Lyrics Part Three

Hey,

So, in this week's installment of my series on lyrics, I will be breaking down repetition. Repetition is a commonly used literary technique and a fantastic one, at that. However, like everything else in music/literature, a little goes a long ways. Unfortunately for us, most mainstream musicians have yet discover this. On the other hand, alternative musicians utilize repetition as a tool, wielding it to accomplish something, whereas mainstream musicians' songs are 80% repetition.

Here are some examples:

First, let's compare "Scream and Shout" by Will.I.AM ft. Britney Spears with one of Noel Gallgher's High Flying Birds' songs.

"When you hear this in the club
You gotta turn the sh*t up
You gotta turn the sh*t up
You gotta turn the sh*t up
When we up in the club
All eyes on us
All eyes on us
All eyes on us
See the boys in the club
They watching us
They watching us
They watching us
Everybody in the club
All eyes on us
All eyes on us
All eyes on us

I wanna scream and shout, and let it all out
And scream and shout, and let it out
We saying, oh wee oh wee oh wee oh wee oh
We saying, oh wee oh wee oh wee oh wee oh
I wanna scream and shout, and let it all out
And scream and shout, and let it out
We saying, oh wee oh wee oh wee oh wee oh

You are now rocking with Will.i.am and Britney, b-tch

[beat break]

Oh yeah....
Bring the action

Rock and roll, everybody let's lose control
All the bottom we let it go
Going fast, we aint going slow, no
Hear the beat, now let's hit the floor
Drink it up, and then drink some more
Light it up, and let's let it blow
Hey yo, rock it out, rock it now
If you know what we talking 'bout
Turn it up, and burn down the house, hooouse
Hey yo, turn it up, and don't turn it down
Here we go, we gon shake the ground
Cause everywhere that we go we BRING THE ACTION."

I didn't finish copying the rest of the lyrics because they just repeat that turning the music up an oh-we-oh crap (what even is "oh we oh?). Wanna guess how many writers came up with that? If you guessed three, then you win 100 blog points (which are totally useless). Yes, three writers actually wrote this. This song pretty much 100% repetition. They rarely, until they get to that dumb verse about drinking up, say any idea just once. How many times is it necessary to remind the listener that your music must be turned up?

Okay, so that sucks. Now, let's look at a good example of repetition with (Stranded On) the Wrong Beach" by Noel Gallgher's High Flying Birds {one of my favorite bands}.

"Falling, I see you on the way down
I'll meet you on the rebound somewhere in between
Calling out across the airwaves
Faces that you can't say are calling out for me

And oh me, oh my, say so long baby, bye-bye
Pour me one for the road, it's a long journey baby
Where it's gonna take me just depends on the weight of my load
Oh no, depends on the weight of my load

So long, I'll see you in the next one
Cause everybody's been and gone, there's no one here but me

And oh me, oh my, say so long baby, bye-bye
Pour me one for the road, it's a long journey baby
Where it's gonna take me just depends on the weight of my load
Oh no, depends on the weight of my load

And oh me, oh my, say so long baby, bye-bye
Pour me one for the road, it's a long journey baby
Where it's gonna take me just depends on the weight of my load
Oh no, depends on the weight of my load
Oh no, depends on the weight of my load
Oh no, depends on the weight of my load

Dry land sinking in the quicksand
Stranded on the wrong beach, come and rescue me."

Here, the repetition accomplishes something. It is not mindless, like Will.I.Am's song. In that other song, the repetition is filler. It feels like the three writers ran out of material and just decided to repeat everything they had already written. In Noel's song, in which he is the only writer, the more he repeats the "....depends on the weight of my load" you can feel the load getting heavier, referencing a long journey that he is about to undertake, whilst carrying something. Good use. :)

Finally, let's look at another use of poor repetition in One Direction's "Rock Me," a silly stab at sexual lyrics.

"Do you remember summer ‘09
Wanna go back there every night
Just can't lie it was the best time of my life

Lying on the beach as the sun blew out
Playing this guitar by the fire too loud
Oh my my they could never shut us down
I used to think that I was better alone
Why did I ever want to let you go
Under the moonlight as we stared at the sea
The words you whispered I will always believe

I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me, yeahh
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah
I want you to hit the pedal heavy metal show me you care
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah

Yeah we were together summer ‘09
Wanna roll back like press and rewind
You were mine and we never said goodbye i-i-i
I used to think that I was better alone

Why did I ever want to let you go?
Under the moonlight as we stared to the sea
The words you whispered I will always believe

I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me, yeahh
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah
I want you to hit the pedal heavy metal show me you care
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah

R-O-C-K me again
R-O-C-K me again
R-O-C-K me again yeah
I want you to
R-O-C-K me again
R-O-C-K me again
R-O-C-K me again yeah

I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me, yeahh
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah
I want you to hit the pedal heavy metal show me you care
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah

I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me, yeahh
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah
I want you to hit the pedal heavy metal show me you care
I want you to rock me, mmm, rock me, mmm, rock me yeah."
Let's play the "guess the number of songwriters game." Ready? 5 writers, yet none of the actual group members. Now, I will admit I see what they did here. :) "Rock me" obviously is referring to sex. I'm not dumb and the repetition is like a rocking motion, happening over and over. However, it's overkill here. You really can have too much of a good thing. They say the phrase "rock me" 23 times. Yeesh. Too much repetition. Cut out a few of  them and take out that awful auto-tune and it could be a half decent song. (I said half!)

Next week, I'll wrap up the lyrics series with a topic TBD. Then, I'll get back to highlighting new music and artists.
Until then,
Bella

We Are Hunted Is Amazing

Hey,

I am really sorry that this post is two days late. It would have been up on Friday, like usual, but I had a school-related activity both days, so I did not have time to write a post. Here is my belated post!

