Soundtrack of My Life: Feedback

SSRS Throwdown: Proposed Lyrics

"Ode To Sleep" 

by: twenty one pilots

I wake up fine and dandy but then by the time I find it handy,
To rip my heart apart and start planning my crash landing,
I go up, up, up, up, up to the ceiling,
Then I feel my soul start leaving, like an old man's hair receding,
I'm pleading please, oh please on my knees repeatedly asking,
Why it's got to be like this, is this living free,
I don't want to be the one, be the one who has the son's blood on my hands,
I'll tell the moon, take this weapon forged in darkness,
Some see a pen, I see a harpoon.

I'll stay awake, 'cause the dark's not taking prisoners tonight.
Why am I not scared in the morning,
I don't hear those voices calling,
I must have kicked them out,
I must have kicked them out,
I swear I heard demons yelling,
Those crazy words they were spelling,
They told me I was gone,
They told me I was gone.

But I'll tell them,
Why won't you let me go?
Do I threaten all your plans?
I'm insignificant.
Please tell them you have no plans for me.
I will set my soul on fire, what have I become?
I'll tell them!

On the eve of a day that's forgotten and fake,
As the trees they await and clouds anticipate,
The start of a day when we put on our face,
A mask that portrays that we don't need grace,
On the eve of a day that is bigger than us,
But we open our eyes 'cause we're told that we must,
And the trees wave their arms and the clouds try to plead,
Desperately yelling there's something we need,
I'm not free, I asked forgiveness three times,
Same amount that I denied, I three-time mvp'ed this crime,
I'm afraid to tell you who I adore, won't tell you what I'm singing towards,
Metaphorically I'm a whore, and that's denial number four.

I'll stay awake, 'cause the dark's not taking prisoners tonight.
Why am I not scared in the morning,
I don't hear those voices calling,
I must have kicked them out,
I must have kicked them out,
I swear I heard demons yelling,
Those crazy words they were spelling,
They told me I was gone,
They told me I was gone.

But I'll tell them,
Why won't you let me go?
Do I threaten all your plans?
I'm insignificant.
Please tell them you have no plans for me.
I will set my soul on fire, what have I become?
I'll tell them you have no plans for me.
I will set my soul on fire, what have I become?

I'll tell them
I'll tell them
I'll tell them
I'll tell them
Please tell them you have no plans for me,
I will set my soul on fire, what have I become?
I'm sorry

Tonal Analysis

"Miss America" Lyrics

Expressing his feelings towards Whitney Houston’s tragic death in “Miss America”, James Blunt utilizes allusions to the celebrity, sober personification, and a multiple person point of view to exhibit his tone of solemn reminiscence.

By employing allusions to Whitney Houston, James Blunt successfully displays his universal tone of solemn reminiscence. Through these allusions Blunt ensures the song is about Houston without including her name in his lyrics. The title, “Miss America”, alludes to the reputation Houston holds in her home country. Every citizen of America is familiar with her celebrity status and has heard her famous hit, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”. Blunt’s title choice reflects the fame Houston possessed as well as her powerful influence on many young, aspiring artists. His tone is revealed through his solemn reflection on her once striving popularity. Consistently using allusions towards her fame, Blunt describes the way she was once displayed to the public. Houston would often be found with her “picture in the paper” and her face on the “silver screen”. While she was alive, her stardom affected everyone in some fashion, yet continues to do so today. However, in present day, she is remembered as a talented woman who passed away too early. On February 11, 2012, the world received the news she had passed away and her name was yet again plastered on every news surface possible. People, including Blunt himself, mourned for her sudden death. Found unconscious submerged bathtub in her hotel room, Whitney Houston’s cause of death is known to be heart disease and cocaine use. Blunt questions if “someone [gave her] something to help [her] ease the pain”. As he looks back on the situation, Blunt’s tone displays his wistful feelings that if Houston was not given accessibility to these drugs she may not have undergone such a death. Within “Miss America”, allusions are deliberately placed into James Blunt’s lyrics to portray his solemn, reminiscent tonal usage.

