Music

[wishfulthinking]

What I love most about music is the sound, and rarely the story the song is trying to convey. Which I think is weird, because I don't think songs and stories are that far apart. And I write to create a story.

I like how songs are put together, how the the voice and music integrate, rather than the actual words. So I don't love artists, but I love particular songs of artists.

Anyone else having a weird thought day?

 

[rgraham666]

That's strange. Because I'm more often fond of the story part of music.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Words speak to the intellect while the music speaks directly to your emotions or soul. It is the same with visual art. The line speaks to the intellect while the color speaks to the emotions. Imho.

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

I used to be really into the words of the song. Then I had a long discussion with a friend, followed by a demonstration, he said that the best music needs no words. When an artist can say everything he thinks and feels without a single word, that is perfection.

For a demontration he played "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt, then he played the same song by Candy Dulfer (Sax instrumental). Now, I love Bonnie Raitt and I had never heard of Candy Dulfer at the time and I thought there was no way anyone with any instrument could outdo Bonnie's vocals on that song.

I was wrong.

He told me to ignore the words that Bonnie sang and listen to the emotion in her voice, then he played Candy's version and he told me to listen to the emotion in her sax. Much as I love Bonnie's voice I had to admit she never gave me chills listening to that song. Candy Dulfer did.

I still love great singers and I still love Bonnie Raitt but I have learned to listen to the real song, not just the words.

 

[scriptordelecto]

I used to be really into the words of the song. Then I had a long discussion with a friend, followed by a demonstration, he said that the best music needs no words. When an artist can say everything he thinks and feels without a single word, that is perfection.

For a demontration he played "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt, then he played the same song by Candy Dulfer (Sax instrumental). Now, I love Bonnie Raitt and I had never heard of Candy Dulfer at the time and I thought there was no way anyone with any instrument could outdo Bonnie's vocals on that song.

I was wrong.

He told me to ignore the words that Bonnie sang and listen to the emotion in her voice, then he played Candy's version and he told me to listen to the emotion in her sax. Much as I love Bonnie's voice I had to admit she never gave me chills listening to that song. Candy Dulfer did.

I still love great singers and I still love Bonnie Raitt but I have learned to listen to the real song, not just the words.

Very well said.

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

Very well said.

I'd like to take full credit but I can't. I would likely have gone the rest of my life listening to just the words. I had to be shown the real music. I also now understand the expressions on peoples faces who are totally engrossed in a symphony or an intrumental jazz piece. If you know how to listen there is more emotion in the music than you can bear sometimes.

 

[scriptordelecto]

I'd like to take full credit but I can't. I would likely have gone the rest of my life listening to just the words. I had to be shown the real music. I also now understand the expressions on peoples faces who are totally engrossed in a symphony or an intrumental jazz piece. If you know how to listen there is more emotion in the music than you can bear sometimes.

It makes me happy to know that you're getting the real experience now. I can't imagine hearing music in such a superficial fashion.

 

[wishfulthinking]

Wow. Thank you for your responses. I couldn't express what or realise why, and now in hindsight it seems really obvious. It is not the words said, but how it is said, so yes, the emotion or the character behind the song. Let me have my homer simpson moment - d'oh.

 

[More_Than_Magic]

Wow. Thank you for your responses. I couldn't express what or realise why, and now in hindsight it seems really obvious. It is not the words said, but how it is said, so yes, the emotion or the character behind the song. Let me have my homer simpson moment - d'oh.

Would you like a donut with that?

 

[SimpleGifts]

I'd like to take full credit but I can't. I would likely have gone the rest of my life listening to just the words. I had to be shown the real music. I also now understand the expressions on peoples faces who are totally engrossed in a symphony or an intrumental jazz piece. If you know how to listen there is more emotion in the music than you can bear sometimes.

Gotta say, it's even more profound when you realize that's how you're supposed to PLAY music. One reason why I can't stand some of these child prodigy musicians...technical excellence, no understanding of what they are really playing.

I've come to the conclusion that you can't give a really great musical performance until you've had your heart broken. I don't perform in public very often...but a few times, I've hit the spot where I can pour myself into the music...and it was a truly religious experience.