Like I promised, I am getting back to actually reviewing music, not just making crappy playlists. J

Here are five new-ish tracks I have recently discovered on one of my favorite Spotify apps, We Are Hunted. What is We Are Hunted? Well, in essence, it is an invaluable app on Spotify that features various emerging artists and mainstream artists. It allows you to discover new artists and new tracks and is an incredible resource for people, like me, who are always looking for new music. :)

As always, in no particular order,

5. Before the Dive by St. Lucia- I love the electronica influences, the vocal editing that adds, instead of subtracts, from the song, serving as another instrument, of sorts, in the vein of fun., and the 1980’s inspired sound; the song almost reminds me of something Genesis might have put out. The lyrics are beautiful and the melodies are infectious, resulting in a solid track.

4. Ariel by Antonio Paul- This is one of the first tracks that I discovered on We Are Hunted. Antonio Paul is two comprised of two Australian guys that truly embody what the music industry in missing. Their songs never quit, going full force to the end, each song is a unique piece of art, and the vocals and instrumentals literally meld together, as opposed to entering a sort of battle that some Alt/indie bands are guilty of. I really like the amount of energy and effort Antonio Paul puts into their music. Keep up the great work guys!

3. Stranded On (The Wrong Beach) by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying birds- This track is the one exception; I did not find this song on We Are Hunted. Instead, I heard another one of his songs over a year ago on Alt Nation, on SiriusXM. Noel Gallagher was, as I’m sure many of you know, a member of Oasis, though they have since split. Usually, I am sad when a band breaks up, but I think NGHFB’s music is 100x better than the stuff Oasis did. Truly. Anyways, I have included this song on my list because this week I was looking for some different music to listen to and decided to pay a visit to Noel’s album again. I am so glad I did. Back when I used to listen to the album nearly every day—I was slightly obsessed—I somehow managed to skip over this track. Now, looking back, I can’t believe I missing out on this song! This is easily the best song on the CD. I love the dark instrumentation, including the wine glasses which add an extra layer of creepy, the equally dark lyrics, the steady, very retro guitar line, and the steady percussion.  Amazing song. Even if you disregard everything else I suggest tonight, check out this song. J   

2. Holiday by Electric Guest- One of my favorite bands, as you all know, has put on another fantastic track. Asa and Matthew have a certain knack for coming out with perfect songs, that’s really the best way I can think to describe their talent. The melody has been stuck in my head all week—that’s a major compliment— the lyrics are stunning and I love the solid drum-lines. They always add just the right amount of eclectic instruments so they complement Asa’s vocals and Matthew’s drumming. Congrats on another hit! J

1. No Diggity by Chet Faker- Yes, this is indeed a cover of Blackstreet and Dr. Dre’s song and it is so much better than the original. I love the slowed, mellow spin Chet put on it. Whereas the other song seems to be ridiculously impressed with a girl for less than honorable reasons J, Chet’s cover appears to make the fluffy lyrics feel like they actually carry some substance. Lyrics aside, I love the simple instrumentation he utilizes, along with his very gravely vocals. A remarkable rendering.

Well, that concludes it for this week. J  Hopefully you discovered a new artist or re-discovered a song through this post!

Let me know via twitter, comment, or shoot me e-mail at thesoundtrackofmylife2012@gmail.com

and let me know what you thought. 

Until next week,

Bella

5 New Bands That I Love

Hey,
 this post is making up for the fact that I completely forgot to post last week. Sorry. I'd like to say I was either swamped with school or relaxing on a beach somewhere in Hawaii. Unfortunately, it's a little something more along the lines with I can be a terrible procrastinator.

So, anyways, this post will be detailing some new (old too) artists and songs that I have added to my "Amazing Alternative" playlist that I created on Spotify.
Here we gooooo...
1) Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. I am thoroughly in love with this man. He is from Oasis, a very popular band, as I'm sure you know. Anyways, the sound is so cool! He has a powerful voice, crazy lyrics, and a baseline that will get stuck in your head...fo so. My favorite songs: "AKA What A Life," "If I Had A Gun," and "The Death Of You And Me."

2) Patrick Stump. Again, another artist I think you know. In case you don't, he is/was the lead singer of Fall Out Boy. His EP and then full CD are killer. THey're so different from the emo-punk style of FOB, as he has said he is into more electro-pop, soul stuff. It's insane. Back in November, I got to see him and Panic! At the Disco in concert (expect a review of that concert soon). At first, I was rather indifferent to his music, but, after seeing/hearing him, I realized he is an incredible musician. So different and fantastic. Fav Tracks: "Explode," and "Porcelin."

3) Panic! At the Disco with Fun. These two admirable bands collabed. It's like a dream in punctuation heaven. :) Their track "C'mon." kinda rubbed me the wrong way the first time I heard it, but after listening to it two more times, I fell in love with it. The harmony, the switching on and off with vocal duties, and the melody all clicks perfectly.

4) Atlas Genius. If you ever listen to Alt Nation on SiriusXM, chances are you have heard the super catchy tune "Trojans." These guys don't have much out there, save for this song, really, but the vocalist has some mean pipes. I'd watch out for these guys. :) I'm seeing like PATD/NeverShoutNever fame someday.

5) Kings of Convience.  I love these two men! Quite honestly, I stumbled on these guys by accident. I am a big fan of simplicity and these guys just nail it right on the head. The violin, the guitars, the soft vocals...perfection. haha In all honesty, I would love to see these two in concert. Fav Tracks: "Homesick," "Leaning Against the Wall," and "Mrs. Cold."

So, these are just some bands worth checking out, if you have some time. I'll try to do this every month, hopefully.

Until next week,
Bella