Transcendentalism in Music

Sunday, November 28, 2010

What songs reflect the ideas and key points of transcendentalism? Keep in mind lyrics that represent and valued non-conformity, an appreciation of nature, free thinking over logic and the clear importance of self reliance. Please share and post your examples of transcendentalism in songs. Simply post the title of the song or songs that you have chosen along with the artist name. Next, write a brief summary how your song or songs reflects the ideas of transcendentalism thought. Good luck!

"Kaye" by Jupiter Sunrise

The chorus of "Kaye" by Jupiter Sunrise shows the Transcendentalist idea of self-reliace. The persona in the song relates how "out there in the world I am full of their hate, their crime," the crimes of people in general, while "under a killler blue sky" it's like the persona and the girl adressed in the song, Kaye, "can be light and pure of heart." The persona seems to place distrust in other men, and early in the song, rather than asking Kaye to say something that makes sense, he asks her to "say something I can feel," which shows the Transcendentalist's moving away from reason and logic. Nature, as in the rest of the record, seems to be the perfect backdrop to understanding and love.

"The Warmth" by Incubus

"The Warmth' by Incubus is completely intertwined with the ideas of trancendentalism. The entire song is about living out your life, and not adhering to the conformist "corporate" world. In the chorus, Brandon Boyd asks the listener to tell him whether or not he should just be like what he is told to be like, or whether he should venture into his own territory of humanity and the real "warmth" of being alive. Boyd then answers the question himself by giving the advice to not "let the world bring you down" because there are still some good people out there, and to remember the point of being alive, which a trancendentalism would say is to live naturally and by your own values, which is basically what "the warmth" represents.

"American Idiot" by Green Day

"American Idiot" by Green Day demonstrates views of transcendentalism through the strong ideas against conformity and for individualism. For example the lyrics, "Everything isn't meant to be okay./ Television dreams of tomorrow./ We're not the ones meant to follow" reflects the idea that we are each individuals and have our own purpose in life. Some may not know exactly what theirs is while others do. And the sad truth is that many are in fact influenced by the media rather than purely their own beliefs. Think about it, think about how many times younger girls, teenage girls, and women in general worry about their image and weight everyday. Some don't, but in reality alot do. Do you think that it is just a coincidence that they do that? No, it is because mostly all you see on the television and in advertising are thin, pretty, drop dead gorgeous girls. I mean who doesn't want to look like that girl on that show who effortlessly has all of the guys drooling over her? :We may all have a different form of what in reality seems to branch off from the same types of dreams and ideals, but not everything in life will be perfect or as perfect as television commercials and ads may make it seem. Just because the media says one thing, doesn't mean it is a way of life in which you must live by. Although it may seem very bold of Green Day to call Americans "idiots", this seemingly exaggerated idea is quite true in portraying the reality in which most Americans live, as "One nation controlled by the media". (Transcendentalism points to those who aren't or strive to break away from conformity), but from a wider perspective, we are all alot more influenced by the media than perhaps we may like to believe.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

"Philosophy" by Ben Folds