writing in the lyrical abstract

[silvercord]

hi all im geoff your friendy noooob: ) (heh why do i like writing that?)song writing has always been a love of mine. I love how lyrics add an extra dimension of meaning and feeling to the sound.but im one of those cats thats 1st the lover of the melody and 2nd the lyric content. (i remember all of my 'showtunes' friends used to just be irritated at this)i find that melodies from bands the " the autumns" "cocteau twins" and tons of other space rock/shoegaze bands have wordsthat hold no subjective meaning, but a strong objective feelingthis is my bane...because i know the industry really wants a solid story...its the easiest and the most liberating method for me to just string words together as an ethereal feeling(since my forte is space rock and ethereal ambient)anyone out there feel the same as I?i used to be berated by my music professor in the universitywhen i submitted a composition.."what does it mean, Geoff? It makes no sense"i often like to not make sense lyricaly and try to use words likeornaments the the canvas of the music.i would love to know your thoughts on this...~here is an example of what i meandownload: http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... download=1and really bad quality stream~http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... truethanks for reading, would love to read from you all~peacegeoffand happy Korean/Chinese New Year!

[edteja]

There is definitely a school of thought in this vein, but for most songs, part of the issue is to communicate and sentiment, not just an aural texture. If you are after the texture idea, then there are jazz and avant guarde genres to work in. Scat singing came out of the same thought process, that the sounds themselves were sufficient (especially if you happened to forget the words!). But these days there ain't much money in it.

[squids]

Quote:There is definitely a school of thought in this vein, but for most songs, part of the issue is to communicate and sentiment, not just an aural texture. If you are after the texture idea, then there are jazz and avant guarde genres to work in. Scat singing came out of the same thought process, that the sounds themselves were sufficient (especially if you happened to forget the words!). But these days there ain't much money in it. shyeah, that's a fact!

[silvercord]

hmm avant guarde and jazzbut now that i think about it..i do feel that a beautiful melodyconveys much more than aural texturemaybe thats why im so attracted to bands like sigur ros, the autumns, cocteau twins, dead can dance..all of these bands often use words as color, but that often conveyed more emotion thanany sling of words could ever have;)but yes, i understand that there are themes and there are themes for us to build and write uponi wonder what the next form of media will allow us to be able to expresslooking forward to it~peace

[edteja]

If you think of the sound of the words, not just their meaning, as part of the composition, then you are working in the same framework as Burroughs, Ferlinghetti and other beat poets. This is really only a short hop from considering that certain words and phrases don't work in certain types of music--largely because of cultural context. But it takes it further. Word jazz an album by Ken Nordine and the Fred Katz group is an example of wordplay combined with music such as you are talking about, but from a 50s point of view. Also, in thinking about where you are taking this, read the perspectives of the impressionist painters and even the ideas of the dada school of thought, where the meanings of things were deliberately put OUT of context, in an attempt to give them freshness.

[jeep]

I like Your first two words "Hi All" I can understand that you guys lost me after that I got to quit reading these posts before I wake up..or add to my17pills aday meds..

[silvercord]

Ed, I couldn't agree more!I feel that as an ambient composer, i wish to have the listener,to experience something....unique...something without wordsto "taint" the experience...words are the lexicon that would only bring them to what they are familiar with in the waking world.My fav. band "the autumns" does this but also uses words set in a slew as to color the melody..(hehe i remember 1st hearing and trying to make heads or tails out of the words., saying "say what??) but the feel of the melody colored with var. words wereso lovely and on the 2nd listening, i really did understandwith out understanding.So Cheers Ed! I'm happy someone is on the same vibepeaceGeoff

[edteja]

I was realizing that some of my enjoyment of Leonard Cohen comes from the texture of the words he uses. His use isn't generally as abstract as you are talking of, but it moves in the same direction. You've made me want to go check out the autumns.

[silvercord]

Ed~ im so pleased you have checked out my all time fav bandthey are based in L.A...how i wish i can watch one of their showsagain...haha i doubt they will ever come to Koreai wonder which songs you have heard...thier newer stuff is ...well..different than their older stuff haha( i dont know how to put it)and maybe they would be upset with me saying this...but i so love their 1st ep and first two albumsanywho...Ed.. whos your all time fav band(not solo artist mind you but band;)

[edteja]

Well I went Myspace where they have Clem and Joy and Killer in Drag posted. It is hard to hear most of the words, so it is a good thing they use them as texture!My favorite band??? Depends on the day . My tastes are so eclectic it gets me in trouble. Back in their time, I loved Jefferson Airplane and The Mothers of Invention, but also jazz bands (Modern Jazz Quartet, Cannonball Adderly's groups...). One week in the 80s I went to hear Andre Previn with the LA Philharmonic, Tom Paxton and the jazz group Amber Route in the same week. These days I don't follow any particular band--more interested in particular artists, songwriters & arrangers.