Personification is inserted by Blunt to assist in the conveying of his ubiquitous tone throughout his song. Before her life was ended, Whitney Houston could often be found on the front of a tabloid magazine with a major, total farce headline about her. As an onlooker just like any other citizen, Blunt wonders through his lyrics if her “make-up never [made] up for the pain behind [her] eyes”. Even though she appeared to be joyous and gleaming in pictures, her makeup was just a cover up for what she was truly experiencing. Ideally someone would have come to her rescue, but it became too late and too much damage had been done. Blunt wishes that a friend, family member, or anyone would have been able to aid her in her recovery as he reminisces on unnecessary, life-changing mistakes. Once healthy and flourishing, everyone “watched [Houston] fly” and glow within her reputation. Because of her substance abuse, she started to become decrepit and then “[fell] apart”. Reminiscing on her avoidable cause of death, Blunt morosely conveys that she was ill and sick at the end of her short life. As Houston consumed all of her alcohol and pain medication, she was slowly destroying her body in the process. Just “like the liquor in the bottle, [they] watched [her] slip away”. The slipping away of her soul produces a sorrowful statement, implying that her death was a long time coming and was not peaceful. Blunt’s portrayal and reflection of the catastrophic scenario in which Houston died contributes to the melancholy feeling of his tone. Blunt displays the tragicalness of her situation through his somber tone, as she was living another life behind the scenes before her body gave up.

            A multiple person narrative point of view is applied to Blunt’s lyrics to personally show his reflective, solemn tone towards Whitney Houston’s shocking death. Not only does the use of a multiple person narrative point of view convey his feelings, but also represents normal onlookers’ emotions towards Whitney Houston as well. James Blunt speaks of Whitney as if he has personally been touched by her graceful spirit and has been acquaintances with her for years. He creates an apostrophe speaking towards Houston by expressing: “I feel as if I know you when you’re on my silver screen, but I don’t know the places that you’ve been”. James Blunt exhibits that he has witnessed Houston’s presence only on television and confesses he cannot imagine the struggles she was facing. Speaking for every human once touched by Houston, James reassures everyone that “someday we’ll find you’ll live forever”. Directly comforting Whitney in his purposefully placed apostrophe, Blunt solemnly shows through his tone that although much sadness is present now and Whitney is not with the human population anymore, one day everyone shall be in heaven together. Illustrating another defeated attempt at trying to envision her constant battle with substances, he says: “I don’t know what goes on in your mind, I’m sure it’s enough to make me cry”. As she is now in heaven, James reflects and tries to feel the same pain she did when she was alive, but cannot come close. He is only capable of partially thinking about her mental wounds, which makes him immensely upset. Utilizing a multiple person narrative point of view, James Blunt creates the feeling as if he and the listeners are speaking to Whitney themselves to display his tone of solemn reminiscence towards her and her journey into heaven.
       Through his reflective tone of solemnity in “Miss America”, James Blunt portrays that despite Whitney Houston passing away, “no goodbyes” are necessary because she will “always be Miss America”. Throughout “Miss America”, Blunt employs a multiple person narrative point of view, allusions to the star, and dismal personification to exhibit his tone of solemn reminiscence. The collaboration of these elements provide in the depiction of Blunt’s slightly depressing universal tone that accompany the story of Whitney Houston’s sudden death. James Blunt creates a beautiful tribute to a star of the modern age that will never be forgotten.

James Blunt

Tonal Analysis Rough Draft

Portraying his adoration for a woman whose face he has just “saw...in a crowded place” in “You’re Beautiful”, James Blunt employs his emotions of admiration, heartache, and reflection to exhibit his tone of affectionate reminiscence. 

Blunt utilizes his awe of this woman’s beauty to display his universal tone of the song. Within describing the scene of a populous city, he walks by a breath-taking woman. Surrounded by bunches of people and soaring buildings she catches “[his] eye, as [they] walk on by” each other. The hustling atmosphere of the city is washed away as he lays eyes on the stunning woman. He quickly becomes infatuated with her, proving his feelings towards the complete stranger. Unlike any other citizen wandering the busy urban area, in this girl “[he sees] an angel”. Purity, peacefulness, and beauty are all associated with angels and by depicting the woman he saw as one, it is evident that Blunt quickly  possesses a strong fondness for her. Revisiting the use of angelic descriptions, he pictures what the heavens must be thinking as they purposefully put those two in contact with each other. He believes that “that there must be an angel with a smile on her face when she thought” that they were destined for one another. James Blunt deliberately shows his love for his woman he recently passed on the street in order to justify his tone of affectionate reminiscence.

