Sunday, September 5, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Nirvana - Come as you are
Nirvana is still one of my favorite bands for several reasons: their music, lyrics and ultimately their unique and peculiar song writting process, where music was written first and lyrics later. At first it may appear counter-intuitive to go down that path, but some people express their ideas and feeling better by playing an instrument rather than using a pen. Think of Jimmy Hendrix for instance.
Anyways, this is a song I love because its lyrics: Come as you are/as you were/as I want you to be/as a friend/as a friend/as an old enemy which may seem contradictory but overall sounds like a sincere request to get close but with a subtle challenge: who would dare to come as they are or as they were? and even if they do.. would they be coming as I want them to be? Even more so, the request just made is further enhanced by asking people to come anyways as a friend or as an old enemy ... as someone one can relate to.
The song further goes to include a chorus with the lyrics saying And I swear I don't have a gun/No, I dont have a gun which complements the above: don't be affraid of me, you are not the target of my angst... or you have nothing to be affraid of me. The song becomes an snapshot of a subject and his/her interaction with the people around him/her.
In what I consider one of the most beautiful poetic licenses, the song also includes the line Come doused in mud/soaked in bleach/as I want you to be as a sort of acceptance to the individual regardless their particular circumstances at the time. It does not say "come spilling mud" but "doused in mud", one can still be welcome despite finding themselves covered by it . This is also extended to the ones who are also in the process of transforming themselves hence the "soaked in bleach" bit, acknowledging the fact that people "white or clean themselves" but have yet to finish the work: they aren't white yet... they are just soaked in bleach. All in all, it's about accepting the individual as a person despite their current circumstances but also a call for the others to accept themselves for what they are.
Unplugged video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9t0ySNQNE58
Anyways, this is a song I love because its lyrics: Come as you are/as you were/as I want you to be/as a friend/as a friend/as an old enemy which may seem contradictory but overall sounds like a sincere request to get close but with a subtle challenge: who would dare to come as they are or as they were? and even if they do.. would they be coming as I want them to be? Even more so, the request just made is further enhanced by asking people to come anyways as a friend or as an old enemy ... as someone one can relate to.
The song further goes to include a chorus with the lyrics saying And I swear I don't have a gun/No, I dont have a gun which complements the above: don't be affraid of me, you are not the target of my angst... or you have nothing to be affraid of me. The song becomes an snapshot of a subject and his/her interaction with the people around him/her.
In what I consider one of the most beautiful poetic licenses, the song also includes the line Come doused in mud/soaked in bleach/as I want you to be as a sort of acceptance to the individual regardless their particular circumstances at the time. It does not say "come spilling mud" but "doused in mud", one can still be welcome despite finding themselves covered by it . This is also extended to the ones who are also in the process of transforming themselves hence the "soaked in bleach" bit, acknowledging the fact that people "white or clean themselves" but have yet to finish the work: they aren't white yet... they are just soaked in bleach. All in all, it's about accepting the individual as a person despite their current circumstances but also a call for the others to accept themselves for what they are.
Unplugged video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9t0ySNQNE58
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Why am I doing this?
Music has always been part of my life. I've learnt to appreciate music as a form of art but also as a very intimate and personal experience. Most people listen to music. Few people feel the artist behind the music they listen to.
This is a personal journey along memory lane to explore, remember and rediscover all the music, songs, performers, artists and related that in a way have shaped the person I currently am. In a way, it's also an acknowledgement of who I am.
My views and opinions here are purely personal. You may, might and will disagree with my posts. You're encouraged to do so at you own peril.
This is a personal journey along memory lane to explore, remember and rediscover all the music, songs, performers, artists and related that in a way have shaped the person I currently am. In a way, it's also an acknowledgement of who I am.
My views and opinions here are purely personal. You may, might and will disagree with my posts. You're encouraged to do so at you own peril.
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