I'd like to start off by saying that I know very little about music and the entertainment industry in general. I don't like concerning myself with band names, albums or record labels; my appreciation of music is very very basic. I hear something, I like it, I keep listening to it. However, I do have certain articulable preferences, such as my love for melancholy, haunting music. A great example of an artist with a lot of pieces in this style is Beth Orton, with songs like Blood Red River and Devil Song. Her voice has a haunting, mesmerizing quality that makes the lyrics seem unimportant in the totality of the piece. That is not to say, though, that the lyrics in her songs are any worse than her presentation of them. I just tend not to focus on them as much as I do the full picture, because, upon initial listening, her music shook me to the core. Blood Red River is my favorite of her songs, and also one of the ones where the lyrics are truly worth mentioning:
Took a friend I found across some blood red river
Never did find my way home in time to forgive her
Why must people always want what they can't have?
Why must people always grab what they'd never grasp?
How did we get so far?
How do we move so fast away
From the lilac-lilied lake
I'm sure we used to stay?
Is it only a dream away?
Took a raft I found across some blood red river
Never did find my way home in time for my dinner
Why must people always want what they never have?
Why is it a crime to miss a part of you that's bled?
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For a slow, powerful song, this writing is GREAT. The quality of her voice moves the piece a step further, and I think that she is a truly talented artist. She is one of those individuals whose work is identically amazing in both studio and live productions. Beth Orton is most certainly worth checking out, and I know that I'll be listening to her this winter break. Happy holidays everyone!
Link to Blood Red River:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De_PBVuJepw
Link to Devil Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUlrc3OA4sQ
You claim to know not much about the music industry, so I would select "athlete" over "rockstar".
ReplyDeleteYour description of the song is very on-point. She has a beautiful voice.
I also really like music with more melancholy vibes to them. I really dig both of these songs, both are very real and Beth Orton's voice is soothing.
ReplyDelete