 Blunt’s pain is shown to (....................). Typically, public transport in the city is known to be crowded and dirty, creating an unpleasant atmosphere for the rider. Yet in Blunt’s case, his newly found lover “smile[s] at [him] on the subway,” but “she [is] with another man”.

Binary Thesis: "Have a Cigar" and "Rock n' Roll Band"

       Though both Pink Floyd's "Have a Cigar" and Boston's "Rock n' Roll Band" exhibit the tale of a band's shot at a big break, Pink Floyd displays the heartless story of an indifferent music producer attempting to attract the band through a tone of cynical mockery, while Boston describes the thrill of finally signing a record deal by utilizing a tone of enthusiastic nostalgia.

Binary Thesis: "Breezeblocks" and "I Wanna Be Yours"

Arctic Monkeys' "AM" album artwork

       Though both Alt-J's "Breezeblocks" and Arctic Monkeys' "I Wanna Be Yours" convey the speaker's longing to be in a relationship with the one they admire, Alt-J employs youthful allusions from the children's book "Where the Wild Things Are" to portray infinite love towards the straying partner while Arctic Monkeys utilizes a multitude of personification to display the immense affection the speaker possesses to the he woman adores.

Alt-J's "An Awesome Wave" album artwork

Album Review: Salute

       After their 1^st successful album release of “DNA” in 2013, Little Mix are back it. Composed of the vocal powers from Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jesy Nelson, Jade Thrilwall, and Perrie Edwards, this girl band was the first group to win the U.K. series of “X-Factor”. Working with stars like Tulisa Contostavlos, their mentor on X-Factor, Missy Elliot, and T-Boz from TLC, Little Mix have certainly showcased their talent within their tracks. Their music goes far beyond the traditional bubblegum pop sound that most singing bands give off as girls include a mature R&B flare to their 2^nd debut album, “Salute”.  Their fans, “mixers”, respond well to Salute's main theme, girl power, a vital message today’s 21^st century needs to receive.

       Coming off the prosperity of their 1^st single, "Wings", Little Mix’s second album had high expectations. Their 15 song album is quite diverse, incorporating stripped down performances, ballads, and upbeat pop songs, all of which exhibit the group’s immense vocal range. The title song, Salute starts off their album with lyrics reflecting women’s power, as they urge their fans to “stand up and salute” through a pop and R&B styled song.  Move, the 1^st single released off the album is a step up from Wings. While still providing the upbeat style that appeals to many of their fans, the girls, especially with Edwards’ vocal control, showcase their talents thoroughly. The girls kick it old school in Mr.Loverboy, which maintains a vintage sound with their special twist on it, keeping it fresh and modern to their listeners. Salute’s fast tempo songs do not disappoint the listener as the girls consistently manage a crisp, mature sound throughout.

       Although Little Mix excels with the output of their faster songs, their slower songs still portray their talents in singing and lyricism. In Little Me, Pinnock, Nelson, Thirlwall, and Edwards comfort their fans by writing a song that displays the struggles that many teenage girls deal with. They continue to assure them that being themselves is the best thing they can do. Their abilities are further exposed in the unplugged version of  Little Me as their advanced harmonies are crystal clear. Salute’s feature ballad, These Four Walls, is a respite on the album from their many faster, upbeat songs. It deals with the  life of a teenage girl who has lost hope within herself. These themes have been responded well by their fans because of how relatable they are. In their slower songs Little Mix fully provide the listener with their raw talent.

       Little Mix’s sophomore album, “Salute”, does not fall short of expectations left from DNA. Integrating a balanced mix of fast and slow songs, the girls discuss topics relevant to today’s society, always reminding their fans that they are perfect the way they are. Displaying tremendously important messages to their fans while still portraying their vocal and lyrical talents, Little Mix successfully created an album that will be on repeat for hours.

Song Analysis 1

"Wake Me Up" lyrics

                 Portraying a classic love story in "Wake Me Up", Ed Sheeran utilizes a multiple person narrative point of view, whimsical imagery, and pleasant symbolism to display his infatuation with a girl that never realizes "just how beautiful" she truly is.

