One of the crazy ideas that I've had floating around my head lately is this thing called "anatomy of a song." I don't really know what brought it on, besides the longing to delve deeper into the contextual fibers of music lately, but I thought it was a good idea. Thinking about it the last week or so, I remembered the many literature and poetry classes in high school and college that did this sort of thing. Younger and more naive then, I can recall sitting in the classroom, discussing the numerous rabbit trails of hypothesis and theories about the context, the theme, the underlining subject matter of whatever piece of literature we were analyzing and thinking to myself "where in the world do they get all this crap, and why cant it be just about the words themselves...it's just a story, nothing more, nothing less..." Well, part of me still things that this is partially true, that we can over analyze things until we read deeper into them than what was originally intended, but there is some framework that is necessarily accomplished by diving deeper. I cannot help but to think of it in terms of a painting, photograph, or and other visual art medium. Many people prefer, as do I, the open canvas look, in general, to it's framed cousin. Something about the way it seems to leave the piece open and unbridled makes me relate to it more. Like it is a snapshot of a place in time, but that it is inviting you to explore further, to look beyond the given, always looking for you to complete its framework. But, in contrast, one cannot deny the beauty of the artistic medium exceptionally matted and framed, the closure and finality of the work confidently displayed and highlighted. To me it seems, that in this category of art, the frame can be just as important as the work it is confining. That the eye has to continually be drawn back to the main focus is no meager task, and so the balance of the two are always in search of equilibrium. It does, however, pardon the cliche, frame the art in context, and gives it accountability. It now cannot hide from the wandering mind, and is now exposed for what it is, good or bad, inspiring or depressing. It is what it is.
I say all that to prequel what I believe breaking down a song can and cannot do. Some may look at music as an open ended canvas, a work of art completed, but not finished. One can say that music has the power and influence to affect different people in different ways, and that interpretation necessarily makes "framing" a piece of music impossible. Other look at it through the lens of contextual framework and a thematic weave slant. They say the artist always had something he or she wanted to say through the work, and that nothing short of analyzing the work from all angles and viewpoints can the audience ever fully appreciate and relate to the message that the artist, through his or her work, has presented. Whatever your approach, one thing must never be compromised, and that is the realization and enjoyment of the blessing known as music, given to us from a God who was, and is, the greatest artist, the most inspiring composer, the most creative being to have ever created. Music can inspire, music can humble, music can give hope. But music, art, poetry, sculptures, design, etc cannot be the end. It is always pointing, always searching, always finding ways, beautiful, crafty, odd, sometimes even unconventional ways to point to something. To relay a message. To ultimately speak to our souls. To give glory to the Ultimate Creator, by whom all things are made (John 1: 2), by whom all things are held together (Col 1:17), and who all things glorify (Psalm 19:1). It is for this reason that I have a desire to look past the surface of things, to dig deeper and find what it is that the song is trying to relay to me. What it is trying to communicate to me. What God is speaking to me.
Hopefully in the next few weeks or so, I will be breaking down a few songs lyrically and posting what I feel that the song is communicating to my heart and soul. Songs such as "Rosalyn" by Thad Cockrell, "Make it Without You" by Andrew Belle, "Hanging By a Thread" by Nickel Creek, "How He Loves" by David Crowder Band, and others I hope to dissect and have a deeper insight to what they could teach us about life, love, and hope. Until then here are some video links to the songs...
http://vimeo.com/23560978
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGXWr6Ixg60&feature=player_detailpage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpXDOXhHD-M&feature=player_detailpage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCunuL58odQ&feature=player_detailpage
