Today includes Youtube’s “Music Tuesday” special that brings in new artists and bands with their new music. Yes. This week starred Phoenix, an alternative rock band from France that became mainstream in the United States during their 2006 tour after their last album. Their hit song that is currently flowing over Music Tuesday is “1901.”
Just so that the audience knows, I like to do some research before I write these posts. I enjoy not sounding like an idiot (all right, at least not FEELING like an idiot) when writing about songs and bands. The more I know, then the more that I can write and use as analysis. One of the biggest questions that keep going over my mind, as well with other bloggers and journalists, is why 1901 is the title of their single. I have looked at several sites just to find out that really no one knows the true meaning of “1901”. However, the lyrics hold clues to the surface down under.
In my opinion, seeing that Phoenix is French, they are talking about the turn of the century involving the Eiffel Tower, which was built in the 1880s from what I can recall. In their lyrics, the phrase “material tower” is used as it is thought of as “overrated” at the time. But, overall, this song is about a relationship that is falling apart. The reference of the past is a comparison with the relationship in the song; it is thought to not work out, yet it is still staying to this day. “Past and present – they don’t matter” is another phrase representing history, even when “the future’s sorted out” and the relationship is finally concluded.
I appreciate the historical references that Phoenix brings with their lyrics, and I am quite amused since so many people, such as me, are wondering why “1901” is considered present to these men. This song holds a strong meaning lying under the surface that history majors are still trying to figure out!
The official video of “1901” is not on the Music Tuesday page, but rather a video in celebration of Bastille Day, which is today (July 14). The band is playing in front of what looks to be a green screen of the Eiffel Tower and the surrounding neighborhood. These men are proud Frenchmen who love their country as much as we hate ours!
The instrumental aspect of this song is strong as well. It’s a blend of rock as well as electronica, which can be difficult technology to overcome, but the band made it sound very nice. I would joyfully dance to this song if it were played on the dance floor because it has a hip beat with electric sounds. If you are the kind of person who likes to jump around while listening to happy music, this is the song for you. What seems interesting to me is that the happy music contradicts the sort of melancholy lyrics, yet they go together so nicely that, if one were to not know what the lyrics were, then it would be interpreted as a song with happy endings rather than the end of the past.
If you have the chance and are interested in listening to Phoenix, you can go to wearephoenix.com for more information about their album or check out Amazon, iTunes, and Youtube! But for now, I’m off to listen to some more music!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
The Big Question: DID Helen Keller Talk With Her Hips?
During my high school’s Senior Awards Night, there was a dispute a couple of days before for the valedictorians to dance to 3OH!3’s “Don’t Trust Me,” a hip and magical song about love and easy women hitting on aroused men in a bar. Personally, I like the beat. I could dance to it all night without being bored of it. However, a high school ceremony that honors students who spent their entire life gaining respect from professional adults is not exactly the best place to play this song. Choose your environmental surroundings wisely before pressing the play button.
Lyrics. The first verse introduces the woman that the lead singer spends pretty much the entire song talking about. She’s your typical chick: black dress, goal-setting actress, and money from parents who might have had a mysterious and unexplainable death. She’s obviously got a boyfriend who claims that he has “beef” somewhere in his body (who would've EVER guessed), but HOLD ON! Luckily, the lead singer doesn’t have to worry; he’s a vegetarian, so no harm can be done!
The chorus makes a clear lesson: don’t trust a ho. Although she tells him things that he wants to hear but knows are not true, he still gives in. Go figure. And I have to thank him for repeating three times not to trust a ho. I’ll take that to heart. The second verse sums up that the girl seems innocent and lonely and is just looking for a good time, but is actually hiding a secret that no one can tell, possibly a drug addiction or some abuse from the boyfriend. Apparently, the singer does not care, and I don’t think "The Ho" does either. The lyrics really have no deep meaning other than “I wanna have relations with that girl and I don’t care WHO or WHAT she is!” Bravo...bravo...
Ali’s favorite: Here is the question of the day. DID Helen Keller talk with her hips? According to several online sources, she was engaged but did not move on to the next stage. And seeing that she was living in the early twentieth century, hips were probably not moving around in the manner that 3OH!3 were jamming about. But who knows? Thomas Jefferson had African American children with curly red hair. Perhaps Helen Keller WAS doing the deed! The world may never know. What we DO know is that 3OH!3 is using the Helen Keller term that some Apples-to-Apples gamers would like to call “senseless” in order to make their song funny and sexy. IS it funny to make fun of a blind and deaf woman? That is where the question stands. Compared to the rest of the world and their Helen Keller jokes, 3OH!3 did not do much bad in this. Admit it…you laughed. I did. They did. We all did.
While listening to “Don’t Trust Me”, I am enjoying the soft intro of electronics that sound similar to a ping pong game. The distorted electronic guitar chords during the chorus, however, are a bit annoying. But it's not a big deal. Truly, there is just a quiet electronic part during the verses and then a drum beat with some distortion, and then it ends with some electronic sound-effects. I applaud this band seeing that they did not even have to add too much background music to make this song sound good. It’s popular among the crowds and fans, so it works. But the high notes coming from the singers were more of a “Hah Hah, you sound funny!” rather than a “Wow! You guys have sexy voices!” Don’t get me wrong though, I do not think that singing the backgrounds in your range would make the song sound the way it is.
