How many of us really listen to music and understand the message?

Bretrick

Bretrick

Well-known Member
Location
Perth Western Australia
Let's take a lovely song by Gene Pitney
24 hours from Tulsa.
Here he is, 24 hours from home, 24 hours from embracing the love of his life.

He pulls into a motel for a bit of kip.
As he pulls in he sees a lady standing out front and walks up to her.
"Where can I get something to eat around here?"
"Come with me and I will show you" she replies.

Being courteous, Gene asks here if she would stay and keep him company while he ate.
"Sure" was her response.

Gene was enjoying not only his meal but also the company of the lady.
The jukebox started playing a song and they danced.
Before they knew it, the sun had risen while they danced the night away.
Then Gene lost his mind, he started caressing and kissing her...
"I'll die before I let you out of my arms" he whispered in her ear.

Gene decided to write a "Dear Jane" letter to his belle back home.

"Dearest darling I had to write to say that I won't be home anymore
cause something happened to me while I was driving home
And I'm not the same anymore."
"
"I hate to do this to you
But I love somebody new
What can I do
And I can never never never go home again"

Men!
 

I like songs which have a happy sounding vibe but have dark or depressing lyrics. The classic example is "You Are My Sunshine" but there are many more.
 

Pinky said:
There used to be a comedy show, and there was a skit where the guy says "it has a good beat, and is easy to dance to" :)

Sometimes that's all it takes to like a song.
Click to expand...
That line was a lift from Dick Clark's American Band Stand TV show, where the teen audience was asked to rate a song after it was played on the show. Old Dick had a stranglehold on the American teen sub culture via his afternoon TV dance program, once it went national. He parlayed that into an organization worth untold millions of dollars in the future. Even today, years after his death, the corporation is still making money.
 
jimintoronto said:
That line was a lift from Dick Clark's American Band Stand TV show, where the teen audience was asked to rate a song after it was played on the show. Old Dick had a stranglehold on the American teen sub culture via his afternoon TV dance program, once it went national. He parlayed that into an organization worth untold millions of dollars in the future. Even today, years after his death, the corporation is still making money.
Click to expand...
I'd say that from the mid sixties into the '70s, there were some hits & some LPs offering a good danceable beat, reasonable melody, good musicianship, and meaningful lyrics. Not to say that there hasn't been the occasional example in later years.
 
When I listen to songs with lyrics, I try hard to understand what the writer is trying to convey.
If I like the lyrics, I'll search the original author of them to give me a base.
Sometimes very strong lyrics can rescue a weak recording or delivery by an artist.

For me, I like songs that take me on a journey, with lyrics that are connected from start to finish.
Also, I don't want the technical side of a song to overwhelm the words.
The really good artist will do this.

Hard for me sometimes to separate the music from the words on first listen.

Just how I listen to songs with lyrics.
 
There is a song I like most of all. It was written by the German songwriter Reinhard Mey.

"Nein, meine Söhne geb ich nicht" (No, I will not give my sons). It is older but there is this new version from three years ago by "Reinhard Mey and friends". It is valid more than ever with regard to the plans to reinstall the compulsary military service in Germany.


You can turn on the subtitles by clicking on the subtitle symbol below the video and with the gear wheel right of it you can choose the English translation. From 3:58 you see and hear the composer Reinhard Mey.
 
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Another song with deep meaning.
You Don't Own Me - Lesley Gore.
When listening to this song I hear a woman finally saying, "Enough"
She has had it up to here being told what to do by the men folk in her life.

You don't own me
I'm not just one of your many toys
You don't own me
Don't say I can't go with other boys

This song came after so many previous songs portrayed women fawning around after their menfolk.
About getting men to like them, getting dumped by men, getting approval from men.
As if a woman could not live without a man showing her the way.

The song is about a woman telling off those men who think they own women.

And don't tell me what to do
Don't tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display 'cause...

You don't own me
Don't try to change me in any way
You don't own me
Don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay

The song could also be used by guys who are in a similar situation.
We all see those relationships where the woman rules over her man.

The song is also about raising self esteem. Taking a stand. Showing that people can make it on their own without a prop supporting them.

I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want
To say and do whatever I please

The song was at the time, an anthem for women, of all classes who were at times made to feel inferior.
The song was released in 1963 but it is still very relevant today.
Sure, there has been change, but suppression still abounds. On both sides.

I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free

A great song with deep meaning.

You Don't Own Me
 
How about this one?
Come a little bit closer - Jay and the Americans
In a little café
Just the other side of the border
She was a-sitting there a-givin' me
Looks that made my mouth water
So I started walking her way
She belonged to bad man, José

So, he knows this woman is taken, she "belongs" to José - a bad man.

He knew that to get involved there would be much trouble

But he was weak. All she had to say was

"Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong

I'm all alone
And the night is so long."

Playing on his ego, knowing that man is weak when titillated by an alluring woman.

So we started to dance
In my arms, she felt so inviting
And I just couldn't resist
Just one little kiss, so exciting

Exactly the same as Gene Pitney, couldn't resist...

But this guy is saved from what? A beating? Death?

He heard the guitar player say
"Vamoos, José's on his way!"

Oh poop, I know I should run but the alluring siren sang once again...

"Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong

I'm all alone
And the night is so long"

I think the lady enjoyed a little dangerous excitement.

The music stopped
the customers were the ones to vamoos, the café was empty

Then José entered saying
"Man, you know you're in trouble plenty"

What did the pseudo wannabe lover do?

He dropped his drink and jumped out the window
And as he rode away he heard her say to José, yeah

Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone
And the night is so long

What is it with men, can they only think with their ******s?
 
Music is like reading a book, good or bad. Or a poem too long to care or short and repetitive.
If the tuning is right & the cords sound right who cares about it at all. Maybe it bums them out.
Is why they mostly do drugs ?
 
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