I believe that analyzing music can be a good and a bad thing. The reason I feel it can be good is that each person listening to a song can all relate to it differently. I feel that music in general is a huge for communication. There is always a story behind every song, some songs are very direct and easy to understand while others can take you for a ride. I feel that when a musician puts their work out for others to hear they want the listener to feel a connection with them. A good example would be the difference between Taylor Swift as a solo artist with her guitar compared to the band Tool, they are completely and vastly opposite. Although their music and song topics are on two different spectrum's, what they have in common is the want to have their voices heard. Taylor Swift is a young girl who sings about love and her different relationships and has a way of getting her story across very openly with her music. Her fans love her because she is a very real girl living life the same way many other young girls live and they share similar experiences. The band Tool is very complex and has very complicated ways visually and spiritually of getting their stories told. What I love about the band tool is although their very hard rock their also very zen in their own right. Their visuals in music videos are full of art and take you on a ride close to an acid trip. Tool also wants their listeners to take the songs and think for themselves on what the songs mean to them. Their also very political, and are about thinking for yourself and having your own opinion.
It may seem as though I have gone off topic but the reason I bring up the completely opposite musicians is to talk about analyzing music. I feel that some music is meant to be analyzed and some music is not. Taylor Swift is happy go lucky and is so upfront and honest their isn't much to analyze, and for this I feel to analyze her music would detract from the experience. The band Tool however I feel is very appropriate to analyze and does not detract from the experience but enhances the experience! I know that with analyzing songs by Tool it allows you to open up your mind and almost go into a completely different state of mind. What is neat to me is that drugs (although they are looked down upon) can be very useful when writing material. Most songs written by rock musicians and many other musicians in different genres, are under the influence and become more creative that way. One song can be about an actual drug trip and it will speak to many people who have been there themselves. I am not saying that in order to write amazing music and songs you have to be on drugs. What I am saying is that the musicians who do write about drugs and their trips on drugs, they want their music analyzed. I also feel that music when you are high and music when you are sober can be different experiences in themselves.
Music is an amazing ball of emotion. I feel that just the sound of music puts people in different moods whether it be happy, sad, angry, content, hyper, relaxed ect. When I listen to music it puts me in a different headset because I can go to it for anything I want to feel. There are times when I just want to dance and have fun so I will put on upbeat music and zone out to it. Their are other times where maybe I put on music because I want to find a common ground and connect with the artist I am listening to, so this does take me to analyze the music. Lyrics in general tell a story period. What one lyric means to the artist can totally do a 360 and mean something else to the listener. Music is a ball of emotion because of the different tones and stories behind the meaning of songs. If there is a song about politics it will do one of three things to a listener; anger them, open up their mind, or put them in an agreement. That right there is a prime example to how one song is a ball of emotions.
Music is a way to communicate. No matter what the story is behind the music it is a way for ones voice to be heard. I feel that although music is existing for a way of communication, it is also meant to be both analyzed and not analyzed. The point of the matter is that whether you like it or not music will always be analyzed because it helps both detract and enhance the full experience. I totally love to analyze music when I feel that it will enhance my experience or just help me understand a song. I think most people do because it is in our human nature to naturally be curious of what the meaning of a song can be, especially when the songs may confuse us.
I have decided that because I love music and this class talks a lot about music I will always close my blogs with a different music video from a different artist each week. This shows my range of musical taste and it also may introduce you to maybe a new genre or artist you may enjoy that you never would have given a chance.
Cheers!
I enjoyed reading this blog you made a lot of good points. I do agree that music does help tell people about their stories and that different genres or people writing or singing make more of a difference. Music as a form of communication is very true in fact I would put music as a secondary form of communication when opposed to talking or body language. When I hear music I can sense the way people are feeling through the song, all the emotion and spirit can be transferred to the track they have made. Like you said there are different reasons for a song to be made like either a drug influenced trip or some one they love. The ability to analyze music is a sure way not to be influenced in a negative way and gives the listener the ability to think and analyze for them selves. Its like I am listening to little Wayne now all I want to do is bad stuff that’s negative influencing but if I pop in a bible song or a song about Jesus now that’s good cause you go from one extreme to another. I guess want I am saying is not to be influenced by crap.
ReplyDeleteHey Bridge, I really like the way you write :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the emotion notion you made in your blog. I love to just kickback and feel the vibe of the music also. It is also alot of fun to just put music on so that you can dance around and have good times.
I like both Tool and Taylor swift. You put it ever so correctly about the spectrums. That's what is so cool about music, because I to feel it is a big ball of emotion, it allows you to express yourself in many different ways at the same time. It is a great release also for people who have anger issues.
Well I do believe that I will become a true follower, untill next time BYE..Kel
Bridgette,
ReplyDeleteWow your blogs are always so amazing! I love how switzerland you can be with your decisions. I was dead-set on my opinion that music shouldn't be analyzed, simply enjoyed. But after your comparison of Tool and Taylor Swift I could see how some bands need some analyzing for people to get the full affect.
What I can't stand is when people over-analyze and come to false conclusions about a band or artist. For example, MANY people thought that the song by the Beatles "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" was a song about a terrible trip that they were on. This couldn't be more false. Although I'm aware the beatles weren't exactly saints, the meaning to this song is actually very innocent. John Lennon's son drew a picture with a girl, some clouds and sparkles. When asked what it was he replied "it's lucy in the sky with diamonds" and the band just thought it was a beautiful concept and ran with it.
Anyways, I'm done ranting but I love that you can keep the peace and prove both sides. Keep up the good work hun! Also it would be nice if you could come visit us lowly Improv folk. I miss your pretty face in class! :)
-Charlie (Jessica Hassan)
Your blog this week addresses the subject of analyzing music which is the topic I chose not to discuss because in thinking about it, I realized that I personally do not analyze music – I just enjoy it! I definitely agree that artists would like the listeners to feel a connection with them in some way. Many artists absolutely want their voices to be heard, especially in my opinion, rap artists, as they are telling stories with their music, but sometimes more importantly they are trying to deliver a message.
ReplyDeleteThe music of Taylor Swift is a means of storytelling and shares happiness as well as sadness. Some of her songs can be fun to listen and sing along with. I’m not very familiar with Tool, but I know that there are other artists whose music can help you change or experience a different state of mind. However, saying that drugs can be useful in writing or composing music is a statement with which I disagree. To state that illicit, illegal or mind-altering drugs are useful in any case is dreadful in my opinion. That is like advocating their use. That being said however, I am absolutely sure a lot of the music I love and enjoy has been written and performed by artists who have been “under the influence”.
Hi, I really enjoyed reading your blog. I didn’t choose this topic this week because I thought music shouldn’t be analyzed, that it takes away from the enjoyment and experience. But after reading your blog I completely agree with you. Although I’m not very familiar with tool, some artists do want their music to be analyzed, and others like Taylor Swift pretty much analyze their music for you. I’m realizing that if you analyze some music it may give you a better understanding, therefore, experience of what the artist is trying to portray.
ReplyDeleteI also like how you were brave enough to talk about how drugs are very influential to music. I completely agree with you, drugs have and had always had a huge roll in rock and roll, reggae, rap, and other genres. People don’t talk about it a lot because it is so controversial, but it is a very good point. It doesn’t mean you or I condone doing drugs it is just the facts. You are right music is a way to communicate no matter what the story behind it is and I love that you end each of your blogs with a music video since this class is mainly about music!