This week on the blog we've been looking at music. I used to think that music had a lot in common with poetry because, at the end of the day, they both have lyrics set to a rhythm but, in trying to piece together the blog today I've noticed that there has always been a lot to learn from music- and that I've always enjoyed learning it, even if I hadn't realised.
If I told a class of children that poetic analysis might have a lot in common with a club remix, they'd try and eat me alive. I wouldn't get a chance to explain that by unpicking the piece you can work out just what the key parts are and that, given the proper care, they can be highlighted further with an edit. They would probably gawp at me if I asked them whether words have quite the same meaning when not accompanied by a guitar solo, a powerslide or a saxophone. Do these elements of performance translate to poetry and without them, do the lyrics hold true at all or can they be reshaped and take on different values?
Thinking on these lines led me to compile the kind of list I haven't made since my early twenties. I assembled all the 'influential bands' I could remember, flicked through my records and picked out some of my absolute could not live without artists. Below then, is a compilation of lyrics and words taken from some of my favorite artists- all out of context, all lacking riffs and kicks and all reformed into some kind of cut and paste found, stolen and salvaged poem.
There are 27 artists in all, with two of them having an extra lyric. I've been nice in alternating the colours when the performer changes so with that in mind, have a go at unpicking the piece below- and don't be using google!
Cut and Paste I'm so happy 'cause today I've found my friends ... They're in my head Slowly walking down the hall Faster than a cannon ball We smoked the last one An hour ago I'm pushing an elephant up the stairs I'm tossing up punchlines that were never there Get up, stand up That's how it goes Everybody knows. Well, it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe We gotta move these color TV's Smoke some fags and play some pool, Pretend you never went to school We don't need no thought control The beautiful people The beautiful people. Like a drunk in a midnight choir I've seen fire and I've seen rain I could be one of your kids, white America Don't let it go to waste I love it but I hate the taste Commencing countdown, engines on. I don't need your civil war It feeds the rich while it buries the poor So if I can shoot rabbits Then I can shoot fascists An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth And anyway I told the truth This is what you get when you mess with us He's got morning glory, life's a different story Everything's going jackanory They call it paradise, I don't know why You call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye And you realize then that it's finally the time To walk back past ten thousand eyes in the line I'll show you a picture A picture of tomorrow Paradise put up a parking lot This is our destiny calling now Smashing up the woodwork tools Don't think twice, it's alright Say you stand by your man.
Thanks for reading, S
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