[Dixielandjazz] response to Bob R. on "lyrics" & more

[Ron L'Herault]

I suspect that one reason "normal" people hear the words first these days is
that in today's music, there is not much except the words.  The rhythm is
metronome-like, no swing, drumming with little variation or subtlety.
Chords are few and repeated.  Even the lyrics are few and repetitive.
Worse yet to my ears is how vocalists seem buried in the instrumental mix,
rather than being out front of the other musicians.

 

Ron L

 

From: jim at kashprod.com [mailto:jim at kashprod.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2017 8:59 AM
To: Ron
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] response to Bob R. on "lyrics" & more

 

Bob Ringwald mentioned that he never catches the lyrics to songs.  I must
admit that I am usually in the same category, also aiming my ears to the
voicing of instruments, etc., and ignoring the lyrics.  I can't even sing
the U.S. National Hymn, as I was always playing it whenever it was sung in
school, or later when I was in the Air Force Bands, so I don't even know the
words after "Oh, say can you see.."!  (Much prefer "America The Beautiful",
anyway!)  I have no problem with the Spanish National Anthem as there are no
words!!!     :> 

 

My mention, however, of the lyrics to Blue Prelude & a few other songs that
have caught my ear, are the exception to what is probably a malady amongst
us "melody makers".

 

My wife couldn't believe that I never saw anything in ABBA's music until I
went to see the very unusual musical movie made of their tunes.  There, I
could then see the popularity of such a group, as most "normal" people hear
lyrics first, music second, rather than the other way around.  That musical
was particularly different than others as the words to the songs were
already written (& popular), and the story line was built around the lyrics.
Very unusual.

 

No one has commented yet on "La La Land" as a musical.  I saw it, and,
well..ok!  Just ok.  Some say the main theme is nice, but I can't remember
it at all after seeing the film, so it obviously didn't make an immediate
impact on me.  I said the film was Hollywood glamorizing itself, and that's
what I am now hearing critics say!  "Lion", now, is a proper movie.
Difficult to see, and to think that it could be so many kid's story, but it
is very well done.  No particular music to remember, though.

 

Jim 

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