Isn’t It Romantic???
Romanticism
Years: 1798 – 1832
Content:
*human knowledge consists of impressions and ideas formed in the individual’s mind
* introduction of gothic elements and terror/horror stories and novels
* in nature one can find comfort and peace that the man-made urbanized towns and factory environments cannot offer Style/Genres:
*poetry
* lyrical ballads
Effects:
* evil attributed to society not to human nature
* human beings are basically good
* movement of protest: a desire for personal freedom
* children seen as hapless victims of poverty and exploitation
After perusing this list of attributes related to the Romantic period in British literature, think of a song or artist today that would fit perfectly into this era. If you name a song, please put artist and a snippet (not the whole song) of the lyrics. If you name an artist, give an example of his/her work and explain why he/she fits.
Coldplay- “The Scientist”
I was just guessing at numbers and figures,
Pulling the puzzles apart,
Questions of science, science and progress,
Do not speak as loud as my heart,
And tell me you love me, come back and haunt me,
Oh and I rush to the start,
Running in circles, chasing tails,
Coming back as we are
Peter Tosh could be considered a Romantic song writer because of his attempts to glorify life and protest at the same time. The song “Legalize It” is a protest about the restrictions society imposes on people. He believes that this society is the reason that people become evil. Tosh also talks about the good nature of poverty-ridden people in his sound “Fools Die”:
Vexation of the soul is vanity
Destruction of the poor is their poverty
The poor man’s wealth is in a holy, holy place
Britney Spears is a good romantic artist. In her song “I’m a Slave 4 U” she says “All you people look at me like I’m a little girl Well did you ever think it’d be okay for me to step into this world”. She feels like a child who is exploited and wants to grow up. Also in her song “Overprotected” she sings “I need to make mistakes just to learn who I am And I don’t wanna be so $@%# protected”. This is her calling out for her personal freedom. Britney Spears displays many of the Romantic qualities in her songs.
Imogen Heap demonstrates a romantic artist. Her songs are very concrete and personal. I think a song of hers that exemplifies this is “Speeding Cars”
-Here’s the day you hoped would never come
Don’t feed me violence just run with me
Through rows of speeding cars-
311 is romantic because the lyrics of their songs talk about finding comfort and peace in nature. An example of this would be in the song, “Summer of Love”.
“the grass is green and the sky is blue
my head is clear and my thoughts are true, yeah
that’s what I’m sayin
I wake up each day to the sun
and it’s hard to choose what to do for fun (and man thats a drag)
a blissful world surrounds me
and my brothers and sisters love is always free”
Also, 311 can be considered romantic because the song, “Peaceful Revolution” talks about how evil is attributed to society.
“I see the last frontier and the peaceful revolution
world peace is merely a product of social evolution
the conquest lies in accepting different peoples
and thinking right here”
The Fray’s song, Heaven Forbid would be considered a romantic song. It reminds me of the people we wrote in class, “To the Virgins, to the Make Much of Time” by Robert Herrick.
“Twenty years it’s breaking you down, now that you understand there’s no one around.
Take a breath, just take a seat, you’re falling apart and tearing at the seams.
Heaven forbid you end up alone and don’t know why
Hold on tight wait for tomorrow, you’ll be alright
It’s on your face, is it on your mind, would you care to build a house of your own.
How much longer, how long can you wait, It’s like you wanted to go and give yourself away.”
I also think Imogen Heap represents a romantic singer. She is talking about life is good and her happiness.
My life treats me well
Life is nice to me
Shooting down the obstacles one by one
Like a matchstick sonisphere
Disappearing in the air
Yeah which lets me breathe what i choose to breathe
Guster is tyhe artist and all of their songs are of this nature.
“All the way up to Heaven.”
Stay the way I am today and serve to more disaster
He could tell a fairy tale that’s happy ever after
Just relax and green of grass will grow here for a change
Maybe then we’ll last a million years or more..or more..or more
To me Dave Mathews is Romantic. His songs revolve around the idea of being yourself and live how you want to live. To an extent, this is how I live my life. I don’t much care what other people say about me I’m going to live how I want to and these lyrics from the song Typical Situation make me feel good about that:
“Everybody’s happy/Everybody’s free/We’ll keep the big door open/Everyone will come around/Why are you different/Why are you that way/If you don’t get in line/We’ll lock you away”
These lyrics say that everyone is living how they want to live, its our responsibility to take care of ourselves and one another. The end of the song seems a little contradictory, but it is speaking from the perspective of someone who doesn’t believe this by stating change or we will call you different! why should anyone else care!
Ryan Adams “Come Pick Me Up”
When they call your name
Will you walk right up
With a smile on your face
Or will you cower in fear
In your favorite sweater
With an old love letter
-This is a really romantic yet kind of mean song…its hard to describe. Its talking about the love of someone but also some betrayals. Although its confusing its one of my favorite songs.
I think that anyone could say that a musician/artist is a romantic. It is all based on different people’s points of view. Especially in the comment above listed in content: human knowledge consists of impressions and ideas formed in the individual’s mind—each individual who creates a piece of art forms that art through his or her own mind. I do think that Dave Matthews is a romantic, for he portrays society in an interesting way in his song Ants Marching.
Driving along on this highway
All these cars and upon the sidewalk
People in every direction
No words exchanged, no time to exchange and when
All the little ants are marching
Red and black antennae waving
They all do it the same
They all do it the same way
U2-”But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for”
You broke the thorns and you loosed the chains, carried the cross of my shame (of my Shame) you know i believe it. But I still haven’t found what im looking for.
He is searching his hardest and putting everything he has into finding a deeper relationship with Christ.
Jim Morrison can be considered a Romantic Artist in this sense. While he was with The Doors, he wrote many songs which encouraged poeple to break the bonds that society had tied them down to. One of the songs he wrote “Break on Through” which tells poeple to go against the limits that society has placed on you. Even the name of the band came from an idea of seeing things as they truly are and not as outside influences has made them appear. It came from the quote “If the doors of perception were clensed, then everything would appear as it truly was.” Throughout his career he tried to go against the control of society and he shunned fame. It is believed by many that he faked his own death to escape the media and live the rest of his life in peace.
I think that the sister hazel song “hopless ” can be considered a romantic song.
A hopeless romantic but nothing feels right
A ship full of lovers that sails out of sight
I wait for the answers to fall from the sky
I’m walkin’ through trees where the path has been worn
Where hearts have been ripped out trampled and torn
And I’m sorry – I’m sorry once again
Led Zeppelin can be viewed as a romantic artist because alot of his songs are about love.
I gotta roll, can’t stand still, got a flame in my heart, can’t get my fill.
Eyes that shine burning red, dreams of you all through my head.
Corey Smith is a real romantic. He sings an incredible song called F*** the Po Po, which is extremely insightful and shows his desire for personal freedom. He displays his displeasure with today’s authority in a calm, well though out manner.
There are a lot of good cops, who serve and protect
And they boldy put their lives on the line
To protect our rights and give us peace of mind
But for every cop who thinks his badge is a crown
This song is for you, and I’ll never bow down …
Modest Mouse could be viewed as a romantic artist. This is represented in the lyrics of “The World at Large”
I like songs about drifters – books about the same.
They both seem to make me feel a little less insane.
Walked on off to another spot.
I still haven’t gotten anywhere that I want.
Did I want love? Did I need to know?
Why does it always feel like I’m caught in an undertow?
In these lyrics the singer is talking about trying to get his life together and finding some stability in his life.