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The other night I had the privilege to check out Crowded House at a smallish venue. It was great - I highly recommend any serious music lover to check out Neil Finn and the boys. They are really one of the best live acts around, and for pure melodic prowess, Neil is definitely one of the best around.
Anyway, a couple of their songs had Climate Change appropriate titles (like Four Seasons in One Day, or "Weather with You"), so for fun, I'd thought I'd check out my iTunes library and run through "globally relevant" titles that I have.
Who'd a thought, it be such a downer.
Let's see, I had:
"It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)" by REM.
"World Wide Suicide" by Pearl Jam.
"World on Fire" by Sarah McLachlan
As well, perhaps, to emphasize the point, I had three versions of Dave Matthew's Band, "When the World Ends."
On the positive side, all I had was Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World," although technically, I also had Liz Phair's "Perfect World" but that one is hardly an optimistic song.
Anyway, what's up with that?
Humanities & Social Science
Comments
I suspect there's something about being an artist in our culture and trying to write interesting lyrics for interesting music. Perhaps it's something about the variety of experiences that can be expressed. Maybe "I'm happy today" seems more limited artistically than the distinctive ways one can be unhappy, annoyed, outraged, etc.
When I want music that's pleasant, with less potential for depression, I seek instrumental styles, jazz and classical.
Cheers (instrumental only, in the key of C)
Posted by: etbnc | September 5, 2007 4:00 PM
Who wants to hear songs about some happy person, who's life doesn't apply or appeal to yours (which is presumably not as happy as the songs')?
Posted by: Kidolikesprose | September 8, 2007 2:17 AM