"Riptide"

 

James Keogh, otherwise known as Vance Joy, is a singer-songwriter from Australia who is opening up for Taylor Swift’s 1989 North American concerts. This song gained overnight success in Australia and now you can’t turn on the radio without hearing, multiple times, this unique folk pop song.  The simplicity of the melody line and the driving background instruments makes for a memorable song.  

I think the overall meaning of this song is about change. Vance Joy creatively, through the lyrics, paints a vivid picture of this guy who was once afraid of “dentists and the dark” falling in love with this perfect girl. All of his friends are jealous. The lyrics say, “All my friends are turning green.”  

However, like a riptide, she is constantly changing. There’s a side to her that he didn’t know and she’s always doing thing wrong, but he’s willing to go there with her.  The lyrics say, “I got a lump in my throat because you’re going to sing the words wrong.” He’s scared, but he doesn’t care because he loves her no matter what. He’s pleading with her to answer his question whether or not she is going to stay.

There is no definite ending to the song’s story. The ending is left up for your own interpretation on whether or not she stayed with him. We know, though, that he loved her no matter what and was willing to risk it all for her.

The lyrics and imagery in the video portrays a meaning of change in a unique and subliminal way. Coming from a Christian perspective, it’s comforting to know that God has an unconditional love for us despite our fears and failures.

"Little Toy Guns"

 

Are there any Carrie Underwood fans out there? Carrie Underwood gained immediate fame since her win on the singing show American Idol.  Years later, she is still one of the most successful American country singers and songwriters today. Many of her songs tell a simple story.   Carrie Underwood is also a professing Christian who isn’t afraid to voice her belief in God.  The song “Little Toy Guns” is a dark lyrical with a meaningful message.

Carrie Underwood said in an interview with the Rolling Stone that this song was written from a standpoint of watching children who are raised by parents that are constantly fighting. It’s a detriment for children to be raised up in that sort of negative environment because it plays a toll on them for the rest of their lives.

The music video to this song starts out with a little girl hiding from her parents who are arguing with each other. The girl holds onto her heart locket, closes her eyes, and goes into a world outside her own. In her own little world, out in the woods, her parents aren’t fighting. She brings them back together. In the end, everyone is holding hands.

Carrie Underwood sings, “I wish words were like little toy guns.”. There is no damage that can come from playing with toy guns. Words, on the other hand, are real and therefore can be used to hurt and destroy someone. Through imagery, Carrie Underwood is comparing hurtful words to real guns. She wishes, however, words were like toy guns.

This song is relevant today because the message of this song can be applied to many different situations. Never underestimate the power of words. It’s important to make sure the words that roll off our tongue are used to help someone rather than hurt someone. Words aren’t like toy guns. They have the potential to do some real damage.

 

 

"What We Ain't Got"

 

This post’s gone country. Jake Owen is a country singer/songwriter from Florida.  He’s a one man band who sings lead and strums the guitar to many of his songs. He started gaining popularity in 2006 with his record called “Startin’ With Me.” His newest hit song  “What We Ain’t Got” is on his album, released in 2014, called Days of Gold. The deep lyrics to this country ballad reminds us how important is to be satisfied with our circumstances in life.  

“We all what we ain’t got.” We should appreciate what we’re  given because nothing lasts forever. It seems people are always looking for the next best thing and sometimes the best thing is what you already have.

Jake, in this song, experiences losing someone in a relationship and he desires it back, but it’s just a little too late. He sings, “All I want is what I had, I’ll trade it all just to get her back.” The loss he experienced opened his eyes to see just how important it is to be happy and satisfied in life.

The validity of this song is so true because it, to some degree or another, relates to everyone. People are always looking for things in life but sometimes it’s important to reflect and appreciate the things we have. Let's not let  wanting more get in the way of realizing all the amazing things we’re blessed with.

  

"Believe"

 

2007 was a good year for the music industry because it was introduced to the promising rock band from London, England. The band’s members are Marcus Mumford (lead vocals), Ben Lovett (piano, accordion), Winston Marshall (banjo, electric guitar), and Ted Dwane (acoustic bass, electric bass).  This band brings a lot of talent to the stage with their musical abilities and their diversity.  It’s not every day you see and hear the banjo being played at a rock concert. That is, unless you’re at a Mumford and Sons concert.   Mumford and Sons, with the use of their many instruments, makes musical sounds that set them apart from their contemporaries. Mumford and Sons released their newest album, Wilder Mind, in March of this year.  “Believe” is a song featured on their newest album.

