Jump to navigation
Lyrical Tragedy & Living Internet
R. Alex Whitlock
The Guardian (UK) has a list of the twenty five most
miserable, lonesome anthems. The list itself is unremarkable except for a few tidbits:
- They put the wrong version of Eric Carmen's "All By Myself". Celine's doesn't sound nearly as delightfully pathetic as Carmen's.
- They have neither version of "Without You." It's a tough call as to whether or not I'd put Nilsson's or Mariah Caray's, but one of them has got to be on there.
- I couldn't help but notice that most of these songs are way deep to the 14-17 set.
- The number of these songs that I like are outstripped by the number that I've never heard of. I didn't expect that.
- Verve Pipe's "The Freshmen" is apparently open to interpretation. As is Ben Folds Five's "Brick." See below.
One of the great things about the Internet is the ability to go in and make changed. It's a tough ethical balance between putting forward incorrect information and retroactively changing what you said. Their description of Ben Folds Five's "Brick" walks this line admirably:
13. Brick Ben Folds Five (1997)
(NB: Many listeners, including me, first assumed Brick was about a relationship ending. We discovered later that it's about a couple getting an abortion. The following is based on the first scenario. Therefore it's all wrong.) A gloomy piano-and-voice song about a couple breaking up (wrong), Brick tells of a guy who picks up his girlfriend, bitches, takes her someplace, bitches, waits for her, bitches, then brings her back home, referring to her as a "brick" (this is true). We never learn what's transpired in between (this is wrong). All that's certain is the couple wants to split up (this is wrong). Brick offers the same pleasure that comes with dropping one on your foot (this is really true).
Observations
That's interesting. I always just assumed that anyone who actually listened to the words of the song knew it was about an abortion, otherwise it doesn't really make much sense.
My initial interpretation was the same as theirs, but that was from hearing it on the radio and not learning all the words (mostly just the refrain, which lends itself to their interpretation). Once I learned the verses, I figured it out.
The video might lead to the same conclusion as listening to the verses. That is, if you think in the same terms as the director of the video. If you're normal, you may get a different impression entirely:
If I remember correctly, some of the scenes involve the band playing in a small room with ankle-deep water, which, according to VH-1's Popup Video (yes, I'm a dork), was an attempt to simulate a womb. Looked like a fairly typical drowning--i.e., drowning in this relationship--kind of scene to me. But maybe the point was that it should be both, given the real meaning behind the lyrics.
Or maybe I dreamed all that.
Heidi,
Fascinating. I've never seen the music video. I'm actually a bit surprised that they even broached the subject (however abstractly) in the music video. From what I understand Ben Folds himself was evasive in confirming the subject until he got permission by the ex-girlfriend with whom the events that inspired the song occured with. The music video probably came out before that point. Also, I'm kinda surprised that MTV or VH1 were really hot on the idea of an abortion music video regardless. Also, most music videos suck (that has nothing to do with Ben Folds, I just mention that at every opportunity).
Hmm... now I wanna see the video!
Wait. They still make videos? Where are they showing them?
I may have paid closer attention to the song than most b/c I graduated H.S. with <a>Darren Jessee</a>, the drummer for Ben Folds Five (who co-wrote the song).
I recognize that you're most likely being at least partly sarcastic, but if you have satellite there is a decent channel called FUSE that shows music videos at most hours. Though that was a year ago. By now they're probably showing endless repeats of Eddie and the Cruisers.
Yeah, I could be wrong on *which* video I'm talking about (whether it was the "Brick" video for Ben Folds or some other song by some other band), but I'm almost certain that I've got it right.
The Popup info was largely about how difficult it was to get all the equipment into the room with the ankle-deep water without totally ruining everything. I don't remember how successful they were at that last bit -- seems like something's bound to have been ruined on a set like that.
So, I wouldn't say they were necessarily hot on the idea of an abortion video per se; more like just interested in how the idea could've been translated into a video without being explicit. Which, if you think about it, is exactly what a censored music video channel should be impressed by -- the amount of likely-to-be-censored material that can be expressed in a form not considered offensive. I mean, if the offensive can't be expressed inoffensively then the channel would never get to show it, and thus would not get the benefit of having the cutting-edge videos to keep people watching.
Of course, the cost-benefit of dumbing down or semi-muting serious topics for the sake of exposure is the subject of a whole 'nother debate.
Add an Observation
Comment spam is an ongoing problems that we're trying to address. Previously we required people to create accounts and log in. I am thankful to say that is no longer the case. We're giving Captcha another try and are playing around with a text-based Q&A variant of Captcha. So bear with us as we try to figure out how to best get a handle ont he problem. Please note that any comment on a post more than 30 days old will go into the moderation queue, where I will get to it when I can which could be once a week.
