Let’s Talk About: Critics

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A while ago I posted a snippet of this post but never the whole thing, so here we are. Late is better than never. 🙌

If you don’t live under a rock, you have probably heard that Lana Del Rey recently expressed her disenchantment with a critics ‘review’ of her newest album,Ultraviolence. If you do live under a rock, you are probably very pale and need some serious Vitamin D, and enlightenment as to the recent turn of events. Anyway, this ever growing confrontation between the two parties has rekindled a growing annoyance for me. Although it appears I may be writing about guacamole due to the title, unfortunately I will not. This post will actually serve to express my discontent and frustration following (and continuing to follow) the tiffs exchanged between an artist and critic.

I am a nineteen year old student. The music I listen to covers a wide range. My favorite artists vary from Lorde and HAIM to Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac and Van Morrison with a hint of Arctic Monkeys and Arcade Fire and a dash of MØ and Rae Morris, etc. etc. plus about 1,000 other artists. When I begin listening to new artists, such as Lorde, that present unique and positive messages to our generation validating being individualistic or different, it is truly refreshing and inspiring. These artists present an image that is not necessarily ‘main stream’. I, and many other people my age, appreciate these unique independent artists after years of cookie-cutter, same old same old, ‘perfect’ musicians supposedly representing “us”. I consider myself a bit quirky, nerdy even, definitely not typical cheerleader-type. I appreciate that my generation is exposed to independent and alternative musicians like Lorde and Grimes offering a different concept of “pop”. Another artist I associate in this category is Lana Del Rey; she is the reason I’m writing this post.

Unfortunately, I read reviews that do not celebrate the talent of these musicians and in turn, diminish the abilities of truly gifted performers who have the courage and confidence to put themselves out there creatively. I used to feel disappointed when reading a personally critical review, now I feel anger. I have been trying to comprehend for quite some time now why the opinions of forty-something-year-olds are trusted to review and ‘critique’ music written by and for twenty-something year olds. The twenty year age difference may not seem substantial, but I would never write a review of a Jimmy Buffet album and genuinely think it would be a beneficial thing to put into the universe. As is always the case, the opinions of our generation versus the opinions of older generations are going to be inherently different for numerous reasons. Thus, is it really fair to these artists that someone in an influential position casts an opinion reviewing music created for a generation they would have difficulty understanding? The opinions that are not being heard may be the most important. They should be the opinions of our generation representing our generation.

Alas, back to the Lana Del Rey controversy. The infamous interview became uncomfortable and elicited quotes from Lana such as referencing that she wished she was dead already. These and other comments have caused reactions from the Cobain family and many others are also negatively weighing in. I will not take a stance on her personal comments or reference to dying young. I will say that I find it very unfortunate that she is being ridiculed for having particular opinions that may not be considered ‘normal’ or ‘relevant and logical.’ Some critics are quick to instigate controversy for media attention and twist statements that ultimately do nothing other than hurt the artists. I think it is quite unfortunate that flaws are enflamed and emphasized and the positive elements of the musicians are overlooked. Maybe Lana made some controversial statements. Rather than that becoming the focus of his article, I wish the interviewer had celebrated her new album as it is truly a work of art.

So there, Holy Gaucamole!

Let’s Talk About: Modern Day Love Songs

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Have you ever listened to a song and after the one-hundreth listen, realize there was something really romantic about it in a completely untraditional and obscure way? I find myself thinking this with frequency lately. There is something so pleasant about so-called ‘modern day love songs.’ Songs that are not entirely in-your-face and sappy, but still contain an underlying and subtle message of love and romance. It’s really hard for me to type this because it sounds so damn cheesy, but it’s the truth. This generation, my generation, is experiencing love and life in a vastly different way than prior generations and music that is able to reflect those changes and interpret them in a way that is ‘romantic’ is a really refreshing thing. Maybe the first ten times you listen to songs like these, they don’t immediately strike you as the most lovey-dovey, but the modern day interpretation of relationships is something that is certainly undervalued. The quirky lyrics and skewed views of relationships are fresh, are realistic, and are greatly appreciated by people my age.

