Thursday, October 1, 2009

Melody or Lyrics

Are there two types of people? - those that pay attention to the melody and those who listen to the lyrics.  I'm definitely type 1 - melody only.  I'm interested in the instrumental harmony, the syncopation, and the beat.  In fact the vocal is just a variation of the instrumental.  There are obviously some songs you can't ignore the lyrics and as I get older I get more interested in the lyrics - and with the internet it is great because you can easily look them up. 
Tonight I sit her listening to Bruce Springsteen - Live in Dublin and excellent concert in Blu-Ray.  Bruce in his Tom Watts style plays some great ones -my favorite ---   O Mary Don't You Weep has some great instrumental - fiddle, trumpet, trombone, sax and piano sounding like a New Orleans funeral procession.  Obviously a negro spiritual that gives the theme of liberation.
Hard to ignore the lyrics on this one -

Well old Mr. Satan he got mad
Missed that soul that he thought he had
Pharaoh's army got drownded
O Mary don't you weep

O Mary don't you weep don't mourn

So this one ties - great melody - great lyrics!

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