while we're on this 'subject matter kick'...do you think it's possible/worthwhile to still write vital, original songs that are essentially Love Songs?
I don't want to open up the Dylan can of worms too much, but it's been said that why he was revolutionary was for showing people like Lennon that they could sing about something other love. and whether or not you think Dylan had that much to with it, that era was kind of the beginning of the broadening of subject matter that continued to expand further and further to present, for better or for worse. so we got a lot of great, passionate songs that talked about emotional territory that falls somewhere more ambiguous than simple Love, and some great stuff that has nothing overtly to do with 'feelings' and a lot of goofy nonsense that lacks any resonance whatsover, worthless in a way that even the most trite, unoriginal Love Song isn't.
let's not turn this into a Pop thing, or any kind of genre thing, or so much about lyrical approach. just try and tell me if hearing love songs, old or new, actually interests you in any way, if a really good one can still make you actually feel something, if you think a great Love Song is any less noble or exciting than a great song about something else.
― Al (sitcom), Monday, 28 October 2002 20:41 (twenty-three years ago)
i was listening to U2's 'Electrical Storm' the other night and despite hearing it at first and thinking 'bah, even blander than 'Walk On'!' i now really really like it and while i havent quite grasped the lyrics yet it appears to be a love song of sorts and i mention it because i was going to say i didnt think i'd heard a song about love for a good while now that i really liked...now i've just remembered Flaming Lips 'Do You Realise' and a few others tho
however you will notice that i say i like the song yet i cant really identify the subject in the lyrics, i'm just pretty sure its about reflecting on a tempestuous relationship so perhaps the fact that its a love song is not really why i like it...i generally dislike songs that are basically just saying 'i really love you' so i dunno
anyway, love's such a broad subject and i guess you could say there are many different ways to talk about it...its always going to be the most popular subject matter for songs no matter what - just depends what you focus on within that
― blueski, Monday, 28 October 2002 20:56 (twenty-three years ago)
I think as long as people are falling in love and/or fucking then yes it will be possible to write and record vital love songs.
Best love song of last year - "Digital Love"
Best love song of this year - "Work It" probably.
― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 11:53 (twenty-three years ago)
Incidentally I heard an intriguingly rotten cover version of "Digital Love" in a newsagent yesterday - a much more straightforward house treatment with a twee-ish female singer. What was this?
― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 11:54 (twenty-three years ago)
"work it" is a lust song, surely.
― michael wells (michael w.), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 11:58 (twenty-three years ago)
"u don't have to call" is the best love song of 2002. oh, and "take me with you".
― michael wells (michael w.), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 12:01 (twenty-three years ago)
one year passes...
Listening to "Electrical Storm" right now....and this struck me...
"The air is heavy....heavy as a truck. I hope the rain will wash away our bad luck"
Cripes ahoy that's a bad couplet. Still think it's a fine song, tho'.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 May 2004 06:18 (twenty-two years ago)