Lyrics and Memories

To many people music is just noise. Hell, my own sister, can listen to a song and not be able to tell you what instruments were played, or whether there were any cool musical flares like louds and softs, or voice overs, or a great crescendo followed by a dramatic drop. Well, basically she is musically illiterate.

But everyone, and I mean even my semi-tone deaf mom, can hear a song’s lyrics. The words are the important part to most people, and the thing that makes a song make or break. It’s the difference between interesting or a jumbled noise.

Lyrics are cool and remind us of a moment in our lives or they speak to our deepest fears and regrets or they just make us feel good. Some lyrics can leave us in tears, or have us rolling around on the floor laughing or get two best friends singing at the top of their lungs in a car. Lyrics, and music, are a really important aspect of most of our lives.

The question now, is what is your favourite? What is that one song for you?

Is it some super cheesy Afrikaans sokkie song like Kurt Daren’s Papsopwinterwaternat? Or is it a beautiful love song from a musical like Phantom of the Opera? Maybe it’s from a band that will be remembered forever like Queen or maybe it’s from some 60’s band that everyone has already forgotten about. Maybe it’s a parody by some random that a friend sent to you on Facebook or a cover by a guy who is now a YouTube celeb.

It actually doesn’t really matter what it is, chances are you love the song because it reminds you of something; something amazing, or special, or happy. It reminds you of a time in your life when you were young, single and stupid. Or it reminds you of your crazy best friend singing along to Greenday in her knickers while you serenade your mirror using a hairbrush as a microphone.

The point is that lyrics can put us in a memory and make us incredibly happy.

I just seriously pity you if your happiest memory involves Kurt Darren and a song about being wet.