Music vs. Lyrics
I have been drawn to music all of my
life. I am instantly drawn to any music in my surroundings, in any
circumstance. Whether I like the music being played or not, I always notice it.
I often mention the music I hear playing; many times, the person I have told
about the music has not heard it at all.
I began singing in my church choir when I
was three years old. I sang in church choirs, choirs in my school, and took
part in recitals, concerts, and musical theater productions through my years in
school, university and beyond. My degree is in music history and literature. I
was an active participant in music for 25 years. I am drawn to music. It is
part of the fabric of my being.
I can tell from hearing a song once if I
like the song or I do not. I can tell the technique of the singer (or, in some
cases, the lack of training,) the skill of the instrumentalist playing, the
arrangement being performed. All of these pieces work as a whole to make the
song a complete entity.
All of my life, I have believed I have
been drawn to music because of its sound, because of the melodies, the thoughts
and ideas contained within. Now that I lead a life of words, I wonder if I am
equally as drawn to the words in a song, or the lyrics.
The debate of music versus lyrics in
songs has been going on for centuries. In fact, this was a topic of much debate
in music school. I was taught that an instrumental piece of music with no words
should be referred to as a “piece of music” or a “musical piece.” However, any piece
of music that has lyrics should be called a “song.”
In the movie “Music and Lyrics”, Hugh
Grant stars as Alex Fletcher, a music composer in search of a lyricist. He soon
finds Sophie Fischer, played by Drew Barrymore, who is inherently talented at
writing song lyrics. There is a scene in the movie with an intriguing theory on
the combination of words and music:
Alex:
“It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just spit it out. They’re just lyrics.”
Sophie:
“Just lyrics?”
Alex:
“Lyrics are important. They’re just not as important as melody.”
Sophie:
“I really don’t think you get it…..a melody is like seeing someone for the
first time. The physical attraction. Sex….But then, as you get to know the
person, that’s the lyrics. Their story. Who they are underneath. It’s the
combination of the two that makes it magical.”
In another scene in the movie, Alex
compares literature and music:
“You
can take all the novels in the world and not one of them will make feel as good
as fast as: ‘I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day. When it’s cold outside, I’ve
got the month of May.’ That is real poetry. Those are real poets. Smokey
Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, The Beatles.”
*source:
“Music and Lyrics”, written and Directed by Marc Lawrence, Warner Brothers
Pictures
Music plays a vital role in our lives,
whether we are aware of it or not. Music is all around us. Music is in the
television shows we watch. When there is breaking news on a television
broadcast, there is a special music to alert the viewer to the news. Music
wakes us up in the morning, alerts us to a phone call on our smart phones. Music is an integral
part of the movies we watch. In the first scenes of the movie “Titanic”, the
audience hears an Irish song being vocalized, which brings the audience into
the scene…..
The Titanic was built in Belfast,
Ireland. It makes complete sense to have an Irish melody sung to open the film.
Yet, no words are sung in this piece. The singer is just vocalizing. Now try to
imagine the scene with a different piece of music, or no music at all. How
different would it be?
Here is an example of how the music in a
movie can change the mood of a scene in a movie:
There
is no denying the power of music. In a recent interview, singer/songwriter
James Taylor discussed the power of music:
“It’s
not something you decide on like language is. I mean, when you use language and
have a conversation or try to make a point, it’s up for grabs. It’s analytical.
It’s a cerebral process, but music either connects with you or it doesn’t. You
feel it, and because it is a true thing in the world. It’s physics. An octave
is twice the frequency of the octave below it. That’s a physical reality. So
there’s something empirically true about music. And that means that it’s a
relief from the isolation of life, ‘cause humans live in their own assembled
world that’s in their brain and it’s isolation. It’s a prison. It separates us
and we want to give that the slip and fall back into what really is. Music
allows us to do that.”
James Taylor makes a wonderful point. You
either connect to music or you do not. The beauty lies in the ear of the
beholder, as it were. Music affects all of us in a way that is unique and
inherent to the art form itself. People can be drawn to a melody line, or to the
words in a song. This connection we feel to music can be simple and sweet, and yet
it can also be profound and visceral.
There is a reason that people cry when
they hear their country’s national anthem being played. It touches them in a
way no other piece of music can. Music can transport us to another place and
time. We can remember a loved one, access a memory long forgotten. When a
person goes to the gym to exercise, often they will have a playlist of fast
paced music on their music device. When we are having a bad day, it sometimes
helps to listen to music that matches our mood.
Music even has a link to the human body.
The Bee Gees song “Jive Talking” is set to 120 beats per minute, which is the
number of times a heart beats in a minute when active or excited.
