Relatable. I go a step further by deliberately listening to songs in foreign languages I do not understand, so I do not know the lyrics at all!
this post was submitted on 15 Oct 2023
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This is the reason I liked Weird Al as a kid. (I still do) His lyrics were the only ones I could understand.
I was the same way until about five years ago, then for whatever reason I started to hear the lyrics. Pumped-up kicks, I sang that song proudly without any idea what I was saying. Some things started to click and now wow.
When you start noticing, you start seeing some pretty hilarious things.
Like hearing "born in the U.S.A." by Springsteen used at political rallies. lol
I love my pancreas too, al.
I recently listened to some songs I liked as a teenager, but I actually paid attention to the lyrics. Holy shit, some of those songs were dark.
Have I missed something about pumped up kicks? Because I never thought the song was intended to be in FAVOR of shooting kids.
I mean people seem generally shocked that it's about school shootings at all
I guess. Do a lot of people assume a song would never be based on such a dark or serious topic? I can imagine this being the case if this was the first song with a dark topic a person ever heard, perhaps. Maybe I’m just desensitized because I’ve heard a lot of music with dark themes.
I mean what's surprising isn't that it's a song with a dark theme but the contrast between the radio friendly, sunny sweet beat and melody against the lyrics. Additionally it's just a song that so many people know from hearing it at the supermarket and on the radio without paying particularly attention to it that it's surprising when they find out.
I guess, I just feel personally (and this is my opinion) that with a song like this with a catchy chorus, the chorus is the first thing you notice about the song, and the theme is made clear in the chorus. You don’t really have to dig into the verses to find out what the chorus means.
Edit: I should probably make it clear that I’m not trying to say there’s anything wrong or bad about people not noticing or being shocked that PUK has dark lyrics. I guess I’m just sharing out loud thoughts I probably should be keeping to myself.
For me I really have to focus to pick out what lyrics are saying at all. If I'm not paying a lot of attention the singers are just another instrument to me making notes.
All the other kids with the pumped-up kicks
You better run, better run, outrun my gun
I think the subject matter is pretty obvious. I'd imagine it being in favor of shooting kids can be argued against though
Do you interpret that as promoting school shootings?
Careless whisper is such a sexy song with that saxophone. 'Guilty feet have got no rhythm' definitely can't be a poetic device for not being able to get hard because you cheated on your partner.
Hey Ya!
So, there is some interesting studies on the effect that sadness and depression have on music taste and ability to listen to the lyrics.
Quite literally it breaks down to people who are happy tend to just want to hear music and don't comprehend or want lyrically complicated songs. People who are depressed or at high risk for it tend to be more seeking more complex story telling and will be more aware of the lyrics.
Now why that is would probably win you science grant if you could quantify it. I think it comes back around a bit to "ignorance is bliss" a pretty accurate statement of the world that people that just don't know don't and don't care they don't know are already pretty happy or content with how they know existence to be and don't seek out more. While people more depressed are searching for kindred souls and the feeling of belonging and so listen for more of that empathetic response.
Now one of the other really interesting things of these studies is that heavy death metal music is in the same level as like alternative indie prog-rock for depression listeners, which I think really goes back to that desire to feel emotion and joined experience even if it's just rage or anger.
So, all that to say if you went from just hearing the rhythm to really digging the lyrics check in with your mental health cause it might be that you are seeking out more complex emotions and could be at risk for more serious emotional states.
Me personally I've always listened to the lyrics since I was a child.
"When you're happy you enjoy the music. When you're sad you understand the lyrics." - Frank Ocean.
Just happened to me with "I Could Have Lied" by Red Hot Chili Peppers.
That explains why The Doors and Pink Floyd often exhibit lyrical mastery.
Clawfinger - Little Baby.
I sent this to my wife, she heard it and said it was good. I told her to listen again, but also listen to the lyrics. Suddenly she didn't like it.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - If Not Now, Then When?
Listen to it without the lyrics and see if you can catch it, the high pitch vocals are sort of hard to understand. Then watch along with the lyrics, both the song and music video really change once you know what it's about.
My interpretation
My interpretation is that the black hole represents fossil fuels and deforestation. We discovered what we could do with them, became reliant to the point we're unable to throw them away, and now we can only watch as animals, trees, and loved ones get sucked in by the consequences.
God that is so me. I've been listening to music for decades and have no idea what the lyrics are, for pretty much any song ever written. It's all percieved as sounds to me.
i wonder why that is
Yes absolutely I didn’t know the lyrics to fetus eater was horrifying!
Literally me
Most of Streetlight Manifesto's songs are like this. Incredible music, dark and/or philisophical lyrics.
"This is a total bop, the horns are on point, and- oh, it's about not knowing your place in the world. What about this one? Sounds super awesome, shit. It's about the singer's mother dying of cancer. Wait, this slaps anyway, adding to playlist!"
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax