Lessons Learned

Matt and Kim is a pretty obscure band. They're a group out of Brooklyn consisting of only Matt and Kim. The only instruments they use are Kim's drums and Matt's piano, so all of the music is pretty basic. Knowing that, you probably wouldn't expect them to make such a huge splash in the music business right? Think again. 

Known mostly for their popular, fun, and upbeat song "Daylight," this band remains relatively low key. However, after the release of their second album, Grand, they released the music video for their song "Lessons Learned." In regards to their lyrics of the song, it seems as if the two are protesting authority, all types of authority. One of the lines in the song that really just sticks out at you is, "While lessons learned go down the drain/I can't believe in everything." Another is in the chorus. They say, "Thinking about tomorrow won’t change how I feel today." I think they're basically just saying they're sick of being told what to do and having things they HAVE to do, and they're really just telling everyone, "Screw you."  Now, if you think I'm taking the lyrics too seriously, you may change your mind when you watch the video. 

Soon after the video was released, there was definitely a good number of critiques. However, despite being shunned by parent and religious organizations for their wild antics, they were awarded a VMA for Best Breakthrough Video. The video clearly makes a statement. I think running through the streets of Times Square butt naked qualifies as rebellion against authority. I admire the duo for taking such a huge risk just to make a point....any other thoughts?

Tracy Chapman

TRACY CHAPMAN

As I sat down to write this post, I had no idea where to begin. So I pulled up Itunes and clicked shuffle.  One of the first songs to come up was “Change” by Tracy Chapman. I realized that although I have a lot of her music, I don’t know much about her as an artist.  Her self-titled debut album, released in 1988, was known for its strong liberal views. She became a public supporter of civil liberties, minority rights, gender equality, and sexual freedom. One of the more famous songs from the album, “Talkin’ Bout A Revolution,” had some very notable lyrics relating to the high unemployment rate at the time the song was released.  

For her second album, Tracy took a much stronger stance on her views of civil liberties. In her song “Crossroads,” she repeatedly says, ”You think you think own my life.” She’s basically saying she’s tired of being told what to think and do. She’s allowed to have her own opinions and make her own decisions.

One of her more recent albums, “Where you live,” Tracy Chapman took a much less forward stance than her previous records. In a press release from Atlantic Records, all Tracy said about the album was this, "All the songs seemed to reference this idea of where you live," Chapman explains. 'In some songs, the reference is to a physical place and environment -- where you live physically in the world. In some of the other songs, the reference is to a state of mind; where you live in your head and in your heart. I'd say there's even a song or two that addresses how you think about yourself in relation to the universe. That's how the title of the record came to be."

Her song “Change” is without a doubt my favorite from the album. However, I believe there is more meaning behind the song other than just “where you live.”  With all of the wars and controversy in the world today, I think this song is kind of asking everyone involved a real simple question, “Why?” Throughout the song she asks, “If you knew that you would die today, would you change?” I think that almost everyone would say they’d change, because they know that there is always something more that they can do to make the world a better place. So then, Why don’t we do more? Why don’t we stop the wars? Why can’t we all just get along? 

And just because this is a really good song.....  :) 

Brittany Spears v. Bellamy Brothers

Recently, The Los Angeles Times posted an article about Brittany Spears' new song "Hold It Against Me." The article addressed the Bellamy Brothers complaints that the song's lyrics were copied from their song "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me." After reading the brothers argument, it was clear that they indeed had no argument. They were upset that Brittany copied the phrase,""If I said I wanted your body,would you hold it against me." However, they admittedly copied the same phrase from Groucho Marx's TV show "You Bet Your Life" Firstly, they're being completely hypocritical. Secondly, do they really expect every singer/songwriter to not use phrases previously used in other songs? It's as if they expect segments of lyrics to be copyrighted. That's like announcing to the world that after Whitney Houston said,"I will always love you,", no one could ever again you that phrase in a song. Silly? I think so.  Although the phrases are very similar, the songs sound nothing alike, and there are also no other similar lyrics between the two songs. I honestly believe that the Bellamy Brothers are just acting like fame seekers.  They haven't written a popular song in over 20 years. This "dilemma" was simply a means of gaining publicity for their newer and much less successful songs.