Sheeran employs various uses of symbolism to represent the speaker’s love he possesses for his girlfriend. Scientifically factual, a snowflake is unique and has no exact copy. Sheeran’s speaker refers to the girl that “maybe [she’s] [his] snowflake.” He feels as though this girl is his own unique human being, and he loves her. Snowflakes also symbolize a light mood, representing the playful relationship the two share. The speaker goes to the beach and discovers a pebble. “I’ll carve it like a necklace,” the speaker proclaims, “so the heart falls where [her] chest is.” Sheeran’s speaker shapes the once ordinary pebble into a heart shaped necklace, symbolizing their pure unity as she now only needs to “breathe to feel [his] heart against [hers].” The wholeness he feels towards his girlfriend is clearly evident with his strong, yet charming actions. The speaker alludes that he would like to marry this woman as he “could do without a tan / on [his] left hand, / where [his] fourth finger meets [his] knuckle.” The pale band around his ring finger signifies the place where a wedding ring would be. After years of timeless wearing of the ring, it would become paler than the rest of his finger. Symbolism is deliberately placed into Sheeran’s lyrics to show the affection the speaker has for his girlfriend, who is oblivious to his strong feelings.

Imagery is employed by Sheeran to have the song obtain a lighthearted sound for listeners. A background fact of Sheeran is he has a sleeve of tattoos, one of the tattoos literally saying “your name”. He playfully inserts a reference to his tattoo: as “[he] should ink [his] skin with [her] name,” while making it blend with the meaning of the song. One can imagine the tattoo of the girl’s name on the speaker’s body, an everlasting, permanent signification of his love for her. The speaker revisits the light concept of winter with his sweetheart. As they spend time together, he realizes “[her] eyes turn from green to gray / in the winter.” Sheeran’s speaker notices the small things about his girlfriend, something majority of people would never notice about this girl. The little characteristics he observes about her validate he loves everything about her, even the minuscule details. The speaker, once again continues to admire his partner with a subtly inserted, but powerful compliment. He watches her and remarks that she “should never cut [her] hair / ‘cause [he] loves the way [she] flicks it off [her] shoulder.” The listener pictures the lightness of flipping hair, providing the connotation of cheeriness, representing the cute relationship the speaker and the girlfriend have. Painting the image of the speaker’s adoration of his girlfriend through the use of bright imagery, Sheeran utilizes his lyrics to make the listener envision numerous scenes.

Ed Sheeran applies the use of a multiple person narrative point of view to generate the speaker’s knowledge of his girlfriend and their long-time relationship. The ideal that the two have been dating for a long time is formed as Sheeran’s speaker talks to the girl saying: “I know you love Shrek / ‘cause we’ve watched it twelve times.” Directly speaking to his partner, the speaker creates the background of the two having lazy days, simply enjoying each other’s presences while watching Shrek together. Another playful image is created between the two lovers as the speaker describes their silly time together as her brother is always beating the speaker at video games. Expressing this statement to his girlfriend, the speaker says he “chuck[s] all the controllers at the TV / and then you[’d] laugh at me.” He speaks to her personally about one of their intimate experiences that signifies a funny moment they can reminisce on together. The speaker puts more weight on the statement to his girlfriend: that “maybe I’m just in love / when you wake me up.” Heavily proclaimed, whenever he feels as though he is not truly committed in this relationship, the speaker realizes that when he wakes up beside her, everything is perfect. Her presence in the morning gives him the sense of safety and the feeling of rightness. Sheeran uses a multiple person narrative point of view, of first to second person, to portray the tender, light-hearted moments the couple share between just themselves.

In “Wake Me Up”, Ed Sheeran illustrates two lovers', “hoping for a fairy tale”, playful relationship, which is strictly intimate between the speaker and his girlfriend. “Wake Me Up”, one of Sheeran’s lesser known songs, contains pleasurable symbolism, dainty imagery, and multiple person narrative point of view to convey the affectionate devotion the speaker has towards his girlfriend. All of these elements produce a composition of lyrics that are pleasant and create a cute air to accompany the soft melody of the song. Each component contributes to the meaning of the song: that the speaker is ultimately in love with everything about his girlfriend. Sheeran’s dynamic lyrics provide the listener with a lovely piece of music that describes a charismatic relationship.

Theme Genre Declaration

My theme-genre combination will be Affection in the 21st Century British Invasion.

Affection provides a wider range of song themes versus the typical "love". While thinking of possible genres, I thought of the Grammys to try and get inspiration. I then thought of the Brits award show. I realized most of the music I listen to, a variety of genres, all spawn from British artists.