So there’s my review of “Don’t Trust Me” from 3OH!3. By the way, it’s not a typo for those who have never heard of this band. 3OH!3. Learn it, because I think that they will become even more popular later on. Listen to their album, “Want”, and their hit single “Don’t Trust Me”, and then decide for yourself whether you enjoy this song or not.
Questions or Comments? Fell free to send a message!
Lyrics. The first verse introduces the woman that the lead singer spends pretty much the entire song talking about. She’s your typical chick: black dress, goal-setting actress, and money from parents who might have had a mysterious and unexplainable death. She’s obviously got a boyfriend who claims that he has “beef” somewhere in his body (who would've EVER guessed), but HOLD ON! Luckily, the lead singer doesn’t have to worry; he’s a vegetarian, so no harm can be done!
The chorus makes a clear lesson: don’t trust a ho. Although she tells him things that he wants to hear but knows are not true, he still gives in. Go figure. And I have to thank him for repeating three times not to trust a ho. I’ll take that to heart. The second verse sums up that the girl seems innocent and lonely and is just looking for a good time, but is actually hiding a secret that no one can tell, possibly a drug addiction or some abuse from the boyfriend. Apparently, the singer does not care, and I don’t think "The Ho" does either. The lyrics really have no deep meaning other than “I wanna have relations with that girl and I don’t care WHO or WHAT she is!” Bravo...bravo...
Ali’s favorite: Here is the question of the day. DID Helen Keller talk with her hips? According to several online sources, she was engaged but did not move on to the next stage. And seeing that she was living in the early twentieth century, hips were probably not moving around in the manner that 3OH!3 were jamming about. But who knows? Thomas Jefferson had African American children with curly red hair. Perhaps Helen Keller WAS doing the deed! The world may never know. What we DO know is that 3OH!3 is using the Helen Keller term that some Apples-to-Apples gamers would like to call “senseless” in order to make their song funny and sexy. IS it funny to make fun of a blind and deaf woman? That is where the question stands. Compared to the rest of the world and their Helen Keller jokes, 3OH!3 did not do much bad in this. Admit it…you laughed. I did. They did. We all did.
While listening to “Don’t Trust Me”, I am enjoying the soft intro of electronics that sound similar to a ping pong game. The distorted electronic guitar chords during the chorus, however, are a bit annoying. But it's not a big deal. Truly, there is just a quiet electronic part during the verses and then a drum beat with some distortion, and then it ends with some electronic sound-effects. I applaud this band seeing that they did not even have to add too much background music to make this song sound good. It’s popular among the crowds and fans, so it works. But the high notes coming from the singers were more of a “Hah Hah, you sound funny!” rather than a “Wow! You guys have sexy voices!” Don’t get me wrong though, I do not think that singing the backgrounds in your range would make the song sound the way it is.
So there’s my review of “Don’t Trust Me” from 3OH!3. By the way, it’s not a typo for those who have never heard of this band. 3OH!3. Learn it, because I think that they will become even more popular later on. Listen to their album, “Want”, and their hit single “Don’t Trust Me”, and then decide for yourself whether you enjoy this song or not.
Questions or Comments? Fell free to send a message!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
If You Are New, Look Here! Yes...HERE!
First off, I hope that all of those reading this blog understand that the purpose is to determine the musical reliability of songs just coming out on your popular radio stations as well as certain songs from the past that can be referenced by more recent music. Though I may critique these songs and say something that might offend the artist or fan, please know that I LISTEN TO IT TOO! I do not just turn on the radio, listen to one verse and automatically tell myself “Gosh…I have to be a complete jerk and say horrible things about this artist!” Most of the songs/artists that I talk about are on my music playlist and usually played a bunch of times on my computer throughout the day.
This is how the blogs will work. I will first look over the lyrics of the given song. Be prepared to be made fun of, songwriters! Don’t worry; even my songs are constantly made fun of! You’re already famous, so my one, small comment is not going to ruin your reputation (it’ll take A LOT more than me to ruin your career!). Then I will analyze the instrumental part of the song. You know…bass, guitar, chord progressions, solos, electronics, etc.
Unlike most bloggers who give reviews, I will not give a song a grade or rank. The reason for this is because there are some songs that I will like and some that I don’t. There are songs that I hate while others love them. There are songs that I can listen to all day while others could not stand them. We all have our own distinct taste in music; therefore, it is not my right to tell an audience “Don’t listen to this song because I don’t like it!” I try not to hold any biasness, and I am very open to all genres. So please enjoy my blog entries as I comment from time to time!
This is how the blogs will work. I will first look over the lyrics of the given song. Be prepared to be made fun of, songwriters! Don’t worry; even my songs are constantly made fun of! You’re already famous, so my one, small comment is not going to ruin your reputation (it’ll take A LOT more than me to ruin your career!). Then I will analyze the instrumental part of the song. You know…bass, guitar, chord progressions, solos, electronics, etc.
Unlike most bloggers who give reviews, I will not give a song a grade or rank. The reason for this is because there are some songs that I will like and some that I don’t. There are songs that I hate while others love them. There are songs that I can listen to all day while others could not stand them. We all have our own distinct taste in music; therefore, it is not my right to tell an audience “Don’t listen to this song because I don’t like it!” I try not to hold any biasness, and I am very open to all genres. So please enjoy my blog entries as I comment from time to time!
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