Other things have words, too, right? Like … songs!
If you’re anything like me, there are songs that you love because of their lyrics; writers you admire because their songs have depth, meaning, or just a sheer playfulness that has nothing to do with the tunes.
So, today’s question?
What songs … either specific songs, or songs in general by a specific group or writer … have words that you love?
Why?
And … do the tunes that go with the fantastic lyrics live up to them?
You don’t have to restrict yourself to modern songsters, either … anyone who wants to pick Gilbert & Sullivan, for example, is just fine with me. Lerner & Loewe? Steven Sondheim? Barenaked Ladies? Fountains of Wayne? The Beatles? Anyone at all…
The songs I listen to are chosen mostly based on tune, not lyrics. So the lyrics of the songs I listen to usually don’t have much meaning or depth—strange, considering I’m one of the most word-obsessed people I know.
My taste runs mostly to rock, though it’s not exclusive. Songs that I keep finding myself listening to over and over again include “Hurricane,” by Athlete; “I Still Remember,” by Bloc Party; anything by Black Tie Dynasty, Collective Soul, Idlewild, or the Kaiser Chiefs; and (don’t laugh) “Sexbomb,” by Tom Jones. I like that last because of the playfulness of its lyrics, of course.
There’s also a fair bit of eighties music on repeat right now, with “True Faith,” by New Order, a few songs by Depeche Mode, and (again, don’t laugh) “You Spin Me Round,” by Dead or Alive (whenever I listen to it, I think of the opening scene of The Wedding Singer and jut laugh). The biggest surprise on my playlist is “Happy Together,” by the Turtles. And one of my all-time favorite songs is “Heavy,” by Collective Soul. Probably the most divine 2:56 I’ve ever listened to in my life.
If you’re anything like me, there are songs that you love because of their lyrics; writers you admire because their songs have depth, meaning, or just a sheer playfulness that has nothing to do with the tunes.
So, today’s question?
What songs … either specific songs, or songs in general by a specific group or writer … have words that you love?
Why?
And … do the tunes that go with the fantastic lyrics live up to them?
You don’t have to restrict yourself to modern songsters, either … anyone who wants to pick Gilbert & Sullivan, for example, is just fine with me. Lerner & Loewe? Steven Sondheim? Barenaked Ladies? Fountains of Wayne? The Beatles? Anyone at all…
The songs I listen to are chosen mostly based on tune, not lyrics. So the lyrics of the songs I listen to usually don’t have much meaning or depth—strange, considering I’m one of the most word-obsessed people I know.
My taste runs mostly to rock, though it’s not exclusive. Songs that I keep finding myself listening to over and over again include “Hurricane,” by Athlete; “I Still Remember,” by Bloc Party; anything by Black Tie Dynasty, Collective Soul, Idlewild, or the Kaiser Chiefs; and (don’t laugh) “Sexbomb,” by Tom Jones. I like that last because of the playfulness of its lyrics, of course.
There’s also a fair bit of eighties music on repeat right now, with “True Faith,” by New Order, a few songs by Depeche Mode, and (again, don’t laugh) “You Spin Me Round,” by Dead or Alive (whenever I listen to it, I think of the opening scene of The Wedding Singer and jut laugh). The biggest surprise on my playlist is “Happy Together,” by the Turtles. And one of my all-time favorite songs is “Heavy,” by Collective Soul. Probably the most divine 2:56 I’ve ever listened to in my life.
Comments
I've been listening to Kate Nash recently. Aside from the cursing, I LOVE her lyrics. It sounds like she's just carrying on a conversation with a friend, and yet all the words are chosen carefully to convey an exact meaning. Plus her voice is great and her cockney (?) accent is to die for. Definitely recommended if you can stand a bit of bad language.