The perception of Holly Grabarek

Music changes, faster than cars that run red lights! And unlike having to pay for a speeding ticket, one is commended when bringing something new and fresh to music – new beats, different layering, and of course, the lyrics. Every part of a song is important, however for me, being passionate about writing (and also with chocolate); I pay plenty, if not too much attention to the words that shape a song.

Various bands with their song titles have obvious focus on negativity portrayed through self destructive lyrics such as Silverchair’s “Suffocate Me,” Garbage’s “Medication,” Nirvana’s “Rape Me,” Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb,” Placebo’s “Meds” and Depeche Mode’s “A pain That I Am Used To.”

Looking at Silverchair’s song titled “Suffocate Me” and Depeche Mode’s “A Pain That I Am Used To,” it is clear that many of those artists have creative views that sway towards a darker and possibly depressive outlook of social and everyday issues. Shirley Manson of Garbage sings, “Somebody get me out of here I’m tearing up myself/ Nobody gives a damn about me or anybody else,” while Pink Floyd, one of the greats, rocked out to “I…. have become comfortably numb.”

These emotions are wonderful. In fact, I am excessively emotional and therefore can relate in more ways than 554! That’s quite a big number! However if you listen to the lyrics of the present and upcoming/chart topping artists, you will notice that the lyrical flow and message is slowly and has already moved in a different direction. I don’t think you’d ever hear Kanye West getting accustomed to being “comfortably numb.”

And an artist such as Kanye West is tremendously wonderful! I say this because right up from lyrics, to how he portrays himself, shows that he is one who is very set and focused on his goals. I like him for that. His lyrics make me feel empowered. For instance, the song “Good Life” has lyrics that go “Like we always do at this time/ I go for mine/ I got to shine/ Now throw your hands up in the sky.” There is no possible way a verse like that would make me think about giving up on anything I cared about! Even polishing my cutlery, so they shine. Get it? Shine? *Reference to the above Kanye West lyrics.

Okay, nevermind. My jokes do not usually work out.

Bands of today are very much more self focused. Lyrically, it sways to the beat of having fun, enjoying the music, embracing life. I would say, in comparison to bands such as the above mentioned Garbage and Placebo, bands/artists of present days such as MGMT (“Time to Pretend”), Kanye West (“Good Life”) e.t.c., have more positive lyrics. For example, MGMT’s “Time To Pretend” lyrics say this: “Let’s make some music, make some money, find some models as wives.” While Taylor Swift sings, “If you could see/ That I’m the one/ Who understands you/ Been here all along/ So why can’t you see you belong with me, You belong with me?” Which shows that in this day and age, instead of one wanting to induce self-hurt (which was very popular in past trends, and of course is still present, however just not dominant), one sees hope and the light at the end of the tunnel.

It even translates into everyday life. Take then popular MTV TV series “16 and Pregnant” for example. A few years ago, it was taboo to speak about such an issue, a minor being a mother publicly, let alone have a whole television show about it! However with the empowerment that today’s youth hold, we feel like we can deal with such situations, rather than be defeated.

So, to today’s youth who are moving towards taking control over situations rather than being controlled, cheers! I shall have a Margarita to celebrate this new way of mind.