Music is created with the intention of soliciting some sort of reaction, be it positive or negative. Songs that fail to do so, are merely sound. That being said, there were three songs that I've found, have indeed, struck a chord.
My first selection is "The Times They Are A-Changin'" By Bob Dylan.
Partly because I'm a sucker for anything acoustic, but mostly because no matter when or where I here this song it hits me with the same intensity each time. I heard it growing up, I've heard it used in commercials, I've listened to lectures on why it is progressive for its time (on more than one occasion), and so forth. But each time I here that opening chord and raspy voice, I can't help but want to start swimming.
"Eight Miles High" By the Byrds was another song that seems to stand out. I really enjoyed the combination and trade off of a more forceful guitar and then simple strumming, plus the solo in the middle is quite impressive and certainly a trademark of the times. Another reason it stood out was more obscure, but the title reminded me of a line in "American Pie" By Don Mclean where he says "eight miles high and falling fast". I always found this to be an odd number seeing as eight miles isn't all that high, but now it makes more sense.
And lastly, "The Wind" By Cat Stevens. Right off the bat it sounded, and felt honest. Something that is extremely rare to find in popular music, particularly in recent times. It seems interesting to me that a lot of the folk rock was very socially conscious. It's clearly a reflection of the times and society, but it makes me wonder, well worry, what people will think listening to our popular music decades from now. What will it, and what does it say about us? Also, the lyrics aren't totally obscure, but they still maintain a complexity that keeps it interesting and pleasant to listen to. On a separate note, I've found that I enjoy the works of Cat Stevens over Yusuf Islam, whatever that implies.
My first selection is "The Times They Are A-Changin'" By Bob Dylan.
Partly because I'm a sucker for anything acoustic, but mostly because no matter when or where I here this song it hits me with the same intensity each time. I heard it growing up, I've heard it used in commercials, I've listened to lectures on why it is progressive for its time (on more than one occasion), and so forth. But each time I here that opening chord and raspy voice, I can't help but want to start swimming."Eight Miles High" By the Byrds was another song that seems to stand out. I really enjoyed the combination and trade off of a more forceful guitar and then simple strumming, plus the solo in the middle is quite impressive and certainly a trademark of the times. Another reason it stood out was more obscure, but the title reminded me of a line in "American Pie" By Don Mclean where he says "eight miles high and falling fast". I always found this to be an odd number seeing as eight miles isn't all that high, but now it makes more sense.
And lastly, "The Wind" By Cat Stevens. Right off the bat it sounded, and felt honest. Something that is extremely rare to find in popular music, particularly in recent times. It seems interesting to me that a lot of the folk rock was very socially conscious. It's clearly a reflection of the times and society, but it makes me wonder, well worry, what people will think listening to our popular music decades from now. What will it, and what does it say about us? Also, the lyrics aren't totally obscure, but they still maintain a complexity that keeps it interesting and pleasant to listen to. On a separate note, I've found that I enjoy the works of Cat Stevens over Yusuf Islam, whatever that implies.
1 comment:
It's funny that you picked these songs because they all stood out to me, too (although they weren't the three I wrote about). Also, what you said about them made a lot of sense and was very true. What you said about Cat Steven's songs and today's music especially struck me; I worry about the same things. I don't like hardly any of the mainstream stuff that they play partly because of how thoughtless the words seem; it kind of seems like artists now a days don't put that much effort into songs. It seems like they make them just to get money or to make just another MTV hit.
Anyway, I tought your blog was very interesting and I liked it.
Post a Comment