Final Three Analyses...

Say Analysis

John Mayer is a fairly young artist, originally infamous for his blues music. He switched to pop/rock for a while, but is now back to mostly blues. One of his more popular songs presently is titled “Say” which was featured on the soundtrack of The Bucket List. When broken down by the Poetry of Song Rating System, this song received a score of 98.

Although its grade, if you will, was nearly perfect, the song was lacking a few important things. Points were taken off for cliché phrases, short vocal range, weak vocals, predictability, and most noticeable, unnecessary repetition. The line “say what you need to say” was sung a total of 38 times throughout the song. Mayer made up for lost points for allusion, imagery, metaphors, universal relevance, symbolism, and a few other literary and poetic devices.

It may be argued that the single repeated line was actually quite necessary. It is seemingly simple, yet it is actually quite deep. Some people may need to hear it that many times to get the message. John Mayer was trying to let people know that life is too short, so say what you feel and mean before it is too late.

Wonderful Analysis

For those of you who have maybe been living under a rock, Scrubs is a comedy that takes place in a hospital called Sacred Heart. Being a comedy, it makes it far more difficult to believably portray an emotional scene. Yes, a plethora of soundtracks have emotional scenes with fitting songs, but it is much more impacting when it is in the middle of what is mostly extremely comical. Director Lawrence Trilling did a great job when he chose the song “Wonderful” by Everclear to be featured in an episode called “My Fifteen Minutes” found in the very first season of Scrubs.
Imagery is something that can be found in practically every song ever written. “Wonderful” by Everclear immediately came to mind for a number of reasons. One reason why this particular song stood out is because the song itself is very moving. The lyrics hit the listener like a ton of bricks. They are from a child’s point of view about how difficult it is to watch his parents fight. He just wants everything to be wonderful again, but he doesn’t want everyone to tell him that it will be. This song is the definition of imagery. The stanzas “Promises mean everything when you’re little and the world’s so big. I just don’t understand how you can smile with all those tears in your eyes. Tell me everything is wonderful now” and “I go to school and I run and play. I tell the kids that its all okay. I laugh aloud so my friends won’t know. When the bell rings, I just don’t wanna go home.” Both are excepional examples of imagery. Also, when “Hope my mom and I hope my dad will figure out why they get so mad. Hear them scream, I hear them fight. They say bad words that make me wanna cry.” is sung, you cannot help but to see and feel what the narrator is going through. When you put this song to a scene in a television show with characters that viewers have become quite connected with, it makes for an awfully touching couple of minutes.
Many young adults and children can certainly relate to this song. This may very well be the reason that in imagery is so prevalent. If one understands what the narrator is going through, one may find it much easier to imagine the exact emotions and thoughts running through his mind. On the other hand, if one has been lucky enough to not have gone through parental fighting and/or divorce, one may find the lyrics unfathomable, resulting in lack of imagery in that particular person’s head. Whether one understands what is happening or not, imagery is indubitably present throughout the entire song.

Angie Analysis

Some may say that the song “Angie” by The Rolling Stones uses the poetic device of allusion, and some may argue that. Allusion is when a reference is made to something else without actually saying it. The meaning of this song has been questionable since the day of its release. The actual writer of the song is not definitely known either.
“Angie” is said by some to be written by Mick Jagger, while others believe that David Bowie wrote it for the band about Mick after they were supposedly caught in bed together. The ones who believe Jagger to be the writer strongly believe that the song was written for his daughter Angela. Though, Mick has said that he is not one to write songs about his babies. A third party may argue the fact that this song is clearly about fighting a drug addiction. "With no loving in our souls and no money in our coats, you can't say we're satisfied, but Angie, Angie, you can't say we never tried. Angie, you're beautiful, but ain't it time we said good-bye?" could very well mean that the writer, quite possibly the entire band, is ready to stop with the drug use. It could mean that they are sick of wasting money on things that make them feel numb and unsatisfied. They loved it at one point, but when the song was written, it was "time we said good-bye."
A plethora of songs at that time were filled with allusion. Many people, especially rock and roll bands, struggled with drug addiction. The Beatles are very well known for writing songs like this. Sadly, songs are frankly not as creative and well written nowadays.

A Story from a Song (Based on "Home" by Michael Buble)

It was dark, cold, and rainy. The ride there seemed like it took an eternity; when in reality it was just one town over. The four of us sat in silence the entire way there. I was blankly staring out my window, sporadically counting the broken lines in the middle of the seemingly endless road. It was below freezing on that winter evening, but I rolled down my window anyway. The bitter air that I breathed hurt as it filled my lungs. On top of the pain in my heart, and now the pain in my lungs, my face began to be pelted with half-frozen pills of rain. I rolled my window up when I heard the deep roar of the bell at the top of the tower.

