David Byrne has a great line about how the words are really secondary in a good song and people don't need to understand every line to love a song. With that being said, Sussudio is the stuff of Guantanamo Bay torture nightmares.
Indeed it is - but then torture sticks in the mind, doesn't it. And David Byrne is right - very few lyrics matter much beyond their phonetic resonance. Meaning is secondary. You pick up a little of what they're saying and create your own meaning. In fact, in many songs you find you've created your own hook - tied to the song by something quite different than was intended by the writer.
You are a genius Simon. This is such a brilliant observation!!! Not only do have massive practical skills but you also have enormous intellectual insight. You make us think about things we have thought about before and see and understand things we didn’t perceive before. Thank you!
I think that you are not just a successful and seasoned player in a tough industry but also have a high and sophisticated intelligence and sensibility. Well beyond what I have seen in many others. Warmest best wishes!
What a fantastic piece of writing. And if there is anyone else out there your age listening to and deconstructing Dua Lipa hits, I don't know of them. I especially appreciate your explanation of Hey Jude's universal appeal as a song that never stops delivering - and yet more briefly than the song itself. Thank you.
Thank you Tony. Dua Lipa's song choices are consistently good - always a cut above average. Well, obviously.. because they're all hits. But it's more than that - there's a philosophic flow to the lyrics too - even though she writes with a variety of collaborators you can hear there's too much consistency in them for her just to be a passive taker of credit.
Another masterpiece in observation of music and why it is so compelling 👌🏾🎶🙏🏾
And sometimes the stories are equally compelling 😋
David Byrne has a great line about how the words are really secondary in a good song and people don't need to understand every line to love a song. With that being said, Sussudio is the stuff of Guantanamo Bay torture nightmares.
Indeed it is - but then torture sticks in the mind, doesn't it. And David Byrne is right - very few lyrics matter much beyond their phonetic resonance. Meaning is secondary. You pick up a little of what they're saying and create your own meaning. In fact, in many songs you find you've created your own hook - tied to the song by something quite different than was intended by the writer.
It does stick, unfortunately.
You are a genius Simon. This is such a brilliant observation!!! Not only do have massive practical skills but you also have enormous intellectual insight. You make us think about things we have thought about before and see and understand things we didn’t perceive before. Thank you!
Thank you Peter - not sure about that genius stuff - just that I've been around a while and seen a fair bit.
I think that you are not just a successful and seasoned player in a tough industry but also have a high and sophisticated intelligence and sensibility. Well beyond what I have seen in many others. Warmest best wishes!
Please write a song with me
You start - bit of melody and a hint of a lyric idea
What a fantastic piece of writing. And if there is anyone else out there your age listening to and deconstructing Dua Lipa hits, I don't know of them. I especially appreciate your explanation of Hey Jude's universal appeal as a song that never stops delivering - and yet more briefly than the song itself. Thank you.
Thank you Tony. Dua Lipa's song choices are consistently good - always a cut above average. Well, obviously.. because they're all hits. But it's more than that - there's a philosophic flow to the lyrics too - even though she writes with a variety of collaborators you can hear there's too much consistency in them for her just to be a passive taker of credit.
Good day Simon,
Oh yes the almighty hook. The possible destroyer of potential great songs, the devil in studio discussions.
But as always your story makes it absolute clear.This is not just a substack, bundled it should be mandatory readings in every music school.
And very soon you will be my. Saturday morning hook.
Have a great week!
William
Thank you William. But I'm not fond of anything mandatory - I'd go for voluntary - or maybe "suggested" - that would be nice. 😋
Love this. Brilliantly articulated. Thanks for doing what you do here Simon.
Just laying out the facts 😋
I always liked 1965 Motown, etc's 'Art of The Fanfare'.
"OK everybody. Here comes the fucking record!!!"
Agreed - no one nailed it better than Motown.
The Sultan of Swing bit is especially marvellous.
It's an extraordinary piece of music - like an endless session of fabulous foreplay. And in the end, you're not really sure whether you came or not.
It stays with you simply because it doesn't go anywhere
Well that's true too, I suppose. You can't escape it. But more importantly - you don't want to.