Honey & I- HAIM

A World Alone- Lorde

Hey Lover- Blake Mills

Sailboats- Brooke Fraser

Don’t Wanna Dance- MØ

 

 

Let’s Talk About: Lyrics

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I have always found the value of music to be hidden in the lyrics. There is something magical about the perfect pairing of music and lyrics. If you take away the lyrics, music can still be powerful and meaningful. If you take away the instruments, however, music becomes poetry, and that is something I find fascinating. I remember the first time I drove home from college this past year I made a playlist long enough to last the three hour ride. Long car rides are something I really enjoy, because it allows me time to think without anyone else around. I remember quite vividly this car ride, because it was the furthest I had ever driven alone up to that point in my life and I spent it reflecting on my first year at school. Going away to college is one of the biggest changes young adults experience and it was a very big adjustment for me. My playlist was going and going and I was thinking and thinking and “The Love Club” by Lorde came on. At the time, she was one of my favorite singers (and still is) and I really enjoy analyzing the words she puts out there. I remember the line played – “I’m sitting pretty on the throne, there’s nothing more I want, except to be alone.” I remember just saying out loud to myself, shit.

I found that midway through last year, I began writing a lot. I think I wrote more songs last year than I have in my entire life. Writing music is my creative outlet and it is a way for me to express my feelings. Obviously, no one is listening to my music, but even if they were, the listeners probably would not understand what I was feeling when I wrote the song or what I was trying to express. When thinking of it that way, nobody knows what musicians mean when they write music, and I think that is incredibly beautiful. We can speculate, but will never really know for sure what someone means in specific lines or moments. I remember I kept starting “The Love Club” over and over during that ride home and listening particularly for that sentence. Since that song is on The Love Club EP, the EP that launched her career, it is funny that that particular line would be in one of her songs, since she wasn’t necessarily ‘on the throne’ yet. I think it’s interesting. I think these little loopholes and mysteries are what make music so wonderful.

Speaking back to Ultraviolence, Lana Del Rey’s most recent release, I wrote about how I thought Lana wrote a very personal album about her previous experiences. However, since then, I have read many articles insisting none of the songs from Ultraviolence are personal, but rather they were Lana writing songs from perspectives of different characters. Like I said before, none of us will ever really know. It is so bizarre to me how music can affect certain people in very different ways for no reason whatsoever. “Chelsea Hotel No. 2” by Leonard Cohen is probably one of my top five favorite songs of all time, but why? I have no idea, to be honest. Nothing about the song is relatable to me, and it’s not even that magnificent of a song, to be blunt. Yet, something about it captivates me in an indescribable way. Similarly, in “Don’t Save Me” by HAIM, they sing “all my life I wasn’t trying to get on a highway, I was wondering which way to go” which from the moment I heard Days Are Gone, became my favorite lyric. Why? I have not a clue.

I have a leather bound journal and in it I write the lyrics that I find engaging from songs I hear. What I like the most about it is that when I flip through the pages and admire the lyrics I have written long ago, and more recently, they have no connection. No reason for being my favorites. No reason for being the ones that have jumped out to me in the past, yet they have for one reason or another. That I think, is the real beauty of lyrics. Maybe if I had woken up on the other side of the bed one morning, my journal of lyrics would be entirely different, but even if that is the case I will never know.

Some lyrics I have written down:

“You can play with fire, but you’ll get the bill.” – Bob Dylan

“What did you expect from these red lips, curses laughter and a tender kiss.” – MØ

“It’ll all work out.” – Blake Mills 

“This crown that I hold is tarnished and cold.”- Johnny Cash

“We were born before the wind.” – Van Morrison

“That’s not just friendship that’s romance too, and you like music we can dance to.”- Julian Casablancas. 

“She rules her life like a bird in flight.”- Fleetwood Mac