Lyricless

The irony of it all is that it's all about words: words we encounter, words we ignore and words we think. Every word, be it the undeniable truth or a complete work of fiction, stems from some unknown meaning. Intentionality, they call it: our human ability to attach the world around us to usually innate perceptions. It's because the meaning needs to exist. Without it, what would we be? Free floating cosmozoan entities entities no better than the protists that provide for us?

It is in this intentional human quality that I classify music. Every human being, be it directly or indirectly, possesses an attachment to the melodies that surround them. Usually we see music as something performed or perpetrated by those who possess skills superior to our own but really, what it all boils down to is a series of sonic vibrations. The only thing separating a siren blast and Beethoven's Ninth is interpretation and how well notes dwell in connection to one another.

Imagine you are downtown standing in the middle of a crowded street. It is a blustery day and you can feel the wind pulsing against your face and through your hair. All around you are noises: people talking on cell phones and to each other, taxis honking one after another in gridlock, squeaking doors, tapping feet, birds cawing and brakes squealing. It is overwhelming to think about in one sitting, processing each sound and pitch and determining their origin. Now imagine you are sitting in an auditorium. An outstanding array of classical musicians surround you, holding instruments of every kind. They begin to play and you can almost catch the melodies with your fingertips in synesthetic bliss. Every note is perfect, every tone sublime. The flutes squeak, the drums tap, the clarinets caw, the low brass honks and the strings seem to talk to you; everything is striking.

Every adjective I just used to describe the noises were the same. So what's the difference? Why can't that city block expel the same sublime spectacle as the concert hall? That's what Lyricless is all about: analyzing music and determining what music is really about for people. This is a blog for the people whose best friend hates the music you absolutely love (which, theoretically, is everyone), for those looking for interesting perspectives on music past and present or even just for people looking for new music to listen to. No musical subject is taboo here and if there is something you desire I write about, never hesitate to ask.

The world should be a place united by music. While we don't play the same tune, we all have one to call our very own.