MusicExplained: A Site Open To Interpretation

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across new websites that leave me quizzical and a tad annoyed. One such place is MusicExplained, a database (though one very much lacking in substance at this point) whose mission is to tell you what that lyric from that tune from that album written by that band during that year actually means.

Some of you may be wincing in anticipatory agony at the moment. Apologies for putting you through this.

Firstly, I do have to say that I understand the reasoning behind this project. Whether music fans speak of their curiosity when it comes to verses and chorus lines or choose to keep their lips sealed, lots of ‘em really do wonder what the heck it all means. Are those phrases really plain as day or is there an underlying message? They wanna know.

But more often than not, there’s nothing to know. For the most part, the musical messages we like, dislike, etc., are either constructed to be vague and apply to life in many ways or pieced together in arrangements that can address many things. That might appear to be a statement replete with redundancy, but if you give it a closer look you’ll probably see what I’m getting at. Or maybe not. Whatever. See what I mean?

To sum this whole thing up, there’s really no guide to lyricism. Lines are put together in any way their constructors wish, and if you get it, you get it. If not, no biggie, ‘cause there’s probably nothing astoundingly “deep” or momentous anyhow. Sure, some musicians and groups sometimes try to make much of their tracks and albums and such in order to come off intellectually profound, but there’s absolutely no reason to actually buy such hogwash.

Not that there isn’t meaning to anything written as an anthem or whathaveyou, just that you can take music as you will. That’s kind of the point of it all. To make of it what you wish. You can have it be important to you, or you can toss it to the garbage heap. Your call.

That said, I think there’s absolutely no need for a service like MusicExplained. But you might. If so, do venture over there. See what you can find “between the lines.” Or give your take on what that latest apocalyptic single by Muse or that chaotic Arcade Fire tune means to you. Whatever that means.