Somewhere Only We Know

“Oh simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute, why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go somewhere only we know?
Somewhere only we know”

Somewhere Only We Know – Keane

When I started writing this blog and thinking about ideas at the beginning of last year I had six favourite songs, and over the course of blogging I wanted to write about all of them in a meaningful way. So far I have written about five of them but have not yet done one on Somewhere Only We Know. It seemed pointless to go on about secret places one could take someone else for peace and quiet. I do love the idea of having a secret place to take a special someone after realising you are living your life a little too fast, but it would never sustain a whole blog post. 

I heard a few weeks ago Keane were taking an “extended hiatus” which, let’s be honest, means they are breaking up with a somewhat loose vision of getting back together in the very distant future. Essentially, this marks the end of Keane. It saddens me to hear this as they are one of my favourite bands. I am most gutted I will not, as far as I can tell, ever get to see Keane live and hear them play their wonderful songs. In short, Keane were one of my favourite bands, and are now a band no longer. 

This is the first time a band I really like, a band I appreciate beyond just listening to their music, has broken up and it’s a bit of a weird feeling. I could be a lot more angry than I am – but really all I would be doing is getting mad at a group of guys I actually don’t know. I feel like I am a much more rational person and while their break up is saddening we still had nearly ten years of their music. I made friends through Keane’s music; in high school a group of us would sit in study period and thought discussing Keane’s albums was much better than discussing our history assignment. I would listen to Keane’s music when I felt sad or alone and it cheered me up and soothed me. Sometimes I listened when I was happy and the music made me even happier. 

Keane may not have been a band which defined aspects of the music industry, but they were different and interesting, particularly with their lack of guitar on their first few albums. They made their fans very happy, especially this once teenager and now young adult. And despite how much this break up does sadden me, I always have those four albums of music to listen to because a band’s break up only signals the end of new music, not the end of their music altogether. 

End of Time

“We can dance until the end of time
We can party til we die
When the world is falling down on us
Let’s pretend that we can fly”

End of Time – The Make Believe

When it comes to writing these blogs I try to think of a common theme or idea of the song or make a point of what the artist does. I have wanted to write another blog about The Make Believe for a while now, as I haven’t since I did a wrap up of the year a Static FM. It was difficult to think of a theme for any of their songs, as inspiration refused to strike. I could have talked about acoustic covers but there’s not much to say about them, apart that they are really good. Or I could have mused about having two lead vocalists, but that technique has been used since 1960’s and really isn’t anything new. I was stuck until very recently when I realised exactly why I wanted to talk about the band. 

I want The Make Believe to succeed.

I feel like I have many different relationships with artists and with their music. Often I just want to use an artist’s music for my own entertainment, other times emotional comfort or companionship. It’s like they have put out this product where I care less for the manufacturer and more what the product can do for me. And don’t get me wrong – I have love and respect for literally hundreds of music artists. But it is their music, rather than them, which I associate most with. I pull out their tracks when I want to listen, and when I’m done they are thrown back into the endless pit of songs.  

There are a few artists who I care about beyond simply wanting to be use their songs, and this is how I feel about The Make Believe. I love and respect their music, and have many times used it how I’ve needed to. And while they are talented and determined I doubt they are striving any more than every other band who ever released music. I really cannot pinpoint exactly what makes them stand out amongst other talented artists, and in particular New Zealand artists to which I am partial, but to me they are special. It probably seems dysfunctional, as I do not have the same support for similar bands, but in the music world I want to see The Make Believe at the top. I doubt I am alone with my thoughts – there are probably artists who you would love to succeed, or have enjoyed watching on the road to success.

And to me, this a key part of a music journey: the irrational need to throw support behind particular artists who you have never met because in some weird way they connect with you, and that connection is one of the best feelings you have. 

All Revved Up With No Place To Go

“I was a varsity tackle and a hell of a block
When I played my guitar
I made the canyons rock, but
Every Saturday Night
I felt the fever grow
Do ya know what it's like
All revved up with no place to go”

All Revved Up With No Place To Go – Meatloaf

This week is the two year anniversary since I saw Meatloaf play at Vector Arena. My friend Zena, with whom I get up to the most mischief alongside, ranks this man as one of her favourite music artists and bought two (second row) tickets to his show. I took the spare one and we headed out to see the legend himself. It was a fantastic night, despite Meatloaf not being as young and energetic as I assume he once was on stage, and it was the night which reminded me how much I love seeing artists perform live.

In the gap between the opening act playing and Meatloaf coming out Zena and I got talking to the couple next to us, and they said “aren’t you two a bit young for Meatloaf?” I do believe they meant it in the most polite way; merely as a comment that in Meatloaf’s prime he appealed to people twenty years older than we were at the time, and we were more likely to be caught up in whatever the Top 40 music stations were playing, rather than an older man on one of his last world tours.

