Lyrics. The sound of poetry to sound.
I’ve been professionally involved in the music industry for quite sometime now and one of the many things ive always loved about music…are the lyrics. Now. Its a wide topic that can go on forever and ever into differents variations and forms, so i’ll just touch on what i can think of, off the top of the head in a sense.
Since i was yay high, ive always taken an interest in the lyrics of songs, regardless of the kind of music it was? i was drawn to the phenomenon of the thing we call lyrics. One of my favorite writers for sometime in my life was Billy Joel. Yes, Billy wrote some great freaking songs.
Anyways, I want to invite you to my writing process (or at least try). Keep in mind though. I’m not a professional writer, whether its formal or informal. I use raw imagination and attempt to make human language adjust to my thoughts, dreams and so forth.
Most of the lyrics i write are inspired by dreams, whether it be good, bad, in between or just so damn incomprehensible that it’s almost impossible to fit it to the english language, or whatever language of preference.
For example: one maybe inclined to be clever and make something up.
-ex.1 – “The Cat in the hat is black and i rhymed all of that”
Pretty simple and straight to the point. Not much mystery there right?
NOW! Some may just take this for it’s value on the surface..but come on! Thats just too plain for my twisted mind. I’ll break it down.
-ex.2 – “The feline, hides in the darkest of nights, the city lights bright, the brim low to block it just right.”
Okay. In these 2 examples i’ve displayed what may seem like 2 totally different ideas on the surface, but when left to an individuals interpretation? the results are endless and maybe intriguing to some, but not all. For instance, I’ve had conversations when speaking about certain artists or songs and one of the homies may say…”Them nuccas dont make no sense, Its gibberish”. Maybe not, or maybe so, but it may be difficult to decipher unless we’re willing to think beyond what the average listener picks up on. Is it me? or has society been evolving into a certain numbness when it comes to lyrics? It’s almost as if we need a remote for everything or just want everything spelled out so that we wouldn’t have to use our minds as much. We pick up a lil melody and ride with it…Doesnt even matter what the lyrics say. Or maybe you like the lyrics because they’re just a reflection of how simple and accessible we have become to just about anything. Yea, Yea…certain people relate to certain things in particular, so therefore we attach it to a personal emotion, desire or even an experience. That in itself is a beautiful thing.
Now, one of the things that got me hype to even write on this topic, is a statement ive heard quite a few times, at one time or another. Recently, i was listening to “Soul on ice” By Ras Kas and this cat comes out of his face, mind you, he’s feeling it! You can tell he’s actually using his mind! Anywho…He comes out and says…”Thats that old school style.” I ask him…”Whatya mean?, in what way?”
He replies, “i don’t know, it’s DIFFERENT..It’s complex.” That same night i play that statement back a few times in my head and it hit me! Alot of listeners are lazy now. Why should we really have to listen to music in depth? Shiat, why not?!
This is crazy! It’s kinda an analogy of what i heard Micheal Jordan say in an Oprah interview when describing the differences between the athletes of his time and the athletes of the current time. He pointed out that back then? The athlete had to earn their corporate sponsors to get that money. They had to keep fit…Up that game in order to be successful in that area. Nowadays? Athletes get a millions of dollars in deals before they even play a half a season. They dont even have to work that hard for it. They can turn out to be bust and still be guaranteed millions of dollars. Why bust ya ass? no need.
Same thing with lyrics. I can just go out and get a wack ass xbox beat and make the hook…”Ima ima put it down, put it down…Where?! doooown” and come off! Why? not sure, maybe everyone can relate to putting it down? lol
The point is. We as artist, are humans. People. We’re supposed to evolve for the better. Whether its spiritually, lyrically mentally etc.
I write the way that i write. Do i want people to understand what im saying? sure. Thats why you can read my lyrics if ya like or even come up with what you think im saying. Or maybe, just maybe… my point may not be as complicated as some may think. One thing for sure is, I’m not bullshitting for the buck. I say things that mean something. It means something even if it doesn’t. I still support artists of all types. I like lyrics to be simple sometimes, especially when it makes sense to the music. The moment, that spontanous blurt, but i’m not buying ya bullshit if the intention was to get numb nuts over here to buy ya next braclet with bling on it. Write some meaningful shit. Something real. While ya at it, write something that’ll help people upgrade in a positive way and not degrade theirselves. If its negative? let it be, but put some thought to it and stop undermining the people. We’re not all idiots.
Support the Lyrics.