We slowly pulled up in order to steer clear of the guests that were overflowing the sidewalks, into the streets. The line stretched beyond my line of prospect. My awe quickly subsided when I heard laughter. I turned around and was disgusted to see two of his best friends laughing and scampering around, and not even dressed for the occasion. Though I was appalled by their behavior, I somewhat understood. I even began to joke around as we waited in the ever-growing line, but that swiftly changed.

I was doing just fine until I stepped into that crowded hall. As soon as I saw his beautiful face, with his priceless glowing smile, I broke down. I was bawling in front of a mix of classmates and complete strangers, but I was not embarrassed for that reason. I was embarrassed and ashamed because I was in hysterics, but his family remained perfectly tranquil.

In pairs, we stepped up. We knelt down and sighed simultaneously. I then closed my eyes; for I did not know what else to do. Almost instantly, I felt relaxed. Being that close to him seemed to calm me down. I was proud of the two of us; more so of her in particular. She stayed so strong from the beginning. I turned to admire her, but I then noticed her eyes well up with tears. Though, I was somewhat mystified. She had every right to cry, but what had brought it on so abruptly? She didn’t even make eye contact with me, but she knew that I was watching. She pointed up at flowers, as a tear or two escaped. The bouquet was from his mother. The message with it read: I’m going to miss you so much baby boy. I’ll see you soon. Save a spot up there for me. With the flick of a switch, I was emotional again.

I strived to pull myself together when I saw her standing there. I finally had reached the end, but I was speechless. She amazed me so much that I began to sob once again. She was simply gorgeous. She reached out to me with open arms and I welcomed her embrace at once. Her touch was incredibly warm and soothing. Her subtle scent of lilies also assisted in curing my unruly emotions. As she hugged me, she whispered in my ear, “Everything’s going to be okay. Stay strong for him.” Here she was comforting me. Yes, I had just lost an amazing friend, but she had just lost her child; her one and only son.

(In memory of Robert A. Castro)

The Shins

New Slang-- The Shins

Gold teeth and a curse for this town were all in my mouth. Only, i don't know how they got out, dear. Turn me back into the pet that i was when we met. I was happier then with no mind-set. And if you'd 'a took to me like A gull takes to the wind. Well, i'd 'a jumped from my tree And i'd a danced like the king of the eyesores And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well. New slang when you notice the stripes, the dirt in your fries. Hope it's right when you die, old and bony. Dawn breaks like a bull through the hall, Never should have called But my head's to the wall and i'm lonely. And if you'd 'a took to me like A gull takes to the wind. Well, i'd 'a jumped from my tree And i'd a danced like the king of the eyesores And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well. God speed all the bakers at dawn may they all cut their thumbs, And bleed into their buns 'till they melt away. I'm looking in on the good life i might be doomed never to find. Without a trust or flaming fields am i too dumb to refine? And if you'd 'a took to me like Well i'd a danced like the queen of the eyesores And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.

Caring is Creepy-- The Shins

I think I'll go home and mull this over Before I cram it down my throat At long last it's crashed, it's colossal mass Has broken up into bits in my moat. Lift the mattress off the floor Walk the cramps off Go meander in the cold Hail to your dark skin Hiding the fact you're dead again Undeneath the power lines seeking shade Far above our heads are the icy heights that contain all reason It's a luscious mix of words and tricks That let us bet when you know we should've folded On rocks i dreamt of where we'd stepped And the whole mess of roads we're now on. Hold your glass up, hold it in Never betray the way you've always known it is. One day I'll be wondering how I got so old just wondering how I never got cold wearing nothing in the snow. This is way beyond my remote concern Of being condescending All these squawking birds won't quit. Building nothing, laying bricks.

Comments please?

So this would be where you comment on my playlist, or just my blog in general. I would greatly appreciate song and movie sountrack suggestions and what not.

Thanks.

=)

Contributions to the Practice of Song Writing

The Rolling Stones indubitably contributed quite a bit to the practice of song writing. Almost all of their songs have dual meanings, as well as a plethora of poetic devices. They were and still are creative and talented musicians. There are only a few bands that still tour who are from the '60s. Not only do they still tour, but their shows are still time and time again sold out. I think it is fair to say that The Rolling Stone very well may have been correct when they began referring to themselves as the "World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band".

Ten Facts About the Band

01.] The band formed May 25, 1962 in London, England and is still going strong today.

02.] They were formed by blues purest, guitarist, and harp player Brian Jones.

03.] The Rolling Stones began calling themselves the World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the late '60s.

04.] Their first single was called "Come On".

05.] Mick Jagger was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.

06.] Keith Richards played Johnny Depp's father, Captain Teague, in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

07.] Throughout the years, the group members had three "Mick"s.
1. Mick Jagger
2. Mick Taylor
3. Mick Avory

08.] They have had ten band members total since the beginning: Mick Jagger, Mick Taylor, Ron Wood, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Brian Jones, Dick Taylor, Mick Avory, Keith Richards, and Ian Stewart.

09.] Keith Richards' is also known as Keef.

10.] Mick Jagger had seven children with four different women.