05 October 2010

Lyrically Speaking

Okay, confession time: I am way obsessed with song lyrics. Like, seriously, it isn't healthy.

My guitar, in case you can't tell. I went outside my comfort zone and used flash just for all you to see how miserably I fail at it...


I read so much into lyrics, I don't even know if they even resemble anything that the artist meant... but thanks to that pretty much every song on my iPod has some kind of special meaning to me. Want a taste?

Four letter word just to get me along  /  It's a difficulty and I'm biting on my tongue  /  I keep stalling, keeping it together  /  People around I gotta find something to say   /  Holding back everyday the same  /  Don't wanna be a loner   /  Listen to me  /  I never say anything at all  /  So with nothing to consider they forget my name                                                                                            That's Not My Name, the Ting Tings
This song is a reminder to me that if you are boring and just like everyone else, holding back, you don't stand out and shine. I've had trouble with being myself at points in my life (see here) and listening to this song is kind of a pick-me-up when I'm feeling awkward.


Talk to me without a sound  /  ‘Cause you were such a tool  /  Who’s sorry now?  /  You, you’re shaking on the floor  /  Watch me walking out the door                                                                                                                                                                                                                      I Don't Wanna Dance, Hey Monday
This is my Single-Girl Anthem, even more so than Madonna's Vogue. The song is about an ex-boyfriend who dumped you coming back and begging for forgiveness. Goodness knows I've had my share of that and it is awful, even more so when I watch it happening to my friends, because I just want to slap the ex. This song was free on iTunes a while ago and has since become one of my favorites.


One minute I held the key  /  Next the walls were closed on me  /  And I discovered that my castles stand  /  Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Viva La Vida, Coldplay
Oooh, this is just SUCH a good song! My dad actually played a concert with them once, and then ate cold cuts with them. Weird, no? My dad used to actually tour with his rock band all those years ago... crazy.
Anyway. The whole song is about tables being turned, and this it's a great song to listen to when things are going badly. I know that in the song, tables are being turned for the worst, but hey, the sentiment is the same, right?


 Let's make this happen girl    /   You gonna show the world that something good can work  /   and it can work for you,   /  And you know that it will.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Something Good Can Work, Two Door Cinema Club
Another gem that was free on iTunes a while ago. This song is so dang happy it's impossible to not smile while listening to it. All the lyrics are totally upbeat and cheerful; I mean, look at the title of the song! It just makes me happy. :)


Every little thing, every little thing    /   Every little thing just tears you apart.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ELT, Wilco
This song sums up how I feel so many times a day. You know when you're really tired, or just having a long day, and how every little teensy thing just seems to be going wrong? Little things, but you just want to scream "Oh what NOW?!"
Well, that's what I get from this song.
And it's quite eloquent, really.


Well, there are five songs for you to dissect for yourselves. Here's a playlist in case you want to listen (alas, ELT was not available on playlist.com). Enjoy! :)

8 comments:

  1. That's cool how songs speak to you like that! The artist has obviously created something beautiful through his or her music.

    Love,
    Elizabeth Rose

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  2. I am what I like to call 'musically challenged.' I love music but, I don't know, I can never keep up to date. It's not too important in my life. If I remember to load my iPod and buy some new songs, good for me. But if I don't, I don't quite mind. I just bought all these songs, though. I need all the suggestions I can get!

    Also, I don't know why, but your sidebar appears underneath your post instead of right next to it. I don't know if that's intentional or not.

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  3. Wow your Guitar is AWSOME!!!!!!:):D

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  4. Oh my gosh! I ♥ Viva La Vida! I have been looking for the name of the song FOREVER! Thank you Olive Tree!!

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  5. Love these songs! That's Not My Name is great, thanks for sharing.

    Alexis

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  6. I'm pretty obsessed with reading the lyrics of Simon and Garfunkel and Electric Light Orchestra. They come up with some pretty in-depth ideas, I think. :)

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  7. Hmm, I like your guitar (:

    And now, for some reason I cant stop listening to Something Good Can Work.

    Miranda

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  8. For a lyrical conundrum, try Regina Spektor! There's tons of metaphors and I just love what she writes. I listen to the lyrics way more than the actual music, and I'm more of a writer than a musician.
    The Ting-Tings are quite popular here and I find the singer's voice irritating, but the lyrics to That's Not My Name are cool.
    I'd never heard of Hey Monday--that's my Wednesday music find!
    Coldplay, like The Ting Tings, can often be overplayed in England and whats-his-face {the singer who has a daughter called Apple} is a little crazy, but the lyrics are cool.
    'Something Good Can Work' was pretty popular on the radio here, and it's so catchy! I like to do bad dancing in my room to it!
    I couldn't find ELT on Spotify but I found loads of other albums--it's soothing but thought-provoking. Nice.
    ~Libby

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