Recently I was trying to distinguish what it really was that made me dislike, or in very few cases, like a song. I think I have made my self believe it is the talent of the songwriter or performer, yet I have come to realize this isn't the case. So many times, the best songs I hear are shown to me by my brother, Bradley Turner, yet I hardly ever like them right away. It seems that once I sit down, listen to the lyrics and the incorporation of the music, and take in what the work of art truly is, I withdraw my previous belief and -- well -- like the song! So then, what is it which so covertly takes my mind and changes its whole perception on what music I find to my liking. It's not my initial feeling, because it almost never stay intact, and it's not whether the artist is "talented", because there are plenty of talented artist who produce songs which disgust me!
While I was listening to one of my favorite songs, "Letters from the Sky" by Civil Twilight, I noticed something that caught my attention. The song is full of love. It really is that simple. It's not the chord structure, for I am far from that musically inclined; it's not the artist, because I can enjoy songs regardless of who produced it; and frankly, it's not the instruments used. It's just simply love. Let's take into account that their are plenty of songs with lovely lyrics that I cannot stand due to the lucid fact that the music is terrible. Yet, in essence, it is love that separates my favorites from the ones I simply enjoy.
One of my favorites:
"That you and I were made for this
I was made to taste your kiss
We were made to never fall away
Never fall away
"
One of my least favorites:
"Take a bite of my bad girl meat (bad girl meat)
Take a bit of me boy
Show me your teeth
The truth is sexy
"
The first song is simply love and nothing less. While this lyric may seem a little obscure due to its "stalkerish-like" tone, its beautiful and from the heart. The second lyric; however, is lust and nothing else. I mean REALLY Lady Gaga, "take a bite of my bad girl meat". It makes me gag and smirk at the same time. (If that is possible)Let it be known, I don't think the lyrics to any of her songs are truly from the heart, but are merely money signs written onto a black sheet of paper. The over all point is, music just is not attractive without its key essential. Writing music without love is like watching "twilight" and not owning 20 cats. It just doesn't fit right.
The secret to writing great music -- besides the necessary skill:
"All you need is love"