The singer, in this song, is questioning the norm. He could be questioning the validity of a relationship, his friends, or even a political leader.  The singer isn’t satisfied with the status quo because he wants something deeper. The lyrics say, “And I’m climbing over something. And I’m running through these walls. I don’t even know if I believe.”

The singer, wanting to know more, is not satisfied with the answers he’s getting.  The lyrics say, “I’m going to have to guess what’s on your mind.” He’s trying to pry answers out of this person but it only leads to more questions.

This song sends society a good message. We are constantly being saturated with the media and their message.  We are guided to think and believe whatever the media wants us to believe. On the surface, it may seem right. If it doesn’t align with what God says, though, it isn’t.   Sometimes, it’s good to ask questions and sometimes it’s good to believe steadfastly what you’ve already been shown to know is true.  Sometimes, it’s good to dig a little deeper. Let’s wade through what everyone constantly wants us to believe and find the answers for ourselves.

"Until It's Gone"

 

 

Linkin Park has been a success since the beginning of their musical career. The members are Joe Hahn, Dave Farrell, Brad Deslon, Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon and Chester Bennington. They originated in California and, though you probably listened to them in middle/high school, they are still very much in the public eye. Their music borders between pop rock and alternative rock. The song “Until It’s Gone” is one of their most recent songs that made it to the top of the charts in 2014.

This song by Linkin Park is a song about loss. You don’t know if the couple in the music video, after breaking up, got back together. I don’t think that’s important for us as viewers to know because the message is to appreciate what you have before you lose it. The singer at first doesn’t realize that he’s about to lose something that he now takes for granted but later will appreciate. He sings, “Oh you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” The singer emphasizes the lyrics “Until Its Gone” by singing them over and over.  I think the singer sings these lyrics over and over again to emphasize how many opportunities we’re given over and over again to save what we have before it’s too late and we’ve lost it.

We live in a materialistic world and it’s easy to have a desire to want more. Materialism brings superficial happiness that lasts for a while but sooner than later will disappear and disintegrate into nothing but loneliness and sadness. As a result of filling the void with superficial things, we begin to not appreciate what we have and want more.

Everyone’s heard a thousand times to appreciate what you have but I think this phrase begins to lose its meaning.  We can become susceptible into thinking someone or something will always be present in our lives. More than likely, this is not the case.  Coming from a Christian perspective, we should appreciate the many things God gives us in our lives and this song can be a reminder to do just that.

"Polaroid"

Let’s talk about Imagine Dragons. No, I didn’t say imagining dragons, I said Imagine Dragons.  This Las Vegas rock band gained popularity rather quickly with their single called “It’s Time.” The band’s members are Dan Reynolds(lead vocalist), Wayne Sermon (guitarist), Ben McKee (bassist), and Daniel Platzman (drummer) and together they make some pretty fiery  music. The creativity in the style/lyrics of their songs, I think, set them apart from your rock/pop bands on the radio today.  Trending now from Imagine Dragons is their song “Polaroid” off their “Smoke+Mirrors” album.

A Polaroid camera, as we all know, is an instant camera where, after you point and shoot, you have your picture within seconds. There isn’t a lot of effort involved into getting that perfect picture. Often times, with certain circumstances in our own lives, we want things to work like a Polaroid camera. We want the beautiful end result of something without putting in the sweat and tears needed to accomplish your dream.  We also want it now and if we can’t get it now, it’s not worth it. Right? After all, we live in a world conditioning us to think we can instantly get anything we want.

I think this song is conveying a relationship that, without work and dedication, will crash, burn, and fall. The relationship, in order to be successful, will take time. A good relationship is not equated with instant gratification. Work and time are the two ingredients to a “Polaroid Picture” relationship.  

The lyrics say, “I’m gonna get ready for the rain to pour heavy.” The individual in this song, after living in the fast lane, realizes for something to be good, it first must be bad. Giving up is not an option for this individual because he/she is willing to go through whatever it takes to get what they want.

I think this message is relevant for society today because greatness is not something instantly achieved. It’s something that, with hard work, evolves over time. We live in a day and age where it’s hard to keep our focus on something because we are constantly infiltrated with countless things the world has to offer. Let us not allow our hopes and dreams to be charred by the fire eating dragon of lack of steadfastness of what we apply ourselves to. Anything worth achieving is worth putting the work into.