SG

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

Gotta say, it's even more profound when you realize that's how you're supposed to PLAY music. One reason why I can't stand some of these child prodigy musicians...technical excellence, no understanding of what they are really playing.
...
SG

I beg to differ. Listening to Kelly Sweet and Renee Olstead (both still in ther late teens)I have to say they understand more than I do and ten years before I understood it at all. Some people get it. Some people don't. Some people are born with that gift of understanding it. Some of us have to to be pointed in the right direction.

 

[More_Than_Magic]

I beg to differ. Listening to Kelly Sweet and Renee Olstead (both still in ther late teens)I have to say they understand more than I do and ten years before I understood it at all. Some people get it. Some people don't. Some people are born with that gift of understanding it. Some of us have to to be pointed in the right direction.

They may be farther along, but they aren't nearly as good as they will be when they have some living in their experience. They gain depth with age, in my opinion.

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

They may be farther along, but they aren't nearly as good as they will be when they have some living in their experience. They gain depth with age, in my opinion.

I don't know if I can handle more depth than they already have. On the other hand, with more age maybe I'll have the depth to deal with it.

 

[elsol]

*shrug*

I like the music.
I like the words.

Most of the time I connect more to the music... but there are a few songwriters who say EXACTLY what I want to say.

Though most of the time, it's spanish songwriters so it could be that there are things you can say in Spanish better.

Tus besos saben tan amargos
cuando te ensucias los labios
con mentiras otra vez

 

[More_Than_Magic]

I don't know if I can handle more depth than they already have. On the other hand, with more age maybe I'll have the depth to deal with it.

lol, you'll grow together. Of course, I'm thinking of other artists who were "child prodigies" as I'm not familiar with the ones you mentioned.

 

[More_Than_Magic]

Gotta say, it's even more profound when you realize that's how you're supposed to PLAY music. One reason why I can't stand some of these child prodigy musicians...technical excellence, no understanding of what they are really playing.

I've come to the conclusion that you can't give a really great musical performance until you've had your heart broken. I don't perform in public very often...but a few times, I've hit the spot where I can pour myself into the music...and it was a truly religious experience.

SG

There's a quote about how the artist plays the pauses being as important as how they play the notes that I think applies here but I can't recall who said it and I can't seem to find it. *shrug*

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

lol, you'll grow together. Of course, I'm thinking of other artists who were "child prodigies" as I'm not familiar with the ones you mentioned.

Please tell me you weren't thinking of Michael Jackson.

 

[Trombonus]

I love every aspect of music. I love to listen to it, and I'll listen to just about anything and find some way to enjoy it. I love to play it. I'm in a whole other world when I put my horn to my lips and blow, whether I'm playing with a gorup or just practicing. I love to write music too. Writing a piece of music is the same as writing a story to me. Music has become my life.

 

[More_Than_Magic]

Please tell me you weren't thinking of Michael Jackson.

*shudder* No, but it may be nearly as bad - LeeAnn Rimes (sp.?) In country music, people were always spouting off about how great she was in her early teens. I really felt she had potential but she's only now someone I would want to listen to. Yes, I like country music. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

 

[More_Than_Magic]

I love every aspect of music. I love to listen to it, and I'll listen to just about anything and find some way to enjoy it. I love to play it. I'm in a whole other world when I put my horn to my lips and blow, whether I'm playing with a gorup or just practicing. I love to write music too. Writing a piece of music is the same as writing a story to me. Music has become my life.

Which is one reason why you would fit in so well with my family.

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

*shudder* No, but it may be nearly as bad - LeeAnn Rimes (sp.?) In country music, people were always spouting off about how great she was in her early teens. I really felt she had potential but she's only now someone I would want to listen to. Yes, I like country music. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Yet, it seems to me that Country Music, like Rap/Hip-hop (and I hate to make that comparison) is ALL about the words. The music behind it is nothing special and I rarely find genuine emotion in the lyrics. It's the storiy that has the art. It's almost like poetry set to music than real music.

 

[Trombonus]

Which is one reason why you would fit in so well with my family.

Well lets hope so.

 

[More_Than_Magic]

Yet, it seems to me that Country Music, like Rap/Hip-hop (and I hate to make that comparison) is ALL about the words. The music behind it is nothing special and I rarely find genuine emotion in the lyrics. It's the storiy that has the art. It's almost like poetry set to music than real music.