But their comment made me wonder why we think music should have an age limit on it. As we grow up certain music influences us and it is usually what is current at the time, until we become older and these songs turn into classic hits. My musical taste, however, spans many decades. I have music from The Beatles, The Clash, Foo Fighters and Imagine Dragons on my iPod; I will play Simon and Garfunkel then play One Republic. I have been asked a lot recently if I am too old to listen to One Direction and go to their concert, but I think not. I like their music and appreciate their place in the industry, and there is no way anyone is going to stop me from watching them perform live.

I think letting your age restrict you is a bit like being all revved up … with no place to go. Being 20 shouldn’t stop you from playing on swings and being 40 doesn’t suddenly mean you are too old for Disney films. As long as you are acting above any legal age limits I don’t see the problem with having a bit of fun and doing what you like to do. If I had listened to what people had said about being too young for Meatloaf, I would have not only not seen a musical legend, but also never discovered the opening act Luger Boa and consequently many other Kiwi rock bands which Luger Boa led us to. Because really, an age is just a number, and your likes and wants define you much more than a digit.  

Heartbreak Girl

“I dedicate this song to you,
The one who never sees the truth,
That I can take away your hurt, heartbreak girl.
Hold you tight straight through the day light,
I'm right here. When you gonna realise
That I'm your cure, heartbreak girl?”

Heartbreak Girl – 5 Seconds of Summer

Just over a week ago I went to see One Direction sing at Vector Arena and, like most other concerts, they had an opening act. I had heard of 5 Seconds of Summer before but did not know any of their music. Nevertheless, I encouraged my friend (and her little sister, making being at a One Direction a lot less creepy) to go early so we could see them open. They were a terrific live act and I was quite into them from my seat at the rear end of the arena.

A funny thing happened when they were playing though. I found myself singing along. This in itself is not unusual; the crowd is nearly always singing along with the band as they play. What was odd was how I was singing, or trying to sing, to a song which I didn’t actually know the lyrics too. I had never heard these songs before, bar Heartbreak Girl which was played in Vector Arena shortly before the band went on. I pride myself on knowing a lot of lyrics to a lot of songs, but surely I shouldn’t know them to songs I’d never listened to before.

It was a fearful moment in my mind, because I realised I was at complete control of the band. While it was at the hands of music and quite often I surrender to the songs, this particular time it was done without my will and it was a disconcerting experience. It wasn’t bad or scary as such, but there was definitely something odd about it which made me think. I have never questioned how much a band is in power at concerts but with ease they can make a crowd scream or stay quiet, force them to sing along and with simple instructions they can light up a whole arena. I have attended many concerts and I guarantee that at every single one the artist has been instructing the crowd what to do. And bands can control emotions: at concerts I have laughed, I have cried, and I have walked away feeling satisfied and euphoric.

I do wonder what the artists who are thinking when they are on stage with the crowd at their control. Did 5 Seconds of Summer know they had me singing along without knowing any words, and that they made me want to go and buy their music and find out more about them? Or were they just on stage, playing their music and having a good time with a crowd who obviously loved them? Probably the latter and we should be grateful these artists are not taking advantage of our weaknesses much more than encouraging us to buy albums and merchandise (which I have done post shows), and putting on a performance which makes someone like me fall in love with their music. 

Beth

“Beth, I hear you callin' 
But I can't come home right now 
Me and the boys are playin' 
And we just can't find the sound 
Just a few more hours 
And I'll be right home to you 
I think I hear them callin' 
Oh, Beth what can I do 
Beth what can I do”

Beth – Kiss

The idea of selling out and mass music production is talked about in today’s music industry like the smell of a rate dying behind a radiator. Many a young, old, and hipster never hesitate to discuss how artists should only be about the music and not the money or the marketing. The idea of the good old rock and roll days where it was more about the chords and crowds and less about sales is idealised.

Well, I hate to break it to you, but those worshipped old school bands were just as into the money and marketing as any mass produced pop act playing on Juice TV right now. Yes, behind Kiss, one of the most influential bands in world, is a man who thought of nothing more than that dreaded word: branding.

It was with great interest I read Gene Simmons’ autobiography Kiss and Make Up a few months ago. While now a little outdated, given that it was released in early 2000’s, it holds some very interesting observations about Kiss and the music industry as a whole. The book details how Simmons envisioned much more than a band from the beginning; rather he wanted to create a brand which people could buy into. For me the book cemented the idea that when we listen to music we are buying into a product and contributing to a business. I read about how far Kiss took their branding and marketing, with the obvious albums and tours, but they were the forefront for merchandise, from t-shirts to lunchboxes and comic books to conventions.

