70s disco era. Which undercuts the innocence of the first part, and gives a much more suggestive dirty feel to the song. The music then builds to a crescendo, with the girl dramatically breaking in. Notice how forceful the band is during the woman’s part compared to the man’s. The the song keeps moving up a step at a time, heightening the intensity and putting more pressure on the boy. Until he finally cracks, and the music becomes almost manic to mimic the boys mind set.
The link between the words and music in “Paradise” is overt. One doesn’t really need to know anything about music to understand how the band is reinforcing what is being sung. A subtler, and more effective, example is “We Use to Vacation” by the Cold War Kids. You can download the song here at the always fantastic Daytrotter. The song is about an alcoholic father. In the verse, the father describes the things that he has done while drunk. The music features a descending bassline over a minor chord. The bass goes from the root, to the major 7th, minor 7th, and then the 6th. This is similar to the first four bars of “My Funny Valentine” or all of “Dear Prudence” by the Beatles. In “We Use to Vacation” the dark feel from the minor key, plus the descending bassline just show how bad the father’s alcoholism is. I think that the music is pushing him towards “rock bottom.” The chorus then moves to the related major key, and gives the impression of hope when the father sings “I made a promise to my wife and kids.” The music gives the impression that he is serious and earnestly trying to change, which makes the “It sounds so soothing” line all the more tragic.
Photo by Flickr user hi-tekznolgik.
Aaron Dec 13
You’re right….we’ve always aspired to write lyrics that way, and never really have.
Don’t sleep on Costello (I know you don’t) and the juxtaposition of the lyrics and the music, which if course lends meaning and makes the content more ascerbic.
Aaron Dec 13
You’re right….we’ve always aspired to write lyrics that way, and never really have.
Don’t sleep on Costello (I know you don’t) and the juxtaposition of the lyrics and the music, which of course lends meaning and makes the content more ascerbic.
Aaron Dec 13
Yes, that comments so good I posted twice.
Charles Dec 13
Don’t worry about commenting twice. It is just a sad attempt on our part to look more popular.
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