"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.