11.15.06 |
Songs That Are Not, In Fact, Love Songs
Reed and I heard the Johnny Cash version of the song “One” the other day, and he remarked that the U2 original figures prominently at high school dances. I avoided high school dances, so I can’t independently assess that statement. However, I vaguely remember that it may have appeared on the ballot for prom theme once or twice, so it seems that my peers were fond of it. It’s odd that a song with lyrics like
is considered ideal for an occasion that is meant to be romantic, or at least pleasantly platonic. I strongly believe that songs of the “you ripped my heart out and I am now an empty shell” variety are usually excellent, because they come from a passionate, albeit despondent place. However, is this really what you want to hear at a social occasion? On the same note, I’ve always been baffled by people who find the Police’s “Every Breath You Take” to be romantic. Have a look:
This is a stalking relationship, not a loving one. This sentiment was validated by Sting on a daytime talk show a few years ago. I didn’t see it, but a friend who did said he is disturbed by the fact that people accost him on the street to tell him, for instance, that the song has figured prominently at their weddings. He said it was meant to be a depiction of an unhealthy relationship, and that people’s reactions indicate something problematic about our culture. These are great songs, and perhaps sound like they are about love. In a sense, I guess they are. However, who wants to strive for a relationship that has either ended badly or continues only as an obsession? Let’s hope this is an example of art reflecting life, not life reflecting art. People screw up love easily enough without guidance from pop songs. 1 Response So FarSay your words |
Jessi said,
November 16, 2006 @ 3:59 am
Haha, it’s so true. I’ve run across so many songs that seem like love songs from the outside, but once I actually paid attention to the lyrics, I realized they weren’t so lovey dovey after all. I remember a song (and no, I’m not going to say which one because it’s from a genre I don’t usually listen to, lol) that I was addicted to for weeks….the more I listened to it, though, the more I realized that it was all about an affair and how the woman needed to leave her husband to be with him because she’d never find a guy that would treat her the way he would…yeah, it’s still a ‘love’ song, technically, but it seemed like an actual existing romantic relationship from the outside, haha. Oh well.