For those of you who are familiar with Peanuts, you know the characters dance in the give-no-shits innocent yet completely carefree style of youth and fun. The types of songs I'm talking about are the songs that inspire that go-for-it, complete and utter exuberant mood. Hopefully this post will make your soul dance, or at least make a grin spread across your face.
1. "Valerie" by Mark Ronson, ft. Amy Winehouse
Let's kick this off with a bang. This song is pretty well-known, and normally I would gravitate towards something readers wouldn't be likely to know as well, so as to introduce a majority to something new to them. However, I feel like this song gets forgotten in the frenzy of fast-paced songs of its era, and it's time for this one to get the spotlight.
As with all of the songs this week, the part of "Valerie" that gets you going is the beat. The verses are actually somewhat soft, but they're the build for what's coming. The chorus. It basically erupts into an explosion of ecstasy and craziness. The sheer pace of it moves too fast for you to linger on what you were upset about. It builds and builds and builds and your mood builds right with it.
After the chorus, the song fades back down into another softer verse. It works perfectly, because otherwise the song would have way too much stimulation. If you weren't singing along from the get go, you definitely are now. The words are easy, and it seems like over half of them are Valerie.
Ronson encompasses the theme of joy and craziness through his fast-paced track and through the culminating music. A melody of "ba ba ba da da" throughout also keeps the song uplifting and fun.
I chose to include not the original song "Valerie," but a cover done for an audition of America's Got Talent by a group named Aknu. You'll see why I chose it soon enough-- as soon as the beat drops.
2. "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
"Home" is a work of art. It's upbeat and fun, explores the folky side to fun as opposed to Ronson and Winehouse's more soulful die. "Home" is flawless and cheerful and witty and fun in every way. This song review will basically be a point-by-point reflection of why it's so awesome.
First of all, whistling begins the song, which is basically one of the happiest sounds in history. Not just whistling, but good whistling, to a growing pitch and accompanied with a catchy beat.
Before I get ahead of myself. The beat. It's bouncy and fun and makes you bob your head from the second you hear it, regardless of whether you had a day of utter perfection or an entire week of total shit. (Take it from someone who is in the midst of the latter.)
On top of that, the song is sung in a duet style. Okay, if you haven't figured out by now, I'm a sucker for solid harmonies. They fill a hole that can't be filled by just a single vocalist. But, on top of singing just with each other, Alex Ebert and Jade Castrinos, the vocalists, play off of each other. They joke with each other. They not only provide harmony, but they provide humor. There's even a spoken word section where they talk about a time Castrinos "fell on the concrete and nearly broke your [her] ass" where they interact playfully the entire time. A song has a great emphasis when it has more than one vocalist, but it has even more emphasis when the vocalists clearly have a history and great relationship outside of the song and the music.
In summary, the joy is infectious. Ebert and Castrinos have an impeccable bond, and it spreads. Their love for each other extends out of the song and makes you feel loved as well. You feel like you're sitting around a campfire with them talking about memories and jamming out and knee-slapping and loving life.
3. "Love Someone" by Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz is definitely one of those artists: you either love him, or you hate him. Personally, I love him. But, regardless of what you feel about him, you have to admit that he has his own style, and that he definitely has a way of making the sun shine through his songs. "Love Someone" is one of the greatest examples of that capability.
The song opens with a chugging acoustic guitar intro that is consistent and confident. Each chord in the progression is played with certainty. That certainty translates over to the meaning of the song, and even contributes to the credibility of it and helps you believe what it says.
Mraz understands to form a relationship from the beginning. When the lyrics begin, they say something profound. The loudest verse for me is when Mraz says, "More than just a partner or a lover, I'm your friend." Being a friend takes relationships farther. It takes them beyond just attraction. Friendship is being there for someone, loving them for who they are. It makes the song personal from the beginning.
Then, the chorus enters, and angelic "oohs" encompass the music. The best way I could describe the sound would be fluttery-- light and airy, like a butterfly that finds its way into your soul and into your heart and fills you up with comfort.
The song ends with a lyric that says "when you love someone, it comes back to you." It's a good reminder to all of us that being loved is heartwarming, but so can just opening your heart up to love and happiness and being there for other people-- and yourself. Just like with love, if you're needing to get out of a dark place, the first step is to open yourself up to it and be ready to embrace the joy to follow.
4. "Defying Gravity" from the musical Wicked, as performed and recorded by Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel
I'd just like to take this moment for you all to notice that Idina Menzel has done much more beyond Elsa and "Let it Go."
Okay, anyway. This song is absolutely one of the most uplifting, self-empowering anthems you'll come across. Yes, it's from a musical about a witch and a magical land called Oz. Does that matter one bit? No.
Throughout the musical, Elphaba, or infamously known as the wicked witch, is at battle with herself. She struggles with her identity, her confidence, and where she fits in the world. This song is the climax where she finally decides, "You know what? Fuck them. I am smart and powerful and independent. I can do this on my own. I can live my life."
The song enters with Glenda telling Elphaba (Elphie) that she hopes she's happy for what she's done and going away from what she thought her dream was. Elphaba has decided that she's bigger than her problems, than what people think of her, and than the social constructs they put her into.
So. Then. The song erupts into Elphaba's new found confidence. It's infectious. She wails that she's defying gravity, and nothing's gonna bring her down. Then, the song fades back down for another musical dialogue. But after that? Bam.
Defying gravity is back, stronger and more powerful than ever. And damn. Let me tell you. Idina Menzel can sing. Not only sing, she can belt it. She can wail. Theatrical instrumentation accompanies the wail. Then, on the final chorus, a gospel choir reiterates the message of the song and just further empowers it. The song doesn't end softly. It ends with an explosion of conviction and emotion. *drops mic*
The song is about a fictional character, but the meaning isn't. The meaning is for everyone. We all need to learn to block out the condescending voices, in our heads and in the world, and to live with the conviction and confidence that we're all capable of.
All of these songs have the ability to make a bad day into a good day-- or to make a good day into a better one. It all stems from each artist's understanding of what is uplifting. Tempo, musical composition, lyrics, instruments, and overall message all play a role. However, happiness can't be forced on people. You can only inspire happiness and encourage it. If a musician can produce the right mood, by being a friend, and relatable, and fun, and open, and cheeky, then that's all they should have to do. If the right blend of music is formed, then it should be able to find a way to slither into your soul and cheer you up without you even realizing it. It'll leave you feeling like a fizzy, shaken bottle of A&W Root Beer. Hopefully, this post found a way to accomplish the same. :)
Go out and have a great week!
No comments:
Post a Comment