My tastes in music gravitate toward simple melody, dark moods, and emotional power. I'll give you some examples with commentary in no particular order. If you're unfamiliar with a given song, click the + after it for it's music video (courtesy of YouTube) and lyrics (courtesy of Google). Clicking the × will hide it again.
"Send Me An Angel" by the Scorpions +×
The wise man said just walk this way To the dawn of the light The wind will blow into your face As the years pass you by Hear this voice from deep inside It's the call of your heart Close your eyes and your will find The passage out of the dark
[Refrain] Here I am Will you send me an angel Here I am In the land of the morning star
The wise man said just find your place In the eye of the storm Seek the roses along the way Just beware of the thorns
[Refrain repeats]
The wise man said just raise your hand And reach out for the spell Find the door to the promised land Just believe in yourself Hear this voice from deep inside It's the call of your heart Close your eyes and your will find The passage out of the dark
[Refrain repeats] [Refrain repeats]
This is actually a profoundly Christian song, perhaps a prayer. This is most obviously demonstrated by the title; who can send angels besides God? There's also the "promised land" reference, a Biblical term referring literally to Israel and symbolically to heaven. But there are subtler clues, too. The lyrics are recitations of the words of a "wise man" who advises many of the same things Jesus did, such as "Hear the voice" that leads you "out of the dark" -- the Holy Spirit (the conscience) leads you away from misery and regret. The intentional mention of "thorns", I think, is intended to have a double meaning -- the obvious one of roses (the good parts of life) having thorns (dangers), but also a subtle reference to Jesus' crown of thorns -- another hint that the song's Wise Man is Jesus Christ. Why does the singer need angelic help? Because he's in "the land of the morning star". "Morning star" is a Biblical name of Satan; thus, he needs aid because he's in the land of the devil.
The song tells, then, of a man drowning in the influence of Satan, calling out to the Christian God to send him the aid necessary to save him from misery. It's a very dark moment, the height of peril before the rescue. It's also a masterfully beautiful power ballad.
"Suicide is Painless" by Johnny Mandel and Mike Altman +×
Through early morning fog I see visions of the things to be the pains that are withheld for me I realize and I can see...
[Refrain] That suicide is painless It brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please.
I try to find a way to make all our little joys relate without that ever-present hate but now I know that it's too late, and...
[Refrain repeats]
The game of life is hard to play I'm gonna lose it anyway The losing card I'll someday lay so this is all I have to say.
[Refrain repeats]
The only way to win is cheat And lay it down before I'm beat and to another give my seat for that's the only painless feat.
[Refrain repeats]
MASH The sword of time will pierce our skins It doesn't hurt when it begins But as it works its way on in The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...
[Refrain repeats]
A brave man once requested me to answer questions that are key 'is it to be or not to be' and I replied 'oh why ask me?'
[Refrain repeats] ...and you can do the same thing if you please.
Best known as "The Theme From M*A*S*H", the lyrics tell the thoughts of a suicidal man rationalizing that life is pain and death is relief. It is almost advocacy for suicide, a revolting concept -- and yet, it's a beautiful song. It's worth noting that the character "Painless Pole" from the original movie of M*A*S*H attempts suicide, a reference to the song's title. Marilyn Manson covered the song, reportedly calling the original "more depressing and offensive than anything I've ever done."
"Troy" by Sinead O'Connor +×
I'll remember it And Dublin in a rainstorm And sitting in the long grass in summer Keeping warm I'll remember it Every restless night We were so young then We thought that everything We could possibly do was right Then we moved Stolen from our very eyes And I wondered where you went to Tell me when did the light die You will rise You'll return The phoenix from the flame You will learn You will rise You'll return Being what you are There is no other Troy For you to burn And I never meant to hurt you I swear I didn't mean Those things I said I never meant to do that to you Next time I'll keep my hands to myself instead Oh, does she love you What do you want to do? Does she need you like I do? Do you love her? Is she good for you? Does she hold you like I do? Do you want me? Should I leave? I know you're always telling me That you love me Just sometimes I wonder If I should believe Oh, I love you God, I love you I'd kill a dragon for you I'll die But I will rise And I will return The Phoenix from the flame I have learned I will rise And you'll see me return Being what I am There is no other Troy For me to burn And you should've left the light on You should've left the light on Then I wouldn't have tried And you'd never have known And I wouldn't have pulled you tighter No I wouldn't have pulled you close I wouldn't have screamed No I can't let you go And the door wasn't closed No I wouldn't have pulled you to me No I wouldn't have kissed your face You wouldn't have begged me to hold you If we hadn't been there in the first place Ah but I know you wanted me to be there oh oh Every look that you threw told me so But you should've left the light on You should've left the light on And the flames burned away But you're still spitting fire Make no difference what you say You're still a liar You're still a liar You're still a lawyer
This song begins from quiet, almost romantic words about her being together with someone, fire, and restoration. But gradually the story sounds like a hated, regretted, betrayal of a romance. It becomes apparent that the singer has been abandoned by the partner she loved and still loves. She rejects this ex-lover even while she cannot live without them.
No one but Sinead O'Connor can mix violent rage and melodic beauty in the same voice at the same moment, and no song has a better example than the energetic fury at the end of this song. It is utterly unique.
I get a lot of crap from fellow conservatives for liking Sinead O'Connor. She is very political in ways that are clearly incompatible with US conservatism. She has done a lot of seemingly crazy, outrageous things that are offensive to various people. But more than a conservative I'm a non-conformist and a moralist, and no one holds more tightly to a non-conformist morality than Sinead O'Connor. She does what she believes is right at all costs. That is an awfully rare and beautiful thing, and I am going to give her proper respect for that and for her powerful talent regardless of anything.
"Last Kiss" as covered by J. Frank Wilson (and others) +×
[Refrain] Oh where oh where can my baby be The Lord took her away from me She's gone to heaven so I got to be good So I can see my baby when I leave this world
We were out on a date in my daddy's car We hadn't driven very far There in the road straight up ahead A car was stalled the engine was dead I couldn't stop so I swerved to the right I'll never forget the sound that night The screaming tires the busting glass The painful scream that I heard last
[Repeat Refrain]
When I woke up the rain was pouring down There were people standing all around Something warm flowing through my eyes But somehow I found my baby that night I lifted her head she looked at me and said Hold me darling just a little while I held her close I kissed her our last kiss I found the love that I knew i have missed Well now she's gone even though I hold her tight I lost my love my life that night
[Repeat Refrain]
Woh (x4) Ohh (x4)
A teen watches his love die in his arms after a car accident (presumably his fault), garnering one last kiss and a few last words before she goes. It's remarkably sincere, dark, and painful for such an old song. I've always associated the wordless syllables at the end as cries of guilt and agony at the end. I believe it was an Everclear version I first heard, but I can't find that version around anymore.
Beautiful/Dark is not the only class of music I like, but it's a big one and a good introduction to my musical tastes.
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