Category: Music

Finding Meaning

When I was younger, I would listen to songs to find “the real meaning” of the lyrics. Back then, there wasn’t an internet search to instantly find every idea ever expressed. Specific examples could only be researched through encyclopedia entries (sometimes years out of date), or by whizzing through microfiche to find the magazine article with the details you wanted. I like microfiche in the library about as much as I like it on my pizza. (Anchovies – micro fish…?)

Anyway, if you were lucky, the lyrics would be printed in the liner notes of the album. At least then, you had a starting point. Other times, you had to listen to the song, over and over again, trying to hear the words.

Obviously, they don’t always make it easy for you.

But say, for a moment, that you DO actually have the lyrics in hand. There is still the problem of understanding the intent. Not every song follows the path of Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot; they don’t tell a straightforward story. There are rhymes, symbolism and analogy, and vague references that the casual listener may not know. (Spoiler alert: Don McLean’s American Pie shouldn’t only be taken at face value.)

It’s now generally accepted that The Police’s hit Every Breath You Take is less about true love, and more about unhealthy obsession; Sting once referred to is as “sinister and ugly.” Likewise, Eagles’ Hotel California has been explained as a story of disenchantment with fame and fortune: a sort of cautionary “be careful what you wish for” tale. Carly Simon released You’re So Vain in 1972, sparking a music fan debate over who the offending ex really is. That particular mystery fire has been fed by Carly herself through several hints and “no comment” responses in interviews over the years.

This brings me around to my observations. In recent years, Sting (songwriter of Every Breath You Take), has softened a bit regarding his intent when he wrote it. While he makes it clear that his thoughts were very dark and disturbing, he doesn’t mind that it gets played at weddings and proms. 🤔

Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers has spoken in various interviews about the story behind his band’s biggest hit, Under the Bridge. For him, it was about the lowest point in his life – in the depths of depression and addiction to heroin. In an interview aired on Sirius radio, he spoke of the hopefulness a fan found in the lyrics and melody. He hopes a hundred people hear something different, and that it becomes their song, whatever that means to them.

I liken it to the world of classical art. Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night can evoke a plethora of emotions. Which one is entirely from the viewer’s perspective, be it magical inspiration, or isolating uncertainty.

The Starry Night – Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

Music, much like poetry, art, literature, or any other creative endeavor, is highly personal to its creator. Once it is presented to the wide world, the “real meaning” is no longer solely the possession of that originator.

It belongs to everyone.

-Toph

Hall Pass

I was listening to the radio while running errands this morning and heard a DJ talking about the Guess Who being left out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, yet again.  It leaves me scratching my head, trying to Guess WHY. (Dumb dad joke? I accept that.)

I like the idea of a hall of fame. People get to debate and agree on inductees. Who’s the top quarterback ever? Tom Brady gets the most support. Older football fans sometimes side with players from days past – Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, or Johnny Unitas get tossed about – often citing that the game was different then. An excellent point. Even Joe Montana himself weighed in. In a 2023 interview for Men’s Health magazine, he identified Dan Marino as better than either himself or Brady. He differentiates between “greatest” and “best”; the first being focused on success and team results, and the other on individual talent. An interesting point. But I’m going off topic.

 

Will the real G.O.A.T. please stand up?

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

I did some research on what different organizations use to identify excellence.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s mission statement:

“Honor the heroes of the game, preserve its history, promote its values, and celebrate excellence everywhere.”

Seems pretty straight forward, right?

How about other sports? From the National Baseball Hall of Fame:

“Baseball connects us: Generation to generation, fan to fan and rival to rival. Experience its history and live its story.”

OK. Got it. And here’s NASCAR’s take:

“The goal of the facility is to honor NASCAR icons and create an enduring tribute to the drivers, crew members, team owners, and others that have impacted the sport in the past, present and future.”

Again, those make sense to me. There’s even a U.S. Astronauts Hall of Fame:

“Envisioned as a place where American astronauts are remembered and honored, visitors can learn about the lives of space heroes through compelling displays.”

Wow – I truly understand why it exists. How about Country Music?

“The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum collects, preserves, and interprets the evolving history and traditions of country music.” 

Yep. Nailed it!

And how about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s mission statement?

“BORN FROM THE COLLISION OF RHYTHM & BLUES, COUNTRY, AND GOSPEL, ROCK & ROLL IS A SPIRIT THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND EVER-CHANGING. THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME CELEBRATES THE SOUND OF YOUTH CULTURE AND HONORS THE ARTISTS WHOSE MUSIC CONNECTS US ALL.”

Now, that one seems odd. I mean, they are ALL different, but that one in particular sets itself apart. It mentions Rock and Roll – twice. But it starts by focusing on the origins of the genre; “the collision of rhythm and blues, country, and gospel,” then hints at a platform for something from the human resources department, “a spirit that is inclusive and ever-changing.” Hmm. Then it ends with (as Monty Python would say,) something completely different – the “sound of youth culture.” This was supposed to be a music hall of fame. Right?

As I’m reading this, I’m suspecting that this statement may have been written more recently, as a response to some of the criticism they have received over the years. There have been complaints about a bias against harder rock like Motorhead, Scorpions and Iron Maiden. They’ve also omitted classic rock acts like The Guess Who, Bad Company, Boston, and Jethro Tull. Those would be pretty obvious entries for most rock aficionados.

All the while, they HAVE inducted rap and hip-hop artists such as Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G, 2Pac, Eminem and Run-D.M.C. (At least Run-D.M.C. did a cover song that collaborated with Aerosmith.)

The Hall has also included pop acts like Madonna, Whitney Houston, Cindi Lauper, and Michael Jackson, as well as disco artists The Bee Gees and ABBA. Finally, there have been a number of country artists like Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, and Dolly Parton.

I think the most significant part of its mission statement is the “ever changing” line. As in, ‘Our reasons for picking who belongs here and why are ever-changing.’

I can appreciate the myriad genres of music out there.  I like many of them.  And they all deserve recognition for their accomplishments.  Larry Csonka is my favorite football player ever.  Does he belong in the National Baseball Hall of Fame?  No. He has never been a pro baseball icon. I also love Led Zeppelin.  Have they significantly influenced country music?  Again, no. 

I have never been accused of following popular trends. This blog is about the many things that haven’t changed for me! The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s definitions are changing more and more.

As it happens, my interest in The Hall is changing as well. It is less and less.

-Toph