"Out of the Woods"

 

This young singer/songwriter is known for writing lyrics that sound as if they came out of her journal about past relationships. This makes her songs so real and relatable to everyone because they too have experienced some of the same things.  She has evolved, through the years, from country to now a pop artist but the message of her songs haven’t really changed.  Taylor Swift is among one of the most popular names in Entertainment today. Taylor Swift is one of my favorite artists of today.  The song, “Out of the Woods”, is on her most recent album 1989.

Taylor Swift, in an interview, explains the overall song’s meaning by saying, “"This song is about the fragility and kind of breakable nature of some relationships. This was a relationship where I was kind of living day to day, wondering where it was going, if it was going to go anywhere, if it was going to end the next day. It was a relationship where you kind of never feel like you're standing on solid ground." (www.entertainmentwise.com)

This meaning behind this song is portrayed through imagery in the lyrics. The chorus, repeatedly, says, “Are we out of the woods yet?” “Are we in the clear yet?” She’s saying, in reference to her relationship, are we out of danger? This is referring to a shaky and shallow relationship because there was no foundation established. The relationship could have ended the next day. The relationship could have lasted the next day. She didn’t know. To her, this kind of relationship brought on many mixed emotions. It brought on bad feelings. It brought on good feelings.

This song has a more questioning and anxious tone to it.  This song takes you on a bit of a music roller coaster ride.   The repeated question she sings in the chorus I think represents the anxiousness she felt while in the relationship. She was frantic because she had to keep asking herself if they were okay. She couldn’t get herself to believe everything was fine, no matter how hard she wanted to.

I think this message resonates with people in society because it’s something everyone experiences.  You can, under certain situations, feel anxious and frantic but also excited and happy. Feelings, instead of logic, start to control the situation.  It becomes easy to ignore the bad things screaming at you until it comes to a screeching halt. Coming from a Christian perspective, our focus should be on pleasing God. When we give God ourselves, He’ll lead us in the right path for our lives.

 

"Team"

Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor known as Lorde, is among one of American’s most popular and influential singers today. Her music has an indie pop and electronic sound to it. She is a singer/songwriter originally from New Zealand.  Many of Lorde’s songs portray a message of being unique. Also, her songs are about life being different than how media usually portrays it to be. Her music paints a very picturesque image about royalty. She has a way, in her songs, that portray simple meanings through unique imagery. The song “Team” by Lorde conveys a message that is relevant for society today.

"We live in cities you'll never see on screen
Not very pretty but we sure know how to run free
Livin' in ruins of the palace within my dreams
And you know we're on each other's team"

She is talking about living in the lower part of society. It’s society that people don’t see on screen because it’s not very pretty. Everyone apart of this society is still happy because they have each other and they have their dreams that help them to keep going. In her dreams, she lives in a palace. In reality, she lives in the ruins.

“Call all the ladies out, they're in their finery
A hundred jewels on throats
A hundred jewels between teeth
Now bring my boys in, their skin in craters like the moon
The moon we love like a brother, while he glows through the room
Dancin' around the lies we tell
Dancin' around big eyes as well
Even the comatose, they don't dance and tell”

I believe, through this verse, she is portraying the beauty in the simple things in life instead of the glamour life that isn’t reality.  She is calling out the people who live for the material things in life because that leads to a messed up view of happiness. Life, to her, is more meaningful building relationships and being satisfied. The music video shows her with a bunch of friends. They are teenagers having fun and wanting to break free from all the “finer” things in life.  

The world is full of imperfections. This song is about embracing your imperfections by being satisfied with them. Instead of trying to hide them, show them to the world because, after all, there is no one perfect.

I think the meaning of this song is good for society today because it helps people, especially younger children/teenagers, to accept who they are. The media, through TV and magazines, portrays life and beauty in an unrealistic way. Beauty, to the media, is looking a certain way and wearing a certain type of clothing. This shallow view is fake  because most people can’t be this way. It’s sad, though, because so many people are striving for perfection and when they can’t achieve it, feel empty.  This is not a positive message we should be sending to young people today. We need to embrace the natural beauty and embrace our real self.

True beauty comes from within. Coming from a Christian perspective, God wants our focus to be on helping others and making our life count for something more meaningful than what we wear.

Matthew 6:25-34

 

 

"Ghost"

 

 

“I keep going to the river to pray.” The widely popular song Ghost by the British singer/songwriter is unique in that it doesn’t sound like your typical pop song. Ella’s voice through this song has a soulful tone to it. The style of this song is on point.  I believe there are different ways, through the lyrics, to interrupt the meaning of this song.

