F is for Filmed Flirtation

F-Falling Slowly. My husband and I are big music nerds. I saw the movie Once and then I made him watch it. We both loved it, and if you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out on a unique cinematic experience. “Falling Slowly” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and for good reason. Songwriters Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard expertly execute this tune about the power of love, music, and hope. The piece begins with the simple melody of an acoustic guitar. Glen Hansard’s vocals then echo the melody, and Irglova voices a haunting harmony. Piano is also introduced, and there is a lovely crescendo leading into the chorus of the song. By the end, strings enhance the arc of this simple, well balanced, and beautiful tale. I cannot recommend Once or the accompanying soundtrack enough.

And games that never amount to more than they’re meant will play themselves out…

Glen Hansard featuring Marketa Irglova, “Falling Slowly,” Once Soundtrack, 2007

E is for Everlasting Euphoria

E- Everlong. I love me some Foo Fighters. I am so glad Dave Grohl was able to channel his considerable talent into something so successful after Nirvana. I will unabashedly proclaim that “Everlong” is my favorite song. The central reason for such favoritism? It’s all in the layering and dynamics, baby. The quiet, almost melancholy guitar chords swell into something utterly magnificent by the time the piece hits the chorus. The drums take the song into overdrive in a joyous flood of sound. Don’t ask me what the song is about, because I have no idea. With lyrics like “breathe out, so I can breathe you in,” my best guess is that it’s about love. Regardless, the song has all the enthusiasm of a passionate love affair. No matter what kind of nasty mood I’m in, “Everlong” can help me out of my funk.

The only thing I’ll ever ask of you, you’ve got to promise not to stop when I say when…

Foo Fighters, “Everlong,” The Colour and the Shape, 1997

D is for Damned Daylight

D- The Day I Tried to Live. I realized that this is starting to turn into the “easy listening” alphabet, so I decided to include a song with a little more bite. Soundgarden has always been one of my favorite bands, so why not examine one of their contributions to the soundtrack of my mind? As with many of the songs written by Chris Cornell, “The Day I Tried to Live” is a bit of a downer. The lyrics of the song describe the futility of life in general, and how everything you do is about as useful as banging your head against a wall. I don’t have to extol the virtues of Cornell’s voice, but I will anyhow: it is one of the most unique instruments I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. Driven by the vocals, the dynamic contrast appropriately adds to the angst of this piece. As someone diagnosed with social anxiety, this song really speaks to me on a personal level. Most days that I try to live, I end up making a complete moron of myself.

Words you say never seem to live up to the ones inside your head. The lives we make never seem to ever get us anywhere but dead…

Soundgarden, "The Day I Tried to Live," Superunknown, 1994

C is for Cumbersome Courtship

C-Cannonball. His is a voice which seems constantly on the verge of breaking, and that is why I love it. With “Cannonball,” in particular, Damien Rice demonstrates his considerable talents as a musician and a poet. The sparse acoustic accompaniment beautifully sets this tale of wistful infatuation. Rice’s voice is full of passion and uncertainty, and these emotions are enhanced by the dynamic contrast of his guitar. The opposing ideas set forth in the chorus illustrate the contradictions and complexities of love. This seemingly simple piece is reflective of the brilliance of O as an album. If you don’t own it, you need to!

Stones taught me to fly. Love taught me to lie. Life taught me to die. So it's not hard to fall, when you float like a cannonball…

Damien Rice, “Cannonball,” O, 2002

B is for Beach Balls

B- The Boys of Summer. In this melancholy piece, songwriters Don Henley and Mike Campbell expertly created a classic tale of love lost. The lyrics detail a tumultuous memory of first love, and the overwhelming yet impossible desire to recapture those seemingly eternal emotions. Beautifully set against the backdrop of the haunting score, this sad story is infused with idealism and indignation. Henley’s voice perfectly articulates the desolation of regret. The hope and determination of the chorus shines brilliantly in contrast to the hypnotic pallor of the verse’s melody. The pulsating notes of the accompaniment, paired with small passages of narrative guitar, create an unforgettable atmospheric quality. Of course, I cannot discuss this song without giving credit to the poignant and perfectly directed video. But what I love about this song the most is that it’s so easy to sing along to…

Nobody on the road, nobody on the beach. I feel it in the air, the summer's out of reach…

Don Henley, “Boys of Summer,” Building the Perfect Beast, 1984

A is for Anticipated Anguish

A-And So It Goes. As with many Billy Joel songs, the beauty of this piece lies within its simplicity. The repetitive melody of this tune ascends and descends as a wave of sorrow and understanding. The rhymes are simple and eloquent, and the theme of the lyrics is universal. Joel delicately reminds us that failed relationships, however tragic, are an expected part of life. He also proves that with reflection, one can achieve a greater understanding of the connections that tether one human to another. The song, as a whole, calms my heart and breaks it simultaneously.

And so it goes, and so it goes. And so will you, soon, I suppose…
Billy Joel, “And So It Goes,” Storm Front, 1989

Auditory Alphabet Approaching

I started this series a few years ago, but only wrote a few entries before I gave up. Let's see if I'm up to the challenge.

I’m aiming for amusing, or at least trivial, to help drag me out of this pit. I’m also aiming for alphabetical, to restore a sense of order. And I’m going to discuss music, because I miss it so. We have XM and an iPod and an old school radio and music channels available on cable. I have little excuse not to listen. So as long as I remember to tune in, and sing along, I imagine my mood will be much improved…