[My methodology probably also needs explaining. I'm doing these Top40 responses by building on my pattern, hoping to gain something more. For 2011, I listened and responded to the songs I liked or hated. For 2012, I wrote notes in a text document while I worked on homework. For 2013, I moved to this blog. And for 2014, I'm going to change again.
- Step 1: Listen to the top forty as if I were a human being who listened to music. (while doing other things)
- Step 2: Create a playlist of the music videos available at time of writing.
- Step 3: Find my good headphones at Sunnydale (oops)
- Step 4: Absorb.
- 4.1 Read the lyrics.
- 4.2 Watch the music video if available.
- 4.3 Free-write while listening if no video is available.
- Step 5: Respond.
That's it. Let's get on with it, then.]
This is Gospel
Panic! At the Disco. The words are religious, but the tone feels selfish and depressing. I'm not sure there is a message. As poetry goes, it's awful trash, and as songs go, it's repetitive. Let's watch the music video. Okay, so the song is really quite good. I found myself wanting to move with it, and that's a good sign. I can remember thinking "If this is 40, this might be a great year." But having read the words, it's not a consummate experience now. The music is engaging enough (isn't Panic! quite good, generally?), but the words are pointless. They could have sung about grass and bees and working in a coal mine and it would have hit me the same way. I'm all for good music being available on the Top40 lists (looking at you, Bonobo), but Panic! writes the sort of music I listen to, and I can't ever understand what's going on in my Pandora station. Still, if the music is this good and the video + music combination are good enough to distract me from the pointless words, I'm down. I like it. Only problem: It's forgettable enough that I can't remember if I would buy it.
I wouldn't buy this.
Edit
I re-read the lyrics to find something stupid and non sequitur to vindicate my previous opinion and instead found a connection between two lines I hadn't seen before. I read the lyrics twice, closely, before. I guess speed of ideas is important here? It's essentially all free association anyway.
So this is what I've discovered: one line repeats itself outside the refrain.
I still wouldn't buy this.
Edit
I re-read the lyrics to find something stupid and non sequitur to vindicate my previous opinion and instead found a connection between two lines I hadn't seen before. I read the lyrics twice, closely, before. I guess speed of ideas is important here? It's essentially all free association anyway.
So this is what I've discovered: one line repeats itself outside the refrain.
If you love me let me go/If you love me let me go/'Cause these words are knives that often leave scars.Now, those two lines actually have nothing to do with each other in the way that they're presented verbally or lyrically. When he sings them, they sound unconnected. But if we assume that these words are actually "If you love me let me go," then the song starts to make sense. Someone said that to the subject, once, and now he's focused on it (and on staying in a relationship). That's why he says
Oh, this is the beat of my heart, this is the beat of my heartHe's tricked himself into feeling the same emotions time after time and now he's obsessed with this one loss. Essentially, what I'm saying is Sorry I was so mean before, but your song isn't obvious and I'm not even sure if I found this meaning or inserted it. That's not good form on the author's part, anyhow.
I still wouldn't buy this.
This is probably inappropriate, but like ... this is Stephen's list, no? Like ... these are songs that may or may not have meant much to most people, but they mean a thing to him.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to get the most out of it, I'd maybe keep that in mind. What was he trying to tell you by picking this thing?
Not like you're a mind reader or anything. But like. It's a gift, you know. From him, not the general public.
As usual, this is the sort of comment that's totally deletable.
You've got the right idea, Janelle. Don't doubt yourself. But I think Robbys lame perspectives are still valid (SHOTS FIRED lol)
ReplyDeleteMy official response to this post and the next two following: http://barryorchestra.tumblr.com/post/103402613823/barryorchestra-presents-top-40-of-2014-honorable
ReplyDeleteI suppose my approach was too sloppy, partially because the post was already a bit on the long-ish side.
ReplyDeleteReading the lyrics again, I see two connections that make the song actually worthwhile:
The refrain (Oh, this is the beat of my heart) and a single line (these words) are as confusing as anything I've ever read, but at least NOW I see a reading. I'll edit.
You're probably on the right track with this edit, Robby, because the majority of people only write about relationships cause it's THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. however, it still doesn't change how this song hit me either.
ReplyDelete