This song, through the lyrics and the sound, has dark overtones to it. The song is portraying your past with someone haunting you because the thought of them is in your mind, and won’t let go. There is nothing, no matter how hard you try, that can make the thought of them disappear.

The ghost is a symbol of the person who once had you and now only has your mind. The lyrics say, “I’m sleeping all these demons away. But your ghost, the ghost of you, it keeps me awake.”

I believe it’s hard for her to let the memories with this person vanish because she truly was in love. She sings, “Oh you never told me true love was gonna hurt. True pain, it’s own desert.” She’s now left alone with only the ghost of him to face.

It’s almost like she’s not willing to let the memory of him fade because her feelings towards their relationship are still very real. She sings, “Each time that I think you go, I turn around and you’re creeping in, And I let you another skin, Cause I love living in the sin.”  She fell in love with the wrong person and because she didn’t listen to wise advice, she learns the hard way.  

The story in this music video is so unique in how it portrays the message of someone’s ghost haunting you.  The music video opens with a young frantic guy in the woods at night that is running away. He doesn’t know what step to take next.  His girlfriend just died and there are police after him. However, I don’t believe he killed her. There are flashbacks of them together and they are happy. The young guy, near the end, is confronted with an older man in a hotel room that I believe represents him. I don’t think he ever gets over her. Therefore, the ghost of her never stops haunting him, even to his old age.

The song ghost written by Ella Henderson and Ryan Tedder (lead singer for One Republic) is a song with lyrics that people can relate to. Listeners can relate the “ghost” in the song to someone, something or anything relatable to their life situations.

 

 

 

Tell the World

The Christian rapper, Lacrae, has got to be one of my all time favorite Christian artists. It was my freshman year of college where my roommate, a huge fan, introduced me to Lacrae. I instantly fell in love with his music. Lacrae’s honesty in his raps was really refreshing to find in a Christian music artist. His lyrics are so real and talk about many situations we, even as Christians, face.

           Lacrae’s song, “Tell the World,” is a song that emphasizes how big God is and how insignificant we are. This song, “Tell the World,” is embedded with biblical truth from the very first note to the last.
“Now, I’mma tell the world, tell ‘emI’mma tell it everywhere I go”

         The  first verse to Lacrae’s song emphasizes his overwhelming love he has for God and the world in that he wants to tell the world the good news. He is a new creature in Christ, and because of that, He is ready to tell the whole world about God.

“I know one thing’s true: I don't even really deserve to know you
But, I-I’m a witness that you did this, and I'm brand new”

         This next part of Lacrae’s song gets to the heart of the gospel. Once a slave to himself, but now he is free because God took him out of his sin and cleaned him up. Yes, we are undeserving, but because Christ died for all our sins so that we could be set free. When God comes into our life, he makes us brand new. Lacrae emphasizes that thought through this verse.

 “I can't offer you nothin’, but your care & kindness keeps comin’
  And your love is so unconditional, I get butterflies in my stomach
  I got the old me in the rearview, now the new me got a clear view”

         The last part of Lacrae’s rap talks about God’s, although undeserving, unconditional love towards us. God’s love is so deep and there is nothing that can take that away. Again, Lacrae emphasizes he is going to tell the world and nobody can stop him.

         The music video starts off with Lacrae and a featuring music artist outside near a railroad track and throughout the song continues to go back to that scene.

It then shows him as well as a few other people getting on an airplane and taking off. This happens around the time Lacrae raps, “You set me free.” I think how that is done in the music video is pretty clever.

           "Tell the World” is the main line in this song that gets sung. When this is being sung, the music video shows a lot of different people in the world. The music video also shows different encounters with people Lacrae has had at his concerts. I think that is trying to portray Lacrae interacting with the world. The music video ends showing Lacrae on stage and the thousands of people at his concert.

The song “Tell the World” by one of most famous Christian rappers, Lacrae, is an encouraging song that inspires you to, with confidence, tell the world about Christ. You have something to say. So, tell the world.

 

 

Letting Life Count

“Cause we got the fire, fire, fire.” Ellie Goulding is a young English singer/songwriter who is known for her distinct voice amongst today’s pop vocalists. Ellie Goulding’s music does not sound like your run of the mill pop sound. Her music encompasses different styles like indie pop and electronic with a more edgy sound to it. The song “Burn” is one of Ellie Goulding’s most recent and most popular song today and it may be because of the bright message this song portrays.

We live in a society where it’s all about the here and now. The view is to do whatever makes you happy because, after all, we live today but may die tomorrow. Therefore, like the ancient saying goes, “eat, drink, and be merry.” Is this the view we should let control the decisions we make for our lives?  I would argue no, not at all.