In many respects, I agree. It is more like poetry set to music and is mostly about the words and rarely has good writing in the music part. And I say that as a fan. But, there are some excellent musicians who have written some excellent music and performed some very good peices. My mind goes to some very excellent guitar work done by Perkins in old Judds songs. The songs I enjoy the most are invariably performed by the artist that wrote them though.

 

[matriarch]

What I love most about music is the sound, and rarely the story the song is trying to convey. Which I think is weird, because I don't think songs and stories are that far apart. And I write to create a story.

I like how songs are put together, how the the voice and music integrate, rather than the actual words. So I don't love artists, but I love particular songs of artists.

Anyone else having a weird thought day?

I'm with you.
The sounds, the phrasing of the notes and arrangements is what stirs the emotions in me.

I love opera, oratorios, classical music....I don't speak Italian or German, know only a little French but not when it's being sung....but that matters not. It's just how the operatic arias sound that gets in my heart.

 

[fcdc]

Yet, it seems to me that Country Music, like Rap/Hip-hop (and I hate to make that comparison) is ALL about the words. The music behind it is nothing special and I rarely find genuine emotion in the lyrics. It's the storiy that has the art. It's almost like poetry set to music than real music.

There are musicians and artists in all genres, people that truly feel and understand music. Just to name a few for both genres:

For country, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Sr. (and arguably III, for his willingness to experiment with musical genres), Wilco, or Emmylou Harris.
For rap, Outkast, Talib Kweli/Mos Def/Black Star, KRS-One.

The trick is knowing where to look. Sturgeon's law applies - 99% of everything is crap, in every musical genre. To limit oneself (note: not saying you're doing this, Jubal) away from a specific genre rather than trying to find what you like in that genre is to miss out on a lot of good music. Both country and rap rose from avenues of social protest/folk singing, so they definitely are more Big Message-oriented than some other genres, but there is musicality in a lot of stuff out there.

-----

As far as musicality: I can share the song that reliably makes me cry. It's late enough, so what the hell.

Remember the Mountain Bed, lyrics by Woody Guthrie, arranged by Jeff Tweedy/Wilco. Off of Mermaid Avenue II. If you read these lyrics, it's basically about sex in the woods.

Do you still sing of the mountain bed we made of limbs and leaves?
Do you still sigh there near the sky where the holly berry bleeds?
You laughed as I covered you over with leaves - face, breast, hips, and thighs
You smiled when I said the leaves were just the color of your eyes

Rosin smells and turpentine smells from eucalyptus and pine
Bitter tastes of twigs we chewed where tangled wood vines twine
Trees held us in on all four sides so thick we could not see
I could not see any wrong in you, and you saw none in me

Your arm was brown against the ground, your cheeks part of the sky
Your fingers played with grassy moss, as limber you did lie
Your stomach moved beneath your shirt and your knees were in the air
Your feet played games with mountain roots as you lay thinking there

Below us the trees grew clumps of trees, raised families of trees, and they
As proud as we tossed their heads in the wind and flung good seeds away
The sun was hot and the sun was bright down in the valley below
Where people starved and hungry for life so empty come and go

There in the shade and hid from the sun we freed our minds and learned
Our greatest reason for being here, our bodies moved and burned
There on our mountain bed of leaves we learned life's reason why
The people laugh and love and dream, they fight, they hate to die

The smell of your hair I know is still there, if most of our leaves are blown
Our words still ring in the brush and the trees where singing seeds are sown
Your shape and form is dim but plain, there on our mountain bed
I see my life was brightest where you laughed and laid your head.

I learned the reason why man must work and how to dream big dreams
To conquer time and space and fight the rivers and the seas
I stand here filled with my emptiness now and look at city and land
And I know why farms and cities are built by hot, warm, nervous hands

I crossed many states just to stand here now, my face all hot with tears
I crossed city, and valley, desert, and stream, to bring my body here
My history and future blaze bright in me and all my joy and pain
Go through my head on our mountain bed where I smell your hair again.

All this day long I linger here and on in through the night
My greeds, desires, my cravings, hopes, my dreams inside me fight:
My loneliness healed, my emptiness filled, I walk above all pain
Back to the breast of my woman and child to scatter my seeds again.

But if you listen to the song (link, a live version with lyrics slightly altered - I'll upload the real one later), it's about so much more. The lyrics and delivery combine to absolutely devastating effect.