Music

I think I've mentioned it before, but I'm a big fan of country music - partially because I like the sound, but mainly because I feel that it tends to tell stories in its music more than other genres, which, surprise surprise, is a big boon to me. I mean, you could argue that all music tells a story, and you wouldn't be incorrect. But I feel like most of the time, most songs are about a single instant or scenario, while country music tends to be more of a scene or overarching plot, if that makes any sense. Lots of other genres are also trying to be a bit more creative with their stories, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but country is very straightforward. It doesn't want you to have to dig around to really get the meaning.

Let me use two songs that I enjoy as examples. One by The Beatles, and one by Blake Shelton.

In The Beatles song Norwegian Wood, there is definitely a story being told. One of a boy and a girl getting involved, going back to her place, drinking and talking, and eventually him staying the night. But what exactly happens the following morning gets pretty strange, and it's something in the song that most people don't really seem to recognize. If you follow the words of the song, it seems pretty clear to me that, having been ditched by the girl in the morning, the guy burns her house down.

And I say all of this, and it seems pretty straightforward, but I'd be willing to bet that not many people who have heard that song have connected those dots together. It's just a dude having a one night stand as far as most are concerned. And I was certainly among that crowd for a long time, until I started really trying to sing along with it. And when I pay attention to the words, well... A lot of Beatles songs start to get weird when you pay attention to the lyrics.

Blake Shelton, on the other hand, wrote a song called Austin. A similar idea, with the girl ditching the guy, only rather than be bitter, the guy puts his heart on the line. A year after leaving, the girl attempts on several occasions to call the man she left behind, and each time is greeted by an answering machine which lists out the possible reasons that he is away from the phone, before stating that if she is calling, he still loves her. And seeing his devotion to her makes her realize what a mistake she has made, and when the two are finally reunited, she teases him by imitating his answering machine, ending with the admission that she still loves him too.

And there's never any question throughout the song that that's what is happening.It is a very straightforward story, with a heart melting message that I'm not afraid to admit I get teary eyed over.

I like both of these songs, admittedly for different reasons. But I think it's pretty clear why, from the perspective of wanting to hear a musical story, I'm more inclined towards the latter.