ASF/CJM
1 Comment
IDE February 20, 2012 - 19:39
Essay: By Jise
Lyrics. The sound of poetry to sound.
I’ve been professionally involved in the music industry for quite sometime now and one of the many things ive always loved about music…are the lyrics. Now. Its a wide topic that can go on forever and ever into differents variations and forms, so i’ll just touch on what i can think of, off the top of the head in a sense.
Since i was yay high, ive always taken an interest in the lyrics of songs, regardless of the kind of music it was? i was drawn to the phenomenon of the thing we call lyrics. One of my favorite writers for sometime in my life was Billy Joel. Yes, Billy wrote some great freaking songs.
Anyways, I want to invite you to my writing process (or at least try). Keep in mind though. I’m not a professional writer, whether its formal or informal. I use raw imagination and attempt to make human language adjust to my thoughts, dreams and so forth.
Most of the lyrics i write are inspired by dreams, whether it be good, bad, in between or just so damn incomprehensible that it’s almost impossible to fit it to the english language, or whatever language of preference.
For example: one maybe inclined to be clever and make something up.
-ex.1 – “The Cat in the hat is black and i rhymed all of that”
Pretty simple and straight to the point. Not much mystery there right?
NOW! Some may just take this for it’s value on the surface..but come on! Thats just too plain for my twisted mind. I’ll break it down.
-ex.2 – “The feline, hides in the darkest of nights, the city lights bright, the brim low to block it just right.”
Okay. In these 2 examples i’ve displayed what may seem like 2 totally different ideas on the surface, but when left to an individuals interpretation? the results are endless and maybe intriguing to some, but not all. For instance, I’ve had conversations when speaking about certain artists or songs and one of the homies may say…”Them nuccas dont make no sense, Its gibberish”. Maybe not, or maybe so, but it may be difficult to decipher unless we’re willing to think beyond what the average listener picks up on. Is it me? or has society been evolving into a certain numbness when it comes to lyrics? It’s almost as if we need a remote for everything or just want everything spelled out so that we wouldn’t have to use our minds as much. We pick up a lil melody and ride with it…Doesnt even matter what the lyrics say. Or maybe you like the lyrics because they’re just a reflection of how simple and accessible we have become to just about anything. Yea, Yea…certain people relate to certain things in particular, so therefore we attach it to a personal emotion, desire or even an experience. That in itself is a beautiful thing.
Now, one of the things that got me hype to even write on this topic, is a statement ive heard quite a few times, at one time or another. Recently, i was listening to “Soul on ice” By Ras Kas and this cat comes out of his face, mind you, he’s feeling it! You can tell he’s actually using his mind! Anywho…He comes out and says…”Thats that old school style.” I ask him…”Whatya mean?, in what way?”
He replies, “i don’t know, it’s DIFFERENT..It’s complex.” That same night i play that statement back a few times in my head and it hit me! Alot of listeners are lazy now. Why should we really have to listen to music in depth? Shiat, why not?!
This is crazy! It’s kinda an analogy of what i heard Micheal Jordan say in an Oprah interview when describing the differences between the athletes of his time and the athletes of the current time. He pointed out that back then? The athlete had to earn their corporate sponsors to get that money. They had to keep fit…Up that game in order to be successful in that area. Nowadays? Athletes get a millions of dollars in deals before they even play a half a season. They dont even have to work that hard for it. They can turn out to be bust and still be guaranteed millions of dollars. Why bust ya ass? no need.
Same thing with lyrics. I can just go out and get a wack ass xbox beat and make the hook…”Ima ima put it down, put it down…Where?! doooown” and come off! Why? not sure, maybe everyone can relate to putting it down? lol
The point is. We as artist, are humans. People. We’re supposed to evolve for the better. Whether its spiritually, lyrically mentally etc.
I write the way that i write. Do i want people to understand what im saying? sure. Thats why you can read my lyrics if ya like or even come up with what you think im saying. Or maybe, just maybe… my point may not be as complicated as some may think. One thing for sure is, I’m not bullshitting for the buck. I say things that mean something. It means something even if it doesn’t. I still support artists of all types. I like lyrics to be simple sometimes, especially when it makes sense to the music. The moment, that spontanous blurt, but i’m not buying ya bullshit if the intention was to get numb nuts over here to buy ya next braclet with bling on it. Write some meaningful shit. Something real. While ya at it, write something that’ll help people upgrade in a positive way and not degrade theirselves. If its negative? let it be, but put some thought to it and stop undermining the people. We’re not all idiots.
Support the Lyrics.
ASF/CJM