Tagged: imagery

Savage Garden – Tears of Pearls (Savage Garden, 1997)

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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

Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream (Walking on a Dream 2008)

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How totally excited would you be if I told you that Empire of the Sun, is basically the Australian MGMT. Because that’s exactly what they are. Except the members of the band, look kinda like the guys in Fischerspooner. Anyway, every since Sam alerted me to their existence, I’ve been hooked. And after hearing this song, I’m sure you will be to. Anyway, on to the analysis.

It starts out with a simple little Yamaha drum synth hi-hat, and keyboard part. Then Bam! You get thrown into the song, with these really solid lyrics.

Walking on a dream
How can I explain
Talking to myself
Will I see again

Then the music gets a little bit more intense, and we move straight on to the wonderful chorus, which is arguably the best part of the song.

We are always running for the thrill of it thrill of it
Always pushing up the hill searching for the thrill of it
On and on and on we are calling out and out again
Never looking down I’m just in awe of what’s in front of me

Just the imagery in it is really cool. And epic sounding. “Running for the thrill of it”, and “pushing up the hills”, both resonate really strong with me. And then “Never looking down, just in awe of what’s in front of me” God. It’s just really powerful. The rest of the song just continues in a similar manner, with verses and choruses. But man, I could seriously listen to this song forever. It’s the perfect thing to wake up to. I would strongly encourage anyone that likes it, to investigate the rest of the album. You won’t be disappointed, “I guarantee it” Like the Men’s Warehouse guy.

-James out

Owl City – Super Honeymoon (Maybe I’m Dreaming, 2008)

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This is my first post. A daunting thing to be sure. I was concidering maybe going with a strng classic track. Something that lots of people would see and be like “OH yeah. James really knows his music” But then I considered that the whole point of this blog is for people to discover new music. And so, with that in mind, I’ve settled on this amazing song, by Owl City.

There are tons of reasons I love this song, the least of which is the awesome job of instrumentation, and really good synth choice. Imagine this, if you will: if Colin Malloy (of The Decemberists) wrote a crazy sci-fi song, and it was performed by The Postal Service. In essence, that’s what this song is. I know that’s a pretty ambitious description, but it’s the truth.

Before we even jump into the lyrics of the song, let me take a second to talk about the opening section. It starts off with a cool little metallic bit and some basic syth percussion. Then, wasting no time, you get this really cool little bouncy synth lead part, back by a pretty simple bass syth. It’s very strikingly Postal Service-esc. Especially the drum parts remind me of Jimmy Tamborello (the other half of The Postal Service. Part of Dntel and The Figurines) Anyway, lets not get bogged down. Moving on.

This song is formatted really well. Starting out, like a story, with the background. Cool and very image invoking disctiptions of life in Denver.

Glamour and fashion
Models and magazines… a striking runway entrance
Beauty and passion
Stardust and high class scenes of popular teens

Then we move quickly on to the meat and subject of the song.

When I lived in Denver, I met a millionaire
With ribbons in her blonde hair
I still remember
She was like a princess straight from a dreamy castle in the air

Man. All I can say, is what a solid opening for a song. We move back to the little opening lick, and then power stright into the chorus. Which I absolutely love. Because before we were talking about just normal stuff. Meeting girls, and falling in love. But then we hit,

We played golf on the moon
And tennis on the sun
Like athletes of the afternoon
The solar flares burned my arms
And made her makeup run
On our super lunar honeymoon

Whoa, what? Now we’ve totally moved on into some crazy sci-fi universe, where there are sports happening on the moon and sun! Awsome!

Finally, the last verse gives you a little bit more description. But what I really like are the lines

I was the youngest son of a congressman
And everything was my fault…
She was a gymnast, happily swinging
On the uneven bars, tucked in a somersault

I don’t know why. But for some reason, those are both really simple, but really amazingly descriptive. And then it just falls back into the chorus, and repeats the opening synth lick a few more times.

All in all, one of my favorite songs that I’ve recently heard, by far.

-James out

 

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