Post by lemex on Aug 7, 2012 18:45:26 GMT 2
I don't know what the general feeling about Gotye is with you fine people, but I have heard some pretty unfair and unfounded things said about him since his song 'Somebody that I used to know' came out and was in the charts - calling the song 'annoying' and him 'that naked guy'.
Let me say this: I like Gotye, and I feel his other stuff needs much more attention than it is currently getting. Sure, 'Somebody that I used to know' is overplayed, but that is not really something you can say against him - and too much of a song can seriously affect everyone's pleasure of it (see Run by Snow Patrol, and Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel).
Actually, sticking with Peter Gabriel for a moment, there is a strong comparison that can be made between the two. If you just think of Peter Gabriel as just 'Sledgehammer' (as I know some people do) you miss out pretty much everything else about him - and you miss some pretty decent stuff too.
For example:
Now, I should say this, I wouldn't say 'Peter Gabriel would have wrote this' because that would be silly. Honestly, I find the lyrics of 'Eyes Wide Open' leaving something to be desired, not a lot, but something. However, it does have some good lines. For example:
Having this just before and after a rather eerie slide guitar sound creates a rather defamiliarizing effect (along with the rather Tool-like music video) that serves the song. Also, the fact that there is that natural vibrations in the singing strongly suggests there is no auto-tuning, which is nothing but a good thing.
As I said though, the lyrics do leave something to be desired. They are all about how man is walking toward disaster, fully aware of what he's doing, which is fine, but this doesn't seem fully explored - and it's a little too familiar to take fully seriously, but 'Eyes Wide Open' is still, I think, a pretty decent song nonetheless.
This next song however is different:
www.youtube.com/watchv=le34ygtODfI&feature=relmfu
This song is much more complex, and much more effective. It's a song about growing up and leaving certain once loved things behind. The rhythm and tempo really suit the mood of the lyrics, and set up the feeling of nostalgia mixed with loss well. The lyrics themselves are necessarily uncompleted, but not simple, and the slow pace and unflashy chords create a mix that well explores the song themes and allows the listener a certain reflection on their own experiences.
This song however, shows that Gotye is capable of something more complex:
I always place this song with 'Eyes Wide Open', and the two have similar feels and themes, however, I find this the better song. The melody is rather complex, though slow and driving, while the lyrics reflect a thoroughness of writing that I honestly wish I could say about that other song.
A theme that must be noticed about this song (like 'Somebody that I used to know' actually) is that the song is written from a very confused position. The narrator here, unlike having two narrators giving two different sides, seems to contradict himself within the song. This seems intentional, however, if it was written from a state of actual confusion the song would have seemed unstructured but that is not the impression here. There is a structure here, and it is a structure that well carries the song, but the intentional looseness has an effect on the feel of the song. Lyrically this feel is also affected by a certain uncertainty, but not confusion, and this has a certain affect on the listener, creating a certain sadness.
There is also a more rounchier side to him with this song:
I can understand of Gotye is not 'your thing' and I can even partly sympathize. Is Gotye a new Peter Gabriel or musical force? No, not really. Maybe it might be too early to say, but there is nothing of lasting appeal in Gotye. At least, not yet - his career has only began. What can be said about him though is that he has made an intelligent and respectable album in 'Making Mirrors'. The best thing that can be said about him is that he is someone to watch out for; and even if he's never heard from again, at least he can gave us something decent.
Sites/Works consulted/used:
www.azlyrics.com
www.lyricsfreak.com
www.youtube.com
Let me say this: I like Gotye, and I feel his other stuff needs much more attention than it is currently getting. Sure, 'Somebody that I used to know' is overplayed, but that is not really something you can say against him - and too much of a song can seriously affect everyone's pleasure of it (see Run by Snow Patrol, and Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel).
Actually, sticking with Peter Gabriel for a moment, there is a strong comparison that can be made between the two. If you just think of Peter Gabriel as just 'Sledgehammer' (as I know some people do) you miss out pretty much everything else about him - and you miss some pretty decent stuff too.
For example:
Now, I should say this, I wouldn't say 'Peter Gabriel would have wrote this' because that would be silly. Honestly, I find the lyrics of 'Eyes Wide Open' leaving something to be desired, not a lot, but something. However, it does have some good lines. For example:
But it was like to stop consuming is to stop being human
Having this just before and after a rather eerie slide guitar sound creates a rather defamiliarizing effect (along with the rather Tool-like music video) that serves the song. Also, the fact that there is that natural vibrations in the singing strongly suggests there is no auto-tuning, which is nothing but a good thing.
As I said though, the lyrics do leave something to be desired. They are all about how man is walking toward disaster, fully aware of what he's doing, which is fine, but this doesn't seem fully explored - and it's a little too familiar to take fully seriously, but 'Eyes Wide Open' is still, I think, a pretty decent song nonetheless.
This next song however is different:
www.youtube.com/watchv=le34ygtODfI&feature=relmfu
This song is much more complex, and much more effective. It's a song about growing up and leaving certain once loved things behind. The rhythm and tempo really suit the mood of the lyrics, and set up the feeling of nostalgia mixed with loss well. The lyrics themselves are necessarily uncompleted, but not simple, and the slow pace and unflashy chords create a mix that well explores the song themes and allows the listener a certain reflection on their own experiences.
This song however, shows that Gotye is capable of something more complex:
I always place this song with 'Eyes Wide Open', and the two have similar feels and themes, however, I find this the better song. The melody is rather complex, though slow and driving, while the lyrics reflect a thoroughness of writing that I honestly wish I could say about that other song.
You have lost
Too much love
To fear, doubt and distrust
(It's not enough)
You just threw away the key
To your heart
Too much love
To fear, doubt and distrust
(It's not enough)
You just threw away the key
To your heart
A theme that must be noticed about this song (like 'Somebody that I used to know' actually) is that the song is written from a very confused position. The narrator here, unlike having two narrators giving two different sides, seems to contradict himself within the song. This seems intentional, however, if it was written from a state of actual confusion the song would have seemed unstructured but that is not the impression here. There is a structure here, and it is a structure that well carries the song, but the intentional looseness has an effect on the feel of the song. Lyrically this feel is also affected by a certain uncertainty, but not confusion, and this has a certain affect on the listener, creating a certain sadness.
There is also a more rounchier side to him with this song:
I can understand of Gotye is not 'your thing' and I can even partly sympathize. Is Gotye a new Peter Gabriel or musical force? No, not really. Maybe it might be too early to say, but there is nothing of lasting appeal in Gotye. At least, not yet - his career has only began. What can be said about him though is that he has made an intelligent and respectable album in 'Making Mirrors'. The best thing that can be said about him is that he is someone to watch out for; and even if he's never heard from again, at least he can gave us something decent.
Sites/Works consulted/used:
www.azlyrics.com
www.lyricsfreak.com
www.youtube.com
