Jason my guitarist often comments to me that though he is drawn to the darkness of my music, for the good of general public consumption (as we are planning for an open-mic performance soon), it may be hard to hold the attention of the crowd if the entire set of songs are of the same dark mood. This triggered a slice of memory on what my buddy Mark has asked me months ago when I shared with him one of the recording of our jamming sessions – do I ever write a happy song? I look deep into my collection and I can hardly find any happy song inside. I don’t think I am a depressing kind of person. Just that my creativity core is tuned to some of the less happy events that happen within me and around me. I often see hope in tragedies and when I compose my songs, though the mood is dark, I have always tried to drop a line or two of hope inside – even if it is a bitter decision such as walking away from a relationship or keep on praying and don’t lose faith.
In my previous blog, My 151st Song – Your Eyes, I broadcast the song lyrics and I have to admit, there isn’t much hope within the song. It is a representation of the state of mind of someone who has recently experienced a broken heart in whatever ways (this world and beyond). I met up with one of my friends and she said the lyrics is “intense” after chancing upon the lyrics in my blog. Cynthia said that it is “dark” and “fibrous” and those eyes are definitely not hers (she often uses the word “fibrous” to describe a song with complex structure). As I shared with Cynthia the increasing pressure for me to write some happy songs for public consumption, she questioned the need as she does enjoy my dark songs immensely. Fans like Cynthia are hard to come by so I have tried something new. I gave “Your Eyes” a lyrics remake. It is not the same pair of eyes anymore as the topic has changed. I cannot write or perform any songs that I cannot relate so here is my attempt on a happier song – with a different pair of eyes.
Tell me, which one do you prefer?
| Your Eyes (Alternative Lyrics)
If looks can cure, I want to know You are a pill and I need more There is something about the look in your eyes The joy in your eyes The joy in your eyes You make my life worth living for Your eyes, they heal my soul |
Your Eyes (Original Lyrics)
If looks can kill, I want to know You are a drug, I can’t rid of There is something about the look in your eyes The tears in your eyes The tears in your eyes There isn’t much worth living for Your eyes, they pierce my soul |
4 replies on “So I Have Given The Same Song A Lyrics Remake – What Do You Think?”
Wow! A happy song! Breaking the mould is not as easy as it seems. It often takes a complete change in mindset and even emotions. It can be a double-edged sword though. (1) Staying with “dark gloomy” songs may act to distinguish your brand, differentiate yourself from others (2) focusing on a specific brand of music helps, because you can only get better at it (3) like your guitarist said, not everyone may like this brand of music, so happy songs break the monotony and add to the repertoire to showcase your talents. Ultimately, like many things, the answer lies in your soul. For me, in order to decide which one I like, I think I will need to listen to the complete package before I can tell.
You are right, breaking the mould is not easy though it can be done. Previously most of my songs were in the tempo of the 72 region and 148 region (either slow or fast). Recently, some songs with tempo of the 100 and 120 regions (mid range of pop/rock) start to emerge and they have made it to our set for performance.
I guess there is always a constant fear in us that “we can’t do it”. That’s why we often stay in our comfort zones.
An additional challenge of “happy songs” is that they tend to involve a different set of vocabularies. Again, not something that cannot be done. Just need to exercise that part of the brain muscle more.
Well, good to see a song with bright lyrics. But it takes more than bright lyrics to make a happy song ! There is also the melody, the tempo, and overall ambience you create from your music.
Just make sure that all are in line; otherwise you’ll be sending mixed messages to your listeners.
In fact I often find that the music ambiance plays a much major role in bringing forth the mood of the song – more than the lyrics itself. If you blank out the lyrics of Pearl Jam’s version of Last Kiss or Simply Red’s Stay, just by listening to the music itself, both songs sound cheerful. But if you read the lyrics (Last Kiss and Stay), both songs are very sad. But somehow, the music arrangements seems to have neutralized the mood of the lyrics.