In fact, another Bee Gees song, “Staying
Alive” is now taught in emergency response classes; students are taught to do
chest compressions in time to the chorus of the song….
I also agree with the point James Taylor
made about language being a cerebral reaction. All language is deciphered
through the part of our brain known as the cerebral cortex. Yet, while language
is cerebral, and therefore the words in a song are cerebral, how are the
feelings generated by music defined? Feelings are processed through the brain
just as language is; however, unlike language, there are many parts of the
brain that are utilized in our emotional responses. Music is felt, through
words and melodies. Yet, how do our feelings change from a piece of
instrumental music to a song with lyrics?
Let me give you some examples of the
difference between music itself, and music with lyrics, in pop music. Here is the classic
Beatles song, “Here, There and Everywhere”, first as an instrumental piece, with
just the melody:
Here then is Paul McCartney singing the
song live, with complete words and melody:
The words to the song:
To lead a better
life,
I need my love
to be here
Here-making each
day of the year
Changing my life
with a wave of her hand
Nobody can deny
that there’s something there
There-running my
hands through her hair
Both of us
thinking how good it can be
Someone is
speaking, but she doesn’t know he’s there
I want her everywhere,
and if she’s
beside me,
I know I need
never care
But to love her
is to need her
Everywhere-knowing
that love is to share
Each one
believing that love never dies,
watching her
eyes,
and hoping I’m
always there
I want her
everywhere,
and if she’s
beside me,
I know I need
never care
But to love her
is to need her
Everywhere-knowing
that love is to share
Each one
believing that love never dies,
watching her
eyes,
and hoping I’m
always there
I will be there
And everywhere
Here There and
Everywhere
“Here There and Everywhere” by John
Lennon and Paul McCartney
In listening to the melody on its own,
one could argue it is the same melodic figure over and over, a second chorus
melody, and then the original melody again. This is a technique that has been
used in composing music since its origins in the history of music. However, the
words to this song make it so much more, and elicit a much different response.
For another example, here is an
instrumental track to the George Michael song, “You Have Been Loved”:
And here is George Michael singing the
same song, with the lyrics:
The words to the song:
She takes the
back road and the lane
past the school
that has not changed
in all this time
She thinks of
when the boy was young,
all the battles
she had won
just to give him life
That man,
she loved that
man
for all his
life.
And now we meet
to take him
flowers,
and only God
knows why
For what’s the
use
in pressing palms
when children fade in mothers’ arms?
It’s a cruel
world
You’ve so much
to lose
And what we have
to learn
We rarely choose
So if it’s God
who took her son
He cannot be the
one
Living in her
mind
‘Take care my
love,’ she said
‘Don’t think
that God is dead.
Take care my
love,’ she said
‘You have been
loved.’
If I was weak,
Forgive me
But I was
terrified
You brushed my
eyes
With angel’s
wings
Full of love
The kind that
makes devils cry
So these days
My life has
changed
And I’ll be fine
The teacher sits
And counts the
hours
Searching for
her crime
So what’s the
use
In pressing
palms
If you won’t
keep such love from harm
It’s a cruel
world
You’ve so much
to prove
And Heaven help
the ones
who wait for you
So I’ve no
daughters
I’ve no sons
Guess I’m the
only one
Living in my
life
‘Take care my
love,’ she said
‘Don’t think
that God is dead.
Take care my
love,’ she said
‘You have been
loved.’
“You Have Been Loved” by George Michael
and David Austin
Again, the melody is repeated throughout
the song. The lyrics convey the heart and emotion of the song, the feelings of
the song. The melodic line, and the words of the song, work together in the
very definition of harmony.
Here is another excellent example of the power of melody and lyrics working in harmony: "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel. The music in the song transports the listener through time, specific places and emotions. The lyrics take the listener through the tale of a couple named Brenda and Eddie. (English lyrics are shown in the video:)
"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel
All of these songs are personal
favorites of mine. The melodies
and the lyrics come together as one to convey the thoughts and stories and feelings within.
The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Dr. Courtney S. Warren, PhD., wrote an
article about words and music, called “Music is what feelings sound like.” I
have to say I agree with that sentence.
In the debate in music versus lyrics, for
me, I have to say that, as a writer, I am drawn to lyrics. I cannot deny the impact of unique
lyrics, and the profound thoughts, emotions and concepts contained within. As a
singer, I am also drawn to lyrics. After all, I must have words or syllables to
sing. Yet there is something as a singer that draws me to a melody of a song. I
love to sing, to have my voice float on the air, to sing along with whatever
song is playing, or to sing without any musical accompaniment at all.
For me it is a tie. It is not music
versus lyrics. It is music and literature. It is music and lyrics.
© Esperanza Habla All Rights Reserved
Comments
Post a Comment