Life is what you make it. In this song, Ellie and her friends are happy because they are living one day to the next with no thought of their future in mind.  Ellie sings, “We don't wanna leave, no. We just wanna be right now.” They realize, because given one life, to make it count. This perspective creates a spark in them to let go of worries, have fun, and live carefree.

 Time, because they are young, is on their side but eventually, the candle will burn out. Therefore, there is no time to sleep. There is no time to patiently watch your life as it passes you by. I believe the burning fire is a metaphor for ones individual life. There is a spark in the human race and the one thing that unites us is our pursuit for happiness.

While Ellie Goulding’s song “Burn” is catchy and easy on the ears, I think we need to be careful in not letting her distinguishing message permeate our lives. Yes, I agree, we are only given one life so we should make the most of it. I don’t believe making the most of life is done through partying and living carefree.  This unrealistic view may cause confusion because it is not through these things where one finds true and lasting happiness.  We will ultimately be happier individuals when we stop listening to the shallow lies the world so loudly deceives us into thinking will make us happier.

From a Christian perspective, we can shine bright in a dark world through letting the love of Christ be evident in our lives. So, “let it burn.”   

Dear River

The artist and song I am highlighting/analyzing this week may be new for some because it’s not in the mainstream. Kina Grannis started off singing in front of her camera and uploading her videos online. Due to her raw voice and vulnerable lyrics it didn’t take her long to become a Youtube sensation.  The song “Dear River” by the artist Kina Grannis is a meaningful song that has a relevant message for today’s society. Just by listening to the song it may be difficult to understand the real meaning  of what the song is saying because of its subliminal message.

The video is artistically done because it shows a couple in the woods who are immersed in technology instead of enjoying each other’s company and the beauty that surrounds them in the woods. They are trying to capture their time together with their phones but instead of capturing the moment, they lose the moment.

The kids in the video are trying to get the couple’s attention and get their focus off of technology and on each other.   The kids in this music video could metaphorically represent the river. I believe the word “river” means “youth” in the song because the lyrics say, “Everybody knows the river comes, the river goes, but you stopped here.” This is, I believe, referring to our childhood that comes and goes so quickly. It’s important to cherish each moment we have instead of letting it pass us by because we can never get any moment or second back. Kina, at the end of the music video, turns the adults into children by putting crowns on them.  She takes them back to their youth where they can live carefree.

This is a song where you almost have to watch the music video to understand the relevant meaning behind it. The song, “Dear River,” that Kina Grannis sings conveys a deep meaning to live in the moment by not losing yourself in technology. I encourage everyone to watch it.

 

"Take Me to Church"

Hozier is an Irish native artist that has recently sprung up in the music realm. Gaining popularity rather quickly, he is known for his controversial song “Take Me to Church.” Unless you’re living under a rock, it’s impossible to have not heard this song, at least once, on the radio or Television.

The message embedded in the lyrics to this song is an issue that people, what seems like for years, have been struggling and debating with. Hozier, in this song, sings, “We were born sick, you heard them say it.” There is a struggle taking place with Hozier because he is in love with someone of the same sex. He believes, contrary to what Christians says, homosexuality is a natural act. Hozier criticizes Christians who are judgmental towards people who are simply expressing their human nature. He believes the church is undermining the natural feelings of homosexuality. According to him, Christians are not bestowing love and grace towards people are homosexuals but instead “sharpening their knives.”

Hozier, through this song, is encouraging people to accept and be proud of who and what you are regardless of what the critics say about you. It’s interesting to note the song has a gospel feel to it, and yet this song is blatantly bashing the church.

Homosexuality has been a debate in our society for years and the acceptance of homosexuality is growing rapidly. I think, one reason for this, is due to songs that conveys a message of not being afraid of being who you are. 

However, homosexuality, according to God, is wrong and because it is accepted in today’s society doesn’t mean it’s okay. It’s easy, as Christians, to become numb to what is wrong and what is right. It’s not easy living in a society where an issue of morality depends on what you believe. It’s different for every individual because, unfortunately, for many people there is no compass guiding them through the decisions they make in their lives.  Ultimately, God should be our guide in determining whether or not to accept an issue.

It’s sad that many Christians harshly judge someone who is a homosexual. Instead of the church “sharpening their knives,” the church should be ready to combat their wrong with a right by genuinely loving these people.  After all, Christ shows us love even when we least deserve it.  The thing we can count in life is the love of God who stays constant.