matt’s music blog

Say what you will about 90’s music. I think that, as a child of the 90’s, it will always hold a special nostalgic place in my heart. Especially music from the late 90’s. I’m sure that you know a few Savage Garden songs. If you listened to the radio at all, it seems almost impossible that you didn’t hear Truly Madly Deeply, and I Want You (both appearing on their self-titled album). And while these were certainly the tracks that got the most air time, they are by no means the best. Which brings us to our current song.

It starts out with pretty dancy drum loop and a bit of a guitar part. I’m going to warn you right now, the song really doesn’t get any more complex from here on out. It changes a bit for the chorus, maybe adding in a little bit of string synth. The real genius, in my opinion, lies in the lyrics of this song. Lets take a look at the first verse.

And we stare each other down like victims in the grind
Probing all the weakness and hurt still left behind and we cry
The tears of pearls
We do it. Oh we do it.

Now if that’s not an epic lyric, then I don’t know what is! Intensity is brewing. I especially like “victims in the grind” It reminds me of the opening video for Final Fantasy 8. Then we move on to someone questioning another person views.

Is love really the tragedy the way you might describe?
Or would a thousand lovers still leave you cold inside?
Make you cry…
These tears of pearls

Man these lyrics are good. Questions about feeling scorn about relationships. Is love as bad as you say? Or is it just because of your mindset? Then we move on to the chorus. I’d like to take this opportunity to say that when I first listened to this song, all those many years ago, I used to think they were saying “Stone man Pearls” not “Stolen Pearls” Listen closely, I think you’ll see why I was confused.

All these mixed emotions we keep locked away like stolen pearls
Stolen pearl devotions we keep locked away from all the world

For some reason, the metaphor of mixed emotions being like stolen pearls is really cool to me. Very nice imagery. Moving on to the next verse, we hear a bit more of the story. The girl tried to live, but always had a bad experience. This guy tried to be the one to open up her heart, but ended up with tears of pearls.

Your kisses are like pearls, so different and so rare
But anger stole the jewels away and love has left you bare,
Made you cry…
These tears of pearls
Well I could be the tired joker pour my heart to get you in
Sacrifice my happiness just so I could win
Maybe cry…
These tears of pearls

Then, the music starts to diversify a little as we go into the bridge. Some more lyrics that are more imagery then anything else. We get through the bridge in time for a little solo, and a electric organ part that sounds like it would be more at home in a 70’s funk song. After that, we return  to the chorus a few more times.

Now see? Wasn’t that a good song? You know it was. I would encourage you to look up the rest of songs on that album. Except for Truly Madly Deeply, which really, isn’t that god of a song.

-James Out

The drum machine percussion is solid, as it is on most MIA tracks – a nice bouncy bassline, breathy female vocals, and then, at :23 – the string sample! Each phrase is punctuaed by a little ‘pew!’ spacey sound effect, and in the middle you get to hear a neat little bloopy arpeggio sting that always reminds me somehow of Final Fantasy 8 music.

When you go Rwanda Congo
Take me on ya genocide tour
Take me on a truck to Darfur
Take me where you would go

Got static on ya satellite phone
Got to get you safe at home
Got to get you some where warm
So you get me all alone

As usual, the song’s simplicity is offset by its extreme catchiness – it’s easy to find yourself humming the chorus:

Time and time and time and time again
You keep pushing that button but I don’t know what your sayin
You hit me on AIM tryin’ flip me on some game
Are you coming are you going are you leaving are you staying

You told me that your busy
Your loving makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start acting like you want me

You told me that your busy
Your loving makes me crazy
I know you can hear me
Start acting like you want me

In short, the song is about trying to get ahold of a guy – but it’s the bouncey disco groove, the string sample, and the vocals that make it all worthwhile. It’s actually a cover of a bollywood musical number – here’s the original: Disco Dancer – Jimmy Adja (which is itself arguably a bollywood version of Ottawan – T\’es OK)