Musical thoughts...

[gridlore]

Is it just me, or does metal get the really short end of the stick when it comes to discussing lyrics. Everyone assumes that because it's loud, and tends to be shouted, that the lyrics never rise above the "Glory to the Dark Lord, eat raw meat!" level (and there are bands that do that, but most of the good ones write surprisingly deep and well-informed songs.

For example, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Iron Maiden. Compare it to the original poem by Coleridge. The literary connections don't stop there! Metallica does Hemmingway and Lovecraft and do it quite well. The also wrote a song based on the greatest antiwar novel of all time, Johnny Got His Gun

Speaking of war, and back to Iron Maiden, we have Aces High, a tribute to the pilots of the Battle of Britain. Maiden opened the album and their concerts with Churchills "We Shall Never Surrender Speech, and then played this tune. Very effective. They also wrote a song about the Indian Wars, Run To The Hills which manages to show both sides of the conflict.

Just saying, don't diss metal under you've heard and understood what they are singing about. Some of it is very, very good.

Comments

[murphymom.livejournal.com]

It's the fact that so many metal bands seem determined to make it impossible to hear what they are singing about that keeps me from being a fan...OTOH, I *can* understand most rappers, which is one of the things that makes me knock rap.

[claire.livejournal.com]

I agree. "Run to the Hills" has been one of my favourite songs for years.

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

Lars has said that "One" was written before any of them knew about the book or movie of _Johnny Got His Gun_.

Meanwhile, Bruce Dickinson is a novelist. And a gaming buddy of mine slipped some John Osbourne poetry into his HS English class, and when no one commented, he pulls out the boom box and says, "but you might be more familiar with his work as performed under the name Ozzy!"

[sossity.livejournal.com]

i am very responsive to lyrics.
but i tend to shy away from monster guitar and loud dissonance.
some songs just need a second or third listen before you can make a judgment about them. i wish more people were willing to give more than a cursory ear to something new and-or different.
but oldies stations have listeners because not everyone is open to the idea of new music. a lot of people listen to what they listened to in high school and stop there. thankfully, i am not one of them. i still listen to henry mancini and oingo boingo and jethro tull, but i also listen to system of a down, the offspring, and maroon 5.

"Spitfires to face them"

[fearsclave.livejournal.com]

I can forgive Iron Maiden a lot because of Aces High. That sample of Churchill with the drone of piston engines in the background sends shivers down my spine every time...

[robertprior.livejournal.com]

Metal is like opera -- I can't understand the words, so judge it purely on the music. And I usually don't like the music. Sorry.

Country I can understand. Doesn't help, usually.

Rap I understand. Unfortunately.


Of course, I like Gregorian chants and Beijing opera, so I suspect I'm totally out of the ballpark when it comes to musica tastes...