Who’s your favorite artist/band? Why? There are so many musicians out there with so many songs, there is bound to be a song to relate to. The lyrics in their songs could touch you in a way or teach you something. Maybe it’s the voice that’s captures you. Is there a specific line in a song that you like? A quote?
Let your thoughts out! Any artists or songs you would recommend listening to? Tell it all!
“SZA be making songs about being a proud af side chick.” I posted that status yesterday on my personal Facebook. It might have been ignorant of me to say that since I haven’t heard any of her other songs, but what I posted is based off of hearing what’s been playing on the radio. Two songs of hers are currently in circulation on the radio that are about the same subject, the experience of playing the role of the “other woman.” There are songs that people can relate to because of the message coming from it or the lyrics hit them in a way that’s as if they’ve been written for or about them. There are also songs that people can’t or don’t relate to, but that won’t stop them from liking the song and listening to it. They might like how it’s catchy or the melody sounds dope. There’s a lot of music today that’s catchy and sounds great but often shallow and lacking in any meaning outside of sex money drugs drinking all the things that depict a “lavish” lifestyle. I doubt much of society can relate to that lifestyle and, back to SZA, her songs, and if they do, again I doubt they’d be proud of being in the predicament. Of course posting something like that is going to spark some sort of a debate, which it did. A responder commented on the post saying (in SZAs defense and probably their own defense of liking her music) that she makes songs about her life experiences and that it’s not her fault that “dudes ain’t shit.” I won’t get into how I replied because I have a point to make here.
First off, by saying it’s not her fault that dudes ain’t shit is the same as saying it’s ok for her to be part of an affair with a man who’s supposed to be loyal in a monogamous relationship. It’s putting the blame only on the cheater and saying it’s his fault for hurting her as if he’s supposed to be loyal to her. She’s the one having relations with these “ain’t shit” men by choice so what does that make her? What does that tell you about her? I’m not blaming only her for the situation because it takes two to tango. Whether it’s not known right from the start that she meets a man who already has a lover, once that information comes to light a decision must be made. Obviously if she stopped messing with him after she finds out, it would be clear to see she has morals and dignity. If not well then she has no respect (just as the cheater) for the woman who’s there first, and none for herself. She’s allowing herself to be put second in a situation where love should be putting her first.
Now that that’s out of the way.
The lyrics in SZAs latest aired songs tell of how she’s a side piece and even in some lines she goes on to say that she’s the better lover than the main woman. That shows pride, which validates what I posted. As the person who commented on my status stated, SZA makes songs about her life experiences. I don’t, and won’t ever, have a problem with that. One key factor in being a successful musician is creating songs that listeners can connect to. The point that I mentioned I had earlier is this.
Life isn’t catchy, it’s deep which is why the depth in lyrics is important and should be present in music, to be understood and connected, related. There’s more experiences in life then just being a side piece and just because making music about it sells, it shouldn’t mean that’s all there is to sing about. Artists sacrifice what lyrics could come from the heart, for what society wants to hear. Success has become a picture of money in a frame of gold, hung on a wall of diamond. This is what people look to for making music. What is more important is that the musicians who do have their voice in everyones ear, don’t seem to use their lyrics effectively. They don’t use that advantage to inspire creativity and positivity in people. Their lyrics lack depth, imagination. They don’t tell stories the way they used to. They don’t stop to make people think about life, about love or about gaining the strength to overcome the burden like obstacles in life that people go through everyday. There’s just shallow and empty words floating about the world, not doing anything to help the people who listen.
Music, one of mankind’s greatest and amazing accomplishments. Sound put into a melodic form with a timely structure that has the ability to hypnotizingly convince us to bob our heads to the rhythm of a song. Music is so powerful, it can create an atmosphere in it’s own presence. It awakens a feeling that’s lain dormant from deep within and can switch up a mood with the simpleness of an appealing (or unappealing) sound to one’s ear. Music has evolved in such a way that it can reach out and capture just about anyone who’s listening, in any style or genre. That’s the beauty in music, it makes us feel important, connected to others and understood.
Take Ne-Yos song, “So Sick” for example, released November 22, 2005 (US), thanks google, a song about being so sick about listening to love songs because of the reminder they bring of a lost love, yet still bothering to turn on the radio to chance hearing those love songs to feel the familiarity of longing for that lover.
It’s sad and maybe even a little morbid to put yourself through that but we, as human beings, search for and crave companionship. We definitely have a fear of being alone even if we can enjoy being alone. Which is why that song was such a hit, I’m sure plenty of people who’ve heard that song after a break-up felt like they weren’t the only ones going through that pain. It’s always a little easier when you don’t have to carry a burden alone.
The music in a song can provoke a feeling from within the listener, it’s the lyrics however, that bridge the gap between heart and head. The words in a song have a responsibility of making sure that the songs audience understands what is supposed to be felt. The lyrics need to validate to the listener that it’s right to feel sad or happy or whatever feeling that is at the core of the songs subject. Words are just as important in a song (that’s meant for them) as the music itself. This destination is intended for those of you who delve deep into the words of poets, those of you who love to get lost in the lyricists maze, those of you who praise musical locution.
MusicalLocution 