It seems people forget music is a business and they deliver products, and bands and singers make music as their job. I don’t really believe any band who says they are in the music industry purely for the music; not only is this not a substantial way to earn a living, but these bands are saying they will never create products to take them further into the business (whether it be the band themselves or a producer behind the marketing). There is definitely a way to create music which inspires people and become a successful brand; it’s been more than thirty years since Kiss started and they are still going strong with numerous singles and album sales.

Therefore people, please let’s stop saying some music acts are little more than marketing rubbish. Everyone in the industry creates their music a little differently but want the same goal: to buy into their products. And you should buy in to it. After all, what’s better than some musical retail therapy? 

Demons

“When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide”

Demons – Imagine Dragons

I love writing this music blog. The idea for it came to me late in 2011 when I thought about writing for my student magazine and wondered what I could possibly talk about on a regular basis. I thought it would be cool to take a song and write what I feel and think about it and muse through how music impacts society. One day while at work I was talking with two girls who also have blogs and they encouraged me start one, and were enthused when I mentioned the idea which is now the basis for my blog. And thus I come to you every week or so with a new song and a new topic.

For the past twenty months I have covered many topics, but most of all I have bought up the flaws within people and encouraged you to look past them. Indeed the most recent weeks I have told you to speak your mind, consider yourself beautiful, have faith in your own being and smile as much as you can. As I write them I hope I can encourage and inspire you to better your life.

But it is time to be very honest. Most times I write about these topics I am doing it to try make myself to feel better.

Yes, there are times in my life when I doubt myself and I am not the strong person I may appear to be when writing. I fear I will never meet the right man, sometimes I get lonely and sad, and I doubt if I will have in my professional and personal life. Does this make me liar? Or a hypocrite for telling you to feel one way while I cannot?

I like to think not. Rather, I like to think it makes me human. I appreciate Demons as I think it sums up what a lot of us feel: we fear letting other people get too close to us both physically and emotionally because we fear other people knowing what is happening inside our heads. As I said above I have these little demons which inhabit me. They are fear, doubt, unhappiness, weakness. They are that little voice which throws darkness over the light and casts a shadow over what could be good. But I know in my heart that I am a good person and these demons which I sometimes feel are the thoughts many of us have, and I am lucky my demons are only little ones and not big ones I know other people have.

Writing this blog has helped immensely and has been a very therapeutic process for me. I will not stop writing until I feel I have no more to say. It has made me fall in love music more than ever; I truly believe the words and messages of the songs I write about. You, my readers, write comments and agree with statements, which makes me know I am never going through anything alone, and that knowledge could be the greatest thing about my blog.  

Bonfire Heart

“Everybody wants a flame, but they don’t want to get burnt
And today is our turn

Days like these lead to
Nights like this leads to
Love like ours
You light the spark in my bonfire heart
People like us, we don’t need that much
Just someone that starts, starts the spark in our bonfire hearts”

Bonfire Heart – James Blunt

While we are growing up we are often told we can do anything we want to and we easily believe our parents or teachers who encourage us to dream of doing great things. It’s not uncommon to think about a life for ourselves where people across New Zealand and indeed across the world will know our name. Whether we dream of being singers or actors, politicians or humanitarians, we dream of a world in which we made a significant change in the public’s eye and impacted the lives of many, many people.

Of course, as we grow older it becomes apparent only a handful of people can ever become those who everyone knows. As a young twenty something I know there are still many years ahead of me in which I could become part of that small handful. I doubt I’d break through as a singer or actor (mostly due to a lack of talent in those areas), but maybe I’ll be a famous writer one day, or perhaps by chance fall in love with someone famous (like Ryan Gosling).  As I think about this world in which I could be a part of, I wonder if I need such a complication in my life. You constantly read about how difficult it can be to live in the public eye where everyone wants a piece of you.

I wonder if all I need is someone, or a small group of people who make me feel happy and accepted in the world. This is what Bonfire Heart makes me think about; whether I need everyone to know my name, or just one person who can light a spark in my life. While it would be nice to have money, expensive assets and famous friend, but I wonder whether I need it. The line “people like us, we don’t need that much” stood out for me as I quite like the idea of a more simple life where I don’t need much apart from a bit of love.

Don’t think I am discouraging people from following dreams to become famous or be a person who makes a change, nor saying being successful and having a spark in your life are mutually exclusive. Rather, I encourage some thinking from you, and especially those around my age who are embarking on the big bad world, to find their flame without getting too burnt.