Critical Analysis of Music: Always Remember Me Song by Ry Cuming - Essay Example

Day Month Year Critical Analysis of Music For centuries, music has carried us to another place in time. It has captivated our thoughts and emotions and often inspired us to move mountains. Music has caused deprivation, strife, and turmoil. Through the melody, instrumentation, and lyrics music can both inspire and uplift, or it can depress and tear down emotions. All aspects of music can change our outlook on life. The list can go on. Take any song, analyze every aspect of it from the musical content to the lyrics, and music can quickly impact us in the same way that any motivational speaker or other media can. The key is to critically analyze and determine why songs impact us the way they do. To demonstrate this point, this student will analyze the song “Always Remember Me” by Ry Cuming. The specific aspects that will closely look at involve the songs instrumentation, lyrics, and electronic production. When analyzing any given song, one needs to look at how the instrumentation employed impacts the listeners’ mood as the music fills their ears. No matter how impactful the lyrics of a song might be, it is of little use if the musical content does not work. It would be similar to a car having a perfect engine, yet no tires. This particular song has instrumentation that truly seems to place the listener into the music studio of Ry Cuming. Viorica Barbu-Iurascu reminds us that “Music is the metaphysical counterpart to everything physical” (170). Perhaps like no other media, music transcends us to another place. We can leave the world behind as our consciousness becomes completely involved with the music that is playing within us. Naturally, some musical composers accomplish this transformation to the metaphysical world better than other, but this is still the aim of the musician. Music becomes an art that must be studied and examined closely to truly appreciate its beauty. “Always Remember Me” is composed of music that represents the lyrics being sung. The musical arrangement of this song begins with a softly playing guitar. This immediately sets the tone for what is to come by providing the listener with a soothing introduction into the lyrics to come. In essence, this opening prepares all who listen to relax, settle down, and be moved by arrangement. Without this type of opening, the song would not be nearly as effective in transforming people to that metaphysical realm that Iurascu talks about. As the lyrics begin to be sung, something interesting happens. The guitar playing moves softly to the background. When lyrics are not being sung, the guitar once again becomes the centerpiece and gradually becomes louder. Reflecting upon this, the author feels that Cuming has done an effective job at using the instrumentation to be a focal point of the song. Whereas most songs rely on the lyrics and the rhyming of such words, this particular artist seems to be more focused on allowing the guitar to speak to the listener. The softly playing melody really rocks most who listen into a new arena and a new realm of thinking. It is almost as if the old adage ‘forget all of your troubles for the moment’ rings true with this song. The music has a way of comforting and soothing the soul. The arrangement does not ‘jar’ the listener awake, rather it allows them to sit back and really be metamorphosed into another place and time. It is common to want to analyze the lyrics in a song. We seem to be obsessed with trying to understand what the artist is trying to say through his or her music. Analyzing musical lyrics, however, must go deeper than merely just trying to understand what the words mean. As Katrina McFerran writes, “Lyrics are not simple statements of information; they are creative and multifaceted expressions of experience” (38). So, as one seeks to analyze the lyrics of any given song, they must move beyond simply trying to ‘understand’ what the words mean and move into the realm of experiencing what moved the artist to write the words in the first place. Were they experiencing heartache at the time? Was the world experiencing a grave problem and the lyrics are an expression of what the artist felt at the time? Or do the lyrics express an experience of joy and excitement over something that has recently happened in their life? These are just some of the experiences that might move an artist to pen the lyrics to a popular song. “Always Remember Me” seems to express such experiences in the life of Ry Cuming. It is a song that is pleading for help. The expression of lyrical content follows two lovers that are calling out to each other in desperation. As they walk along the beach, they ask each other if they always remember the good times they shared. The chorus beings “Watch me as I fall. To the water calling.” Closely analyzing just this chorus, one can notice that water is used as a metaphor. Troubles and difficulties are dragging this person under and, like a weight in the water; the current is just too strong. If they continue to fall and be captured by the sea, will they be remembered? The song is also a plea to return to simpler time in life. Cuming writes, “We’ll build a house of driftwood, keep it simple, simple is good”. Again, here the house is a metaphor representing a time and place where worries and concerns are nonexistent. One can think of a normal childhood where the only concerns are to play and to socialize with friends. There are no difficulties and the world seems to be drifting by, but the participants have no concern. They are content in their own place and own time. A house of driftwood represents a life that is just drifting away. It is as simple as it comes, and as one listens to this song they, too, can be transformed into such a place that is simple, carefree, and happy once again. Of course, “Lyrics do not usually consist of a concrete expression of ideas” (McFerran 39). Often times, the experiences that had an effect on the lyrical content of a song is only known to the writer. It is often difficult to know for sure exactly what the meaning is. This makes the process of analyzing a song even more enjoyable. To be effective, the listener must try to imagine themselves as the artists. In essence, song lyrics can be looked upon as a form of poetry. The artist can use metaphors that mask the true meaning of what they are trying to communicate. In this way, perhaps unconsciously, a songwriter can inadvertently communicate an unintended meaning. That happens when the artist makes an effort to fit lyrics in with the instrumentation, without true regard to ensuring that the purpose behind the song is truly reflected in the lyrics. Ry Cuming certainly appears to use the instrumentation, lyrics, and organization of “Always Remember Me” to all reflect the same thing. A case in point would be his simple use of the guitar as he sings. He strums, often using only one key and a few strings, to play softly in the background. This supports the message of the lyrics to return to a simpler time. If he had chosen loud instrumentation with multiple melodies, this message would have been lost as the listener would be more focused on the beat than they are on the actual lyrical content. As it is, Cuming plays the guitar even more softly as he begins to sing. In addition, his voice is quiet and soothing. This conveys an atmosphere of solemn reflection as the artist reflects on difficulties in this world and if they would be remembered at all when they are gone. So, all aspects of this particular song work in concert with one another to support the true meaning and essence of why the artist penned the words, wrote the music, and provided the acoustical arrangement. Finally, it is important to note, “Music has a certain power to induce sensations, feelings, and moods” (Barbu-Iurascu 173). Music has been around for centuries and has provided much comfort to people worldwide. It can induce excitement and bring people out of the current state into a new, reflective and contemplative place. It sparks discussions, much like poetry, as strive to anticipate the meanings behind what we are hearing. The artists, such as Ry Cuming, deserve to be analyzed much like Picasso. By searching for the deeper meaning behind the song, or art, we can look for the metaphysical state of a song and learn to become someone better than we currently are. Songs have long made political statements, been used to bring people into a solemn religious service, and to even bring people into a trance like state. Whatever your ‘flavor’ in music, you are likely to find a melody and arrangement that suits your personality. Challenge yourself to more critically analyze the music you listen to and learn how the songs truly do impact your way of thinking and being. Works Cited Barbu-Iurascu, Viorica. “Explanation of the Nature of Music’s Expressiveness: The Cognitive Aspects of Emotions As Expressed In Music.” Contemporary Readings in Law & Social Justice 2.1 (2012): 170-175. Print. McFerran, Katrina. “What’s In the Lyrics?” Canadian Journal of Music 17.1 (2011): 34-54. Print. Read More