Songs like Gnarls Barkley's "Going On"* are, to me, in a class of their own.
It's a class I like to refer to as "music that I don't have to be ashamed that I'm listening to."
In addition to being catchy, Going On carries a really nice little message: Put more focus on others, less on yourself, and don't put up with people who won't do the same. That may not seem like such a big deal, but remember that a large amount of music:
1. Contains no redeeming values
2. Actively promotes really terrible lifestyles
3. Is so very funky, you just can't stop singing it
And that's the baffling part. Since most music is sold by including awesome beats and incredible hooks, and the lyrics are often nearly indecipherable, why bother to focus on negative ideas at all? Just make all your music about solid moral values, autotune it into an electronic paste, and make it sound like it's about partying. Most people won't know the difference, and I'll feel better about having your song in my subconscious.
*One note: the line in the second verse is: And to do what I want/and to do what I please/Is first *off* my to-do list. For some reason no one bothers to check the official lyrics, and puts it as either "first *of* my to-do" list (which makes no sense) or worse "first *on* my to-do list" (which is counter to the rest of the song.)
1 comment:
They don't write songs like that because most people in the music industry (or at least the rock/pop/hip-hop part) don't run in circles where solid moral values like "put others first" are popular.
Country music, on the other hand... Well at least have of it does have good lyrics. XD
Post a Comment