On our first day we briefly discussed music that we thought was poetic. Lets get some more music on here.
I'll start.....
Listener- Wooden Heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8k9rD7lx9c
I also recommend just reading the lyrics. They are truly amazing.
http://www.songlyrics.com/listener/wooden-heart-lyrics/
I also feel like I should add some Buddy Wakefield here too. It's not a band, but he does spoken word poetry. Amazing guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmmkEySkQas
Poem starts at 4:30 for those who don't care to sit through the rest.
Ciao, and I hope you enjoy!
Yes, Travis, thanks for resuming this particular issue ... and this particular question. It's a question because I think we need to ask by what basis do we discuss song lyrics as poetry? When, how, and why does a song lyric rise to the level of poetry? Charlotte Pence proposes that "a song needs music to complete it; a literary poem does not," and Pat Pattison (in an essay I should put on Moodle) playfully notes that "a [song] lyric is made to be married," that there is always a "division of labor" implied by a song lyric. Or then there's Bob Dylan's take, who says "If I can sing it, then I know it's a song. If I can't, then I call it a poem."
ReplyDeleteAnyway, this is a topic that we'll want to keep open and to return to, and I'm hoping we can use this thread to start collecting your various offerings of songs that approach the distinction of poetry, of songwriters that we can think of (at least nearly) as poets. There are other interesting questions associated with this issue, too: for example, will we find that song lyrics that are particularly dense and complicated (which isn't to say that's a requirement for being deemed "poetry," but still) have music that is relatively straightforward and simple?
The Listener piece that you link to, Travis, is interesting in that one can nearly imagine the lyric (poem?) being separated from the music: i.e., they almost sound like separate tracks, like there's not, in fact, a "division of labor" involved here. It's also a "song"/"poem" that brings the relatively new genre of "performance poetry" to our attention, poetry that may be directed to the ear rather than to the eye, primarily.
Well, let's keep these issues, questions, and examples live and open for weeks to come!
That performance of "Horsehead" was incredible. It is crazy how much the piano in the background actually affects the way the poem makes you feel. It just elevates the intensity of the message, or at least thats what it feels like to me.
ReplyDeleteThe question of whether a song is poetry and vise versa I am not quite sure how to answer. However when I think of poetic music I often think of The Flobots. They do a couple of really amazing political poetic songs that I will throw the links to down here. Also, the video for "Rise" is really powerful.
"Rise"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvVO6Y-3CM8
"Stand Up"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdF-YkECTVc
I love Flobots. Did you see them at the Top Hat last year?
DeleteWHAT! When were they in Missoula?? How did I not know about this? I am so angry I didn't hear about that. Haha
ReplyDeleteThey were here in September. It was amazing. This guy Astronautalis opened for them, not sure if you have heard of him or not, but I hadn't before the show and he is a new favorite of mine! It was the best night ever =)
ReplyDeleteCheck out this video if you haven't heard of him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N4YeNYbU5I
Ah, I was in Australia then so that is why I didn't hear about it. Still upset I missed out though. Yeah, I have never heard of this Astronautalis. I like them though, "This is Our Science" is my fave so far. Thanks for the recommendation though, I always love finding new music!
ReplyDeleteThis is Our Science is his best album in my opinion. I have it and if you would like to copy it I could bring it to class.
DeleteYeah that would be awesome! I can just throw it in my laptop and I can burn it while we are in class. :)
DeleteOkay. I won't be in our music & Lit. class today though, but are you in my Modern Poetry class as well? If so, I'll bring it there tomorrow.
DeleteYeah that will be perfect!
ReplyDelete